The Royal Indian Navy

Instructor Lieutenant D.J.E. Collins, B.A.L.T.
Indian Navy

Official History of the Indian Armed Forces
In the Second World War

General Editor
Bisheshwar Prasad, D. Litt.

Combined Inter-Services Historical Section
(India & Pakistan)
1964


TO ALL WHO SERVED


ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Chairman
Secretary, Ministry of Defence, India
Members
Dr. Tara Chand
Prof. K.A. Nilakanta Sastri
Prof. Mohammad Hasbib
Dr. R.C. Mujumdar
General K.S. Thimayya
Lieut.-General Sir Dudley Russell
Lieut.-General S.P.P. Thorat
    Military Adviser to the High Commissioner
        for Pakistan in India
Secretary
Dr. Bisheshwar Prasad


Preface

I have great pleasure in presenting this volume in the series "Official History of the Indian Armed Forces in World War II", prepared by the Combined Inter-Service Historical Section, Indian &0; Pakistan. While the war was still going on, a small organisation attached to the Chief of the General Staff was set up for collecting and collating records relating to the activities of the Indian Armed Forces ni the global conflict. This later developed into the War Department Historical Section. After the partition of India the Section was reconstituted under a civilian historian in 1948 as a joint venture of the two countries (India & Pakistan) and commissioned to write a history of the part played in the second world war by the armed forces of prepartition India. This history was planned to be published in about twenty-four volumes--seventeen in the general and seven in the medical series.

The present volume is one in the general series and describes the history of the Royal Indian Navy from its very beginning under the East India Company, when it was known as the Indian Marine, to 1945. Although the Royal Indian Navy was created by the British rulers of India, we had a rich maritime heritage before the advent of the British and a chapter on that subject has also been added in the beginning. The book then goes on to describe the different organisational changes and phases through which the R.I.N. passed and the position at the outbreak of war in 1939. The bulk of the book is naturally devoted to a detailed description of the history of the Navy, both organisational and operational, during the war period.

This volume was written by Instructor Lt. D.J.E. Collins, I.N., who was specially deputed by the Naval Headquarters to work in and consult the records of the Historical Section for this purpose. The Naval Headquarters constituted a panel of senior naval officers with the Director of Naval Planning as Chairman to examine in detail the drafts of different chapters as and when they were ready and to suggest improvements or corrections. The panel held more than forty sittings and went into each and every detail of the draft at all stages of its production before giving its final approval. Later the draft was seen by the Chief of Naval Staff also. My thanks are due to him, the members of the panel and to the author for their painstaking efforts in making the draft so thorough and authoritative. The volume was seen in the typescript by the Directorate of

--ix--

Intelligence New Delhi and General Headquarters, G.S. Branch (Historical Section) Pakistan. I acknowledge my thanks to these bodies also. Finally I thank Shri P.N. Khera for help in editing the narrative and seeing it through the Press and Shri T.D. Sharma for preparing maps for it.

In conclusion I thank the Ministries of Defence of India and Pakistan for their support and encouragement.

New Delhi
April 1964
Bisheshwar Prasad

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CONTENTS

  Preface ix
  Introduction

xxi
Chapter   Page
I. India's Maritime Heritage 1
II. The Eve of War 10
III. The Early Stages of War 23
IV. Operations in the Red Sea 36
V. Operations in the Persian Gulf 69
VI. The Japanese Peril 95
VII. Home Front--1 112
VIII. Home Front--2 136
IX. Home Front --3 160
X. Home Front--4 202
XI. Operational Needs and Requirements 229
XII. Operations in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean 248
XIII. Burma Operations (1942-1945) 255
XIV. Burma Operations (Contd.) 287
XV. Epilogue 317
Appendices 331
Bibliography 377
Index 379
Appendices
I. Summary of Recommendations of the Chatfield Committee 333
II. Naval Headquarters, Bombay, till 1941 334
III. Base Facilities 335
IV. Shore Establishments of the R.I.N. During the War 337
V. Ships of the R.I.N. in 1944 338
VI. Flag Officers Commanding Royal Indian Navy 344
VII. Officers of R.I.N., 1941 345
VIII. Approach Tracks for Ships--Operation BISHOP 347
IX. Ships for Operations BISHOP 348
X. H.M.I.S. Sutlej and Jumna--Officers 350
XI. Training Establishments and Major Works Objects (1944) of the R.I.N. 351
XII. Progressive Rate of Intake of Men in the R.I.N. During the War 360
XIII. Manning Progress of the R.I.N. During the War 361
XIV. Honours & Awards, Burma Naval Operations 1942-45, Royal Indian Navy 362
XV. Names of Officers Borne in Ships which took part in the Burma Operations 364
XVI. Names of Officers borne in the Coastal Forces of the Burma Operations 372
XVII. Selection of Personnel Directorate, General Headquarters, India 376
 
