Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 3: The strategic role of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) in strengthening India’s amphibious warfare capabilities was highlighted before student officers of the Indian Army’s War College, Mhow, during a special lecture on Saturday. The interaction focused on the tri-service command’s operational preparedness, training framework and the significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in conducting amphibious operations.
The Army Component Commander of the Andaman and Nicobar Command delivered a presentation on the theme “Conduct of Amphibious Operations,” outlining the operational potential and emerging opportunities available to India’s only tri-service command in executing amphibious missions.
During the session, the officer explained that the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago comprises 836 islands, of which 31 are inhabited. The remaining uninhabited islands provide a suitable environment for conducting amphibious exercises, which are carried out on a regular basis by the tri-service command.
The presentation detailed the coordinated role of the three armed services in amphibious operations. A large number of landing crafts positioned across the islands are used by the Indian Navy to transport and land Army troops on beaches, while the Indian Air Force provides the required air support and aerial cover during such operations.
The officer also underlined the operational importance of amphibious assaults in military campaigns, noting their role in recapturing lost territory. As part of the presentation, the Inchon Landing, also known as Operation Chromite, conducted during the Korean War in 1950, was cited as a historical example. The operation involved approximately 75,000 troops and more than 260 naval vessels and resulted in the recapture of Seoul, shifting the strategic balance in favour of the United Nations forces.
Student officers were also briefed on different forms of amphibious operations, ranging from basic assault missions to larger-scale raids that may involve the planned withdrawal of troops after completion of objectives. The lecture further covered the specialised training required to prepare personnel for the successful execution of such operations.
Another aspect discussed during the interaction was stand-off beaching using Landing Platform Docks (LPDs). The officer explained that LPDs are large vessels capable of carrying troops, tanks and armoured vehicles while also featuring flight decks to support helicopter operations.
The lecture formed part of an academic interaction aimed at familiarising future military leaders with the operational capabilities of the Andaman and Nicobar Command and the strategic utility of amphibious operations in joint military planning.
