Here’s how the Indian Navy destroyed Pakistani Naval Base in 1971 Indo-Pak War
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The 17th-century Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is considered as the 'Father of the Indian Navy'.
As of 2016, the Indian Navy has a strength of 79,023 personnel and a large operational fleet consisting of two aircraft carriers, one amphibious transport dock, 8 landing ship tanks, 11 destroyers, 14 frigates, one nuclear-powered attack submarine, one ballistic missile submarine, 13 conventionally-powered attack submarines, 24 corvettes, 6 mine countermeasure vessels, 27 patrol vessels, 4 fleet tankers and various other auxiliary vessels.
(Image: Reuters)
As of 2016, the Indian Navy has a strength of 79,023 personnel and a large operational fleet consisting of two aircraft carriers, one amphibious transport dock, 8 landing ship tanks, 11 destroyers, 14 frigates, one nuclear-powered attack submarine, one ballistic missile submarine, 13 conventionally-powered attack submarines, 24 corvettes, 6 mine countermeasure vessels, 27 patrol vessels, 4 fleet tankers and various other auxiliary vessels.
(Image: Reuters)
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This day is celebrated as Navy Day because Indian Navy commenced Operation Trident against Pakistan on 4th December, 1971. The Indo-Pak War of ’71 had Indian Navy playing a significant role. It bombed the Karachi Harbour.
(Image: reuters)
(Image: reuters)
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This attack had sank four Pakistani vessels and ravaged the Karachi harbour fuel fields. Almost 500 Pakistani were killed. While India suffered no losses, Pakistan lost one minesweeper, one destroyer, cargo vessel carrying ammunition, and fuel storage tanks in Karachi.
(Image: Reuters)
(Image: Reuters)
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How it all started?
A strike group under the control of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, was intended to be formed. Three Vidyut-class missile boats were already deployed off the coast of Okha, near Karachi, had limited operational and radar range. To overcome this difficulty, it is decided to assign support vessels to the group. The Karachi Strike Group, consisting of three Veer class missile boats—INS Nipat, INS Nirghat and INS Veer—each armed with four SS-N-2B Styx surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi), two Arnala-class anti-submarine corvettes—INS Kiltan and INS Katchall, and a fleet tanker—INS Poshak, was formed under the command of Commander Babru Bhan Yadav, the Commanding Officer of the 25th Missile Boat Squadron.
(Image: Wikimedia)
A strike group under the control of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, was intended to be formed. Three Vidyut-class missile boats were already deployed off the coast of Okha, near Karachi, had limited operational and radar range. To overcome this difficulty, it is decided to assign support vessels to the group. The Karachi Strike Group, consisting of three Veer class missile boats—INS Nipat, INS Nirghat and INS Veer—each armed with four SS-N-2B Styx surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi), two Arnala-class anti-submarine corvettes—INS Kiltan and INS Katchall, and a fleet tanker—INS Poshak, was formed under the command of Commander Babru Bhan Yadav, the Commanding Officer of the 25th Missile Boat Squadron.
(Image: Wikimedia)
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The operation
The task group reached 250 nautical miles (460 km; 290 mi) south off the coast of Karachi, and retained their position during the day, outside the range of Pakistan Air Force. As the Pakistani aircraft did not possess night-bombing capabilities, the attack was planned between the dusk and dawn. At 10.30 pm in Pakistan Standard Time (PKT), the tasked group moved 180 nmi (330 km; 210 mi) from its position, towards the south of Karachi. Soon the Pakistani targets, analyzed as warships, were detected 70 nmi (130 km; 81 mi) to the northwest and northeast of Karachi, as per Wikipedia.
