India Breaking News Arabian Sea Operations

[Gessler]

By Anbarasan Ethirajan
BBC News, Delhi​

India has said it is sending three warships to the Arabian Sea after a drone hit an "Israel-affiliated" merchant vessel off its western coast last week.

MV Chem Pluto was attacked about 200 nautical miles (370km) off the coast of the western state of Gujarat. The attack triggered a fire but it was quickly extinguished by the crew. There were no casualties. The vessel's crew included 21 Indians and a Vietnamese citizen.

The MV Chem Pluto is Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker. British Maritime Security firm Ambrey said the ship was linked to Israel but didn't specify the connection. Indian media reports said the vessel was transporting oil from Saudi Arabia and was heading to the Mangalore Port in southern India when the attack took place.

Project-15B class destroyer INS Mormugao (D67)​

After the attack, an Indian Coast Guard ship accompanied the MV Chem Pluto to Mumbai on Monday. "Considering the recent spate of attacks in the Arabian Sea, Indian Navy has deployed Guided Missile Destroyers, INS Mormugao, INS Kochi and INS Kolkata in various areas to maintain a deterrent presence," the navy statement said. The navy added that it was also regularly flying a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft to monitor the situation.

India heavily relies on fuel shipments from the Middle East, particularly from Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Any disruption in this route can be problematic for India. "India plays the role of a net security provider in the entire Indian Ocean region," Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday.

He said the Indian Navy had increased its surveillance of the seas. "We shall find whoever is responsible for this attack and strict action will be taken against them."

No group has admitted responsibility for the drone attack. The United States blamed Tehran for the attack but a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry called the accusation "baseless". A spate of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels, who are opposed to Israel's military campaign in Gaza, have triggered concerns for the global shipping industry.

Project-15A class destroyer INS Kochi (D64)​

The US Central Command says at least 15 commercial ships have come under attack by Houthi militants so far in the past two months. Several shipping companies have already changed the course of their vessels to avoid the Red Sea. That is triggering concerns for exporters in South Asia. "We are worried. Our shipping agents say the transport cost could increase by 10 to 15% and the travel time will increase by five to seven days," said Syed Nazrul Islam, vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association told the BBC.

Bangladesh exports billions of dollars' worth of ready-made clothes to Europe and the United States. Though the cost of transport is usually paid by the clothing brands in the West, Mr Islam said Bangladeshi exporters were worried that the buyers would ask for a discount next time when they order.

India deploys three warships to Arabian Sea after attack on tanker

The move comes after an Israel-affiliated vessel was attacked near the western Indian state of Gujarat.

www.bbc.com

 

[Marlii]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1739679636731179355

 

[Marlii]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1739859110412374496

 

[Nilgiri]

NOTE: Thread for all ongoing India - Houthi conflict theatre and Arabian sea anti-piracy news.​

​

Indian Navy Rescues Crew of US-Owned Vessel After Houthi Attack in Gulf of Aden​

The drone strike on the US-owned vessel Genco Picardy is the second such attack in recent days. It follows US-led strikes against the Houthis in response to their targeting of merchant ships in the Red Sea.

Indian Navy Rescues Crew of US-Owned Vessel After Houthi Attack in Gulf of Aden

The drone strike on the US-owned vessel Genco Picardy is the second such attack in recent days. It follows US-led strikes against the Houthis in response to their targeting of merchant ships in the Red Sea.

thewire.in

New Delhi: The Indian Navy on Thursday successfully rescued the crew of the US-owned vessel Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden after an attack by Yemen’s Houthi movement, Reuters reported.

Following the attack on the US Genco Picardy late on Wednesday, the US military said its forces had conducted strikes on 14 Houthi missiles that “presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region.”

According to Reuters, the Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians and have threatened to target US ships in response to American and British strikes on the group’s positions.

DW reported that the drone strike on the Genco Picardy is the second such attack in recent days. It follows US-led strikes against the Houthis in response to their targeting of merchant ships in the Red Sea.

Following the latest attack, India diverted a warship to rescue the 22 crew members on the Genco Picardy, all of whom are reported safe.

The attacks target a route that accounts for about 15% of the world’s shipping traffic and acts as a vital conduit between Europe and Asia.

The alternative shipping route around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope can add 10-14 days to a journey compared to passage via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, Reuters said.

