Table of Contents

• What is a Naval Base?
• What is a Naval Station?
• Difference Between a Naval Base and a Naval Station
• Top Ten Biggest Naval Bases in Asia
• Conclusion
• FAQs

Asia’s Biggest Naval Bases: A Symbol of Maritime Power and Innovation

India, China, Japan, and Singapore are the primary locations of major naval bases in Asia.

They mainly focus on strategic maritime security, aircraft carrier support, and nuclear submarine capabilities.

INS Kadamba is situated near Karwar, a small coastal city that serves as the administrative headquarters of the Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka, India. This base is present on India’s west coast. Upon completion of its ongoing expansion, INS Kadamba is expected to become one of the largest naval bases in Asia and among the largest in the Eastern Hemisphere.

What is a Naval Base?

A naval base is a military facility where warships and nuclear submarines are docked when they:

• Require repairs
• Require refuelling
• Need to be restocked
• Are not on missions at sea

These bases are strategically important, and their open seafront locations require robust security measures.

A naval base located within a country plays a crucial role in national defence and security. It contributes to the development of sea power by supporting military operations and force deployment.

A naval base functions as a home base and supports five key operational roles, commonly known as the Five Rs.

• Rest – crew recovery and accommodation
• Refuel – fuel and energy replenishment
• Repair – shipyard and dry dock maintenance
• Refresh – resupply of food and essentials
• Replenishment – ammunition, spare parts, and logistics

What is a Naval Station?

A naval station is a coastal or near-coastal military facility that houses ships, submarines, and personnel.

A nation's navy operates naval stations, which function as permanent shore facilities for organising, supporting, and managing its naval forces.

The primary functions of naval stations include:

• Training naval officers and sailors
• Storing weapons, fuel, and supplies
• Defending coastal and maritime areas
• Command and control of naval operations
• Docking and maintenance of warships and submarines

INS Kadamba (Karwar) is a major Indian Navy installation that functions as a naval station within a broader naval base system.

Difference Between a Naval Base and a Naval Station

All naval stations are part of a naval base system. However, not all naval bases function solely as naval stations.

For example:

INS Kadamba (Karwar) is a major naval base. Some smaller facilities under it may be called naval stations.

Naval Base vs. Naval Station:

Top Ten Biggest Naval Bases in Asia

Many navy installations are large and well-established and host some of the largest tenant commands’ operations. Let’s explore the top ten biggest naval bases in Asia and the military operations these stations manage.

Detailed Overview of Major Naval Bases in Asia

1. Naval Base Karwar (INS Kadamba), India

• This naval base was constructed under Project Seabird, completing the first phase in 2005. Development of Phase II began in 2011.
• Once all expansion work is completed, this naval base is expected to become the largest naval base in Asia.
• Naval Base Karwar lies near one of the busiest shipping routes between the Persian Gulf and East Asia, which gives it a strategic advantage.

Key Features of Naval Base:

• The base covers 1,328 acres
• This base has berths for two aircraft carriers
• This base has four covered dry berths for warships
• This base will accommodate submarines, 40 helicopters and 32 ships
• This base has a 2700-metre main runway, a cross runway, and maintenance and logistics facilities.

2. United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan

The U.S. Navy base at Yokosuka, Japan, supports U.S. Naval Forces Japan and hosts the U.S. Seventh Fleet and other forces operating in the Western Pacific.

This Navy Base was constructed in 1870 and served as a strategic facility in naval battles fought during the World War Era, the Korean War and even the Vietnam War.

Key Features of Naval Base:

• It has a 280-acre shipyard to help Japan play an active role in world trade
• It hosts a fleet of approximately 60–70 ships, 300 aircraft, and around 40,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel
• It is situated about 30 miles south-west of the Japanese capital, Tokyo, and occupies a 568-acre site
• Yokosuka garrison facilities include six dry docks, 19 wet berths, numerous anchorages, piers and ten dedicated buildings

3. Jianggezhuang Naval Base, China

This naval facility is commonly referred to as Submarine Base No. 1 (Jianggezhuang Submarine Base). It is located approximately 18–20 km east of Qingdao along the Yellow Sea coast. The base extends over approximately 1.9 km of coastline, with its primary facilities in the eastern section of the bay. The base is an enclosed harbour with breakwaters, and it has a single entrance. It also has specialised facilities for safely loading ballistic missiles on submarines. It hosts China’s Type 092-class ballistic missile submarine and Type 091-class nuclear attack submarines. It is a modern naval facility equipped with deep-water berths and advanced logistical infrastructure to support surface vessels and submarines.

