Raising the Indian Marines

Adux

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Joint Amphibious Warfare Conference
Col. Ravi Tuteja
Dy Director, CLAWS
[email protected]
General

A conference on "Joint Amphibious Warfare" was held at HQ Southern Command, Pune on 19 and 20 Jan 2009. The conference was co-hosted by HQ Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), HQ Southern Command and the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi. The keynote address was delivered by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen Deepak Kapoor, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM on 19 Jan 2009. The COAS was also the Chief Guest for the conference. The conference covered strategic issues on the first day and operational issues on the second day. Salient aspects discussed during the conference are given in succeeding paragraphs.

Inaugural Session

The inaugural session commenced with the GOC-in-C Southern Command Lt Gen Pradeep Khanna, AVSM, VSM, giving the opening address and the COAS giving the keynote address. Salient aspects of these addresses are as follows: -

Inaugural Address by GOC-in-C Southern Command. Salient points were as follows: -

"¢ India stands at the crossroads of greatness due to the gradual shift of power from the West to the East and the rapidly changing global economic situation. India is aspiring to gain her rightful position in the new world order.
"¢ Without the ability to project power on foreign shores the might of a nation remains largely ineffective.
"¢ Two major recent events have resulted in India taking the first small step in acquiring the ability of power projection. These are:
- Acquisition of INS Jalashwa by the Indian Navy.
- Nomination of an army brigade as an amphibious brigade.
"¢ The above capability will enable India to develop the capability to project power in the Indian Ocean region (IOR) as also develop an Out of Area Contingency (OOAC) capability.
"¢ The capability will be validated through a series of exercises and conversion training to give India a true amphibious capability.
"¢ However, there is need to develop a uniquely Indian concept that emphasises the importance of 'jointness' for amphibious warfare and one that is applicable at the strategic, operational and tactical level.

Keynote Address by COAS:

Salient points of the keynote address by the COAS were as follows:

"¢ The IOR is of very great strategic importance given that 80% of world trade and 70% of world oil crosses this ocean. In addition, drug trafficking through the IOR is the highest in the world. With countries of the littoral being nuclear capable and also having the largest standing armies, the IOR has a high degree of turbulence built into it.
"¢ The security environment that India finds itself in vis-à-vis the IOR is most challenging and one in which India's security concerns can best be served by extending her security perimeter and achieving a position of strategic influence.
"¢ India has 1,500 island territories on both the Western and Eastern seaboard. Some of these islands are as far as 1500 km from the mainland. Defence of these islands has a direct bearing on India's amphibious warfare capability.
"¢ Creation of an amphibious task force for India is an imperative given India's centrality in the IOR. An amphibious capability that is maintained at a high state of operational readiness will provide India a high degree of strategic deterrence. This capability must have the inherent ability to graduate from a threat in being to intervention, should the situation so require at short notice.
"¢ The present capability is in a nascent stage and needs to be developed in consonance with the 'Joint Amphibious Warfare Doctrine' that has been issued by HQ IDS.
"¢ 'Jointness' is in the very nature of amphibious operations. The three Services need to synergise their actions and achieve results in the true spirit of jointness.
"¢ The importance of the IOR will only grow with time as trade increases and more and more oil flows through it. Any change in the security environment in the IOR will directly impinge on India's national interests and, hence, it is in India's interest to create a potent amphibious capability.

Session I (Chairperson: Dr. Gautam Sen):

Ambassador Leela Ponappa, Deputy National Security Advisor: Emerging Global Security Environment with Reference to India's Immediate and Strategic Neighbourhood.

"¢ India's immediate strategic neighbourhood comprises 11 countries with which India shares land and sea borders. These are:

- By land and by sea – Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
- By land alone – China, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan.
- By sea alone – Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia and Thailand.

"¢ India's larger strategic neighbourhood comprises the Gulf countries, East Africa, South East Asia and Central Asia. In the maritime dimension the Mediterranean also falls in India's larger strategic neighbourhood. Later in 2009 all countries with sea shores have to file claims with regard to the extent of the continental shelf in their regions.
"¢ In addition India's interests also extend to the large Indian Diaspora that is spread all over the world.
"¢ As threats become more global in nature, the concept of a 'nation state' is becoming more and more irrelevant. Borders have become defunct not only due to the global reach of terrorists and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) but also, as has been shown by the global economic meltdown, because no country can remain immune to such events.
"¢ Hence, nations are faced with conflicting requirements since on the one hand, are issues of security of the 'nation state' which has defined borders, and on the other hand, are issues sans borders which make matters even more complex.
"¢ An analysis of the political and military situation of countries in India's immediate neighbourhood and also that of India's larger strategic neighbourhood points to the centrality of Asia as the future centre of gravity of interests for the rest of the world.

