In the wake of encouraging statements from the world maritime community, the United States and International Maritime Organization, after Indian Navy destroyed a pirate mother ship in the Gulf of Aden on 18th Nov’08, Indian Navy has been given the nod to add a Delhi-Class destroyer to the existing INS Tabar stealth frigate, to augment and decisively combat the Somali pirates who are well equipped with mother ships, speed boats with AK-47 assault rifles, rocket and grenades launchers and even probably light machine guns on board and possess grave danger even to the navy personnel.
The 6900 tons Delhi-Class destroyer is said to be the largest ship in the combat fleet of Indian Navy after Air Craft Carrier INS Viraat. The destroyer is equipped with two Sea King helicopters, a Cheetah or Chetak helicopter, one100mm AK-100 gun, four multi-barrel 30mm guns, 16 Uran missiles and Marine commandos. The destroyer is likely to start anti-piracy operations in about four days.
It is worthwhile to note that the 4000 tons INS Tabar too has strike helicopters on board and the helicopters on both the ships can be used for surveillance. It is expected that with the this addition, the Indian warships would be able to undertake ‘hot pursuit’ of the pirates even into the territorial waters of Somalia for which a covert permission seems to has been received by the Navy.
The decision (to add a destroyer) was conveyed to the navy at a meeting convened by the defense minister A.K.Antony. A proposal from the Shipping Ministry to deploy as many as four navy war ships is said to be under active consideration of the Government.
Ever since Somalia plunged into anarchy in1991, the Somali fishing community gradually took up piracy as their livelihood but it was limited to capturing Yachts, small ships, and fishing trawlers of other countries. However the scenario changed after the millennium and the greedy pirates, bolder by continuous success started pouncing upon bigger and bigger ships. The rate and scale of attacks has increased this year and at the height of their successful piracy they even captured a super tanker Sirius Star on 15th Nov’08.
The attack and sinking of the pirate ship in Gulf of Aden clearly spells India’s self- confidence and overtly declares that India has the arms and the ability and can use both with telling effect. Addition of yet another warship to anti-piracy operations clearly establishes Indian supremacy in India Ocean and a war declared against Somali pirates, and for that matter against any one, who challenges Indian interest in the sea zone.
With the do or die instincts of the Somali pirates, a sort of a ‘maritime war’ may be on the cards between the Somali pirates (who too appears to have considerable fire-power) and Indian Navy the results of which are a foregone conclusion.