Andaman and Nicobar Command should get a fleet: CINCAN

[Capt.Popeye]

Sir leave him, I've got rather bored of his being angry for the sake of being angry attitude. Nothing is ever enough for this gentlemen literally NOTHING.

Yes indeed. He seems to have an eternal chip on his shoulder; for no explicable reason.

Now; I do find many of the responses here ranging from simply ill-informed to plain idiotic.
While there is a call for ships to be based in the A&N chain (some are already based there); to talk of basing a Fleet there is 'over the top'. To be precise; a "Task Force" can be based there. With present requirements: that can be 1 Destroyer (for Command and Control), 2 Frigates and 2-4 Corvettes with a Supply Ship. The Force can be rotated within ENC, for now. This is in addition to the FACs and Patrol Craft and Amphib Vessels already there. This is more than enough to control the Western Approaches to the Malacca Strait and more. Isthmus of Kra is still a way off. Only later, a FENC could be considered in A&N; if India decides to regularly extend her reach beyond Singapore.

Apart from that; there is a need to have Base facilities for Air Assets in the Islands. They can be deployed and utilised rapidly as called for. For the present, Dorniers already operate there. This can be beefed up by UAVs and P-8Is operating on rotational detachment from mainland. When the Poseidon fleet comes upto full strength, then a flight of them will definitely rotate permanently through A&N. There are already Marine Radar and Signal listening stations operational there. ASR can be beefed up with an additional Station in Nicobar; but that is not so critical yet.

In fact it is the area South of Sumatra Is. that needs to be monitored more effectively, and that can be done more efficiently from the South Peninsular Mainland; i.e. Op.Area. of Southern NC. In fact SNC needs to augmented before A&N, similarly with a "Task Force" at the very least. That is what I would push for; apart from extending Base Facilities in Tuticorin and one more location in Kerala. While the Ist Trg Sqdn is already there under SNC. The required Air-Assets are already there.

 

[BDforever]

KOLKATA: The Andamans and NicobarCommand (ANC) should be in control of a complete naval fleet to effectively counter any threat from China, vice admiral P K Chatterjee, commander-in-chief, Andaman and Nicobar(CINCAN), said in Kolkata on Monday. He was in the city as chief guest during the launching ceremony of a Landing Craft Utility (LCU) at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). The LCU is the second in a fleet of eight such vessels being built by GRSE for ANC.

"The ANC was created in 2001. Certain thoughts went into creating this tri-services command and these are enshrined in the policy documents. Apart from the ships that we now possess, we require Command and Control Ships and submarines. In fact, we require an entire fleet. I know that this isn't an easy task. It is important to create infrastructure to support assets. At the same time we must ensure that infrastructure doesn't lie idle. Sufficient infrastructure is required for our existing assets as well as those we host from other commands," Vice Admiral Chatterjee said.

He pointed to the fact that over the last two years, the footprints of 'India's northern adversary' has extended into the Andamans Sea. This has been through the Malacca Strait. The situation will get critical once a canal is built through the Isthmus of Kra.

"There are far too many interested parties and the canal through the Isthmus of Kra will certainly become a reality. Once this happens, the distance from the South China Sea to our territory will be reduced by nearly 1,300 km. The distance of the Andamans and Nicobar Island from the mainland will remain the same though. In this way, our reaction time will be comparatively reduced. I am sure that the Government of India is aware of this issue and taking necessary action. I feel things will happen," the CINCAN said.

The Isthmus of Kra is the narrowest part of the Malay Peninsula. It is only 44 km wide and a canal through it in southern Thailand will allow ships to bypass the Malacca Strait, one of the busiest shipping channels in the world. While this canal holds a lot of promise for shipping and trade, it is fraught with danger for countries like India that would hardly get any time for preparations in case of aggressive intentions on the part of China. According to Vice Admiral Chatterjee, creating better infrastructure in the ANC wouldn't add to defence spending.

"Just as there are 'fronts' along land borders, everybody - including the residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands — should consider the ANC a maritime front which needs to remain at a constant state of alert. Defence spending won't increase due to the ANC. It will all depend on how equipment is placed. Existing assets only need to be relocated. If submarines are deployed in the ANC, infrastructure will have to be created. This will take time due to several issues like land acquisition. I would say that we are stronger in the Andamans than we were five years ago. But, we shouldn't rest on our laurels," the CINCAN, who is also the country's senior-most submariner said.

Andaman and Nicobar Command should get a fleet: CINCAN - The Times of India

leave it to us

 

[kaku1]

leave it to us

Leave it yo you? what? Mallaca Straits?

