1. The classical naval strategists made two significant contributions to the development of naval thought that has withstood rigors of time, tide and traditions. One, they formulated and weaved maritime and naval activities to wider national and international issues. Second, they drafted principles for professional naval officers for the naval strategy formulation. These salient contributions from naval greats such as Laughton, Luce, Mahan, Jomini, Colomb etc. have enabled naval strategists till to date to move on and also marked intellectual revolution for navies all over the world.
2. The two contributions, though different but are also closely tied to each other. The combination of these contributions has had wide influence up on sea power and in turn history. Modern naval theorists and strategists have continued to do exhaustive research and analysis on naval theory based on these contributions. One of the pioneers of classical Naval Strategist Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan summed up their generation’s contributions where he stated,” Each principle is partial educator; combined you have in time a perfect instructor. History by itself is better than formulated principles by themselves; for in this connection, history being narrative of actions, takes the role, which we commonly call practical. It is the story of practical experience, but we all I thrust, have advanced beyond the habit of thought which rates the rule of thumb, mere practice, mere personnel experience, above practice illuminated by principles, and reinforced by the knowledge, developed by many men in many quarters. Master your principles, and then ram them home with the illustrations which history furnishes”.
3. The classical naval strategy had a direct influence up on the world’s history. For almost entire 19th century and a substantial frame of 20th century, the British Royal Navy emerged as a leader and mutilated any competition that came its way. This was direct impact of its industrial and economic capacity combined with industrialization. The other nations gradually accepted the British ascendancy in the other areas too. The Royal Navy discouraged competition and other nations were willing to follow her ideas of peace, free trade and prosperity. This scenario existed because other did not challenge the domination. This tirade continued till others broke free and industrial revolution caught on. Gradually, the British Navy replaced its global agenda with a strategy of local preponderance. This strategy led to a new dimension in international relations and a new dimension to naval competitions affecting the technological levels of World’s naval society. This new era struck directly at the traditional thinking about navies. In the past, common sense and practical experience led to final strategy and no professional literature existed. No intellectualism was ever formed on the subject. The new look international politics and naval technology brought all into question and swept all previous thinking away.
4. These sweeping changes had cascading developmental effects on the salient features of naval strategy such as coast defence, communications, concentration control, command of the sea, deterrence, defense versus offence, fleet, history, fleet –in – being, force, government, history, mobility, national policy, naval strategy, objectives, position, preparedness, relation, risk, sea power, speed, strategy, study, submarines, trade, uncertainty and chance, war and warships. The old grapevine is still very relevant in today’s tumultuous environment and the medium power navies such as the Indian Navy still find relevance to the above features of naval strategy.
5. Although a Navy is built primarily for war but it finds its main utility in peace, in formulating different measures to prevent major and minor conflicts, in exerting influence and pressure as part of normal ‘peaceful’ diplomatic activities and in enforcing international law and regulations to maintain the maritime sanctity. These are also the primary objectives for medium power navy as the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy is primarily configured for peace rather than war.
6. The main aim of Indian Navy’s think tanks should be concentrate its resources on a force level that make more sense in a ‘power projection’ role in peace or limited war like operations than in less likely conditions of a major conventional war. The need of the era is to have a strategy to use such a peacetime navy to achieve the immediate wartime objectives of safeguarding sea use.
7. Any tension between peacetime and wartime requirements in the configuration of a medium power navy, the differing priorities within peacetime strategy can create extra complexities. The non-adherence to strategy principles of the past can surely lead to confusions and chaos. The adherence to the classical naval strategy albeit in a form relevant for today is very much in vogue. India’s maritime needs and the future development of naval assets would immensely be self confident by following the vary basics of the classical naval strategy philosophy.
8. There can be a little doubt that Indian Navy’s constabulary and regulatory roles would grow steadily in importance as the forms of sea use are becoming diversified and the neighboring states are becoming more aware of their rights and duties in various offshore zones. This diversity of naval duties requires a multi skilled navy where specified task force is required to be formulated. The formulation of coast guard and equipping the same for operating it in the EEZ would ease much pressure of the main war force. The two-pronged approach is a direct out come of the classical naval strategy which talks about the ‘force’. The organized force extends the maritime shield and veils the moments of the peace advance in quietness and unleashes the last expression in wake of the war.
