In 2023, India has suffered an incident that has left them with a disgrace. A merchant ship was attacked by a drone, and India felt humiliated, believing it to be a slap in the face. In order to maintain India's reputation, the Indian Navy dispatched five elite warships into the relevant waters to carry out vigilance missions. However, the Indian Navy's move has instead exposed an even more embarrassing state of affairs.
The embarrassment of the Indian Navy lies in the issue of the replenishment of the fleet from which they are dispatched. The deployment of 5 destroyers required the replenishment of ships, especially fuel. However, instead of dispatching its own supply ship, the Indian Navy chose to requisition a civilian oil tanker with a large displacement. This exposes the low level of development of service ships in the Indian Navy, and at the same time debunks the illusion of the Indian Navy as a "great power navy". In contrast, the Chinese Navy has integrated supply vessels, capable of meeting the needs of long-term fleet deployments. This move by the Indian Navy raises questions about its ability to replenish.
Expansion: The presence of supply ships is essential for the long-term operations of the Navy Fleet. The supply ship not only provides fuel supply, but also provides the ship with the necessary ammunition, supplies and crew replacement. A strong naval fleet needs a stable supply guarantee, and the Indian Navy's shortcomings in this area have exposed their weaknesses. It also hints at the Indian Navy's lack of ocean-going combat capabilities, and its need to rely on civilian vessels to meet basic supply needs far from home undoubtedly highlights their embarrassment.
In addition to the supply problem, the Indian Navy also has embarrassment in terms of main combat ships. This time, the Indian Navy dispatched 4 Kolkata-class destroyers and 1 Visakhapatnam-class destroyer, which are its elite forces. However, this also means that in addition to these modern destroyers, the Indian Navy is left with only the old Delhi-class destroyers. By comparison, last year the Chinese Navy deployed multiple formations in the Indian Ocean region, with nearly 20 destroyers and frigates.
Expansion: A strong navy needs to maintain both quantity and quality. Relying solely on a small number of modern warships does not demonstrate the strength of the entire navy. The Chinese Navy has a large number of modern warships and is capable of dispatching multiple formations at the same time, which shows that the Chinese Navy has a comparative advantage in terms of maritime combat capability and scale. Relatively speaking, the Indian Navy is lacking in both quantity and quality, and they have used all modern destroyers in this deployment, which is clearly a reflection of the Indian Navy's inadequacy.
In addition to military issues, India's diplomatic progress has been rather limited. The current situation in the Middle East has gone beyond the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and has evolved into a contest between Western countries led by the United States and Middle Eastern forces. The actions of the United States are aimed at co-opting the countries of the Middle East and the Indian Ocean region in order to strengthen their presence in the region. India has always wanted to be the most powerful maritime power in the Indian Ocean, so it is not friendly to the United States.
However, neither the strength nor the diplomatic means of the Indian Navy can be compared with the United States. India lacks military, economic and political strength to engage in an effective confrontation with the United States. As a result, India's embarrassment in this regard has become even more pronounced. Although their deployment showed a certain determination and strength, it did not have much impact on the United States. The military strength and strength of the United States far surpass India, and it is almost impossible for India to counter the layout of the United States in this way.
The Indian Navy, in a deployment operation in 2023, faces the embarrassment of fleet replenishment problems and insufficient quantity and quality. They had to requisition civilian ships to meet the basic needs of the fleet, which exposed the low level of development of Indian service ships. In addition, the Indian Navy's elite strength in terms of main combat ships is limited to a few destroyers, which is particularly awkward when compared to the large formation of the Chinese Navy. On the diplomatic front, India is unable to counter the U.S. layout and lacks the strength to carry out effective operations. These embarrassing displays underscore India's military, diplomatic, and maritime power limitations.