CURRENT CURRENT AMPHIBIOUS FORCE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE

LEVELSLEVELS

OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENTOVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT

►TWO TO THREE ARGS FORWARD TWO TO THREE ARGS FORWARD DEPLOYEDDEPLOYED ONE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN / ONE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN /

ARABIAN GULF-INDIAN OCEAN AREAARABIAN GULF-INDIAN OCEAN AREA ONE OR TWO IN THE WESTERN ONE OR TWO IN THE WESTERN

PACIFIC AREA. PACIFIC AREA. ONE ARG/MEU IS FORWARD BASED ONE ARG/MEU IS FORWARD BASED

IN SASEBO AND OKINAWA JAPAN. IN SASEBO AND OKINAWA JAPAN.

Amphibious flexibility is the greatest strategic asset that a sea power

possesses.

BHLiddell Hart

CRITICALITIESCRITICALITIES► TRANSITION FROM SEA TO LAND, TRANSITION FROM SEA TO LAND,

INVOLVING NAVAL, GROUND AND AIR INVOLVING NAVAL, GROUND AND AIR FORCES MOST DIFFICULT. FORCES MOST DIFFICULT.

► COMMANDS AND CONTROL OF MULTI- COMMANDS AND CONTROL OF MULTI- SERVICE, MULTI ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES SERVICE, MULTI ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES COMPLEXCOMPLEX

► CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS IN RESTRICTED CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS IN RESTRICTED WATERS INCREASES VULNERABILITY TO WATERS INCREASES VULNERABILITY TO HOSTILE ATTACK, PARTICULARLY DURING HOSTILE ATTACK, PARTICULARLY DURING EARLY PHASES WHEN SUPPORT OF OWN EARLY PHASES WHEN SUPPORT OF OWN HEAVY WEAPONS NOT AVAILABLEHEAVY WEAPONS NOT AVAILABLE

RECENT EMPLOYMENTRECENT EMPLOYMENT

► FRENCH AND THEN US FORCES FOR OVER FRENCH AND THEN US FORCES FOR OVER 25 YEARS IN INDOCHINA 25 YEARS IN INDOCHINA

► ANGLO-FRENCH ASSAULT IN SUEZ,ANGLO-FRENCH ASSAULT IN SUEZ,► FALKLANDS CONFLICTFALKLANDS CONFLICT► US LANDINGS IN GRENADA US LANDINGS IN GRENADA ► COALITION LANDINGS DURING GULF WAR IN COALITION LANDINGS DURING GULF WAR IN

19921992► AUSTRALIAN LANDINGS IN EAST TIMORAUSTRALIAN LANDINGS IN EAST TIMOR► US/ALLIES OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN US/ALLIES OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN

EARLY DEVELOPMENTSEARLY DEVELOPMENTS

► INTRODUCED SINCE EARLY DAYS OF INTRODUCED SINCE EARLY DAYS OF INCEPTION OF INDIAN NAVYINCEPTION OF INDIAN NAVY

► RECOMMENDATION TO POSSESS A SMALL RECOMMENDATION TO POSSESS A SMALL EXPEDITIONARY FORCE CAPABLE OF EXPEDITIONARY FORCE CAPABLE OF PROTECTING INDIA’S REGIONAL INTERESTS PROTECTING INDIA’S REGIONAL INTERESTS SUGGESTED IN 1946 WHEN INDEPEDENCE SUGGESTED IN 1946 WHEN INDEPEDENCE ON HORIZON. ON HORIZON.

