Indian Navy’s Modernization for Undersea Operations

Context:

The Indian Navy aims to enhance the capabilities of its Marine Commandos (MARCOS) for special undersea operations through the acquisition of indigenously-made swimmer delivery vehicles, also referred to as underwater chariots and midget submarines.

Relevance:

GS III: Defence and Security Challenges

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Navy’s Acquisition Plans for Indigenous Undersea Chariots
2. Marine Commandos (MARCOS)
3. The Chariots in Naval Operations

Navy’s Acquisition Plans for Indigenous Undersea Chariots

Key Features:

• Crew Capacity:
  • Undersea chariots designed to carry a crew of at least six members.
• Power Source:
  • Propulsion powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries.

Operational Advantages:

• Increased Size:
  • Larger size of delivery vehicles facilitates the transport of bigger cylinders by divers.

• Extended Underwater Stay:
  • Longer operational durations underwater due to enhanced cylinder capacity.
• Improved Operational Range:
  • Overall operational range in shallow waters extended.

Enhanced Capabilities:

• Weapon Carriage:
  • Larger chariot dimensions allow for the carriage of additional weapons.

Indigenous Production:

• Made in India:
  • Emphasis on indigenous manufacturing for undersea chariots.

Marine Commandos (MARCOS)

Overview:

• Special Operations Force:
  • Formed by the Indian Navy, MARCOS specializes in air, water, and land operations.
• Establishment:
  • Founded in February 1987.
• Alternate Name:
  • Also known as the Marine Commando Force (MCF).

Modeling After Elite Units:

• Inspiration:
  • Modeled after the elite units such as the US Navy SEALs and the Royal Marines.

Functions:

• Diverse Operations:
  • Trained to conduct a variety of operations encompassing air, water, and land domains.
• Specialized Roles:
  • Proficient in:
    • Maritime and amphibious warfare.
    • Counter-terrorism operations.
    • Unconventional warfare.
    • Rescue missions.
    • Reconnaissance.
    • Raids.
• Swift Response:
  • Capable of a swift and stealthy response in denied territories.

The Chariots in Naval Operations

Overview:

• Specialized Platforms:
  • Chariots are highly specialized self-propelled vehicles used by advanced navies worldwide.
• Launch Capability:
  • Launched from ships or submarines based on size and designated roles.
• Historical Reference:
  • In World War II, manned human torpedoes were referred to as chariots.

Functionality:

• Shallow-Water Operations:
  • Especially useful for naval operations in shallow waters.

• Mission Range:
  • Suitable for various missions, including shallow-water surveillance and attacking coastal installations and adversary ships in harbors.
• Access to Restricted Areas:
  • Enables marine commandos to access areas close to adversary harbors that submarines cannot reach due to shallow waters.
• Transportation of Equipment:
  • Facilitates the transportation of weapons and equipment to operational areas.

Usage in India:

• Limited Public Information:
  • Limited publicly available information on the swimmer delivery vehicles used by the Indian Navy.
• Historical Use:
  • Some sources suggest the use of Italian-made chariots by the Navy for several years.
• Indigenous Production:
  • In 2012, the Ministry of Defence directed Hindustan Shipyard Limited to build two submarines of this type.

-Source: Indian Express