New Delhi: Every year on December 4, Navy Day is celebrated in India to recognize the Indian Navy’s achievements and role. The date December 4 was chosen as on that day in 1971, Operation Trident took place in which the Indian Navy destroyed four Pakistani vessels including PNS Khaibar and defeated the Pakistani Navy. On the Navy Day, those who laid down their lives during the 1971 India-Pakistan War are also remembered.
What was Operation Trident?
During the 1971 India-Pakistan War, Operation Trident was the Indian Navy’s attack on Karachi, Pakistan’s port city. It was in the attack that anti-ship missiles in combat were first used in the region. It took place on the night of December 4-5 and the Indian Navy destroyed Pakistani vessels and facilities.
The Significance of Karachi Port in the 1971 War
In 1971, the Karachi Port was the Pakistan Navy’s headquarters and its entire fleet was in Karachi Harbour. Also, Karachi was the hub of the maritime trade of Pakistan and very important for its economy. To Pakistan, the Karachi Harbour’s security was of utmost importance and it was heavily guarded.
During the 1971 War with Pakistan, the Indian Navy planned to attack the Karachi Port. Under Western Naval Command, a strike group was formed. On December 4, the formation of the Karachi Strike Group took place and it had three missile boats of Vidyut class: INS Nirghat, INS Veer, and INS Nipat and other ships, INS Katchall, INS Kiltan and INS Poshak. The overall leader was Commander Babru Bhan Yadav.
The attack on December 4: Operation Trident
On December 4, the strike group reached off the coast of Karachi and stayed there outside the Pakistan Air Force’s surveillance range. Since Pakistani aircraft could not bomb at night, the plan was to attack between dusk and dawn.
INS Nirghat fired the first missile, a Styx missile at PNS Khaibar, a Pakistani Battle-class destroyer and destroyed it completely. Nirghat fired another missile at Khaibar. The ship was sunk and 222 sailors were killed. INS Nipat fired two Styx missiles and destroyed two Pakistani ships. Later, INS Veer targeted PNS Muhafiz and destroyed it. Meanwhile, INS Nipat targeted the Kemari oil storage tanks and fired two missiles and one of them hit the oil tanks, burning and destroying them completely, causing a fuel shortage in Pakistan. Notably, the Indian Navy did not lose a single personnel in Operation Trident.
On December 4th, 1971, the Indian Navy launched Operation Trident, a daring night raid on Karachi harbour during the India-Pakistan War. This decisive attack, utilizing Styx missiles, resulted in the sinking of several Pakistani naval vessels. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
