The fire on board the submarine INS Sindhuratna on Wednesday, off the coast of Mumbai, could not have come at a worse time for the Indian Navy, already grappling with the recent spate of accidents. Taking moral responsibility, the chief of naval staff, Admiral D.K. Joshi, has resigned. It is a symbolic gesture for a military officer concerned with his honour and dignity, and that of his forces. But his resignation and official inquiries are unlikely to fix the chronic problems that afflict the naval fleet and its operational readiness.