Defences Against Midget Subs, Frogmen and Amphibious Assaults

The Sri Lanka Navy has installed underwater surveillance equipment, including sonar and also sea mines to face a possible threat from a midget submarine or an amphibious attack. Sea Mines have been laid in non-fishing areas, specially near Delft Island and underwater surveillance equipment installed at areas with vital Naval assets in the Northeast. These preparations come in the wake of reports of a possible attack by Sea Tigers using frogmen and Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) midget subs.

Indian newspapers were the first to announce the laying of sea mines following an official notice issued by the SLN Northern Area Commander to Tamil Nadu Naval Commander- Commodore Philip Van Haalten, was released to the media. The new mines laid are possibly of the new generation of Influence Mines, or even older generation Contact Mines, that will be useful against Midget Subs or Sea Tiger landing boats, in case they make a landing attempt.

Special Self Containing and fully closed Underwater Breathing Apparatus' (SCUBAs) and underwater weapons have also been acquired to assist Military Assault/Clearance Divers of SLN. The SCUBA equipment will be useful for the Navy's own frogmen from the Special Boat Squadron, that maybe required to search and destroy Sea Tiger frogmen manually.

The traditionally used depth charges of the SLN are effective only against midget submarines and frogmen in bay areas like Trincomalee and Colombo harbour mouths. The sound waves of exploding charges bounce off sea walls and can kill frogmen through shock-effect, depending on the proximity of the charge.

Security needs to be tightened against Frogmen since they can place limpet mines on Naval vessels for sabotage or conduct recce for a larger infiltration unit. In recent years, Naval Intelligence has pieced together an LTTE plan to attack Colombo harbour using fully closed-circuit underwater breathing apparatuses. A specially trained team, whose leader was trained overseas, was nabbed near Negombo after the attempt was foiled by bad weather.

Fully closed-circuit apparatuses do not release air bubbles that would normally alert small patrol craft defending Navy installations to the whereabouts of a frogman. Only a handful of effective techniques exist against frogmen. In many instances, frogmen intruders hold the advantage over the defenders.