THE MODERN ERA

The trusty Vela class which was the backbone of the Indian Navy’s submarine force was designed in the late fifties, and in service with the Soviet Navy since then. Since that period, there had been major advance in submarine technology, which made a qualitative difference to the operational capabilities of the submarine as a warfighting machine. It was clear to the Naval higher Command that the ‘F’ Class, and steps would soon have to be initiated to modernise the submarine the submarine force, so that force development would be in step with contemporary technology would be in step with contemporary technology.

The early Eighties saw efforts to modernise the submarine force being linked to the process of force development. The planners at Naval Headquarters chose to look at both Western as well as Soviet technologies for the new submarines. As a result of this policy, which met with Government approval, agreements were reached at approximately the same time with both Germany and the Soviet Union for the new classes of boats that were to be intuited into the Indian Navy in the ensuring decade.

SSK Submarine launch at Mazgoan Dock

The contract with the German submarine – building conglomerate envisaged the procurement of four modern submarines of the HDW 1500 class, popularly referred to as SSKs. Two of these were to be built in German yards and the later two were to be constructed in Bombay by Mazgaon Docks, Ltd. who had already established themselves as builders of warships, and were eager to take on the challenge of constructing submarines. The contract with the German Firm was signed in December 1981, and the first batch of trainees left for Germany in the early part of the next year, under the overall charge of Captain DK Thukral.

The personnel deputed were broadly of three categories – the submarine overseeing teams, the designers, and the maintenance and operating crews. Once again our Indian Naval personnel distinguished themselves in a foreign land by their professionalism and devotion to duty. They mastered the new technology that the SSKs represented, and were able to ensure that the Indian requirement in both training and construction were met.

INS Shankush commissioning at Kiel.

The first submarine of the class, INS Shishumar, was commissioned at Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany, on 22 Sep 1986 under the command of Commander PM Bhate. She arrived in India on 15 Feb 87, and this heralded the entry of our Submarine Arm into the modern era. Shishumar was followed two months later by her sister ship Shankush, under the command of Commander OP Sharma.

INS Sindhughosh entering Visakhapatnam

Meanwhile an agreement with the Soviet Union had been concluded for the transfer of eight "Kilo" class submarines. The crews for both the German as well as the Soviet built submarine had to be sent simultaneously to the respective countries, and the pressure on the crews was intense. The first ‘K’ class submarine INS Sindhughosh was commissioned in Riga, USSR, on 30 Apr 86, and arrived in India on 01 Sep 1986. The remaining submarine of this class followed in quick succession over the next five year, and once again the Navy was faced with the challenged of absorbing new technology in a short span of time with limited human and material resources.

INS Sindhuratna at Riga.

Naming ceremony of INS Sindhughosh by Mrs. Tripta Jerath

The problems were not only those of material. Organisationally, the Navy had to gear itself to meeting the requirements of operations, maintenance, training and logistics of three separate classes of submarines, and evolve a system which, while responsive to the needs of each, still ensured that the high standards demanded by submarining did not suffer in any way. The post of the Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM) was approved in1987 by the Government with Submarine Headquarters at Visakhapatanam, to take responsibilities of the FOSM were to cover all policy aspects related to submarines. The heavy responsibility of setting up this organisation and taking over the reins of the Submarine Arm fell on the shoulder of Rear Admiral A Auditto the first Flag Officer Submarines (now retired). With typical zeal he laid the foundation of a unified and comprehensive approach to all submarine policy.