 

[Nilgiri]

Looks like it was INS Vishakapatnam (destroyer) that responded:

India bound merchant vessel attacked by drone

New Delhi: Indian Navy guided-missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam, deployed in the Gulf of Aden to hunt down pirates, responded swiftly to a distress call by a Marshall Island-flagged merchant...

www.deccanchronicle.com

 

[KamBhakth]

I wonder why they don't organize convoys of merchant ships with escorts. Maybe because all those navies are not cooperating with each other.

 

[Nilgiri]

I wonder why they don't organize convoys of merchant ships with escorts. Maybe because all those navies are not cooperating with each other.

It is easier to do AoR (area of responsibility) coordination with other navies given the sheer volume of shipping versus few naval ships on hand.

 

[KamBhakth]

It is easier to do AoR (area of responsibility) coordination with other navies given the sheer volume of shipping versus few naval ships on hand.

33000 ships per year. Around 100 a day. Should be possible to group 10 together. Escort them in your area of responsibility and hand them over to the next.

 

[Nilgiri]

33000 ships per year. Around 100 a day. Should be possible to group 10 together. Escort them in your area of responsibility and hand them over to the next.

Convoys would play into the houthis intent as then they can ramp up costs even more given what the drones (and spamming) cost versus interception. i.e they want more navies to have high operating cost in this area.

While ramping up costs of commercial traffic since they need to then do this from their end.

The current system of come and go contribution + AoR is about best that can be done under the rules of engagement elected in the current grey pressure situation....by most navies involved (US, UK and a few allies did do some nominal strikes, but nothing sustained or impactful).

The RoE has to change to one destroying houthi infrastructure and assets comprehensively, that can be done at optimal return on investment.

But no country really wants to do that (yet), so we stuck with what we have.

@Kartal1

 

[KamBhakth]

Convoys would play into the houthis intent as then they can ramp up costs even more given what the drones (and spamming) cost versus interception. i.e they want more navies to have high operating cost in this area.

While ramping up costs of commercial traffic since they need to then do this from their end.

The current system of come and go contribution + AoR is about best that can be done under the rules of engagement elected in the current grey pressure situation....by most navies involved (US, UK and a few allies did do some nominal strikes, but nothing sustained or impactful).

The RoE has to change to one destroying houthi infrastructure and assets comprehensively, that can be done at optimal return on investment.

But no country really wants to do that (yet), so we stuck with what we have.

@Kartal1

In a convoy, the naval vessels would detect drones on radar and raise alarms to all the ships so the crew of all the ships would be safe. Right now they are in some amount of danger as the only way to detect drones is a watch, since marine radars are meant to detect ships and obstacles, not flying objects.

If all drones are intercepted, the Houthies should stop the attacks in a week or two.

If all drones are intercepted, insurance should go lower.

 

[Nilgiri]

In a convoy, the naval vessels would detect drones on radar and raise alarms to all the ships so the crew of all the ships would be safe. Right now they are in some amount of danger as the only way to detect drones is a watch, since marine radars are meant to detect ships and obstacles, not flying objects.

If all drones are intercepted, the Houthies should stop the attacks in a week or two.

If all drones are intercepted, insurance should go lower.

Read the article, especially the economics and contemplate why the admiral quoted hasn't suggested convoys as a solution.

Hard choices for the West in Red Sea stand-off

Most of the world deplores the Houthi attacks on shipping, but there are barriers which make it difficult for the West to stop them.

www.bbc.com

The only economic option is to take the fight to the opponents stockpiles and logistic infra nodes....as he WANTS you to spend money intercepting (and convoying will only make this more predictable for him to do so) with the cheap crap he throws at you.

 

[Nilgiri]

See, this is the strategy deemed far more effective than convoys and letting opponent play game on its terms.

US and UK launch fresh strikes on Houthis in Yemen

The second joint operation between the US and UK targets underground storage and missiles, they say.

www.bbc.com

 

[KamBhakth]

Read the article, especially the economics and contemplate why the admiral quoted hasn't suggested convoys as a solution.

Hard choices for the West in Red Sea stand-off

Most of the world deplores the Houthi attacks on shipping, but there are barriers which make it difficult for the West to stop them.

www.bbc.com

The only economic option is to take the fight to the opponents stockpiles and logistic infra nodes....as he WANTS you to spend money intercepting (and convoying will only make this more predictable for him to do so) with the cheap crap he throws at you.