  MAPS & CHARTS  
  Facing Page
1. Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (1939-1941) 37
2. Operations in the Middle East showing evacuation of Berbera and the Italian invasion of Somaliland 39
3. Massaw Channel 65
4. Persian Gulf and Adjoining Countries 69
5. Persian Gulf--off Abadan page 77
6. Khor Musa Area showing A.I.O.C. Oil Tank Installations Facing page 83
7. Operation DOVER Embarkation Plan page 93
8. India--Royal Indian Naval Establishment and Bases during World War II Facing page 127
9. Intake of men in the R.I.N. during World War II page 140
10. Sicily page 250
11. Burma--R.I.N. Operational Area (Sheet 1 of 3 Sheets) Facing page 257
12. Royal Indian Navy Eight Amphibious Operations in Burma 277
13. Burma--R.I.N. Operational Area 283
14. Burma--R.I.N. Operational Area (Sheet 2 of 3 Sheets) 291
15. Burma--R.I.N. Operational Area (Sheet 3 of 3 Sheets) 311
16. Approach Tracks for ships--Operation BISHOP page 347
 
  ILLUSTRATIONS  
(between pages 32 and 33)
1 H.M.I.S. Hindustan
2. H.M.I.S. Cornwallis
3. H.M.I.S. Lawrence
4. H.M.I.S. Pathan
(between pages 88 and 89)
5. Lieut. N. Krishnan, D.S.C., R.I.N.
6. Lieut. (E) D. Shankar, D.S.C., R.I.N.
(between pages 134 and 135)
7. Chief Ordnance Artificer P.C. Mascarenhas, D.S.M., R.I.N.
8. A general view of the parade ground of H.M.I.S. Himalaya as Vice-Admiral Godfrey declares open the new establishment
9. Landing Craft put troops ashore on one of the beaches in an assault
10. Indian soldiers visit H.M.I.S. Peshawar, a model warship at the War Services Exhibition at Peshawar
(between pages 222 and 223)
11. C.P.O. Moina Imam, WRIN
12. Surg. Lieut. C.M. Dave, M.B.E., R.I.N.V.R.
13. Lieut. N. Krishnan, D.S.C., R.I.N., explains a problem of navigation to recruits for the Instructor Branch in H.M.I.S. Feroze, Bombay
14. A contingent of Indian troops leaving for overseas
(between pages 268 and 269)
15. Officers of the Bengal with souveneir pieces of Jap shell fragments
16. Some of the speedy, hard-hitting units of the Royal Indian Navy's Coastal Forces
17. At their Advanced Base on the Naaf river M.Ls of Arakan Coastal Forces embark stores and ammunition for another sortie into enemy water
18. Dawn view of L.C.Ts and motor mine-sweepers passing the Mayu Peninsula on their way to Akyab Island
(between pages 280 and 281)
19. L.C.As on their way to Ponnagyun in the Kaladan Valley with a battalion of Royal Garhwal Rifles
20. H.M.I.S. Jumna fires a four-inch salvo into the Japanese defences
21. M.Ls of Arakan Coastal Forces sail into liberated port of Akyab
22. Reinforcements wade ashore at Myebon, supporting one another as they feel their way over the soft mud bottom
(between pages 286 and 287)
23. During the assault on Myebon 74th Indian Brigade lands from L.C.Ts to support the Commandos
24. With loud hailer and Aldis lamps R.I.N. Beach Commandos direct traffic at Myebon
25. Moored to the mangroves H.M.I.S. Narbada trains her guns on the enemy's coastal supply road
26. The Kangaw beach-head