► CURRENT CAPABILITY BRIGADE MINUSCURRENT CAPABILITY BRIGADE MINUS

INDIAN NAVAL HISTORYINDIAN NAVAL HISTORY

► LST INS MAGAR, OF W W II VINTAGE LST INS MAGAR, OF W W II VINTAGE ACQUIRED IN 1949 ACQUIRED IN 1949

► APPROVAL ACCORDED IN 1958 TO APPROVAL ACCORDED IN 1958 TO ESTABLISH A PRESENCE IN A& N ISLANDS ESTABLISH A PRESENCE IN A& N ISLANDS

► POST INDO CHINA WAR DEBACLE POST INDO CHINA WAR DEBACLE RESIDENT NAVAL OFFICER WAS APPOINTED RESIDENT NAVAL OFFICER WAS APPOINTED IN PORT BLAIR.IN PORT BLAIR.

► INCREASED INDONESIAN INTRUSIONS IN INCREASED INDONESIAN INTRUSIONS IN NICOBAR ISLANDS IN 1965 NICOBAR ISLANDS IN 1965

EARLY DEVELOPMENTSEARLY DEVELOPMENTS

►ORDER PLACED FOR TWO LST (M) FROM ORDER PLACED FOR TWO LST (M) FROM RUSSIA IN 1965 RUSSIA IN 1965

► INDONESIAN THREAT AND INDONESIAN – INDONESIAN THREAT AND INDONESIAN – PAK BONDING OF 1965PAK BONDING OF 1965

► BOTCHED UP AMPHIBIOUS LANDING AT BOTCHED UP AMPHIBIOUS LANDING AT COX’S BAZAAR IN OPERATION BEAVER AS A COX’S BAZAAR IN OPERATION BEAVER AS A PART OF 1971 OPERATIONS . PART OF 1971 OPERATIONS .

► LESSONS HOISTED IN IMPORTANCE OF LESSONS HOISTED IN IMPORTANCE OF AMPHIBIOUS ASSETS ESTABLISHEDAMPHIBIOUS ASSETS ESTABLISHED

AMPHIBIOUS OPS OF INDIAN NAVYAMPHIBIOUS OPS OF INDIAN NAVY

►SRI LANKA IN 1988, SOMALIA IN 1995,SRI LANKA IN 1988, SOMALIA IN 1995,► CYCLONE RELIEF IN SAURASHTRA IN CYCLONE RELIEF IN SAURASHTRA IN

1998 /ORISSA IN 2000. 1998 /ORISSA IN 2000. ►AS A ‘FORCE IN BEING’ ON WEST AS A ‘FORCE IN BEING’ ON WEST

COAST’ DURING OP PARAKARAM.COAST’ DURING OP PARAKARAM.► PAKISTAN DIVERTED ONE DIVISION PAKISTAN DIVERTED ONE DIVISION

FROM LAND BORDERS TO MAKRAN FROM LAND BORDERS TO MAKRAN COAST.COAST.

SCOPESCOPE

►CURRENT TRENDS IN US NAVY, CURRENT TRENDS IN US NAVY, ROYAL NAVY, PLA NAVY AND ROYAL NAVY, PLA NAVY AND AUSTRALIAN NAVY AUSTRALIAN NAVY

►FOCUSED ATTENTION ON ‘SHIP TO FOCUSED ATTENTION ON ‘SHIP TO SHORE MOVEMENT’ SHORE MOVEMENT’

►TASKS OF INDIAN NAVYTASKS OF INDIAN NAVY►ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT FORCESASSESSMENT OF CURRENT FORCES►DEFINING CREDIBLE AMPHIBIOUS DEFINING CREDIBLE AMPHIBIOUS

FORCE FOR INDIAN NAVY FORCE FOR INDIAN NAVY

ROLES OF US NAVYROLES OF US NAVY

►SEA CONTROL SEA CONTROL ►MARITIME SUPREMACYMARITIME SUPREMACY►POWER PROJECTIONPOWER PROJECTION►STRATEGIC DETERRENCESTRATEGIC DETERRENCE►FORWARD NAVAL PRESENCEFORWARD NAVAL PRESENCE►STRATEGIC SEALIFTSTRATEGIC SEALIFT