- The US has invested heavily in the region with Japan and Philippines as military bases and the Fifth Fleet in the Gulf. Now with the creation of the Africa Command, US interests in the region are emerging clearly.
- China is already in the IOR with increasing presence in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. It has also shown interest in East African nations.
- Russia is working on an East-West – North-South axis and securing its needs for energy and natural resources.

"¢ While India needs to continuously increase its cooperation and training with other countries, India must make its own decisions with regard to safeguarding its security and national interests.
"¢ India needs to develop the "Power of Connectivity" – which implies ensuring secure energy supplies either through the IOR or through pipelines. There is a need to study what China is doing in Central Asia and see how transit can be used as an element of power.
"¢ India also needs to develop "Effective Delivery" – which implies strong internal cohesion to deal with cross border aspects as they impinge on national security.
"¢ India's maritime security is currently the buzzword post the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. This can only be achieved with true 'jointness' amongst all agencies.

Rear Admiral Raja Menon (Retd): Geo-strategic Importance and Current International Involvement in the Indian Ocean Region

"¢ The days of state to state conflict are over.
"¢ The world is divided into two groups of nations. These are: -
- The 'functioning core' of nations that is responsible for 85% of the world GDP.
- The 'non-integrated group' of nations mainly in Central Asia and Africa that are internally mismanaged with genocide being a state policy. In the IOR except for India and SE Asia all other nations are part of this group. For such nations war is an option as war does not hurt them.
"¢ However, for the functioning core war is more painful than the loss of a few hundred people in a terrorist strike.
"¢ In the context of Amphibious Warfare, an amphibious warfare capability for India is required not merely because there is a threat from the seas. It is required as India being a regional power will get dragged into a conflict situation that is created due to extraneous factors.
"¢ The largest Indian Ocean power is the United States. This has had the following effects: -
- Status quo in the Middle East is guaranteed by the US because of Israel.
- It is in US interest that oil continues to flow through the Indian Ocean at current levels and rates.
- The US is the balancing power between the Shias and the Sunnis.
- India will need to cooperate with the US to keep China out of the IOR.

"¢ India will also need to co-opt Japan into its IOR strategy given Japan's economic might.
"¢ Today neither the Himalayas in the North nor the oceans in the South constitute barriers. Hence, India needs to formulate strategies that will protect its interests at all times.
"¢ Geo-politically and geo-strategically, India is at the threshold of transformation and, hence, India needs to re-assert itself as a regional power.

Discussion:

"¢ There is a need to enunciate rules of engagement against pirates on the high seas. For this an international consensus on maritime security needs to be given impetus.
"¢ Afghanistan will continue to remain in turmoil. Countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran do not want to fully involve themselves in Afghanistan.
"¢ There is possibility of the Central Asian Republics coming together to fight terrorism at the behest of Russia.
"¢ Given the myriad problems that beset Pakistan, it is difficult to predict the future of Pakistan. However, there is a growing concern of the spread of Taliban in that country.
"¢ India is emerging as a major power in the calculus of the global strategic balance. It is thus mandatory for India to develop the potential to use force when needed.

Session II (Chairperson: Rear Admiral Raja Menon (Retd)