Abbreviations

A.A.
Anti-aircraft.
A.B.C.E.F.
Arabian Bengal Ceylon Escort Force.
A.B.V.
Armed Boarding Vessels.
A.C.E.S.
Amenities, Comforts and Entertainments for the Services.
A.D.J.A.
Assistant Deputy Judge Advocate.
A.I.C.
Action Information Centre.
A.I.O.C.
Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
A.M.C.
Armed Merchant Cruisers.
A.M.T.C.
Army Medical Training Centre.
A.M.V.
Armed Merchant Vessel.
A/S
Anti-submarine.
A.S.D.I.C.
Allied-Submarine Detection Investigation Committee.
A.S.T.O.
Assistant Sea Transport Officer.
A.T.R.O.
Assistant Technical Recruiting Officer.
B.G.O.
Base Gunnery Officer.
B.L.
Breech Loading.
B.L.O.
Bombardment Liaison Officer.
B.O.R.
British Other Rank.
B.R.N.V.R.
Burma Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
B.S.S.
Beach Signal Station.
B.Y.M.S.
British Yard Mine Sweepers.
C.B.
Companion of the Bath.
C.B.E.
Commander of (the Order of) the British Empire.
C.Bs
Confidential Books.
C.C.F.E.T.
Captain Coastal Forces Eastern Theatre.
C-in-C
Commander-in-Chief.
C.I.E.
Companion of (the Order of) the Indian Empire.
C.M.G.
Companion of (the Order of) St. Michael and St. George.
C.O.
Commanding Officer.
C.O.F.
Captain of the Fleet.
C.P.O.
Chief Petty Officer.
C.S.
Continuous Service.
C.S.I.
Companion of (the Order of) the Star of India.
D.A.R.D.
Director of Admiralty, Research and Development.
D.C.&S.C.(I)
Director of Civil and Services Censorship (India).
D.E.M.S.
Defensively Equipped Merchant Shipping.
D.G.S.R.
Director General Ship Repairs.
D.J.A.
Deputy Judge Advocate.
D.R. (Position)
Dead Reckoning (Position).
D.S.C.
Distinguished Service Cross.
D.S.M.
Distinguished Service Medal.
D.S.O.
Distinguished Service Order.
E.As
Electrical Apprentices.
E.C.O.
Emergency Commissioned Officer.
Ex.O.
Executive Officer.
F.C.B.
Fire Control Box.
F.D.S.
Fauji Dilkhush Sabha.
F.K.C.
Fuze Keeping Clock.
F.M.O.
Fleet Mail Officer.
F.O.B.
Forward Observer Bombardment.
FOCRIN
Flag Officer Commanding Royal Indian Navy.
F.P.S.C.
Federal Public Services Commission.
G.
Gunnery.
G.H.Q.
General Headquarters.
G.M.O.
Gun Mounting Officer.
H.A.
High Angle.
H.D.M.L.,
Harbour Defence Motor Launch.
H.E.
High Explosive.
H.M.A.S.
His Majesty's Australian Ship.
H.M.G.
His Majesty's Government.
H.M.I.S.
His Majesty's Indian Ship.
H.M.S.
His Majesty's Ship.
H.O.
Hostilities Only.
H.Q.
Headquarters.
I.A.M.C.
Indian Army Medical Corps.
I.A.O.C.
Indian Army Ordnance Corps.
I.D.S.M.
Indian Distinguished Service Medal.
I.M.D.
Indian Medical Department.
I.M.H.
Indian Military Hospital.
I.M.M.T.S.
Indian Mercantile Marine Training Ship.
I.M.S.
Indian Medical Service.
I.N.C.S.
Indian Naval Canteen Service.
I.O.R.
Indian Other Ranks.
I.S.D.P.S.
Inter-Services Demobilisation Planning Staff.
I.S.S.A.B.
Indian Sailors' Soldiers' and Airmen's Board.
I.S.S.C.S.
Inter-Services Security Co-ordination Section
I.S.S.D.
Inter-Services Security Directorate.
I.W.T.
Inland Water Transport.
J.A.
Judge Advocate.
J.P.
Justice of the Peace.
K.C.B.
Knight Commander of (the Order of) the Bath.
K.C.I.E.
