Indian Navy Day

           

       The Indian Navy carried out Operation Trident on December 4th, 1971. This attack on Karachi Port left it burning for the next four days.

It was led by one of the bravest officers of the Indian Navy, Commodore BB Yadav (Mahaveer Chakra)

Following is the story from Hindustan times, explaining the attack:

“Yadav led the brilliant missile attack against Karachi harbor and Pakistani naval forces in 1971, code named Operation Trident, as the commander of the 25th Missile Squadron comprising INS Nipat (Lieutenant Commander BN Kavina, VrC), INS Nirghat (Lieutenant Commander IJ Sharma, AVSM, VrC ) and INS Veer (Lieutenant Commander OP Mehta, VrC NM). These Osa-1 class missile boats were each armed with four SS-N-2B Styx anti-ship missiles.

Designed by the Russians for coastal defense, with a limited range the Indian Navy planned to use them in an offensive role against the enemy by towing them to a position near the enemy coast. Their sister ship INS Vidyut was to remain on patrol off Dwarka to provide cover for the task force. The Petya class anti-submarine corvettes INS Kiltan (Commander KP Gopal Rao, MVC, VSM) and INS Katchall were to provide communications and indicate suitable targets with their superior radar as well as give anti-submarine cover.

The task force approaching Karachi made contact with the destroyer PNS Khaiber at about 2245 hours Pakistan Time on December 4, INS Nirghat launching two missiles and sinking her. Thereafter INS Nipat fired two missiles sinking the merchant vessel Venus Challenger carrying ammunition and crippling her escort the destroyer PNS Shah Jehan. The strike group had sailed to within 50 km of Karachi. INS Veer was ordered to engage a contact on her starboard (right) bow. The Styx missile fired by her struck the minesweeper PNS Muhafiz on the port (left) side disintegrating her. The crew didn't even get time to send off a distress signal!

Apprehending a reaction by the enemy air force, Yadav now ordered a withdrawal by the other two boats to the pre-determined rendezvous with the tanker INS Poshak. Cool as a cucumber throughout, he now took Nipat to within 25 km of the shore, firing a Styx at the Keamari oil terminal setting off a spectacular blaze. The hard training Babru Bhan had put his squadron through had paid off handsomely.

This set the stage for the second missile attack on Karachi after which what was left of the Pakistani fleet never again ventured out to sea. The Indian Navy was in total control of the seas.”