Dr S Kondapalli: Increased International Rivalry in Indian Ocean Region

"¢ The Indian Ocean is the third largest Ocean – it covers 20 percent of global ocean surface.
"¢ 8% of global GDP and 12 % of global trade (30 countries) originates from this region.
"¢ Whoever controls the Indian Ocean will dominate Asia. This ocean is the key to the seven seas in the 21st century; the destiny of the world will be decided in these waters.
"¢ Globalisation process has enhanced maritime trade and attendant security concerns. (SLOCs, Piracy, Environmental, drugs, smuggling issues)
"¢ 40% of global offshore oil production is from the Indian Ocean. Half of the world's containerised cargo, one third of its bulk cargo and two thirds of world oil shipments pass through the Indian Ocean.
"¢ Diego Garcia is a major US base in the Indian Ocean. However, the island is on lease from Mauritius up to 2016. Mauritius wants the island back from the US then. US will have to find ways to dominate the Indian Ocean thereafter.
"¢ China has plans to enter into the IOR in a big way by pushing its string of pearls policy vigourously.
"¢ Sino-Pak naval cooperation includes transfers of Romeo class conventional submarine, Jiangwei frigates, Hainan class, Huangfen-class, Hegu-class, Huzhuan-class FACs and ship-to-ship missiles and systems. Four F-22P will be transferred by 2013.
"¢ China is continuing to pursue joint naval exercises with Pakistan, Vietnam and Myanmar.
"¢ From February 2001, the Indian policy from the Persian Gulf to Malacca Straits has been to ensure smooth maritime trade without undue interference to SLOCs.
"¢ The Indian Navy has also had exercises in the South China Sea, with Vietnam, China, ASEAN countries and also in the Pacific.
"¢ India would like to safeguard its energy investments in Sakhalin.

Brig Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd): India's Response to Security Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region

"¢ Conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan has resulted in enhanced presence of naval forces in the IOR.
"¢ China's PLA Navy has plans to operate in IOR – ostensibly to guard its SLOCs.
"¢ China is creating client states around India (Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Pakistan). These countries are dependent on it for their major arms purchases. It is building ports at Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (Sri Lanka) and in Myanmar and Maldives.
"¢ China is attempting to confine India to the backwaters of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
"¢ As India faces a complex strategic scenario in an increasingly unstable regional neighbourhood, India must encourage a cooperative model of regional security.
"¢ India should be willing to work jointly with littoral states of IOR and major powers to maintain security and stability.
"¢ Response Strategies by India should have the following:
"žX Joint patrolling of SLOCs and anti-piracy operations with friendly navies.
"žX Initiate international data base of all shipping in IOR based on port, sea, air and space surveillance, with joint control and analysis.
"žX Initiate regular security dialogue with IOR countries.
"žX Join PSI and CSI initiatives, subject to Indian concerns being addressed.
"žX Enhance maritime cooperation: joint exercises, sharing of experiences, logistics support.
"žX As a present-day regional power and an aspiring global power of tomorrow, India must gear up militarily to discharge its responsibilities in the IOR.
"žX The immediate requirement is to raise one Rapid Reaction division by 2015. This should comprise one amphibious brigade, two air assault brigades; ancillary logistics; matching firepower resources; and, strategic airlift and sea lift.
"žX Another Rapid Reaction Division should be raised by 2022.

"¢ India should also consider forming an "Asian Maritime Force" along with other navies of the region for immediate deployment to face a common threat.

Session III (Chairperson: Vice Admiral SCS Bangara (Retd)

Rear Admiral (Retd) Raja Menon: Present and Future Military Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.

"¢ Navies all over the world are building ships for humanitarian assistance which can also be used for amphibious warfare.
"¢ Without state involvement in planning and execution the Mumbai attack could not have been carried out.
"¢ However, like the Parliament attack and the attack on Kaluchak, there was no response by India. The escalatory process has to be controlled by placing the choice of escalation with the other side. In all the three cases the choice of escalation was not transferred to Pakistan.
"¢ There is a need for raising a transnational special force that has integrated helicopters with night flying capability. For command and control of this force there is a need to raise a Special Forces Command so that a response can be quick and surgical and the choice of escalation is shifted to the other side.
"¢ Pakistan will keep signaling that its nuclear threshold is low but that actually is not the case.
"¢ An amphibious warfare capability will be a credible deterrent against any repeat of a Mumbai type attack.
"¢ Creation of an Amphibious Corps will give India the capability to completely outflank the entire Pakistan land defences and land on the Makaran coast.
"¢ An amphibious warfare capability will also deter China from attacking Arunachal Pradesh given that India will be able to choke its oil flow from the Indian Ocean.

