From News Dispaches NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry is considering a Soviet offer for licence production of its submarines in India, it is reliably learnt.

If the agreement is finalized then it will take care not only of the future submarine needs of the Navy but also the idle construction Capacity now seriously troubling Mazagon Dock (MDL).

MDL is presently constructing two HDW Typel 1500 submarine’s under license but the surfacing of the payoff scandal in 1987 scuttled, negotiation on two more. that was under way. The Government thereafter gave up the option with GDW and is now in search of an alternative. Last year there were reports in Sweden that the firm Kockums which lost out to HDW was again interested in the Indian Project.

Owing to the surrender of the HDW option as much as 56 percent of the infrastructure for con

“Strutting submarines at MDL was already idle in 198788. The entire line is likely to become idle by the end of next year. According to one source an investment of more than Rs 100 crore has been made on the submarine yard.

Earlier this year the chairman and managing director of MDL, Rear Adm M.M. Puri expressed concern at the state of affairs and hoped that the facilities would not be wasted.

“We are trying to convince the Navy to give orders, The Government and the Navy are fully aware of the situation.

A Major Concession

The Soviet offer of license production of submarines in India is once again a major concession from that country. So far India is the only country in the Third World to have been given the right to produce Soviet state of the art weapons under license. Only a few countries have given license to another country to build submarines. These are West Germany whose submarines have been built in India, Argentina, Brazil and Turkey. Sweden has permitted building of Type 471 submarines in Australia and China has previously allowed Korea to build eight Romeo class submarines according to SIRPI data,

India’s current submarine fleet of 17 is mainly Soviet. These consist of eight submarines of the Foxtrot class six of the Kilo class, two HDW Typel 1500 and one Soviet nuclear submarine on lease. With two more HDW submarines being indigenously built joining the fleet later, the number will increase to 19. Ironically India in 1976 sought ‘Western submarines in an effort to ‘break away from Soviet clutches, but it seems that like the initial acquisition there is no escape from them.

Although the first plans of the Navy after independence envisaged a task force of two light fleet carriers, three cruisers eight destroyers four submarines and small ships the acquisition of submarines was delayed till the late 1960’s due to several reasons. For one, the Navy had a British chief of staff till 1958 and he did not support the proposal. Two of the Government leaders at that time characterized the submarines as an “offensive” ‘weapon and said it would to against the national policy to have only “defensive” capabilities.

Therefore, it was not until the Chinese war of 1962 that the Navy was able to convince the government to at least start thinking of a submarine arm. A deputation of one commander and eight junior officers was then authorized for submarine training at HMS Dolphin, Portsmouth, England. From 1963 negotiations first with Britain and then with the US proved futile, and in 1965 India finally went to the Soviet Union and signed an agreement for purchase of three boats of the Foxtrot class, which was later increased to eight.

The Foxtrots

The Foxtrots began arriving in 1968, and the last was received in December 1975. This class, which has a displacement of 2,400 tonnes dived and had a speed of 16 knots. under water, will have to be phased out gradually from this year onwards as submarine life is generally 20 years and after that they can only be used for exercises, according to naval experts.

The replacement for the Foxtrot is the Kilo class, the first of which was delivered in September, 1986. This submarine is larger with a displacement of 3,200 tonnes dived and a speed of 20 knots under water. In comparison the HDW type 1500 is a smaller boat meant to hunt and kill other submarines. It has a displacement of 1,850 tonnes dived and a speed of 22 knots under water.

The last of the Foxtrots can be expected to be phased out around 1995 including six nuclear propelled ones.

Another retired Naval chief, Adm S.N. Kohli says “The maritime powers have long since recognized that the submarine force will dictate the terms of battle for control of the seas.”

Pak Threat

India’s principal adversary at sea remains Pakistan which has a smaller fleet of six patrol submarines. Of these, two are of the French Agosta, class commissi‘oned in 1979 and 1980, They have a displacement of 1725 tonnes dived and a speed of 20 knots under water. What worries the Indian Navy is that they have been retrofitted with American Harpoon missiles, According to the authoritative Jane’s Fighting Ships, two more Agostas have been: ordered. Pakistan also has four French Daphne class subs, commissioned between 196970. These are smaller boats of 1043 tonnes displacement dived and a speed of 15.5 knots under water. In addition to these, the Plistan Navy has three midget submarines of 40 tonnes displacement for clandestine raids in shallow water.

The Navy has a growing submarine arm, but will the Government allow its full potential to be used in conflict? In 1965 the Navy was asked not to proceed more than 200 miles beyond Bombay nor north of the parallel off Porbander. In 1971 the Navy’s submarines were ordered not to attack ships without clearly identifying that they were enemy. The order was issued to avoid hitting ships of neutral or friendly countries, but according to Adm Kohli submarine crews were disappointed because identification at night was impossible and by day risky.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 4, 1989