Wardroom concern’s: India’s growing undersea fighting force
 

I have noticed a new Navy coming of age in India, especially it’s new submarine forces.

Why?

Who are they concerned about? Russia, China, USA?

What are the projected analyzes of this growing force?


What do we know?

Why should we be concerned?

Treat this like a real wardroom with officers and men on patrol of a USN SSN Virgina class nuclear submarine or in the case of the British an HMS Astute class SSN.

Be ready to give the captain an answer at the wardroom table of the above questions.

PS I am not the CO this is just an exercise to think like a submarine officer and yes we did discuss these same items back in the 70’s about USSR’s growing fleet of submarines.

If there is enough interest in this discussion we could expand to include other nations growing submarine forces.

Your servant to keep the hope alive that USA, UK and France have the best submarine services in the world
geetrue

http://www.nti.org/analysis/articles/india-submarine-capabilities/

May 23, 2012

The Indian Navy currently operates 14 diesel powered submarines, which are based at Visakhapatnam on the east coast and Mumbai on the west coast.[1] An additional west-coast base is also being constructed at Karwar.

[2] The backbone of the fleet is formed by ten Kilo-class Type 877EM - or Sindhugosh-class - units that are being progressively retrofitted to accommodate the Klub/3M-54E Alfa cruise missile system. India also operates four Shishumar-class Type 209/1500 vessels designed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Germany. While the first two vessels from the Shishumar-class were built at HDW in Germany, boats three and four were constructed at the Mazagon Dock in Mumbai from packages supplied by HGW.

[3] All four of the Shishumars have undergone refit since they were commissioned and together they form the 10th submarine squadron based at Mumbai.

[4] The fleet's remaining vessels consist of two aging Foxtrot-class boats, which are currently being used for training purposes. In addition to the 14 active submarines, however, India is also in the process of constructing six Scorpène-class boats that are being indigenously built at the Mazagon Dock in Mumbai, albeit under the supervision of French technicians.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17607289


4 April 2012


http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...7918_photo.jpg


Chakra is an Akula-II class boat - an attack submarine on loan to the Indian navy

I think one can look a lot closer to home for them as far as "why?" - the short answer is Pakistan. At the moment, I think this is their absolute prime concern, and something that they want to have total supremacy in. Everything else is secondary. Their longer-term strategic adversary is obviously China. Anything but cooperation with Russia and the US is distant horizon for them; their long-term geopolitical interests really don't have any conflict with either of them. China is a different story, but even there, I don't foresee a serious conflict, since it would be bad for them.

I think the subs are part of the effort to make sure that, in case of war, Pakistan's navy would be positively and definitely dead.

Almost forgot to include this little item:

Nuclear-powered submarine club

• USA - 71
• Russia - 21
• UK - 12
• France - 10
• China - 10 (estimated)
• India - 2 (one not commissioned)

Source: World Nuclear Association