Maj Gen (Retd) GD Bakshi, SM, VSM: Credible Deterrence and Force Structure

"¢ Deterrence is primarily a mind game.
"¢ The threat must be unambiguous and communicable. The adversary must be convinced about the existence of the threat.
"¢ The threat must be credible. Credibility is a function of capability and intent. The political will to carry out the threat must be clearly evident (reputation for resolve).
"¢ Post Mumbai there is an urgent need to refurbish India's military image and political willingness to use force as an instrument of policy.
"¢ A force structure must emerge from a vision of the operational objectives to be achieved and tasks to be accomplished.
"¢ Proposed Force Structure should comprise of the following: -
"žX A Joint Special Forces Command.
"žX A Joint Out of Area Contingency Command with an Air Assault Division and a Marine Division.
"žX The Air Assault Division would comprise an Air Assault Brigade, a Para Brigade and an Air Mobile Brigade.
"žX A Marine Division would comprise two Marine Brigades (BMP based with ACVs and Jet Powered Ships) and a Heliborne Brigade (Tilt Rotor/ALH based on LPD/Helicopter Carrier).

"¢ Forward basing will be required as under:
o Maldives. Secure basing facilities at Gan for a battalion group. Could be in the form of IMTRAT-type training mission. Base MR Aircraft with Anti Ship Missiles and Torpedoes.
o Oman Sultan Qaboos had expressed desire for basing an Indian contingent in Oman. An IMTRAT-type facility could also be set up here.
o Vietnam. Seek basing facilities for Indian Naval ships and Aircraft at Camh Ran Bay if China gets the same at Gwadar.
o Nicobar. Raise and deploy a second 'navalised' Jaguar Squadron at Nicobar.

Commodore BS Ahluwalia, Director, Indian Naval Tactical Evaluation Group (INTEG), HQ Western Naval Command: Expeditionary Warfare: Strategic Imperatives and Capability Development

"¢ Strategic Imperatives are as follows:
"žX Proliferation of non-traditional threats.
"žX Securing islands and ensuring security of islands.
"žX Emerging threats from non-state actors.
"žX Protect resources in EEZ.
"žX Safety and security of Indian nationals abroad.
"žX Assistance to friendly nations.
"žX Support operations under United Nations.
"žX Non-combatant evacuation operations.
"žX Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
"¢ Required capability that should be developed is as under:
"žX A division level amphibious force with one brigade on grey hull. The division to have integral armour, artillery, engineers and air defence.
"žX High speed amphibious vessels for sea lift.
"žX Faster ship to shore transfer using LCAC and direct transfer of troops to the objective using VSTOL.
"žX Integral strike and AD assets.
"žX Integrated logistics.
"žX Dovetailing of auxiliary lift capability with merchant shipping.

Air Vice Marshal S Matheswaran, AOC, Maritime Air Operations (MAO): Air Support for Amphibious Operations in Conventional and Out Of Area Contingency Scenarios

"¢ Amphibious warfare is a highly complex operation. It requires synergy between Army, Navy & AF from the very beginning. This will require regular joint planning, joint training and joint exercises.
"¢ Air power can be very effectively used to gain strategic balance in the IOR. It also contributes to confidence building measures (CBMs) amongst the smaller states in the littoral.
"¢ Force structures for the AF need to cater for amphibious operations with greater priority on the Western sea board and relatively lesser priority on the Eastern Sea board.
"¢ AF can provide the air lift for retrieval of an island territory that may have been taken over by external forces.
"¢ Presently there is no expeditionary capability with India to cover large distances.
"¢ Most developed nations have adopted the concept of induction of sizeable forces by air initially, which is followed up by additional forces by sea.
"¢ A parachute battalion needs 7-8 IL-76 and 32 AN-32 ac to be airlifted.
"¢ The modernisation plans of the AF have taken into account full maritime operations capability. Enhancing the present air lift capability has also been planned. Contract for six C-130 Hercules aircraft for airlift of SF battalions has been signed and these should be inducted in the next four to five years.
"¢ Air-to-air refueling capabilities are also being enhanced. AWACS are also being inducted by the end of 2009.

