Indian Navy LHD/LPD Amphibious Ships : Updates & Discussions

[Speedster1]

LHD/LPD is set to enter the tendering stage this year iirc. A couple of local designs are apparently in the fray as well (apart from JC-1 and Mistral). Imo, any of these designs could be adapted for the ATD role if there was a requirement.

Also, the IN wants a large displacement hospital ship which could well come with a dedicated transport variant. Then there's the FSS program too. But it's all up in the air right now.

 

[Vicky]

Was looking at the photos/videos of the Indo-US amphibious joint exercises "Tiger Triumph". In all the exercises so far, the Indian side has fielded the INS Jalashwa (L41):
View attachment 42291

And the US has always fielded a San Antonio class amphibious transport dock (ATD) ship. This time they have bought the USS Sommerset (LPD 25):
View attachment 42293

Indian military's expeditionary amphibious capability is still a short range & limited capability. IN currently has 1 amphibious transport dock, 4 LSTs & 8 LCUs. We can deploy a theoretical maximum of ~5000 combatants, ~65 MBTs, ~40 APCs etc. in a radius of ~3000 km from India in one go. This is assuming a fleet availability of 100%, which is not the case most of the time.

It is a pitiful capability. Expeditionary amphibious capability has been long ignored by our govt. & military planners. These joint exercises with the US signal a return of focus on this domain.

IN has an ongoing acquisition program for LHD/LPD. An LHD/LPD will not be a one-to-one replacement for the INS Jalashwa ATD. There is no ATD program running to replace the Jalashwa although she clearly needs to be replaced.

Ironically, IN does have a hull in active service that could be modified into an ATD. This one:
View attachment 42292
This hull is originally a design from the Vik Sandvik India company. This company has also designed other Navy vessels like INS Anvesh, Nistar class Diving Support Vessel (DSV), Arnala class ASW-SWC, HSL-class Fleet Support Ship (FSS) etc.

The Navy could modify this hull design to accommodate a well dock, a large helicopter landing pad, sensors, weapons etc. An Indian ATD based on the INS Dhruv hull & modelled on say the San Antonio class is very much do-able. I have drawn up a prelim spec of what such a ship could be like:
View attachment 42294
Of course, all this is assuming that the powers that be are interested in having expeditionary amphibious capabilities.

At this point, India doesn’t need amphibious or expeditionary capabilities. I read somewhere that Nehru in his one of his wisest speech said India needs to have the capability to protect Indian & Indian origin people worldwide. But since then, Indians have been exiled in Burma, Uganda, Fiji & currently facing problems in Malaysia, Guyana (from Venezuela) and Lanka. At some point , India needs to develop her capabilities, but today it should be focused on offensive/defensive weapons system.

 

[Ankit Kumar]

India doesn’t need amphibious or expeditionary capabilities.

Gives us capabilities to land troops from south of Sindh. From south of Bangladesh. Gives us capabilities to deploy big numbers from mainland to both our island chains. Gives us capabilities to secure Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives.

With our current amphibious capabilities, we will not be able to service our A&N chains even.

PS: Burma has a more modern amphibious ship than whole of Indian Navy.

 

[Vicky]

Gives us capabilities to land troops from south of Sindh. From south of Bangladesh. Gives us capabilities to deploy big numbers from mainland to both our island chains. Gives us capabilities to secure Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives.

With our current amphibious capabilities, we will not be able to service our A&N chains even.

PS: Burma has a more modern amphibious ship than whole of Indian Navy.

If someone is able to invade A&N, then that means Indian armed forces have already failed. FYI tri service command with 40k troops trained in amphibious operations are already based in AN islands. For servicing, we have transport aircraft’s.

Invading Sindh or BD is out of question “today”. I want India to develop expedition capabilities, but not today when AF is bereft of aircraft, Army without modern gear still in 20th century and Navy with enough offensive platforms to fight China in Indian Ocean.

 

[Ankit Kumar]

40k troops trained in amphibious operations are already based in AN islands.

Started reading seriously, stopped reading at this point.

 

[Ashwin]

INS Jalashwa of the EasternSword SunriseFleet, a Landing Platform Dock of the IndianNavy proudly celebrates 18 years of glorious service under the Indian Naval Ensign on 22nd June.