9. The maritime law and order today are highly bureaucratic in nature and largely depend upon local traditions and political culture, as well as the available resources. This is the portable thrust area for the Indian Navy where in the growing conflicts between the ‘constabulary’ and military role needs to be addressed. The characteristics of the political vessel versus a naval fleet vessel vary due to optimization of the equipments for various combat levels. Probably, the Indian Navy of today may be in dilemma as to how to strike a balance between fleet and coast guard? This is where the classical concept of the fleet still plays a crucial role. It still guides as to how much tonnage can a nation still afford and how shall the tonnage get divided amongst the armored ships. The need of the hour is to strike a balance between the number and size. Remember a fleet is the only really determining element in the naval war.
10. The usage of sea is ever growing. A navy can be entrusted with unwelcome and unfamiliar roles. The dynamic roles can vary from ensuring peace and to cause deterrence. These multifarious roles bring along a host of political and financial juggernauts. There are two fundamentals on this, first; the war would be very destructive and needs to be avoided, and, second, this is the age of continental super powers and sea air power can lead to catastrophic application of air powers over the enemy. The best platforms would be ballistic missile firing submarines. However, submarines need sheltered operations and offer high deterrent powers. The Indian Navy must be interested in threats and application of force at a much lower level of intensity. The path of violence for peace loving nation as India is not the solution but the maintenance of the deterrent power is a must. The degree of restraint is direct out come of the deterrent methods employed.
11. In the recent years, the international waters have also become a playground for criminals and hostile fire is seen in many places. Ships are mute spectators to robbery especially in fast developing nations. The crimes at sea go unabated, as there is no harmony between the mercantile and military shipping. The Indian Navy is also facing a dilemma to catch illegal smuggling. The actions required are firm and yet outrageous. This is where the classical concepts of sea power, preparedness, retaliation and risk come into play. The Indian Navy has to take recourse to actions that thwarts any terrorist activity and aborts piracy. Any fear of terrorist activity or piracy needs to be stubbed firmly. This obviously does not mean entailing a power competition and but only asserts a will to establish peace and maintain maritime sanctity.
12. The classical naval strategy stressed up on strategy itself. It preached two things; first a suitable base and second an organized military force. The range of operations can extend upto distant parts of the globe. This would in turn mean an effective communication and a control exercised by the naval top brass. The adoption of secure means to sustain force at sea is a classical concept whose relevance in today’s Indian Navy needs no mention. The Indian Navy needs to assert its naval diplomacy and achieve a foreseeable future. This can be achieved by defining a range of activities Viz. maintaining presence, conducting surveillance, threatening use of force, conducting naval gun fire or air strikes, landing troops, evacuating civilians, establishing a blockade and quarantine and preventing interference from other navies. The Indian Navy of today needs to stress upon its own diplomatic interests and be more ‘operational’.
13. The super powers of yesteryears are bygone. The Indian Navy can surely pick up threads of the classical naval strategy and become main practitioner of peacetime naval diplomacy. This peacetime use of naval force would offer three headings for aims and objectives of the ‘diplomatic’ role of the Indian Navy:
(1) Negotiation from strength, (2) Manipulation and (3) Prestige.
14. The classical concepts are still very valid to a potent Indian Navy. The Indian Navy has to ‘show the flag’ and does need to exercise some down graded ‘gunboat diplomacy’ to ward off threats. This would enable a specific advantage to the state and strengthen coercive diplomacy. The classical naval strategies finally preached four aspects to a potent navy: (1) Definitive, (2) Purposeful, (3) Catalytic and (4) Expressive. A closer analysis reveals that they are still very much relevant to the Indian Navy.
15. The Indian Navy does well understand that sea power is more than a mere slogan. It is a vital factor in the world political order. The Indian Navy will continue to absorb large amount of resources, depending on the capacity of the nation and the national policy. The Indian Navy with its roots secure with naval strategic value would be sounder and would be a significant regional Navy of future.
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