Lt Gen Satish Nambiar (Retd): Forced and Benign Intervention: Overview of Out Of Area Contingency in the Indian Context

"¢ There is a need for India to get its political, economic and diplomatic act together.
"¢ If we do not want a war, we must develop the capability to deter even China from undertaking any misadventure against us.
"¢ The military establishment should resist getting involved in the Naxalite menace.
"¢ India's immediate neighbourhood is engulfed with conflict and some countries are saddled with latent conflict situations. Even the extended neighbourhood and the African continent have marked instability.
"¢ International community has by and large agreed that national sovereignty cannot be absolute in case of failed states/failing states where the international community will need to act. This can be either under a UN mandate (benign) or even by force.
"¢ India is more than likely to be called to lead a multinational force which may enter a country under a bilateral/trilateral or even a multilateral arrangement.
"¢ Hence, India needs to plan on these lines and be prepared to do so when necessary. Only then can India assume the role of a regional power.
"¢ There is case for India to develop, train and maintain a rapid reaction task force for intervention/stabilization/peace keeping. This force has to be a multi dimensional tri service task force that must operate under a 'Joint Operations Command' or a 'Strategic Command'. The force must also have representation from civil affairs, human rights, civil police and diplomatic corps.
"¢ The composition of this is force could be as follows:

"¢ Army Component.

"žX A Force HQ (may be on the lines of a Corps HQ)
"žX A parachute brigade.
"žX A light air transportable armoured brigade.
"žX An amphibious brigade.
"žX Air transportable infantry brigade.
"žX Army aviation, assault engineers, communications and logistics units.

"žX Naval Component.

"žX Aircraft carrier.
"žX INS Jalashwa.
"žX Appropriate surface and sub-surface crafts.
"žX Aerial maritime capability.

"žX AF Component.

"žX Strike aircraft.
"žX Helicopters.
"žX Strategic airlift capability.

"žX Special Forces Component.

"žX Appropriate number of Special Forces units.
"žX This component should also include MARCOS.

"žX Civilian Component. Diplomatic personnel /civil affairs personnel/police personnel/etc.

"žX There is a need to set up joint working groups comprising diplomats and selected military personnel to interact at international level in multilateral forms like UN/NATO/ASEAN/GCC.
"žX There is also a need to exchange data of trouble spots in various parts of the Indian Ocean region and the world. For this the necessary mechanisms for consultations need to be put in place. Also there is a need to incorporate the US in this mechanism as the US is the biggest power in the IOR.
"žX Training of the senior military leadership for a regional role will need to be carried out for undertaking operations in a multinational environment. Also, training of the staff officers will need to be planned afresh.
"žX For India be taken seriously as a regional power the above actions need to taken urgently.


Col Balraj Mehta, HQ Andaman & Nicobar Command: Sub-conventional Aspects of Amphibious Warfare

"žX Fuelled by the Soviet misadventure in Afghanistan and the American reaction to it, religious fundamentalism has taken on a menacing form.
"žX Non-state actors have over the years become more organised and capable of resisting the might of nation states.
"žX A sub-conventional threat could emerge from shadow organisations supported covertly by another country; terrorist organisations; separatist forces demanding regional sovereignty/ autonomy; crime syndicates with interest in drug/gun running and organised gangs of pirates out to make quick profit from the trade flowing through the IOR.
"žX Unless concerted efforts are made to harness the capability of all the ocean going countries under a regional forum or under the UN sanction, no shipping can be considered safe.
"žX Sub conventional threats could take the form of any one of the scenarios described below or a combination thereof:

o Slow infiltration of society by illegal immigration and establishment of pockets of sympathisers.

"žX Occupation of isolated islands.

"žX Start of an uprising over local issues which could be upgraded to an insurgency.

"žX Destruction of inland infrastructure including terror attacks on population.

"žX Sabotage activities against the offshore infrastructure including drilling platforms, pipelines etc.

"žX Sneak attacks on trade and naval ships while in the harbours or while out at sea, during peace as well as war time.

"žX Hostage situation on offshore platforms, outlying islands or even in the main administrative centres.

"žX Pollution of maritime environment by oil slicks, dirty bombs etc.

"žX Blockage of SLOCs by sinking a large vessel near the mouth of or in the SLOCs.
"žX Militarily any strategy to prevent such occurrence lies in domination and neutralisation.
"žX The organisational capability to detect, prevent and neutralise such threats will have to be strengthened by suitably modifying existing security structures and raising new units and sub units where required.
"žX Training of security forces to deal with such contingencies is crucial to ensure a high probability of success with little or no collateral damage.

Conclusion:

The two-day conference on Joint Amphibious Warfare in the Indian Ocean Region threw up a number of issues which need to be incorporated in planning and implementation at the appropriate levels. The conference also brought into sharp focus the importance of the IOR for India and also the fact that only a credible amphibious warfare capability can help realise India's dream of truly becoming a regional power.

The Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) will follow up on the issues thrown up in this conference with additional discussions and commissioned studies so as to make policy recommendations for consideration by the government ministries concerned and the three Services.

(Report Compiled by Col Ravi Tuteja, Deputy Director, CLAWS)
The Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS)

This is a very important thread for us, it seems India is being serious about it.
 

Adux

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This is US Marine Force Combat Structure

Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF)
A Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) comprises a MEF Headquarters Group, Marine Division, Marine Air Wing and Marine Logistics Group. For example, the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) is composed of a headquarters element, the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and the 1st Marine Logistics Group, all based on the West Coast. Two notable deployments of an entire MEF were when I Marine Expeditionary Force deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I MEF ultimately consisted of the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions as well as considerable Marine air and support units. I MEF also deployed to Somalia in December 1992 for the humanitarian relief effort there as well as deploying to Kuwait beginning in 2002 and taking part in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.
The three Marine Expeditionary Forces are:
I Marine Expeditionary Force located at Camp Pendleton, California
II Marine Expeditionary Force located at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
III Marine Expeditionary Force located at Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan
[edit]Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB)
A Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) is larger than a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) but smaller than a MEF. The MEB, which varies in size, is capable of conducting missions across the full range of military operations. It is constructed around a reinforced infantry regiment, a composite Marine aircraft group, and a brigade service support group. The MEB, commanded by a general officer (usually a Major General or sometimes a Brigadier General), is task-organized to meet the requirements of a specific situation. It can function as part of a joint task force, as the lead echelon of the MEF, or alone.
1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade
2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade
3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade
[edit]Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)
The smallest type of MAGTF is the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) (Special Operations Capable) (SOC). The command element is the standing headquarters for the MEU, usually headed by a colonel. The ground combat element is a battalion landing team (BLT), which is composed of an infantry battalion reinforced with tanks, artillery, engineers, amphibious vehicles, light armored vehicles, and other ground combat assets. The air combat element is composed of a composite squadron of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft and an Air Traffic Control (ATC) and command and control detachment. The combat service support element consists of a Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) which handles the logistics and administration needs of the MEU. The makeup of the MEU can be customized as situations require; additional artillery, armor, or air units can be attached, including squadrons of F/A-18 Hornet and Harrier jets.
There are usually three MEUs assigned to each of the U.S. Navy Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, with another MEU based on Okinawa. While one MEU is on deployment, one MEU is training to deploy and one is standing down, resting its Marines, and refitting. Each MEU is rated as capable of performing special operations.
11th Marine Expeditionary Unit
13th Marine Expeditionary Unit
15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
[edit]
 

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A Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF) that is constructed around an infantry battalion reinforced, a helicopter squadron reinforced, and a task-organized combat service support element.
 

Kunal Biswas

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Love to see Indian Marines / Indian Naval Infantry to protecting Andaman And Nicobar and other places..

To me it should be under Navy not as a separate branch..
 

Adux

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Love to see Indian Marines / Indian Naval Infantry to protecting Andaman And Nicobar and other places..

To me it should be under Navy not as a separate branch..
Agreed, Since our mid-term and short term operations will be in the IOR, we might not need the full combat capability of the similar US Force. Anyways, since they are good model to study, This is their ESG

Expeditionary Strike Group


Expeditionary Strike Group Three flotilla
Recently, MEUs have been deployed within an Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) in the Mediterranean, the Western Pacific, and periodically, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. An ESG is typically composed of three amphibious ships that embark the necessary troops and equipment and are escorted by a guided missile cruiser (CG) and guided missile destroyers (DDG) and submarine (SSN) support.