 

[BDforever]

Leave it yo you? what? Mallaca Straits?

yes

 

[kaku1]

yes

Great? Why not try for world dominance and beat back China, Russia and US?

 

[sree45]

leave it to us

kitne mee karidhoge?

 

[Abingdonboy]

leave it to us

What kind of reach do the BN have? I'm sorry but a brown-water navy isn't capable of force projection down to the A&N islands and the Mallaca Straits.

Now; I do find many of the responses here ranging from simply ill-informed to plain idiotic.
While there is a call for ships to be based in the A&N chain (some are already based there); to talk of basing a Fleet there is 'over the top'. To be precise; a "Task Force" can be based there. With present requirements: that can be 1 Destroyer (for Command and Control), 2 Frigates and 2-4 Corvettes with a Supply Ship. The Force can be rotated within ENC, for now. This is in addition to the FACs and Patrol Craft and Amphib Vessels already there. This is more than enough to control the Western Approaches to the Malacca Strait and more. Isthmus of Kra is still a way off. Only later, a FENC could be considered in A&N; if India decides to regularly extend her reach beyond Singapore.

Apart from that; there is a need to have Base facilities for Air Assets in the Islands. They can be deployed and utilised rapidly as called for. For the present, Dorniers already operate there. This can be beefed up by UAVs and P-8Is operating on rotational detachment from mainland. When the Poseidon fleet comes upto full strength, then a flight of them will definitely rotate permanently through A&N. There are already Marine Radar and Signal listening stations operational there. ASR can be beefed up with an additional Station in Nicobar; but that is not so critical yet.

In fact it is the area South of Sumatra Is. that needs to be monitored more effectively, and that can be done more efficiently from the South Peninsular Mainland; i.e. Op.Area. of Southern NC. In fact SNC needs to augmented before A&N, similarly with a "Task Force" at the very least. That is what I would push for; apart from extending Base Facilities in Tuticorin and one more location in Kerala. While the Ist Trg Sqdn is already there under SNC. The required Air-Assets are already there.

Spot on assessment sir! Right now the ANC's modest fleet of FACs, OPVs and Amphibious is about adequate to protect the islands but in the coming years adding a few more offensive assets is certainly doable and more than likely as the IN looks to project force from there.

I also agree that the aviation side of things is what should be expanded dramatically- particularly the ISR assets (no need for offensive assets like fighters to be stationed there permanently though).

 

[Capt.Popeye]

What kind of reach do the BN have? I'm sorry but a brown-water navy isn't capable of force projection down to the A&N islands and the Mallaca Straits.

Spot on assessment sir! Right now the ANC's modest fleet of FACs, OPVs and Amphibious is about adequate to protect the islands but in the coming years adding a few more offensive assets is certainly doable and more than likely as the IN looks to project force from there.

I also agree that the aviation side of things is what should be expanded dramatically- particularly the ISR assets (no need for offensive assets like fighters to be stationed there permanently though).

Consider the IOR South of Sumatra to Maldives to Reunion Is to the East African Coast. That is more important; that is where the Subs can come through esp the N-Subs. They will not come through Malacca Str for a number of reasons. SNC needs to get more assets.

 

[Abingdonboy]

SNC needs to get more assets.

Very much so, correct me if I am wrong but for a long time the SNC has been consigned to more of a training Command/Fleet than an actual fighting force with offensive capabilities.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Very much so, correct me if I am wrong but for a long time the SNC has been consigned to more of a training Command/Fleet than an actual fighting force with offensive capabilities.

That is right. WNC and ENC are the operational commands now. While SNC has the Ist Trg Squadron Ships in its fleet. That needs to (and will) get changed.

 

[BDforever]

kitne mee karidhoge?

a friendly gift to BD for the sack of higher than mountain and deeper than ocean friendship

What kind of reach do the BN have? I'm sorry but a brown-water navy isn't capable of force projection down to the A&N islands and the Mallaca Straits.

why bother ?

 

[kaku1]

a friendly gift to BD for the sack of higher than mountain and deeper than ocean friendship


why bother ?

Then why Mallaca Straits? Obsession ?

 

[BDforever]

Then why Mallaca Straits? Obsession ?

ok give kolkata, assam, tripura, meghalaya and as much as possible

 

[sree45]

a friendly gift to BD for the sack of higher than mountain and deeper than ocean friendship

It's difficult giving it to a country. But we can somehow find a way to make you the King of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

 

[kaku1]

ok give kolkata, assam, tripura, meghalaya and as much as possible

You need an appointment. Or I call a doctor?