US defence personnel always underestimate the resilience and tenacity of the people fighting in their own land. The strikes will give temporary relief. Logistics will get distributed. False intelligence will be fed for next strikes. Maybe logistics will move into hospitals or schools as in the Gaza strip. They will induce collateral damage.

Escorts of convoys are not passive. They are also supposed to hunt if attacked. Collateral damage is far more acceptable if it happens in a place from where missiles were fired / drones took off , then if it happens in a place where missiles / drones were supposedly stored.

 

[Nilgiri]

US defence personnel always underestimate the resilience and tenacity of the people fighting in their own land. The strikes will give temporary relief. Logistics will get distributed. False intelligence will be fed for next strikes. Maybe logistics will move into hospitals or schools as in the Gaza strip. They will induce collateral damage.

Escorts of convoys are not passive. They are also supposed to hunt if attacked. Collateral damage is far more acceptable if it happens in a place from where missiles were fired / drones took off , then if it happens in a place where missiles / drones were supposedly stored.

You are still not understanding the houthis WANT convoys to happen. They get the opponent to drain money 10-100 times faster if their core infra is simply not targetted in response.

Places from where missiles fired/drones.....ummm these are mobile launchers. There is intel available where they gather, fuel and arm....there is a priority matrix the US and UK long know about on this and can remote sense in real time.

The question boils down to political executive will to do the interdiction down the layers sequentially. This is how the low hanging fruit in the 2 strike missions so far were even selected in first place. More to come if the Houthis dont get the message. Let us see.

 

[KamBhakth]

You are still not understanding the houthis WANT convoys to happen. They get the opponent to drain money 10-100 times faster if their core infra is simply not targetted in response.

Places from where missiles fired/drones.....ummm these are mobile launchers. There is intel available where they gather, fuel and arm....there is a priority matrix the US and UK long know about on this and can remote sense in real time.

The question boils down to political executive will to do the interdiction down the layers sequentially. This is how the low hanging fruit in the 2 strike missions so far were even selected in first place. More to come if the Houthis dont get the message. Let us see.

The US and UK seem to agree with you. So I guess we will find out one way or another the efficacy of blowing up their infra.

 

[Nilgiri]

Another major attack and response by IN using INS Vishakapatnam

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1751212883558666460

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1751285097557532732

 

[Nilgiri]

Title of thread going to be changed to include all India - Houthi theatre news going forward.

US CENTCOM readout on the matter:

Yesterday, the Iranian-backed Houthis struck the Marshall Islands-flagged, Bermuda-owned M/V Marlin Luanda with an Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) in the Gulf of Aden. Marlin Luanda is transporting for commercial use a cargo of Naphtha, a highly flammable liquid hydrogen mixture. Following the missile strike, a major fire ensued in one of the cargo holds. USS Carney (DDG 64), the French Navy Frigate FS Alsace (D656) and Indian Navy Frigate INS Visakhapatnam (DD66) all responded quickly, providing critical firefighting material and assistance to the civilian crew, who had depleted their organic firefighting capability. The multinational crew, the lives of which the Houthis endangered, was made up of 22 Indian and 1 Bangladeshi crew members.

Thanks to this rapid response by the U.S., Indian and French navies, the fire is now extinguished. There were no casualties in the attack, the ship remains seaworthy, and has returned to its previous course.

Many thanks to our Combined Maritime Forces partners for their great teamwork at sea, averting a disaster that threatened lives and the seaworthiness of the ship and risked major environmental damage.

These unlawful actions have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza. Neither the vessel nor its crew have any affiliation to Israel. The Houthis have fired indiscriminately into the Red Sea, targeting vessels impacting over 40 countries around the world.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1751369123634774241

 

[Marlii]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1751900731727372340

 

[Marlii]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1752172731939086372

 

[Nilgiri]

The Indian Naval vessel INS Sumitra, after successfully preventing a piracy attempt on the Iranian fishing vessel Iman, has executed another anti-piracy mission off the East Coast of Somalia. In this operation, it rescued the Fishing Vessel Al Naeemi and its crew, comprising 19 Pakistani nationals, from a group of 11 Somali pirates.