(Image: Wiki)
The task group reached 250 nautical miles (460 km; 290 mi) south off the coast of Karachi, and retained their position during the day, outside the range of Pakistan Air Force. As the Pakistani aircraft did not possess night-bombing capabilities, the attack was planned between the dusk and dawn. At 10.30 pm in Pakistan Standard Time (PKT), the tasked group moved 180 nmi (330 km; 210 mi) from its position, towards the south of Karachi. Soon the Pakistani targets, analyzed as warships, were detected 70 nmi (130 km; 81 mi) to the northwest and northeast of Karachi, as per Wikipedia.
(Image: Wiki)
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INS Nirghat drove forward in the northwest direction, fired its first SS-N-2B Styx missile at PNS Khaibar (former HMS Cadiz), a Battle-class destroyer of Pakistan. Khaibar, assuming it as a missile from the Indian aircraft, engaged its anti-aircraft systems. The missile hit the ship on right side, exploding below the galley in the electrician's mess deck at 10.45 pm (PKT). This led to the explosion in first boiler room, subsequently the ship lost its propulsion, and was flooded with smoke. An emergency signal that read: "Enemy aircraft attacked in position 020 FF 20. No. 1 boiler hit. Ship stopped", was sent to the Pakistan Naval Headquarters (PNHQ). Due to the chaos created by the explosion, the signal misinterpreted incorrect coordinated of the ship's position that delayed the rescuing teams in reaching the place. Observing the ship still on water, Nirghat fired its second missile that hit Khaibar in the second boiler room on the starboard. eventually sinking the ship. Eventually the ship sank killing 222 sailors.
At 11.00 pm (PKT), INS Nipat after verifying two targets in the north-west of Karachi, fired two Styx missiles, one each at cargo vessel MV Venus Challenger and its escort PNS Shah Jahan (former HMS Charity), a C-class destroyer. Venus Challenger carrying ammunition for the Pakistani forces immediately exploded as the missile hit, and eventually sinking it 23 nmi (43 km; 26 mi) south of Karachi. The other missile targeted for Shah Jahan damaged the ship very badly. At 11.20 pm (PKT), PNS Muhafiz, an Adjutant-class minesweeper, was targeted by INS Veer. The missile was fired and Muhafiz was struck on the left side, abaft the bridge.The ship sunk immediately killing 33 sailors,before it could send a signal to the PNHQ.
(Image: Wikipedia)
At 11.00 pm (PKT), INS Nipat after verifying two targets in the north-west of Karachi, fired two Styx missiles, one each at cargo vessel MV Venus Challenger and its escort PNS Shah Jahan (former HMS Charity), a C-class destroyer. Venus Challenger carrying ammunition for the Pakistani forces immediately exploded as the missile hit, and eventually sinking it 23 nmi (43 km; 26 mi) south of Karachi. The other missile targeted for Shah Jahan damaged the ship very badly. At 11.20 pm (PKT), PNS Muhafiz, an Adjutant-class minesweeper, was targeted by INS Veer. The missile was fired and Muhafiz was struck on the left side, abaft the bridge.The ship sunk immediately killing 33 sailors,before it could send a signal to the PNHQ.
(Image: Wikipedia)
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Meanwhile, INS Nipat continued towards Karachi, and targeted the Kemari oil storage tanks, placing itself 14 nmi (26 km; 16 mi) south of the Karachi harbour. Of the two missiles fired, one misfired, and the other hit the oil tanks. The tanks got burnt and destroyed completely, causing heavy loss to the Pakistan Navy. The the task force with back to the nearest Indian ports.
Soon the PNHQ deployed rescue teams on patrol vessels to recover the survivors of Khaibar. As Muhafiz sunk before it could send a transmission, the Pakistanis knew the fate of ship from its few survivors, who were recovered when the patrol vessel steered towards the ship's burning flotsam.
(Image: India Times)
Soon the PNHQ deployed rescue teams on patrol vessels to recover the survivors of Khaibar. As Muhafiz sunk before it could send a transmission, the Pakistanis knew the fate of ship from its few survivors, who were recovered when the patrol vessel steered towards the ship's burning flotsam.
(Image: India Times)
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