Should The Pakistan Navy Get a New Base near Karachi?

[FuturePAF]

As the old Axiom goes "Amateurs think about tactics, but professionals think about logistics", IMHO The Pakistan Navy needs a new modern base outside of Karachi Harbor.

The current base doesn't even allow ships to be spread out in case of possible attack. They are currently sitting ducks tied together and in a predictable position. While there is no current threat, a threat could emerge. I believe the PN needs to request a new base, west of the Karachi.

An ideal location would be the mountainous coast line just north of "Khohri Butwala", approximately 30 km from the current Karachi base. Not only will it allow a wider area to spread out its ships on a war footing, it would be an idea location (due to the 400 foot tall mountains) to house submarines in reinforced pens like the swedes do and the soviets did.
http://i.imgur.com/lQ7S7pt.jpg
https://moiarussia.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/70_full-e1447466145614.jpg
http://www.histarmar.com.ar/InfHistorica-5/ArmadaSueca-AEnglish/undergrbase-2.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/17/14/1a/17141adb7ae4bb2f0f965b76a99d365f.jpg
http://www.dispatch.com/content/sto...-base-trades-cold-war-fears-for-tourists.html
http://www.bornrich.com/secret-submarine-base-sale-175-million.html
This is also important if the navy is to assume a portion of the strategic deterrence role. This last point goes hand in hand for the need to maintain security in the event of sabotage. On September 6, 2014 PNS Zulfiqar was attacked by miscreants seeking to use it against ships in the Arabian sea. Even prospect of such an attack on a Pakistan naval vessel housing strategic assets would send shock waves around the world and bring international pressure on Pakistan regarding its deterrence. Pakistan needs to preempt this by building a new facility in a location such as I have mentioned. A base similar to the Indian one at karwar, just scaled and modified to our needs would be what I envision, The PN needs to replace the small and outgrown one in Karachi Harbor.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/al-qaeda-militants-tried-to-seize-pakistan-navy-frigate-1410884514

 

[Taha Samad]

As the old Axiom goes "Amateurs think about tactics, but professionals think about logistics", IMHO The Pakistan Navy needs a new modern base outside of Karachi Harbor.

The current base doesn't even allow ships to be spread out in case of possible attack. They are currently sitting ducks tied together and in a predictable position. While there is no current threat, a threat could emerge. I believe the PN needs to request a new base, west of the Karachi.

An ideal location would be the mountainous coast line just north of "Khohri Butwala", approximately 30 km from the current Karachi base. Not only will it allow a wider area to spread out its ships on a war footing, it would be an idea location (due to the 400 foot tall mountains) to house submarines in reinforced pens like the swedes do and the soviets did.
http://i.imgur.com/lQ7S7pt.jpg
https://moiarussia.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/70_full-e1447466145614.jpg
http://www.histarmar.com.ar/InfHistorica-5/ArmadaSueca-AEnglish/undergrbase-2.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/17/14/1a/17141adb7ae4bb2f0f965b76a99d365f.jpg
http://www.dispatch.com/content/sto...-base-trades-cold-war-fears-for-tourists.html
http://www.bornrich.com/secret-submarine-base-sale-175-million.html
This is also important if the navy is to assume a portion of the strategic deterrence role. This last point goes hand in hand for the need to maintain security in the event of sabotage. On September 6, 2014 PNS Zulfiqar was attacked by miscreants seeking to use it against ships in the Arabian sea. Even prospect of such an attack on a Pakistan naval vessel housing strategic assets would send shock waves around the world and bring international pressure on Pakistan regarding its deterrence. Pakistan needs to preempt this by building a new facility in a location such as I have mentioned. A base similar to the Indian one at karwar, just scaled and modified to our needs would be what I envision, The PN needs to replace the small and outgrown one in Karachi Harbor.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/al-qaeda-militants-tried-to-seize-pakistan-navy-frigate-1410884514

Jinnah Naval Base, Ormara is already there. Overtime it will have more assets & probably expanded.

 

[Manidabest]

Pakistan needs to more navy fleet

 

[Penguin]

Jinnah Naval Base, Ormara is already there. Overtime I will have more assets & probably expanded.

