Underwater warriors of the Indian Navy

The Indian Navy has a formidable fleet of surface and underwater vessels. Each vessel has its own role and task. Today we dive into the deep realm of submarines and discover how the Indian Navy operates and patrols the depths of the ocean.

Over the years the Indian Navy has tested and enhanced its fleet with the Arihant Class-nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine (6,000 tons), Shishumar Class-attack submarine (1,850 tons), Shindhughosh-Class submarine (3,076 tons) and the Kalvari-Class submarine (1,775 tons).

The submarine is a super stealth weapon to wield sea denial. It also acts as a stealthy strategic nuclear deterrent. Submariners will endorse that water as a medium is largely opaque to most of the electromagnetic spectrum except the very low frequency segment. This makes it the medium most suitable for patrolling at submerged depths, unobserved. Sound waves are the best form of energy with which to search and track an enemy surface ship. The sound waves in water and their refraction characteristics helps a naval submarine to hear an enemy surface ship approaching from miles away.

The INS Arihant (Sanskrit meaning Vanquisher of Enemies), designated S2 Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine, is the lead ship of India’s Arihant Class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The formidable 6,000 ton vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in the port city of Visakhapatnam. The Arihant was launched on July 26, 2009, the anniversary of Vijay Diwas (Kargil War Victory Day) by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. On February 23, 2016, she was confirmed as ready for operations, commissioned in August 2016, and deployed operationally in 2018.

Helicopter drill in progress.

The vessel is powered by an 83 MW pressurized light-water reactor with enriched uranium fuel. Her crew is made up of 100 officers and sailors. The Arihant submarine has four vertical launch tubes, which can carry 12 (three per launch tube) smaller K-15 missiles or four larger K-4 missiles. The K-4 has a longer range of 3,500 km (2,200 mi), and had commenced trials in 2014. On December 13, 2014, the Arihant sailed north along the Bay of Bengal coast for its extensive sea trials. The successful completion of a deterrent patrol by India’s first ballistic missile nuclear submarine (SSBN), the INS Arihant marked the operationalization of the sea-based leg of India’s nuclear deterrence capability. From a strategic perspective, this capability represents a quantum leap in India’s quest to realize its potential as an emerging global power which constructs and operates nuclear submarines.

The sea trials included the firing of the indigenous submarine-launched Sagarika ballistic missile. On November 25, 2015, an unarmed Sagarika missile was successfully test-fired from the Arihant. The submarine then underwent further extensive sea trials, which were completed by early February 2016.

The Sagarika also known by the code name K-15 is an Indian submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) with a range of 750 kilometres that was designed for retaliatory nuclear strikes. It belongs to the K Missile family and forms a part of India’s nuclear triad. The development of the underwater missile launcher, known as Project 420, was completed in 2001 and handed over to the Indian Navy for trials. The missile launcher is developed at Hazira in Gujarat. The Sagarika missile began integration with India’s nuclear-powered Arihant-Class submarine. The longer the range of the missile, the larger is the operating radius of the submarine and greater the ability to deliver a debilitating second strike while enhancing its invulnerability to detection and counter attack.

The INS Kalvari (S21) is the first of the six indigenous Scorpene-Class submarines currently in service with the Indian Navy. It is a diesel-electric attack submarine which is designed by DCNS (French naval defence and Energy Company) and was manufactured at Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai. She has a sea endurance of 50 days. Her crew consists of eight officers and 35 sailors. The underwater destroyer inherits its name from INS Kalvari (S23) which served in the Indian Navy from 1967 to 1996. Kalvari is the Malayalam word for tiger shark, a deep-sea predator in the Indian Ocean. The name symbolizes agility, strength and predatory power. The ship’s motto is ‘Ever Onward’ which represents the submarine’s zeal and indomitable spirit. This submarine has a range of 6,500 nautical miles. Its deadly armament includes torpedoes, missiles and mines.

The Shishumar-Class vessels are diesel-electric attack submarines, currently in active service with the Indian Navy. These submarines are an Indian variant of the Type 209 submarines developed by the German yard Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft (HDW) under the internal designation Type 1500. The first two vessels were built by HDW in Kiel, while the remainder was built at Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai, under a technology transfer agreement.

The submarines were commissioned between 1986 and 1994. These submarines have a displacement of 1,660 tons when surfaced, a speed of 22 knots (41 km/h), and a complement of 40 including eight officers.

The Shindhughosh-Class submarines are Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines in active service with the Indian Navy. The submarines have a displacement of 3,000 tons, a maximum diving depth of 300 metres, and a top speed of 18 knots. They have a sea endurance of being able to operate solo for 45 days with a crew of 53.

Part of the process of keeping the crew onboard motivated involves feeding them with fresh meals. Cooking is done in a small galley (kitchen) in comparison to surface ships. Navy chefs onboard have a huge responsibility – the meals produced, vegetarian and non-vegetarian, must be nutritious and tasty. Everyone eats the same food – there is no preference for officers onboard. Being a submariner is a dangerous business. A build-up of hydrogen and other gases in the submarines battery pits can potentially be lethal. A small spark can trigger an explosion that can destroy the boat and weaponry – missiles, torpedoes and mines. Safety is the buzzword in this submerged realm.

The Indian Navy Submarine School is INS Satavahana, commissioned in December 1974. This is where aspiring submariners train. This training establishment known as the ‘Alma Mater of Dolphins’ comprises the Submarine School, Escape Training School (ETS) and Advanced Underwater Warfare School. The Escape Training School teaches submariners to safely escape from a disabled or sunken submarine. During training, escapes are simulated in darkness, and trainees have to pass through hatches which are flooded to prepare for a real-life challenge. They must overcome all fear. In the dark depths of the ocean it’s all about teamwork and trust. The submariners of the Indian Navy life by three words: duty, honour and victory. These men don’t ride the waves, but boldly sail beneath. They are the underwater warriors of the Indian Navy.

(The writer wishes to thank the Defence Wing of the Indian High Commission, Colombo.)