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37-595: Operation Python , a follow-up to Operation Trident , was the code name of a naval attack launched on West Pakistan's port city of Karachi by the Indian Navy during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 . After the first attack during Operation Trident on the Port of Karachi, Pakistan stepped up aerial surveillance of its coast as the presence of large Indian Navy ships gave the impression that another attack

74-576: A destroyer , a cargo vessel carrying ammunition , and fuel storage tanks in Karachi. Another destroyer was also badly damaged and eventually scrapped. India celebrates its Navy Day annually on 4 December to mark this operation. Trident was followed up by Operation Python three days later. In 1971, the Port of Karachi housed the headquarters of the Pakistan Navy , and almost its entire fleet

111-542: A fleet tanker , INS Poshak . The group was under the command of Commander Babru Bhan Yadav , the commanding officer of the 25th Missile Boat Squadron . As planned, on 4 December, the strike group reached 250 nautical miles (460 km; 290 mi) (nmi) south off the coast of Karachi and maintained its position during the day, outside the surveillance range of the Pakistan Air Force . As Pakistani aircraft did not possess night-bombing capabilities, it

148-592: A demarcation line which ships in their fleet would not cross. Later this deployment proved to be useful to gain experience in the region's waters. On 3 December, after Pakistan attacked Indian airfields along the border, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 officially began. The Indian Naval Headquarters (NHQ) in Delhi along with the Western Naval Command planned to attack the strategically important Port of Karachi . A strike group under Western Naval Command,

185-572: A national emergency on 23 November, the Indian Navy deployed three Vidyut -class missile boats in the vicinity of Okha , near Karachi, to carry out patrols. As the Pakistani fleet would also operate in the same waters, the Indian Navy set a demarcation line that ships in their fleet would not cross. Later, this deployment proved useful for gaining experience in the region's waters. On 3 December, after Pakistan attacked Indian airfields along

222-408: A northwesterly direction and fired its first Styx missile at PNS  Khaibar , a Pakistani Battle-class destroyer. Khaibar , assuming it was a missile from Indian aircraft, engaged its anti-aircraft systems. The missile hit the right side of the ship, exploding below the galley in the electrician's mess deck at 10.45 pm (PKT). This led to an explosion in the first boiler room. Subsequently,

259-465: A peninsula south of the Port of Karachi. During their voyage, a Pakistani patrol vessel was encountered and sunk. The Indian Navy's official historian, Vice Admiral Hiranandani in his book Transition to Triumph , mentioned that while the group approached Karachi, Trishul' s electronic surveillance revealed that the radar there had stopped rotating and was directed straight at the group, confirming that it had been detected. Around 11.00 pm (PKT),

296-475: A range of 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi), two Arnala -class anti-submarine corvettes : INS  Kiltan and INS  Katchall , and a fleet tanker , INS Poshak . The group was under the command of Commander Babru Bhan Yadav , the Commanding Officer of the 25th Missile Boat Squadron . (25-KS) On the night of 4/5 December, the Indian Navy launched Operation Trident with

333-570: A signal to the PNHQ, killing 33 sailors. Meanwhile, INS Nipat continued towards Karachi and targeted the Kemari oil storage tanks, placing itself 14 nmi (26 km; 16 mi) south of the Karachi Harbour . Two missiles were launched; one misfired, but the other hit the oil tanks, which burned and were destroyed completely, causing a Pakistani fuel shortage. The task force returned to

370-521: The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 , The minesweeper PNS Muhafiz was tasked to patrol the approaches to port of Karachi. To do so it was deployed on the inner cordon. Late that evening on 4 December 1971, around 70 miles south of Karachi, the INS ; Veer detected a large Pakistan Navy target, later identified as the Muhafiz on patrol to its north. Veer launched a single SS-N-2 Styx missile on

407-713: The Karachi Strike Group off the coast of Karachi. This operation saw the first use of anti-ship missiles in combat in the region and inflicted heavy damage on the Pakistanis. While India suffered no losses, Pakistan lost one minesweeper , one destroyer , a cargo vessel carrying ammunition, and fuel storage tanks in Karachi. Another destroyer was also badly damaged and had, eventually, to be scrapped. The Pakistan Air Force retaliated against these attacks by bombing Okha Harbour , scoring direct hits on fueling facilities for missile boats , an ammunition dump, and

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444-679: The Pakistani Navy officers. For this, he was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat . Lieutenant Commander Vijay Jerath, the commanding officer of Vinash , was awarded the Vir Chakra for this operation. The Pakistani High Command ordered ships to reduce their ammunition dumps so as to reduce the explosion damage if hit. The ships were also ordered not to maneuver out at sea, especially during the night, unless ordered to do so. These two measures severely demoralized Pakistani naval crews. With

481-450: The Pakistani forces, exploded immediately after the missile hit and eventually sank 23 nmi (43 km; 26 mi) south of Karachi. The other missile targeted Shah Jahan and damaged the ship very badly. At 11.20 pm (PKT), PNS  Muhafiz , an Adjutant -class minesweeper , was targeted by INS Veer . A missile was fired, and Muhafiz was struck on the left side, behind the bridge. It sank immediately before it could send