ORGANISATIONORGANISATION

► AMPHIBIOUS TASK FORCE (ATF) AMPHIBIOUS TASK FORCE (ATF) ► RANGE FROM A SINGLE AMPHIBIOUS READY RANGE FROM A SINGLE AMPHIBIOUS READY

GROUP/MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT GROUP/MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT (SPECIAL OPERATIONS CAPABLE) [ARG/MEU (SPECIAL OPERATIONS CAPABLE) [ARG/MEU (SOC)], TO A LARGER ORGANIZATION (SOC)], TO A LARGER ORGANIZATION CAPABLE OF EMPLOYING A MARINE CAPABLE OF EMPLOYING A MARINE EXPEDITIONARY BRIGADE (MEB) OR EVEN A EXPEDITIONARY BRIGADE (MEB) OR EVEN A MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

ROLES/ TASKSROLES/ TASKS

► MAINLAND OPERATIONSMAINLAND OPERATIONS MAKRAN COASTMAKRAN COAST BANGLADESHBANGLADESH

► ASSAULT LANDINGS TO RETAKE LOST ASSAULT LANDINGS TO RETAKE LOST TERRITORYTERRITORY. .

► AMPHIBIOUS RAIDS AMPHIBIOUS RAIDS ► TACTICAL DECEPTION.TACTICAL DECEPTION.

ROLES/ TASKSROLES/ TASKS

►DEFENCE OF ISLAND DEFENCE OF ISLAND TERRITORIES -1197 ISLANDSTERRITORIES -1197 ISLANDS POACHING, SMUGGLING, TRAFFICKING POACHING, SMUGGLING, TRAFFICKING

OF WOMEN AND GUN RUNNING OF WOMEN AND GUN RUNNING PENETRATION BYOF FUNDAMENTALIST PENETRATION BYOF FUNDAMENTALIST

IN LAKSWADWEEP ISLANDS WITH THE IN LAKSWADWEEP ISLANDS WITH THE PREDOMINANTLY MINORITY PREDOMINANTLY MINORITY POPULATIONPOPULATION

AIRPORT/PORT/ KEY FACILITY SEIZUREAIRPORT/PORT/ KEY FACILITY SEIZURE

OUT OF AREA CONTIGENCIESOUT OF AREA CONTIGENCIES

►IN SUPPORT OF UN IN SUPPORT OF UN /COALITION OPERATIONS/COALITION OPERATIONS

►EVACUATION OF CIVILIANSEVACUATION OF CIVILIANS

►SHOW OF FORCE/ SHOW OF FORCE/ REINFORCEMENTREINFORCEMENT

OTHER TASKSOTHER TASKS

►CONDUCT LANDINGS IN CONDUCT LANDINGS IN SUPPORT OF WITHDRAWING SUPPORT OF WITHDRAWING TROOPSTROOPS

►LIMITED OFFENSIVE ATTACKLIMITED OFFENSIVE ATTACK ►HOSTAGE RECOVERYHOSTAGE RECOVERY. . ►GAS AND OIL PLATFORM GAS AND OIL PLATFORM

OPERATIONS.OPERATIONS. ►HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCEHUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

LIMITATIONS AMPHIBIOUS LIMITATIONS AMPHIBIOUS FORCESFORCES

►SHIP TO SHORE MOVEMENTSHIP TO SHORE MOVEMENT LST(L), LST(M) AND LCUs LACK LST(L), LST(M) AND LCUs LACK

SPEED SPEED CAPACITY TO CARRY OUT CAPACITY TO CARRY OUT

VERTICAL ENVELOPMENT VERTICAL ENVELOPMENT MINIMAL. MINIMAL.

HARD BEACHING TO DISCHARGE HARD BEACHING TO DISCHARGE ARMOURARMOUR

VULNERABLEVULNERABLE

ARMY COMPONENT/ NEED ARMY COMPONENT/ NEED FOR RAISING MARINES?FOR RAISING MARINES?