We need 1 LHA , 1 LPD and 1 LSD, These are 3 components which cannot be substituted. While we can accommodate two DDG's instead of DDG and CG. Regarding Nuke Submarine, We would require it. its impossible for Diesel Submarine to keep up with a highly mobile force as the ESG

LHA - Available options - America Class or Substitute with our Aircraft Carrier
LPD/LHD - - Mistral, Juan Carlos 1 , Dokodo
LSD -
DDG - 2 Kolkata Class (AAW and Land Attack is an essential component )
Nuke Sub - Akula or similar SSGN/SSN
 

Kunal Biswas

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Agreed, Since our mid-term and short term operations will be in the IOR, we might not need the full combat capability of the similar US Force. Anyways, since they are good model to study, This is their ESG

Expeditionary Strike Group
Expeditionary Strike Group Three flotilla
Recently, MEUs have been deployed within an Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) in the Mediterranean, the Western Pacific, and periodically, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. An ESG is typically composed of three amphibious ships that embark the necessary troops and equipment and are escorted by a guided missile cruiser (CG) and guided missile destroyers (DDG) and submarine (SSN) support.

We need 1 LHA , 1 LPD and 1 LSD, These are 3 components which cannot be substituted. While we can accommodate two DDG's instead of DDG and CG. Regarding Nuke Submarine, We would require it. its impossible for Diesel Submarine to keep up with a highly mobile force as the ESG

LHA - Available options - America Class or Substitute with our Aircraft Carrier
LPD/LHD - - Mistral, Juan Carlos 1 , Dokodo
LSD -
DDG - 2 Kolkata Class (AAW and Land Attack is an essential component )
Nuke Sub - Akula or similar SSGN/SSN

Kilos are good enough for such force, Also we need gun boats presently Indian navy use Kora class corvette as a fire-support unit along the beach..

Navy and IA are both locked in for long time on this project, They know what to do and we shall enjoy our wish come true..
 

Adux

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Kilos are good enough for such force, Also we need gun boats presently Indian navy use Kora class corvette as a fire-support unit along the beach..

Navy and IA are both locked in for long time on this project, They know what to do and we shall enjoy our wish come true..
Kilo's cant do it unfortunately in this kunal. They cant run that fast and that long underwater as the Nukes, Their range and speed doesnt permit them.

91st brigade either should be taken into the Navy(not possible) or rather Navy raise their own Infantry
 

Adux

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A typical MEU has approximately 2,200 Marines and sailors. It is equipped with:
Qty Nomenclature Element
4 M1A1 main battle tank ground
7 to 16 Light Armored Vehicle ground
15 Amphibious Assault Vehicle ground
6 155mm howitzer: M198 or M777 ground
8 M252 81mm mortar ground
8 BGM-71 Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided (TOW) missile weapon system ground
8 FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile ground
4 to 6 AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters aviation
3 UH-1N Twin Huey utility helicopter aviation
12 CH-46E Sea Knight medium lift assault helicopter aviation
4 CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift assault helicopter aviation
6 AV-8B Harrier jet aviation
2 KC-130 Hercules re-fueler/transport aircraft
Note: usually maintained in the continental United States aviation
2 Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit logistics
1 LMT 3000 water purification unit logistics
4 Tractor, Rubber Tire, Articulated Steering logistics
2 TX51-19M Rough Terrain Forklift logistics
3 D7 bulldozer logistics
1 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement dump truck logistics
4 Mk48 Logistics Vehicle System logistics
7 500 gallon water containers multiple
63 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle multiple
30 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement trucks multiple
America has 7 such units, each comprising of 2200 Marines
 

Kunal Biswas

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Kilo's cant do it unfortunately in this kunal. They cant run that fast and that long underwater as the Nukes, Their range and speed doesnt permit them.

91st brigade either should be taken into the Navy(not possible) or rather Navy raise their own Infantry

I can agree with on this, But even in near future we dont have the luxury of big nuclear sub fleet..
 

ace009

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We should have atleast have 10-12 Nuke subs in the IN. 4 SSBNs and 7-8 SSNs. It would give us the triad of nuclear deterence and help in forming naval battle groups.
 
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Adux

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I can agree with on this, But even in near future we dont have the luxury of big nuclear sub fleet..

