A new Indian Navy ship -- the INS Jalashwa

[Adux]

Navy's Amphibious Transport Ship INS Jalashwa To Be Commissioned Today


Dated 20/6/2007
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A new Indian Navy ship -- the INS Jalashwa -- will be commissioned Friday at Naval Station Norfolk. The Jalashwa was formerly the USS Trenton, an amphibious transport dock ship.

The Trenton was decommissioned in January and transferred to the Indian Navy, marking the first time the U.S. has transferred a ship to India. The Indian crew came to Naval Station Norfolk in October 2006 to being training on the ship, which included some at-sea time with the American crew.

Friday's commissioning will also mark the first time a ship of this class will enter the Indian fleet. The Indian ambassador to the U.S. -- His Excellency Shri Ronan Sen -- will do the honors.

 

[Adux]

Does someone have pictures of the cermony in norfolk

 

[Adux]

 

[joey]

this thing alone is full loaded 28000 tonnes.

 

[Adux]

28000 tonne's; aint that larger than the Viraat then.
I thought this was 16000 tonne's

 

[joey]

oops sorry you are correct.

Light Displacement: 9201 tons
Full Displacement: 16914 tons
Dead Weight: 7713 tons

 

[Adux]

Capt. Brinder S. Ahluwalia, right, the commanding officer of the new Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa, looks at lined-up Honor Guards before the commissioning ceremony at the pier 14 of Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. Friday, June 22, 2007. After a five-month overhaul with price tag of $36.7 million on repair, the former US Navy Ship, Trenton was commissioned into the Indian Navy.

Finally got Today's commissioning picture!!!!!! She is a beauty.

 

[Adux]

Indian Navy acquires US warship

Saturday, June 23, 2007
10:08 IST

Blog this story



Norfolk (US): Indian Navy's first ever acquisition of a US warship reflects the converging security priorities and interests of India and the United States, according to the Indian Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen.


First and foremost it symbolised the growing partnership between the two countries in the field of defence, he said Friday while commissioning an old US warhorse, the USS Trenton, into the Indian Navy as INS Jalashwa (river horse or hippopotamus in Sanskrit), at Norfolk in Virginia, about 230 km from Washington.


Jalashwa is 173 metres long and 32 metres wide. It has a large flight deck and a well deck the size of two basketball courts in the aft section. With gross tonnage of 16,900 tons, it is Indian Navy's second largest combat platform after the aircraft carrier Viraat.


In June 2005, Sen recalled, India and the United States signed a historic defence framework document at the level of their defence ministers that captured the spirit and essence of the new stage of defence cooperation.


In the context of a global partnership, the Defence Framework set out the common interests of both countries in maintaining security and stability, combating terrorism, protecting the free flow of commerce and preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction and associated materials, data and technologies.


It also envisaged cooperation in the area of defence technology, industry, co-production, research and development and defence supplies.


"The commissioning of INS Jalashwa is a manifestation as well as a harbinger of this dimension of our cooperation. It is also a reflection of the trust and long-term commitment that both sides bring to this relationship," he said.


The US and Indian navies now conduct regular exercises together in a bilateral and multilateral framework. The Malabar series of joint India-US exercises have been progressively widened in scope and depth over the years.


Similarly enhanced levels of interaction can be seen between the Armies and Air Forces of our two countries. "I am confident that the INS Jalashwa will become part of this growing interaction and connection between the Indian and US Armed Forces," Sen said.


With the commissioning of Jalashwa India joins a select group of nations operating a Landing Platform Dock (LPD) giving it enhanced capability to move troops and equipment to greater distances in furtherance of its maritime interests.


The first of its class to be inducted into the Indian Navy, INS Jalashwa is commanded by Captain B.S. Ahluwalia and manned by a crew of 27 officers and 302 sailors. I will sail to to India shortly after completing various trials and certifications at the US naval base at Norfolk.