►MOUNTAIN BRIGADE MINUS OF THE INDIAN MOUNTAIN BRIGADE MINUS OF THE INDIAN ARMY IS DESIGNATED AS THE AMPHIBIOUS ARMY IS DESIGNATED AS THE AMPHIBIOUS BRIGADE. BRIGADE.

► BASED IN PORT BLAIR UNDER ANC BASED IN PORT BLAIR UNDER ANC ► BATTALIONS CHANGED/ REPLACED EVERY BATTALIONS CHANGED/ REPLACED EVERY

TWO YEARS ON A STAGGERED BASISTWO YEARS ON A STAGGERED BASIS► ANOTHER BRIGADE IS KEPT STAND BY ON ANOTHER BRIGADE IS KEPT STAND BY ON

THE MAINLAND TO AUGMENT THE PORT THE MAINLAND TO AUGMENT THE PORT BLAIR BRIGADE SHOULD THE NEED ARISE. BLAIR BRIGADE SHOULD THE NEED ARISE.

LIMITATIONS AMPHIBIOUS LIMITATIONS AMPHIBIOUS SHIPSSHIPS

►LIMITED STAND OFF CAPABILTY 1-LIMITED STAND OFF CAPABILTY 1-2 NM2 NM

►LCAS/GEMINIS VULNERABLE IN LCAS/GEMINIS VULNERABLE IN SURF ZONESURF ZONE

►LIMITED SITES FOR HARD LIMITED SITES FOR HARD BEACHING BY LST(L)BEACHING BY LST(L)

►UNDERLOADING OF ENGINESUNDERLOADING OF ENGINES

LIMITATIONS - AAVLIMITATIONS - AAV

►AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT VEHICLE-AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT VEHICLE-BMP AND BDR FROM BMP AND BDR FROM MECHANIZED INFANTARYMECHANIZED INFANTARY

►INADEQUATE SEA KEEPING ABILITY INADEQUATE SEA KEEPING ABILITY ►VULNERABLE IN SURF ZONEVULNERABLE IN SURF ZONE►LIMITED OTH CAPABILTYLIMITED OTH CAPABILTY►GUN TOO LIGHTGUN TOO LIGHT►CG HOVERCRAFT – LCAC?CG HOVERCRAFT – LCAC?

ARMY COMPONENT/ NEED ARMY COMPONENT/ NEED FOR RAISING MARINES?FOR RAISING MARINES?

►STRETCHED ARMY - OP PARAKRAM, THE STRETCHED ARMY - OP PARAKRAM, THE AMPHIBIOUS BRIGADE MOBILIZED TO AMPHIBIOUS BRIGADE MOBILIZED TO THE WESTERN COMMAND. THE WESTERN COMMAND.

►THE TWO YEARLY CHANGES EFFECTS THE TWO YEARLY CHANGES EFFECTS TRAINING.TRAINING.

►TIME FOR CHANGE OVER BY THE TIME, TIME FOR CHANGE OVER BY THE TIME, INCOMING BATTALION GOES THROUGH INCOMING BATTALION GOES THROUGH THE TRAINING AND BECOMES THE TRAINING AND BECOMES PROFICIENTPROFICIENT

►

AMPHIBIOUS TRAININGAMPHIBIOUS TRAINING►NEEDNEED YEAR-ROUND TRAINING.YEAR-ROUND TRAINING.►TRAINING SEASONAL- WEATHER TRAINING SEASONAL- WEATHER

DEPENDENT DEPENDENT ►HIGH SKILLS- NEGOTIATION OF HIGH SKILLS- NEGOTIATION OF

‘SURF ZONE’ BY BMPS OR LCA ‘SURF ZONE’ BY BMPS OR LCA ►MUSTERING VARIED ASSETS OF MUSTERING VARIED ASSETS OF

COMPONENTS DIFFICULT. COMPONENTS DIFFICULT. ►NEED FOR DEDICATED NEED FOR DEDICATED

AMPHIBIOUS SCHOOL. AMPHIBIOUS SCHOOL.

