My article on Operation Trident on occasion of #NavyDay #1971War

https://t.co/LpseCqK5ce

The damage was not just physical , the Pakistani Navy was completely demoralized by the twin attacks of Trident and Python. Ships were ordered to reduce their ammunition dumps, not to venture out to sea, yes that is how you create fear in the enemy.

#NavyDay

More than anything Operation Trident and Python between them destroyed over 50% of total fuel requirements of Karachi Harbor. With most of the oil reserves, ammunition depots destroyed, both the Pakistani Navy and Air Force were totally at a loss.

#NavyDay

Pakistan’s fuel reserves were totally affected with the blowing up of the Kemari oil tanks, giving the Indian Navy full control over the route between Karachi and the Persian Gulf. The West Coast was fully secured now. Lt Cdr Vijai Jerath of INS Vinash was awarded Veer Chakra.

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The other 2 missiles struck the warship PNS Dacca and a British merchant vessel SS Harmattan. Both SS Gulf Star and Harmattan sank, while the Dacca was badly damaged beyond repair. The Pakistan Navy was effectively crippled now.

#NavyDay

At 11 AM, the strike force detects a batch of ships around 12 nautical miles away( approximately 22 km). Vinash immediately fired 4 of it’s missiles, one struck the Kemari Oil tanks, causing a massive explosion, while another struck a Panamian fuel tanker, SS Gulf Star.

#NavyDay

INS Trishul and INS Talwar were both multipurpose anti submarine frigates of the Whitby class, sourced from the British Navy. Basically fast convoy escorts capable of tackling submarines. A Pakistani patrol vessel had an encounter with the ships and was sunk.

#NavyDay

December 8-9, 1971, 10 PM PST

A small strike group approached approached Manora, a small peninsula located just South of Karachi port. INS Vinash(K85) a Vidyut Class Missile Boat was the one the led the attack on Karachi in Operation Python, along with INS Talwar and INS Trishul.

#NavyDay

Also while Trident was a success, the Indian Navy could not hit the main targets, the fuel storage facilities in Karachi. This was due to confusion betwen the COs of the 3 missile boats- Veer, Nipat and Nirghat.

And also mistaking tracer fire from coastal artillery, as that of the Pakistani aircraft, making them retreat hurriedly. It was keeping in mind these events that Operation Python was launched.

#NavyDay

December 8-9, 1971, 10 PM PST

A small strike group approached approached Manora, a small peninsula located just South of Karachi port. INS Vinash(K85) a Vidyut Class Missile Boat was the one the led the attack on Karachi in Operation Python, along with INS Talwar and INS Trishul.

#NavyDay

Also while Trident was a success, the Indian Navy could not hit the main targets, the fuel storage facilities in Karachi. This was due to confusion betwen the COs of the 3 missile boats- Veer, Nipat and Nirghat.

And also mistaking tracer fire from coastal artillery, as that of the Pakistani aircraft, making them retreat hurriedly. It was keeping in mind these events that Operation Python was launched.

#NavyDay

After Operation Trident, had caught them napping, the Pakistan Navy stepped up aerial surveillance along the coast. Some of the Pakistani Naval ships, mingled with merchant ships to fool the Indian Navy too.

In the meantime, the Pakistani air force had made an attack on Okha harbor,hitting the fuelling facilities for missile boats and an ammunition dump. The Indian Navy had however moved the missile boats to a safer location, anticipating the strike.

#NavyDay

The heroes of Operation Trident

S.M.Nanda- The chief of Naval Staff.

Babru Bhan Yadav- The Commander was awarded the Mahavir Chakra.

G.M.Hiranandani- Nausena Medal for the operational planning. He would later become the Vice Admiral.

Also Lt Cmdr Bahadur Kavina( INS Nipat), Lt Cmdr Inderjit Sharma( INS Nirghat) and Lt Cmdr Om Prakash Mehta, the COs were given the Veer Chakras.

#NavyDay #SaluteTheHeroes

Also Lt Cmdr Bahadur Kavina( INS Nipat), Lt Cmdr Inderjit Sharma( INS Nirghat) and Lt Cmdr Om Prakash Mehta, the COs were given the Veer Chakras.

After Operation Trident, had caught them napping, the Pakistan Navy stepped up aerial surveillance along the coast. Some of the Pakistani Naval ships, mingled with merchant ships to fool the Indian Navy too.

#NavyDay

The heroes of Operation Trident

S.M.Nanda- The chief of Naval Staff.

Babru Bhan Yadav- The Commander was awarded the Mahavir Chakra.

G.M.Hiranandani- Nausena Medal for the operational planning. He would later become the Vice Admiral.

#NavyDay #SaluteTheHeroes

However one fuel tank was destroyed, putting all operations on hold till Operation Python launched 3 days later. With zero casualties on the Indian side, this is considered as the most successful naval operation, post World War II.

December 4 is observed as #NavyDay every year to commemorate Operation Trident. A victory that was a result of perfect planning, coordination, professionalism. Salute the heroes.

It was a disaster for the Pakistani Navy, with 3 ships sunk, one badly damaged, and it’s fuel storage tanks destroyed. Though the Pakistani Air Force, retaliated by bombing Okha harbor, the Indian Navy had moved it’s missile boats to more secure locations.

#NavyDay

11 PM- INS Nirpat fired two Styx Missiles, one each at cargo vessel MV Venus Challenger and another at PNS Shahjahan, a C class destroyer. Venus Challenger that was carrying ammunition, exploded immediately and sunk, while Shah Jahan was badly damaged.

Meanwhile INS Nirpat continued towards the harbor, and targeted the Kemari oil storage tanks. One of the missiles hit the tanks, that were totally destroyed, causing a massive fuel shortage for the Pakistani army.

#NavyDay

10:45 PM- INS Nirghat made the first strike, firing it’s Styx missile at PNS Khaibar, a battle class destroyer. The missile hit the right side, causing an explosion in the boiler room. Nirghat fired again, hitting on the starboard side, eventually sinking the ship killing 222.

#NavyDay

Dec 4, 1971

The strike group reached Karachi, and maintained it’s position outside the surveillance range. The plan was to attack during dusk, as the Pakistani Air Force did not have night bombing capability.

10:30 PM, PST- The strike group moves 180 Nautical Miles, towards South of Karachi and soon the Pakistani warships were detected.

#NavyDay