Knight Commander of (the Order of) the Indian Empire.
L.A.
Low Angle.
L.C.A.
Landing Craft, Assault.
L.C.B.
Landing Craft, Base.
L.C.I.(L)
Landing Craft, Infantry (Large).
L.C.M.
Landing Craft, Mechanized.
L.C.P.(L)
Landing Craft, Personnel (Large).
L.C.S.
Landing Craft, Support.
L.C.S.(M)
Landing Craft, Support (Medium).
L.C.T.
Landing Craft, Tank.
L.C.W.
Landing Craft, Wing.
L.N.D.
Local Naval Defence.
Leg. Sto.
Leading Stoker.
L/S
Leading Seaman.
L.S.A.
Leading Store Assistant.
L.S.I.
Landing Ship, Infantry.
Lt.
Lieutenant.
Lt. Cdr.
Lieutenant Commander
M.B.E.
Member of (the Order of) the British Empire.
M.C.
Military Cross.
M.F.V.
Motor Fishery Vessel.
m.g.
Machine gun.
M.G.O.
Master General of the Ordnance.
"M.K." mutton
Sheep killed by Muslim.
M.L.
Motor Launch.
M.O.
Medical Officer.
M/S
Minesweeper
M.S.F.
Mine Sweepers, Flotilla.
M.T.
Motor Transport; Mechanical Transport.
M.T.B.
Motor Torpedo Boat.
M.T.E.
Mechanical Training Establishment.
M.T.F.R.
Miniature Tracer Firing Range.
M.V.O.
Member of the (Royal) Victorian Order.
N.C.O.
Non-Commissioned Officer.
N.C.S.
Non-Continuous Service.
N.H.Q.(I)
Naval Headquarters (India).
N.O.I.C.
Naval Officer-in-Charge.
N.S.K.O.
Naval Store Keeping Officer.
N.S.O.
Naval Store Officer.
N.W.F.P.
North-West Frontier Province.
O.B.E.
Officer of (the Order of) the British Empire.
O.C.A.S.
Officer-in-Charge Armament Supply.
O.E.T.D.
Ordnance Export Transit Depot.
O.O.D.
Order of the Day.
O.O.Q.
Officer of the Quarter.
O.O.W.
Officer of the Watch.
Ord. Seaman
Ordinary Seaman.
P.O.
Petty Officer.
P&O
Peninsular and Oriental (Company)
P.S.T.O.
Principal Sea Transport Officer.
P.T.
Physical Training.
P.T.I.
Physical Training Instructor.
Q.F.
Quick Firing.
Q.R.
Quarter Range.
R.
Repeated.
R.A.F.
Royal Air Force
R.A.O.C.
Royal Army Ordnance Corps.
R.D.
Royal Dragoons.
R/F
Range Finder.
R.I.A.F.
Royal Indian Air Force.
R.I.A.S.C.
Royal Indian Army Service Corps.
R.I.F.R.
Royal Indian Fleet Reserve.
R.I.M.
Royal Indian Marine.
R.I.N.
Royal Indian Navy.
R.I.N.R.
Royal Indian Naval Reserve.
R.I.N.V.R.
Royal Indian Naval Volunteer Reserve.
R.N.
Royal Navy.
R.N.R.
Royal Naval Reserve.
R.N.V.R.
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
revs.
Revolutions.
(S)
Supply.
S.A.N.F.
South African Naval Flotilla.
S.B.A.
Sick Berth Attendant.
S.C.
Swept Channel.
S.I.O.
Senior Inspecting Officer.
S/Lt.
Sub Lieutenant.
S.M.O.
Senior Medical Officer.
S.N.O.
Senior Naval Officer.
S.O.
Senior Officer.
S.O.R.S.F.
Senior Officer Red Sea Force.
(Sp.)
Special.
S.P.
Selection of Personnel.
SOLWING
Senior Officer Landing Craft Wing.
S.S.
Short Service; Steam Ship.
S.T.O.
Sea Transport Officer.
T.N.T.
Trinitrotoluene.
T.O.O.
Time of Origin
U.S.A.A.F.
United States Army Air Forces.
V/S
Visual Signalling.
V.S.I.S.
Victualling Store Issue Ship.
W.A.C.(I)
Women's Auxiliary Corps (India).
W.O.
Warrant Officer.
WRNS
Women's Royal Naval Service.
WRINS
Women's Royal Indian Naval Service.
W/T
Wireless Telegraphy.
XDO
Extended Defense Officer.


Transcribed and formatted by Patrick Clancey, HyperWar Foundation