INTELLIGENCEINTELLIGENCE

► MOST CRITICALMOST CRITICAL► AIR RECONNAISSANCE BY ARC, IAF, AIR RECONNAISSANCE BY ARC, IAF,

IN, CG RESOURCES INCLUDING UAV IN, CG RESOURCES INCLUDING UAV ► SATELLITESATELLITE► INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES LIKE RAW, INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES LIKE RAW,

IB , DIA AND SBS/NAVAL LIAISON IB , DIA AND SBS/NAVAL LIAISON TEAMSTEAMS

► SUBMARINE RECONNAISSANCESUBMARINE RECONNAISSANCE► SIGNIT AND COMINT SIGNIT AND COMINT

COMMAND CONTROL AND COMMAND CONTROL AND COMMUNICATIONSCOMMUNICATIONS

►SUCCESS DEPENDENT ON SUCCESS DEPENDENT ON C3C3

►‘‘LESSONS LEARNT ‘ FILES LESSONS LEARNT ‘ FILES OF AMPHEXES OF AMPHEXES

►INABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL INABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL SERVICES TO EXCHANGE SERVICES TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION LATERALLY INFORMATION LATERALLY

OPS- MAKRAN COASTOPS- MAKRAN COAST

► FAVORABLE SEA/ AIR SITUATION FAVORABLE SEA/ AIR SITUATION ► ROA OF FLEET AIR DEFENCEROA OF FLEET AIR DEFENCE► PAKISTANI SURVEILLANCE PAKISTANI SURVEILLANCE ► FALKLAND’S CAMPAIGN FALKLAND’S CAMPAIGN ► LOW SPEED- AMPHIBIOUS UNITS- A LOW SPEED- AMPHIBIOUS UNITS- A

CONSTRAINTCONSTRAINT► RAIDS, DECEPTION, OR OPENING A RAIDS, DECEPTION, OR OPENING A

NEW FRONT FOR ONGOING LAND NEW FRONT FOR ONGOING LAND OPERATIONS OPERATIONS

► HIGH WASTAGEHIGH WASTAGE► FORCE IN BEINGFORCE IN BEING

NAVAL GROWN MARINES ?

IS IT THE ANSWER

CREDIBLE AMPHIBIOUS CREDIBLE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE FORCE

►TREND- MODERN AMPHIBIOUS TREND- MODERN AMPHIBIOUS FORCES FORCES

►TASKS TASKS ►MARITIME INTERESTS GULF TO MARITIME INTERESTS GULF TO

MALACCA. MALACCA. ►BRIGADE STRENGTHBRIGADE STRENGTH

CREDIBLE AMPHIBIOUS CREDIBLE AMPHIBIOUS FORCEFORCE

►TWO LPD CAPABLE OF CARRYING TWO LPD CAPABLE OF CARRYING FOUR LCACS/ LCUSFOUR LCACS/ LCUS

►THREE LSL (L) WITH IMPROVED SPEED THREE LSL (L) WITH IMPROVED SPEED AND SHIP SIDE MEXEFLOTES AND SHIP SIDE MEXEFLOTES

►DETERMINE- LST (M) / LCUs AS PER A DETERMINE- LST (M) / LCUs AS PER A BRIGADE LEVEL TABLEBRIGADE LEVEL TABLE

►MODERN MEDIUM LIFT HEPTR (10 MODERN MEDIUM LIFT HEPTR (10 TONS)TONS)

FOOD FOR THOUGHTFOOD FOR THOUGHT

►VIRAAT- EX HERMES- HELO VIRAAT- EX HERMES- HELO CARRIERCARRIER

►OPERATE HEAVY/ATTACK OPERATE HEAVY/ATTACK HELOS OF IAFHELOS OF IAF

►PLAN AN EXERCISE IN A&N ?PLAN AN EXERCISE IN A&N ?