SP's NavalForces

Patrolling with Submarines, Ships & Boats

Surface maritime patrol is an active patrolling of the area with submarines, ships and boats. During wartime, maritime patrolling is critical but it is also essential in peacetime due to piracy, terrorism, smuggling, protection of fishing areas, exclusive

- Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand

During wartime, maritime patrolling is critical but it is also essential in peacetime due to piracy, terrorism, smuggling, protection of fishing areas, exclusive economic zone and sea lines of communicat­ion.

mARITIme PATROllING IS CARRIeD out by the navy, coast guard and law enforcemen­t agencies for monitoring an area of water for any illegal activity. It can also be for other purposes like inspection and reconnaiss­ance but mainly it is carried out for security reasons. Surface maritime patrol is an active patrolling of the area with submarines, ships and boats. During wartime, maritime patrolling is critical but it is also essential in peacetime due to piracy, terrorism, smuggling, protection of fishing areas, exclusive economic zone (eeZ) and sea lines of communicat­ion (SlOC). Search and rescue could also be carried out during patrolling due to the proximity of the patrolling elements. Detection of activity can be carried out by human beings but now electronic sensors are being used extensivel­y. Surface maritime patrolling is augmented by aerial platforms and surface sensors. Some examples of aerial platforms are lockheed martinÕs P-3 Orion anti-submarine and maritime surveillan­ce aircraft and BoeingÕs P-8 Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft. Helicopter­s, unmanned aerial vehicles (uAVs) and satellites are also widely used. Surface sensors are radars and aerostats mounted sensors. The type of surface maritime capability will depend on a countryÕs need. for example India has a vast coastline; it has state marine police (up to 12 nautical miles (nm)/about 22 km), Indian Coast Guard (between 12 and 200 nm/about 22 km and 370 km) and the Navy operating beyond 200 nm. Others will have a combinatio­n of forces and equipment as per their security needs.

Surface Maritime Elements

They come in all shapes and sizes. A few examples are:

IAIÕs Ramta DivisionÕs Super Dvora class of multimissi­on patrol and attack boats can carry out a variety of missions of offshore patrol, eeZ control, law enforcemen­t, naval intelligen­ce, command and control, interdicti­on and boarding of suspect targets, as well as nonmilitar­y missions such as search and rescue, humanitari­an assistance and disaster relief. All Super Dvora class variants are fast and agile, and designed to attain and sustain high operating tempos. The mini Dvora places emphasis on high manoeuyuDe­lOlWy DQG RSHuDWlRQD­O SuRfiflHQf­y ZKlOH operating from the shallowest inlets and beaches to shallow littorals and beyond. The latest generation of Super Dvora mark (mk) I, II and III boats are deep sea capable eXW VSHflfifDO­Oy GHVlJQHG IRu D IXOO DuuDy RI littoral, anti-terror, law enforcemen­t and coastal security missions. Super Dvora mk III is the latest fast patrol boat which is 25 metres long, has an operationa­l radius of 700 nm (about 1,296 km) while has speed in excess of 45 knots (about 83 kmph) at a full displaceme­nt of 65 tonnes. In its attack mode, Ramta is currently working on a QXPeHu RI QHZ fRQfiJXuDW­lRQV IRu WKH flHxible Super Dvora platform, among them the ÒStrikeÓ, or what Ramta refers to as the Òlittoral warriorÓ, equipped with a variety of very advanced precision weapon systems. In addition to the Israel Navy, the Super Dvora has been sold to nearly a dozen other internatio­nal customers.

Ares class of boats are manufactur­ed by GRuP AReS Shipyard, Spain. Ares 1200 version has a length of 11.95 m, maximum speed of 40 knots (about 74 kmph) and a range of 400 nm (about 740 kmph). It carries one automatic gyro stabilised machine gun (12.7mm) and two manual machine gun (12.7mm). Other weapon combinatio­ns are possible on request. The other versions with tailormade capabiliti­es are AReSA 1200 Defcon Rib, AReSA 1200 Stealth Rib, AReSA 750 commandos rib, AReSA 550 commandos rib and AReSA 400 commandos rib.

larsen and Toubro (l&T) marine and Ship Design Division has designed this craft which is 30 metres long with 90 tonnes displaceme­nt and can achieve a maximum speed of 45 knots ( about 83 kmph). The intercepto­r boats has full aluminium-alloy hull for reduced weight and is powered by twin water-jet propulsion systems to enable quick response. They are meant for the Indian Coast Guard to carry out the role of coastal surveillan­ce, search and rescue, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching opera- tions in close coast and can also operate effectivel­y in shallow water. About 54 such boats have been ordered.

These are a series of 13, 26 metres high-speed intercepto­r boats designed and supplied in knocked down kits by Henderson based Global marine Design and assembled by ABG Shipyard, Surat, for the Indian Coast Guard. They are wide aluminium hulled water jet propelled vessels for operations in close coastal and shallow waters. They have an endurance of 500nm (about 926 km) at 25 knots (46 kmph) and capable of doing high speed up WR 45 NQRWV (DeRXW 83 NPSK) DQG DuH fiWWHG with a 12.7mm ÔPrahariÕh­eavy machine gun.

These are a series of 20 patrol boats designed by SeDS, Kochi, and being built by Cochin Shipyard limited for the Indian Coast Guard. The ship has been designed by SeDS, Kochi. The vessels have a length of 50 metres, designed speed of 33 knots (about 61 kmph). It has water jet propulsion through triple RollsRoyce Kamewa 71S3np water jets. The vessel is capable of operating in shallow waters and offer higher speeds and better manoeuvrab­ility than convention­al propellers. The navigation package is being supplied by Northrop GrummanÕs Sperry marine business unit. The primary role of the vessel lQfOXGH fiVKHulHV SuRWHfWlRQ DQG PRQlWRuing, patrol within exclusive economic zone, coastal patrol, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, and search and rescue operations.

fif- teen such boats are being built by Bharati Shipyard for the Indian Coast Guard. The vessels have a length of 28 metres with a speed of more than 35 knots (about 64 kmph). The vessels can perform highspeed intercepti­on, close-coast patrol, lowintensi­ty maritime operations, search and rescue and surveillan­ce.

This class of patrol craft are larger in size. The Indian Coast Guard has ordered eight IPVs which are being designed and built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilde­rs and engineers limited, out of which the seventh has been commission­ed during August 10. The IPV can achieve a maximum speed of 31.5 knots (about 58 kmph) and at a speed of 14 knots (about 26 kmph), it has an endurance of 1,500 nm (about 2,778 km). The special features of the ship include an integrated bridge system, integrated machinery control system and an indigenous­ly built 30PP JXQ-PRXQW ZlWK fiuH fRQWuRO VyVWHP.

They are large, offshore patrol craft in active service with the Indian Navy. Three lead ships were built by Korea Tacoma, now part of Hanjin Group. The Sukanya class have large hulls, although they are lightly armed since they are utilised primarily for offshore patrol of IndiaÕs exclusive economic zone. However, they are capable of being heavily armed and upgraded to light frigates if the need arise. It has a displaceme­nt of 1,890 tonnes when fully loaded, length of 101 metres, speed of 21 knots

 ?? PHOTOGRAPH: Wikipedia ?? Super Dvora Mk III
attack boat
PHOTOGRAPH: Wikipedia Super Dvora Mk III attack boat

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