Jinnah Naval Base is situated about 240 km west (149 miles) of Karachi at Ormara in Pakistan's Balochistan province. By land, via the Makran Coastal Highway it is 350 km (217.48 miles) from Karachi and 285 km from Gwadar. So, that's a little different.

The advantage of Karachi, with ships concentrated, is that base security may be easier. I like the ideas of reinforced submarine pens: for a force with a strategic role, this would be a must. But 240km west of Karachi might be less prone to air attack and/or easier to protect from it.

 

[CriticalThought]

I never knew about the 2014 attacks on a frigate. This is highly disconcerting.

Yes, we need to think about external threats and countering them with distributed assets, but with a thousand apologies, at the cost of derailing the thread, we need to really think about base security. From the past few years:

1. Attack on GHQ. I MEAN GHQ. SERIOUSLY?
2. Attack on POF. Backbone of our ammo production.
3. Attack on PAC Kamra. Backbone of JF-17
4. Attack on PNS Mehran. Actual aircraft destroyed.
5. Attack on an actual Navy warship.

And many more that I probably don't even remember, or know about. I mean this is appalling. Hopefully, we are stronger now as a result of these attacks and have learnt our lessons. But still, the question begs to be asked, were we sleeping before? Do we conduct regular security tests where a completely independent team tries to break into major infrastructure? Did heads roll after these attacks?

The perpetrators of these attacks need to be traced back to source. It is NOT OK to just kill the people involved in these attacks. AT ALL COSTS their planners, financiers, masterminds, handlers, the whole gang MUST BE TRACKED AND THEN ELIMINATED. And if the attack is traced back to a state, then this should be considered an act of war.

I know people behind the scenes do a lot. But for attacks of such public nature, we need to see public results. Just relying on 'people are working behind the scenes' is not good enough in these cases.

 

[Darth Vader]

Till Now Pakistan wasnt opetating that many number of subs to it would have suited PN to build and maintain that kind of base
But Since Pakistan is getting Subs from china
Pakistan will go for 1 or 2 secure bases which can provide shelter in case of War

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Why don't at Keti Bandar ??

 

[FuturePAF]

Why don't at Keti Bandar ??

Actually this would be worse then the current karachi base
it would be too close to enemy forces as to be within range of their assets, while having most of your logistical support far away
secondly the terrain is not helpful (indus delta is not the best to build a large base on) while the mountains west of karachi can house sub pens and even pens large enough for frigates and patrol boats

finally the quick access to deep water and its different layers will allows subs to hide there faster, while allowing surfe vessels to turn easily, shallow water bases have the risk of running aground, such as happened to hms astute
http://img.thesun.co.uk/aidemitlum/archive/01172/nany-main_1172347a.jpg

 

[Taha Samad]

Jinnah Naval Base is situated about 240 km west (149 miles) of Karachi at Ormara in Pakistan's Balochistan province. By land, via the Makran Coastal Highway it is 350 km (217.48 miles) from Karachi and 285 km from Gwadar. So, that's a little different.

The advantage of Karachi, with ships concentrated, is that base security may be easier. I like the ideas of reinforced submarine pens: for a force with a strategic role, this would be a must. But 240km west of Karachi might be less prone to air attack and/or easier to protect from it.

"According to Commander Attique ur Rehman, senior staff officer to Commander Coast, under the country’s strategic plans Ormara will become the hub for future activities of PN."

"It will not only shift focus from Karachi, but provide 6 to 8 hours response time to PN in case of any adversity – mainly from India which has very ambitious plans and hopes to transform into a blue-water navy by the next 10 to 15 years."

"With a mountain on its southern edge, Ormara proves to be an excellent location for a base. The mountain provides a natural cover to the naval installations and acts as a natural shield against potential missile attacks, he explained." [1]

AFAIK, there was news that PN plans to shift all its submarines to Jinnah Naval Base.