 

[Adux]

Now, Lets talk from an Indian Prespective,

There might be a lot Pakistani pieces which can affect what I am about to propose. Lets keep that aside for sometime

Lets see what India can achieve first, and how Pakistan can counter it. Imagining Indian Navy will be the aggressor here. As it is more dominent organization than PN

1.What is the Indian Equivalent of the American Marine Core(I am not talking about SF like Marcos)?

2.What should be the size of such a "Indian Marine Core" to have a significant impact on the war by landing on the Karachi Beach?

3.Does the Current Indian Marine Core have any heavy weaponary?

4. Do they have a close airsupport like that of Marine Core?

5. How can such a force be formed, under the Navy opening a Second Front from the Pakistani Coast?

6. How many ships of jalshawa class is needed, how should they be supported?

After we answer these ONLY after questions and form a scenario...

1. How can Pakistan counter this situation? considering that sea superiority is Indian and landing is for sure? How can they secure their coast from the Land? How will it effect their performance in the International Border?

 

[Adux]

i put these questions forward, i forsee Indian Navy going aggressive in its approach and high technological and number induction. Along with its recent interest in Support ships and Amphibious assault and Land attack capability goes beyond Sea superiority, Lets go beyond the usual rants in the forum and talk tactics, strategy

 

[Adux]

Magar Class: 2

500 troops * 2
15 tanks * 2
8 APC * 2
Helicopter * 2
Type 773I/773IM POLNOCHNY C/D CLASS : 5

180 Troops * 5
5 Tanks * 5

Mk.2 & Mk.3 LANDING CRAFT

2 APC * 8
120 Troops * 8


SHARDUL CLASS(2 more to be commisioned by Dec 2007)

500 Troops * 3
11 Tanks * 3
1 Helicopeter * 3

Austin Class

6 Seaking Helicopters
4 Mk 8Landing crafts
1000 Troops


Total Troop Capacity : 5360
Helicopter : 11
Tanks : 66
APC : 32

If i have made any mistakes please do correct me, I am not very good at this here!!!
I have used Landing crafts since, the distance between Indian Shore to Pakistan shore isnt that much

 

[con]

Having ability to land troops on hostile beaches is one of the most critical aspect,if a force wants to be expeditionary.
Currently my personal view that IN does not enough capability to land enough troops on the beaches on Karachi.Remember it is not just troops that need to land,but all the logistics and equipment. If you are landing on these beaches you should logistics to hold it days together.
Karachi would be a hostile territory plus a heavily populated on. Tough task I would say.

The perfect example is Taiwan. China is yet to obtain a satisfactory ability to do it.
Observe that it is the primary objective of the Chinese,while it is secondary for the Indians.
Plus IN is sill yet to reach a ability to provide satisfactory air cover when the landing happens.

It would be very helpful to open a second front while most of the forces are engaged on the eastern borders of Pakistan. Currently as I far I know IN does not intend to have a "marine force" to do the work. Observing all the exercises b/w IN and IA it looks like IN would just be a carrier for IA's expeditionary forces.
However I am sure what would be objective of opening a second front on the beaches of Karachi. Block the port? oil supplies? would be worth sending forces to do it,which can be done air attacks(to some extend) and by the IN(oil blockade).

How would Pakistan counter it? Well remember all of PN is concentrated on the Arabian sea.IN would have to clear PN before landing.... isn't that condition sufficent enough security ?

 

[joey]

Very reliable source has said there might be a JV between India and Italy to produce LPD, whose deck would be big enough to even house SVTOL JSF.

 

[con]

IN sure is investing a lot to gain a true amphibious ability.

 

[Adux]

I think a Marine Core is necessity,
To do beaching, which needs IA for troop, IAF for aircover, IN for supplies and Troop Landing is not stupid choice.
A rather have 40,000 strong troops which can beach itself, and has its own tactics and aircover options. Though carrying them can be done by the navy