Key Features of Naval Base:

• It boasts a dry dock for maintenance and repairs
• It has caverns for missile loading and maintenance of nuclear reactors
• It has six piers to accommodate various submarines and surface vessels
• It also has specialised facilities for safely loading ballistic missiles onto submarines
• It has an extensive underground facility designed to protect submarines from nuclear and conventional attacks.

4. Changi Naval Base, Singapore

It is officially designated as RSS Singapura (Republic of Singapore Ship) and is a major facility of the Republic of Singapore Navy. It is located adjacent to Changi Air Base on Singapore’s eastern coast. It was constructed on reclaimed land, officially opened in 2004, and a navy museum was built at the entrance of the base in 2012.

Key Features of Naval Base:

• This naval base is automated and has an ammunition depot
• This naval base has 6.2 km of berthing space for an aircraft carrier
• This naval base also accommodates submarines, frigates, missile gunboats, etc
• This naval base has twice the land area, five times the berthing space and deeper waters than Brani Naval Base
• Other than the US, the base is also available for use by the navies of countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, China, India, Britain, New Zealand and Australia

5. Vishakhapatnam Naval Base, India

This naval base was established in 1968; it is of 2,700 acres naval base and can accommodate 50 ships and nuclear-powered submarines of the Arihant class. This base is home to the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command, which is responsible for all naval forces in the Bay of Bengal and parts of the Indian Ocean, along with naval establishments on India’s east coast.

Key Features of Naval Base:

• This base has a new 20 square-kilometre area being developed for naval use
• This base boasts three major dry docks that are capable of docking ships up to 40,000 DWT

6. JMSDF Sasebo Naval Base, Japan

The Sasebo Naval Base was established in 1889. This naval base comprises a group of ports and land facilities of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, deployed in several districts of Sasebo City, Kyushu.

This naval base ensures the safety and security of the region and undertakes disaster response and logistics support for front units such as the:

• Self-Defence Fleet
• Engages in civil-military cooperation
• Removes naval mines and explosive items

Key Features of Naval Base:

• The base encompasses roughly 1,285 acres of land
• The base hosts the Sasebo District Force, the 43rd and 46th Mine Warfare Forces, and the 3rd Missile Boat Corps
• The base provides crucial maintenance and logistical support for frontline units, including destroyer escorts and patrol boats

7. RMN Lumut Naval Base, Malaysia

This is the largest naval base of the Royal Malaysian Navy in Lumut, Perak. It is 160 km from Kuala Lumpur. This base is the headquarters of the Navy’s Western Fleet Command.

The Lumut Naval Base occupies a coastal site in Lumut, a town in Perak state on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the mouth of the Sungai Dinding (Dinding River) and the Straits of Dindings.

Key Features of Naval Base:

• This naval base covers 1800 acres
• It is also home to a naval shipyard, a training centre, and a heliport
• This naval base has many other buildings for the personnel and staff, including clubs, shopping arcades, religious buildings, sports facilities, a military hospital, schools, etc.

8. Busan Naval Base, South Korea

The Republic of Korea Navy owns several ports and land facilities in Nam-Gu, Busan, which make up this Korean naval base. This facility also houses the headquarters of the U.S. Naval Forces Korea. Work on this facility began in 2001 and concluded in 2006. It began operations in 2007 when the Korean Navy relocated to Busan from the Jinhae Naval Base.

Key Features of Naval Base:

• The base includes a 10-meter deep-water berth and extensive warehouse facilities
• The base is associated with training and operational activities of South Korea’s naval special operations forces
• This base can accommodate up to 30 vessels, including Dokdo-class amphibious assault ships and U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.

9. Longpo Naval Base, China

This naval base is also referred to as the East Yulin Naval Base.

This facility for nuclear submarines lies along Hainan Island’s southern shores. It is an underground base that can accommodate or hide approximately 20 nuclear submarines. The harbour is large enough to accommodate aircraft carriers.

Key Features of Naval Base:

• The base facilitates power projection in regional disputes
• The base features large breakwaters to create a sheltered basin
• This naval base is heavily automated, featuring specialised warehouses and ammunition depots

10. INS Jarawa, India

This naval base of the Indian Armed Forces is under the joint services of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, located in Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It was commissioned in 1964, but repair facilities were started in 1979.

Key Features of Naval Base:

• This naval base is a significant component of military-civil relations
• This naval base supports the operational, administrative, and logistical needs of the Indian Navy under the Andaman & Nicobar Command

Conclusion

Asia is home to some of the largest naval bases in the world.

These naval bases play a vital role in the region’s geopolitical dynamics by supporting military operations, protecting maritime trade routes, and ensuring national security.

Overall, these naval bases serve as tools of power projection and deterrence.

Naval bases differ significantly in scale and technological sophistication, with India operating extensive facilities and Japan maintaining highly advanced naval hubs. They are home to the world’s most advanced warships.

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