India would soon boast of its own Marine Corps, an infantry based on Indian naval ships carrying out amphibious operations.
NEW DELHI: The day is not far away when India would boast of its own Marine Corps, an infantry based on Indian naval ships carrying out amphibious operations. Indications of such a lethal force for both combat and rescue operations are clear, as the Indian Navy is preparing for the arrival of USS Trenton, the massive Landing Platform Dock, that can carry almost 1,000 soldiers, six helicopters and smaller landing boats.
Earlier, there had been discussions on the possibility of a dedicated Marine Corps springing from Trenton’s induction. Plans were made to train army men to tackle tsunami threats and equip them with the latest combat operations to take up any challenge within the Indian territory. USS Trenton, which would be handed over to the Indian Navy in mid-January, is expected to arrive in India sometime during the middle of next year.
The Trenton would be renamed ‘INS Jalashva’ and would have army units practicing on board for amphibious operations, senior navy officers told DNA. Navy Chief Admiral Suresh Mehta, said Trenton would need “marine battalions”, referring to army units that would practice on it.
According to military sources, the arrival of Trenton and its subsequent operations could trigger a series of developments. It will help India build various expeditionary forces, including a sizeable number of Marine Corps, on board ships like Trenton. This would finally lead to the creation of a Marine Corps, they said.
A few weeks before his retirement, former Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash wrote to Army Chief General JJ Singh suggesting that the Army also co-owns naval assets, such as the Trenton as part of its effort to maintain cohesiveness and amphibious war fighting capabilities. General Singh has responded favourably to Prakash’s proposal, sources told DNA.
Though final contours of India’s future amphibious force, or a naval infantry, are yet to be drawn, naval officers feel that the arrival of Trenton would trigger construction of large-sized landing ships in India that could carry hundreds of soldiers, several helicopters and other equipment for marine operations.
Admiral Mehta said that India needs to highlight on large-scale amphibious operations given the country’s islands and especially after experience of the tsunami. The new and improved marine forces will not only add sting to operations on sea but at the same time ensure peace in the unchartered territories.
At present, the only regular amphibious training that the Indian military undertakes is in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. An Army Brigade stationed there regularly carries out training with local naval units.
Recently, an unit of the Indian Army undertook amphibious operational training with the US forces for the first time during a joint-exercise along the western coast. India’s recently-released Maritime Strategy and maritime capabilities perspective plan speak of the need for expeditionary force and the capability to move troops and material across waters quickly.
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