"Operation Trident had tied up the Pakistani Navy inside the harbour. Operation Python ensured that every Pakistani merchant ship and aircraft started seeking permission from New Delhi to move in and out of Karachi, resulting in an effective blockade of Karachi, without a single Indian Naval unit being in the vicinity!" - Commodore Vijay Jerath, VrC.
Dedicated to Operation Trident, commenced on 04-05 Dec 1971, that decimated the Pakistani Navy on the western front.
The port of Karachi was the headquarters of the Pakistani Navy where almost all of its fleet was housed. Karachi was also the hub of Pakistan's maritime trade. Hence, with the outbreak of the war on 03 Dec 1971, it was clear that to decimate the enemy's capabilities of fighting in the waters, Karachi harbour needed to be burnt and blockaded. Also, Pakistan's economy would face disastrous consequences if the Karachi port was decimated.
Hence, recon was collected regarding the port. It was clear that the port was meant to be defended against air and naval assaults. The port's air space was also defended by Pakistani strike aircrafts.
Admiral Nanda decided that the offensive spirit against the enemy would be solidified with the use of Missile Boat strikes on the port. Hence, with planning done by Captain GM Hiranandani, a Strike Group was formed, under the command of Commodore BB Yadav, employing 5 Vidyut class missile boats being covered by 2 Arnala class anti-submarine corvettes and a fleet tanker, which were already serving in Okha. These boats were commanded by LCdr BN Kavina, LCdr IJ Sharma, LCdr MO Thomachan and LCdr OP Mehta, commanding INS Nipat, INS Nirghat and INS Veer. The Strike Group was named as the 25 Missile Boat Squadron. It was decided that the strike would commence on the night of 04-05 Dec, as the PAF, who might move in to intervene in the assault didn't have night assault capabilities,
The Missile Boats which were chosen for the operations were ex-Soviet Missile boats armed with the powerful Styx P-15 missiles. The training on these boats commenced from 1969, with 100 officers and 200 sailors from the IN being trained by the Soviet Navy.
With Pakistan launching massive air assaults all along the western border, the IN was given the green light for the operation.
By the 4th of Dec 1971, the Strike Group closed in towards the Karachi port by 250 nautical miles, still outside the surveillance range of the PAF. At 2230 hrs, they were barely 70 nautical miles away from the port.
It was INS Nirghat, who fired the first Styx missile on the Pakistani vessel named PNS Khyber. It was a Battle-class destroyer and seeing the missile closing in, it assumed that it was probably fired from an IAF aircraft, engaging its own anti-aircraft defences. But the missile hit, blowing up the right side of the destroyer, exploding below the galley in the electricians' mess deck and leading to an explosion in the boiler room.
The PNHQ went crazy when it received the transmission from the Khyber, stating - "Enemy aircraft attacked in position 020 FF 20. No.1 Boiler hit. Ship stopped!"
INS Nirghat fired another missile, destroying the Khyber completely. The second boiler room exploded and the ship started sinking. It killed 222 Pakistani officers and sailors on board.
At 2300 hrs, INS Nipat fired 2 Styx missiles at the MV Venus Challenger and the PNS Shah Jahan was a C-class destroyer, escorting the MV Venus Challenger which was carrying weapons and ammunition and after the missile hit, there was one of the biggest blazes to be seen on the waters of the Arabian Sea! The MV Venus Challenger sank some 23 nautical miles away from the port of Karachi.
Meanwhile, at 2330 hrs, INS Veer fired a Styx missile at the PNS Muhafiz - an adjutant minesweeper. It sank almost immediately, killing 33 sailors on board.
INS Nipat continued its advance through the waters of the Arabian Sea towards the Keamari oil storage tanks, firing two missiles. Unfortunately, one of the missiles misfired but one of them flew and blew up the oil tanks, setting up another big blaze at nigh! The near destruction of the Keamari oil fields caused a devastating fuel crisis in Pakistan.
And after the successful operation, the missile boats and their escorts returned to Okha, taking no losses. This successful operation and especially, with the destruction of the Pakistani fleet's fuel tankers, the commencement of Operation Python became easier, which would further devastate the Karachi harbour.
For this successful operation, Captain Hiranandani was awarded the Nao Sena Meda. Strike Group Commander BB Yadav was awarded the MVC, while VrCs were awarded to the respective commanders of the Missile Boats. Master Chief MN Sahgal of INS Nirghat was awarded the VrC as well.
Hence, in the honour of this successful Naval operation, the Indian Navy celebrates the 4th of December as Navy Day.
Tailpiece.
Got up a trifle past 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Had by then come up with the painful decision of cancelling my trip to Gwalior and towards that end, called up the following :-
* Sajish - so that he could get another customer for the airport run, in my place.
* Daljeet - to inform him about my no show.
* Shekhar @ PNP Foundation - to cancel my tickets.
* Viresh - to cancel the vehicle that he'd arranged for me at Gwalior.
There was no point in moving around with the scare of the spread of Omicron.
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