ADVANTAGE SUBMARINES

THE INDO-PACIFIC

Commodore A. Jai Singh, IN ( Retd)

Vice President,

Indian Maritime Foundation

ajaisingh59@gmail.com

THE TURTLE - 1776

“It is astounding to me,

perfectly astounding, how the

very best amongst us fail to

realise the vast impending

revolution in naval warfare

and naval strategy that the

submarine will accomplish”

Admiral ‘Jacky’ Fisher, 1904

“… underhand, unfair and

damned unEnglish” and

wanted to “treat all

submariners as pirates…and

hang all crews.”

Rear Adm AK Wilson, 1900

Submarines have come a

long way since then…

Revolution in Military Warfare

World War I –

unrestricted submarine warfare

World War II -

U-boat wolf-packs

Cold War - Deterrence

Evolution of ASW

• WW I - ASDIC , DEPTH CHARGES

• WW 2- SONAR, RADAR, EW, AIR ASW, MORTARS AND TORPEDOES

• COLD WAR – SOSUS, SURTASS, VDS, AIR ASW – DUNKING SONARS, SONOBUOYS, SMART TORPEDOES

• POST COLD WAR – SHALLOW WATER ASW, UUV,NCW, SAT IMAGERY, …TO NAME JUST A FEW.

SUBMARINES IN WARINS KHUKRI SUNK BY PNS HANGOR – INDO-PAK WAR 1971

BELGRANO SUNK BY HMS CONQUEROR – FALKLANDS 1982

PNS GHAZI SUNK OFF VIZAG -BAY OF BENGAL 1971

THE INDO PACIFIC

GEOPOLITICS OF THE INDO-PACIFIC

“The Asia-Pacific, or the Indo-Pacific, as it is sometimes called -- is ageo-politically highly charged area. It is a place where strategicswagger mixes with diplomatic caution; where solemn proclamationsof principle intermingle with selective breaches of norms. It is aregion where military modernisation invites an action-reactiondynamic that operates without the constraint of formal arms controlarrangements or the calming comforts of established confidencebuilding measures. It is a place where regional institutions abound,and national competition remains fierce. There is domesticinstability, international tension and suspicion, and all the while, thehighest priority put on continuing the Asian economic miracle thatcould bring so much prosperity to people here and indeed across theglobe.”

Dr John Chipman at the Shangrila Dialogue 2014.

STRATEGIC MISSILE SUBMARINES

• STRATEGIC DETERRENCE

• CREDIBLE SECOND STRIKE

CAPABILITY

• EXTENDED PRESENCE AT SEA

ATTACK SUBMARINES

• POTENT FORCE MULTIPLIER

• INTEGRAL TO BLUE WATER CAPABILITY

• ENDURANCE, FLEXIBILITY, MOBILITY, REACH

• PRECISION STRIKE AT STAND OFF RANGES

• DELIVER EFFECT IN SUPPORT OF LAND OPS

CONVENTIONAL S/Ms

‘TEETH’ OF THE NAVY

THE INDO -PACIFIC

• TWO EMERGING ECONOMIC GIANTS

• CHINESE MARITIME RESURGENCE

- DOMINATION OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

THE 9 – DASH LINE

- INDIAN OCEAN IS NOT INDIA’S OCEAN

- AA/AD STRATEGY AND BLUNT RESPONSE

• US REBALANCE TO THE ASIA -PACIFIC

• RESURGENCE OF GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY PLUS

THE INDO-PACIFIC

• WEST ASIAN CAULDRON

• INHERENT POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND VULNERABILITY TO INIMICAL FORCES

• COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES

• POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICT AND ARMS RACE ?

• SECOND COLD WAR ?

CAPABILITY TO DELIVER EFFECT

HIGH SPEED AND ENDURANCE

MISSILE AND TORPEDO ARMED

SHALLOW WATER OPS

ISR

CLANDESTINE AND SPL OPS

REDEPLOYABLE

SECOND STRIKE

OTHT

THE NUCLEAR CONUNDRUM

• SIX OF TEN IN ASIA

• EXISTENTIAL NECESSITY FOR SOME

• UNCERTAIN TRIPWIRE

• AGGRESSIVE RHETORIC

• ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP

• HENCE SECOND STRIKE CAPABILITY ESSENTIAL

THE ASW SCENARIO

• ADVANTAGEOUS TO SUBMARINES

• RANGE ADVANTAGE FOR DETECTION, MANOEUVRE AND ATTACK

• INADEQUATE REACTION TIME FOR SHIPS

• IS SURFACE ASW THEREFORE PASSE ?

THE ASW SCENARIO

• THE SURFACE ADVANTAGE

• CONCENTRATION OF FORCE

• NETWORK CENTRIC WARFARE

• IMPROVED WEAPONS AND SENSORS

• IN’s FOCUS ON SURFACE ASW

3 x PROJECT 15A- KOLKATTA – 16 AUG 14

4 x PROJECT 28- KAMORTA-23 AUG 14

16 x SHALLOW WATER ASW CRAFT

LATEST WEAPONS – SEA HAKE MOD4 ER – 140 km range

SEA SPIDER – Anti-Torpedo Torpedo

THE AIR ASW SCENARIO

• MAJOR THREAT TO A S/M – ROTARY AND FIXED WING

• RANDOM DUNKING AND SONOBUOY PATTERNS

• SMALLER AREA – LARGER TOT

• SHALLOW WATER – S/M VULNERABLE TO VISUAL AND SENSOR DETECTION

• DATA LINK AND NCW ENHANCE ASW DETECTION CAPABILITY AT STAND OFF RANGES

…For the ASW Fraternity

ONE SARDINE TO ANOTHER AS A SUBMARINE PASSES BY-

“THERE GOES OUR REVENGE ON THE HUMAN RACE-A GROUP OF MEN IN A TIN CAN, CLOSELY PACKED TOGETHER AND COVERED IN OIL!”