Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of India's Greatest Military Victory

5 Dec 1971 : Western Sector:  In one of the most dramatic operations since the war had begun,the Indian Navy blasted Pakistan's strategic and crtically prime port of Karachi,with a composite attacking force of 3 missile boats and 2 submarine chasers,inflicting absolutely awesome amounts of damage to the pakistani navy and war machine.

The attack on Karachi has produced equal amounts of shock and admiration as such an attack was not percieved given Karachi's heavy defences and proximity to two major PAF airbases.Though the pakistani side has been left in a totally wrecked state,the attacking force did not even suffer a scratch.

Operation "Trident" was executed in the afternoon of the 4th and Osa missile boats of the "Killer" squadron- Nirghat, Nipat and Veer and two petya class vessels-Kiltan and Katchall under the command of squadron commander B.B Yadav sped stealthily towards Karachi.

At around 2200 hrs yesterday,the attack was carried out with the deadly SS-N-2B Styx Anti-ship missiles. Nirghat was the first to fire in anger and draw blood as two of her Styxs exploded into and sunk the pakistani destroyer Khaibar. The missile boat Nipat engaged and crippled another destroyer and sunk a merchant vessel with her missiles. It was evaluated that the merchant ship was carrying a load of ammunition for pakistan when the rapid explosions aboard were noticed.

File photo of an OSA Class Missile boat launching a Styx missile. The Indian Navy used similar missiles last night to sink Pakistani Navy Ships.

missile boats all the way to Karachi, completely in stealth. The missile boats designed for coastal defence were never expected to be used in long range offensive operations.

Airforce lends a hand too

The Indian Air Force has also played a major role in the karachi attacks.Not only did they bring back first class reconnaissance photos brought which played a vital role in planning the attack,they unleashed a vicious attack on Karachi which was coordinated with the Indian Navy's attack.

The IAF had also launched a previous attack at around
0800 hrs on the Karachi oil installations and shore facilities.They attacked in intervals, the whole day causing more and more damage.The attacks were still on when the Trident force were approaching Karachi. Wg Cdr S K Badhwar of No.35 Canberra Squadron consisting of 8 aircraft from Jamnagar and Pune, came in from the East and attacked their designated target of Drigh road in the Karachi area at about 2200 hrs IST.

The Wing Co however, found a concentration of aluminium oil tanks to be too tempting a target and dropped his 1000 lb MC bombs on them at about 7500 feet effectively destroying them in a single run. He then maintained a westerly heading until over the sea and turned south to return to base in time for dinner.

The pakistani minesweeper Muhafiz was engaged and sunk by the missile boat Veer.

So perfectly was the operation carried out that the pakistani ships were transmitting messages of "Air attacks" which meant that they did not even know what was blasting them. Having made their presence felt, the missiles boats now targeted shore facilities. It must be noted that the Styx missiles were purely designed to kill surface vessels and using these missiles to attack shore targets was a unique innovation resorted to by the Indian Navy. (Later it was learnt that this was not the only rule broken by the attacking force to carry out and ensure the success of the operation). The missile boat Nipat pressed on an fired her missiles at Karachi which homed onto the massive Kemari  oil installations. What followed was reported to be the best diwali ever witnessed.

Passing    aircraft     and    ships

watched in awe as the once mighty Karachi was engulfed in explosive flames. All boats but the Nipat have returned safely. Nipat is believed to be on her way and she reported having some engine problems and also had to undertake evasive manouvers. Within a day after pakistan had commited the first acts of war, the Indian Navy made the enemy's worst nightmare a reality. Now, no ship can move in or out of Karachi and there are reports of pakistan retreating her warships to harbour and reducing their ammuntion outfits .

The heroes responsible for this audacious yet awesome operation are Lt Cdr B.N Kavina, Lt. Cdr I.J Sharma, Lt Cdr O.P Mehta, Cdr K.P Gopal Rao and ofcourse the squadron commander B.B Yadav who is yet to recieve his hero's welcome.

A mention must be made of the other innovation resorted to by the Indian navy in towing and refueling    the    short     ranged

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