If the the news of the second sub is true, that means we can expect Arihant class to reach 4 or 5 by the end of the decade. We already know that there are 3 sanctioned, and hulls fabricated for it. But Arihant Class is SSBN, and should have no business being near a Expeditionary Task Force. We need a dedicated SSN's for our own ESF's and 3 Carrier Battle Group, and they should be two separate entities
 

Adux

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Current aircraft in use

[edit]Fixed-wing aircraft
F/A-18 Hornet
AV-8B Harrier II
KC-130 Hercules
C-12 Huron
[edit]Rotary wing aircraft
AH-1W SuperCobra
UH-1N Huey
CH-46 Sea Knight
CH-53 Sea Stallion
The MEU is unique in that its air and ground combat elements are combined with a logistics combat element under one commander; other services do not unite the command of air and ground forces until much higher command levels.
When the United States Army integrates with Air Force assets, it typically is at the theater or corps level, with a general commanding, while at the division level it will integrate with Army aviation, which can be organized as organic at the battalion level.
The MEU's ground combat element also combines artillery, light armor and tanks at a much lower level than was common in the Army until the development of the brigade combat team early in the War on Terror, with a similar concept, the combat command, being utilized in World War II.
This air-ground task force concept is designed to thoroughly exploit the combat power inherent in air and ground assets by closely integrating them into a single force. The MEU brings all the supplies and logistical support it needs to sustain itself for quick mission accomplishment or to pave the way for any follow-up forces. This self-sustainment allows more flexibility in disposition and operations of forces, and allows the MEU to initiate operations sooner and let support catch up later, without having to wait for external logistical support to begin a mission. Deployments on U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships allows MEUs to seabase around the globe, ready for deployment at short notice.
A typical MEU has approximately 2,200 Marines and sailors. It is equipped with:
This is extremely important, the sheer integration and C4I of US is mind boggling
 

Kunal Biswas

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India have a Stronger force in the bay of Bengal and Arabian sea..

Lets assume as per today..

INS Virat
INS Jalaswa
INS Aravat
INS Delhi and Kolkata
INS kora class x 2
INS Talwar class X 1
Fleet Tanker X 1


Submerged Vessels:
4x Kilo class

Airborne Assets:
4 X ASW Aircraft ( IL-38/TU-142ME )
1X AWACS
1X Refuler

should have no business being near a Expeditionary Task Force. We need a dedicated SSN's for our own ESF's and 3 Carrier Battle Group, and they should be two separate entities
We don't have it now..

In Near Future we may use Single Akula leased from RN..
 
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Adux

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Kunal,

We dont have to look into what we have today, Since this is a force which is being planned to be built up, Therefore you can expect the toys to come. Though a good start.

We need LHA/LHD , LPD , LSD , LCAC, Helicopters, Fighters, Tanks, Infantry, Gunships, DDGs, SSN, Medivac. Lets talk about what we can add to this in the next 5-10 year period. This is a Force build up not a Force rearmamanet. Lets look at concepts as well as equipment which has some chance of being in the Indian Navy in the next 5-10 years, also lets also try to figure out where and in what battlespace these assets will be used? Are we looking at Karachi or Shangh hai? Or are we looking at Karachi, Maladives, Fiji, Bangladesh etc etc.
 

Kunal Biswas

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Kunal,

We need LHA/LHD , LPD , LSD , LCAC, Helicopters, Fighters, Tanks, Infantry, Gunships, DDGs, SSN, Medivac. Lets talk about what we can add to this in the next 5-10 year period. where and in what battlespace these assets will be used? Are we looking at Or are we looking at Karachi, Maladives, Fiji, Bangladesh etc etc.
Navy Ordered Six LPDs, Hence these LPD will support rotatory operation including Gunships and transport also main invasion force..

As Carrier we will have Vikramaditya and Viraat till 2020..

DDGs will be Kolkata also act as Fleet air-defense, Fast Vessels like talwar class frigates act as ASW with Kora class corvettes..

SSN will be single Akula also Kilo in case its in Bay of Bengal or Arabian and P8I and IL-76AWACS will be our eyes and ear in air..

Fleet tanker will be anyone out of three probably newer one..

CAP will be done by both ground based also carrier based with help of Air refuler from main land..




Our Interest is mainly on Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal..





 

Adux

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Kunal Navy hasnt ordered 6 LPD's, rather 4 if I remember correctly, that too only RFP is send. Viraat will be offline 2018, IAC-1 will be operational 2015, so to Vikramaditya, I expect IAC-2 to be done by 2020.
ESG and CBG will be two different entities, or do we have assets to have a 3 Carrier fleet and 2 ESG, US has 11 CBG and 11 ESG, Only the SSN's are in doubt,
Question is, do we center it around two LHA's or is it going to be LHD's?
 

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PS: Those Chinese refueling stations in Burma, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh, are off no use in war.
 

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