Given that in future Gwader & Karachi Port(also including nearby Port Qasim) will be major ports of Pakistan, the advantages of Ormara over Karachi are as follows:

1. Midway between Gwader & Karachi.
2. As you mentioned, farther from Eastern Border, so more safe in terms of Air Attack. Makes sea based attack a bit more difficult, since IN assets have to travel more distance for sea based attack.
3. Ormara isn't a big city itself so with right planning its easier to secure base from by terrorist/sabotage attack. One of the issues with Karachi is that Naval Base in right next to Commercial Port. Similarly PNS Mehran, Karachi is surrounded by highly populated area.
4. Steep Mountain just south of base. You can even see it on google earth.
5. This mountain to the south can be used for pens.

So I think PN idea is to have most assets in this specialized Naval Base leaving only bare minimum assets in Gwader & Karachi.

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Actually this would be worse then the current karachi base
it would be too close to enemy forces as to be within range of their assets, while having most of your logistical support far away
secondly the terrain is not helpful (indus delta is not the best to build a large base on) while the mountains west of karachi can house sub pens and even pens large enough for frigates and patrol boats

finally the quick access to deep water and its different layers will allows subs to hide there faster, while allowing surfe vessels to turn easily, shallow water bases have the risk of running aground, such as happened to hms astute
http://img.thesun.co.uk/aidemitlum/archive/01172/nany-main_1172347a.jpg

So in that case Gwadar Pasni and Ormara are better option now.

 

[Syed_Adeel]

Jinnah Naval Base is situated about 240 km west (149 miles) of Karachi at Ormara in Pakistan's Balochistan province. By land, via the Makran Coastal Highway it is 350 km (217.48 miles) from Karachi and 285 km from Gwadar. So, that's a little different.

The advantage of Karachi, with ships concentrated, is that base security may be easier. I like the ideas of reinforced submarine pens: for a force with a strategic role, this would be a must. But 240km west of Karachi might be less prone to air attack and/or easier to protect from it.

In previous year PN has moved away from Karachi as their vessel life was getting reduced down to ten year because of pollution. Higher economic activity in the vicinity was also one of the reason.

 

[Basel]

Jinnah Naval Base is situated about 240 km west (149 miles) of Karachi at Ormara in Pakistan's Balochistan province. By land, via the Makran Coastal Highway it is 350 km (217.48 miles) from Karachi and 285 km from Gwadar. So, that's a little different.

The advantage of Karachi, with ships concentrated, is that base security may be easier. I like the ideas of reinforced submarine pens: for a force with a strategic role, this would be a must. But 240km west of Karachi might be less prone to air attack and/or easier to protect from it.

PN was interested in moving away from Karachi, and have there bases away from ports.

 

[Super Falcon]

No need to waste money on base we lack ships if no ships what is use of more naval bases easily we get 4 destroyers on same money of building naval Base

 

[Abingdonboy]

I never knew about the 2014 attacks on a frigate. This is highly disconcerting.

Yes, we need to think about external threats and countering them with distributed assets, but with a thousand apologies, at the cost of derailing the thread, we need to really think about base security. From the past few years:

1. Attack on GHQ. I MEAN GHQ. SERIOUSLY?
2. Attack on POF. Backbone of our ammo production.
3. Attack on PAC Kamra. Backbone of JF-17
4. Attack on PNS Mehran. Actual aircraft destroyed.
5. Attack on an actual Navy warship.

And many more that I probably don't even remember, or know about. I mean this is appalling. Hopefully, we are stronger now as a result of these attacks and have learnt our lessons. But still, the question begs to be asked, were we sleeping before? Do we conduct regular security tests where a completely independent team tries to break into major infrastructure? Did heads roll after these attacks?

The perpetrators of these attacks need to be traced back to source. It is NOT OK to just kill the people involved in these attacks. AT ALL COSTS their planners, financiers, masterminds, handlers, the whole gang MUST BE TRACKED AND THEN ELIMINATED. And if the attack is traced back to a state, then this should be considered an act of war.

I know people behind the scenes do a lot. But for attacks of such public nature, we need to see public results. Just relying on 'people are working behind the scenes' is not good enough in these cases.

With base security such an issue, it clearly isn't the best idea to be expanding the number of bases and thereby making the job of security forces harder.