Combat experience with Indian Navy Marine Commandos

in mine infested Jaffna lagoon

By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne

(Retired from Sri Lanka Navy)

Former Chief of Defence Staff

I was the Security Officer of the Naval Base, Trincomalee in 1987 September. My phone rang. It was Chief of Staff from the Naval Headquarters, Colombo.

“Ravi, Indian Navy wants help from one of our officers who has in-depth knowledge on Jaffna and Gurunagar lagoon area to assist their Commandos operating in that area. I think you are the best. Would you like to go?”

“Yes Sir !” I was delighted. I wanted get out of this monotonous job of Security Officer of the Naval Base, Trincomalee. Chief of Staff further said, “OK, be ready to travel to KKS tonight. I will tell Comeast (Commander Eastern Naval Area) of your new mission and will arrange a gunboat for you to travel to KKS. Take all your fancy weapons and other stuff. Travel light.” Chief of Staff knew of my weapons, US made Colt M-16 Carbine, repeater shot gun and 40mm grenade launcher.

The following afternoon, I was on board SLNS Edithara, which was anchored off South of Punkudativu. Commander (then) J S K Colombage, one-time my training officer onboard when I was a Cadet, was waiting for me. Commanding Officer of this Surveillance Command Ship (SCS) was Captain Suraj Munasinghe, a colourful Naval officer, who was loved by all. Commander Colombage looked after me very well. SCSs are very comfortable ships, one-time Merchant Navy Container Carriers (Roll-on/roll-off ships) which were modified for specific purposes of carrying troops, providing logistics support to our fleet and carried out maritime surveillance with excellent “Selsmar” radar fitted on board. Thanks to Jayanath (Colombage), I was given airconditioned cabin and 24 hours fresh water supply, which is we consider a super-luxury at sea.

I was given another precious gift by Captain Suraj and Commander Jayanath. That was an UK- built Cougar craft, ultra speed small boat, which can move at maximum speed of 40 knots exclusively for my use. I was not sailing, but “flying” in and out of Jaffna lagoon at 35 knots. 

As you are aware, Commander Colombage rose to the rank of Admiral, Commanded the Navy, became a Professor and is now our Foreign Secretary.

So, I was ready with all aspects to meet my friends from the Indian Navy, the 18- member unit of the Indian Navy Marine Commandos, then known as Indian Marine Special Force (IMSF). They were raised few months ago in 1987, with two Indian Naval officers (divers) who did basic (BUDs) the US Navy SEAL course successfully. 

The task for the team was to avoid LTTE cadres crossing the Jaffna lagoon in boats and reinforcing their troops fighting with Indian Peacekeeping Forces (IPKF) in Jaffna. Moving in the Jaffna lagoon in boats was very tricky, if you did not have a good local knowledge of it. There are navigable canals and mud flats. If you do not move on canals, your boat will run aground. 

My local knowledge in operating in these waters when I was Officer in Command at Naval Detachment, Nagadeepa stood us in good stead. Operating in those restricted waters to catch smugglers day and night during that period paid dividends. Long nights waiting on mud flats, half wet and shivering by cold wind at night, watching the flooding and ebbing currents has suddenly became very useful.

I was very happy. I thought this is what I want to do as junior officer. Be independent and do what I wanted. 

But soon I realized the gravity of my responsibility when I saw the Indian Marine Commandos. I was supposed to take them to the Jaffna lagoon safely to fight the LTTE. They were the finest officers and sailors of the Indian Navy. The responsibility for ensuring their safety in the mine-infested enemy waters fell on my solders!

The eighteen Indian Marine Commandos were led by Lt Aravind Singh. His deputy was Lt Anoop Varma. Aravind was a US Navy SEAL-trained, competent and brave young Officer. The operation going to be his first real combat experience. Same with second in command and rest of the team.

Lt Aravnid Singh and I became very close friend within a few days. We both respect our professional competencies. I showed him how to move in restricted waters of the Jaffna lagoon during day and night and how tricky the mine-infested waters could be and how to avoid strong flow of water during flooding and ebbing of the lagoon. Further, I informed him of the enemy snipers hiding in two high-rise buildings in Gurunagar and the advantages of operating at night. 

We targeted the LTTE boats parked at Gurunagar jetty and destroyed a large number of them. The Indian Marine Commandoes gained competence in next to no time. They informed their Commanders that they were ready to operate alone. 

Within one week my job was over! Aravind and Anoop were thankful to me for my support. They said they were competent enough to work without their dear channel pilot “Ravi”. We said goodbye and departed after working in dangerous waters of Jaffna for two weeks. 

By conducting very successful operations against the LTTE, the Indian Marine Commandos earned respect of the IPKF troops, and their action in the Jaffna lagoon earned them gallantry medals. Aravind was awarded Maha Vir Chakra, (MVC), second highest Gallantry medal of India, highest awarded to an Indian Naval Officer during the IPKF operations. He was the youngest to receive MVC in the Indian Navy history. His deputy Anoop was awarded with Vir Chakra (Vir C).

The experience I gained by working with these brave officers and sailors of the Indian Navy helped us a lot when we raised our own Maritime Special Force, Special Boats Squadron in 1993.

Today Indian Navy Marine Commandos ( MARCOS) are among the best Naval Special Forces of the World.

The few, The Fearless

. – motto of MARCOS

Lt. Anoop Varma, VrC retired from Indian Navy prematurely and joined Merchant Navy and rose to rank of Merchant Navy Captain. Lt. Aravind Singh, MVC, NM remained with the MARCOS for long years and ensured it reached World-class and retired from Indian Navy with rank of Commodore.

I salute these officers and  sailors of the Indian Navy for coming to help us during difficult times to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country.