The War in the Indian Ocean

The War in the Indian Oceantells the story of naval power in the Indian Ocean, set against Asia's historical neglect of the sea. It begins with the 1946 Royal Indian Navy mutiny and covers early operations in Junagadh and Goa. It examines the limited use of naval power in the 1962 and 1965 wars, leading to the decisive 1971 victory.

A key highlight is the little-known role of Mukti Bahini frogmen, who damaged significant shipping in East Pakistan. The book also recounts major events such as the sinking of the Pakistani submarine Ghazi, missile strikes on Karachi, and the loss of INS Khukri, with survivor accounts.

It further explores carrier and submarine operations, U.S. Seventh Fleet involvement, and the surrender of 92,000 Pakistani troops. The narrative concludes with naval roles in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Somalia, and the growing importance of regional maritime powers like Australia and South Africa.

***************************************

This is a story of ships and sailors highlighting the role of sea forces both in conflict and cooperation against the backdrop of Asian sea-blindness in the Indian Ocean.

The oceanic saga begins with the emotional mutiny of Royal Indian Navy sailors in 1946 followed by naval operations in Junagadh and the Liberation of Goa. The non-performance of seapower in the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and the Indo-Pak conflict in 1965, largely due to the legacy of the Nehru-Krishna Menon period, is covered in sufficient detail for navigating the route to the resounding victory of 1971.

The untold story of Mukti Bahini frogmen in East Pakistan who sank/damaged over a lakh tons of shipping with limpet mines, as published in the Lloyd's Casualty Return, is for the first time covered in detail and by a former expatriate from East Bengal (now Bangladesh).

The destruction of the Pakistani submarine Ghazi, the missile attacks on Karachi as also the loss of the Indian frigate Khukri are vividly described with excerpts from survivors. The aircraft carrier and submarine operations together with Admiral Zumwalt 'closing the loop' for the incursion of the US Seventh Fleet is the prelude to the surrender of 92000 Pakistani forces in which the Flag Officer Commanding, East Pakistan was taken prisoner. These historic events, which have hitherto been untold, are a fascinating first-hand account of war in the Indian Ocean.

The book concludes with naval operations in Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Somalia as also the role of the navy and coastguard as instruments of state policy and the emergence of Australia and South Africa as Indian Ocean powers.