518-485: The border, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 officially began. The Indian Naval Headquarters (NHQ) in Delhi, along with the Western Naval Command , planned to attack the Port of Karachi. A strike group under Western Naval Command was formed for this mission. This strike group was to be based around the three Vidyut -class missile boats already deployed off the coast of Okha . However, these boats had limited operational and radar range, and to overcome this difficulty, it

555-474: The commanding officers of the three missile boats. Furthermore, the Indians mistook tracer fire from the coastal artillery of Karachi as originating from Pakistani aircraft and retreated hurriedly before they could properly target the tanks. After the first attack during Operation Trident on the Port of Karachi, Pakistan stepped up aerial surveillance of its coast as the presence of large Indian Navy ships gave

592-577: The destruction caused by the Indian Navy, neutral merchant vessels soon started to seek safe passage from the Indian authorities before heading to Karachi. Gradually, neutral ships ceased sailing for Karachi. In effect, a de facto naval blockade was created by the Indian Navy. Civilian casualties from the attack included at least seven killed and six wounded on the British merchant ship Harmattan . Operation Trident (1971) Operation Trident

629-483: The ensuing days about the presence of Indian Navy vessels off Karachi. One such false alarm was raised by a Pakistan Navy Fokker Friendship reconnaissance aircraft on 6 December 1971, which incorrectly reported a frigate of the Pakistan Navy as an Indian Navy missile boat. The PNHQ requested a Pakistan Air Force air strike on the supposed Indian ship. At 06.45 am (PKT), fighter jets were scrambled and strafed

666-620: The group detected a batch of ships at a distance of 12 nmi (22 km; 14 mi). Vinash immediately fired all four of its missiles, the first of which struck the fuel tanks at the Kemari Oil Farm causing a heavy explosion. Another missile hit and sank the Panamanian fuel tanker SS Gulf Star . The third and fourth missiles hit the Pakistani Navy fleet tanker PNS Dacca and the British merchant ship SS Harmattan . Dacca

703-504: The impression that another attack was being planned. Pakistani warships attempted to outsmart the Indian Navy by mingling with merchant shipping. To counter these moves, Operation Python was launched. On the night of 8/9 December 1971, at 10:00 pm Pakistan Standard Time (PKT), in rough seas, a small strike group consisting of the missile boat INS  Vinash , equipped with four Styx missiles, and two multipurpose frigates, INS  Talwar and INS  Trishul , approached Manora ,

740-481: The missile boats' jetty. The Indian Navy anticipated this attack and had already moved the missile boats to other locations to prevent any losses. However, the destruction of a special fuel tank prevented further incursions until Operation Python , executed three days later. As a result of the operation, the Pakistan Armed Forces were put on high alert. The deployments raised several false alarms in

777-432: The missile boats' jetty. The Indian Navy had anticipated this attack and had already moved the missile boats to other locations to prevent any losses. Though the Indian Navy had strategic victory with Operation Trident, its main target, the oil storage facilities in Karachi were still operational as only one of the two missiles fired had hit them. This failure was later assessed as the result of confusion created between

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814-494: The nearest Indian ports. Soon, the PNHQ deployed rescue teams on patrol vessels to recover the survivors of Khaibar . As Muhafiz sank before it could transmit a distress call, the Pakistanis only learned of its fate from its few survivors who were recovered when a patrol vessel steered towards the ship's burning flotsam. The Pakistan Air Force retaliated for these attacks by bombing Okha Port , scoring direct hits on fuelling facilities for missile boats, an ammunition dump, and

851-402: The ship lost propulsion and was flooded with smoke. An emergency signal that read: "Enemy aircraft attacked in position 020 FF 20. No. 1 boiler hit. Ship stopped", was sent to Pakistan Naval Headquarters (PNHQ). Due to the chaos created by the explosion, the signal contained the wrong coordinates of the ship's position. This delayed rescue teams from reaching its location. Observing that the ship

888-495: The vessel before it was identified as the frigate PNS  Zulfiqar . This friendly fire incident resulted in casualties and damage to the vessel. With no casualties on the Indian side, this operation was a great success. To mark its victory, the Indian Navy annually celebrates Navy Day on 4 December. Several Indian Navy personnel were honoured with gallantry awards for the operation. Then Fleet Operations Officer, Captain (later Vice Admiral ) Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani ,

925-522: Was a crippling economic blow to Pakistan. The damage was estimated to be worth $ 3 billion, with most of the oil reserves and ammunition warehouses and workshops destroyed. The Pakistan Air Force was also affected by the loss of fuel. With no casualties observed on the Indian side, both missile attacks (Trident and Python) led the Pakistan Navy to take extreme measures to prevent any further damage. The rescue efforts were immediately coordinated by Rear Admiral Patrick Simpson who kept morale high among

962-530: Was also awarded the Vir Chakra . Lieutenant Phool Kumar Puri , Engineering Officer INS Veer , was awarded the Nau Sena Medal for his efforts in the 1971 war. PNS Muhafiz PNS Zulfiqar (K265) of Pakistan was also damaged beyond repair by friendly fire from aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) which mistook her for a missile boat of the Indian Navy during the same war. India also lost INS  Khukri in this war. During

999-405: Was an offensive operation launched by the Indian Navy on Pakistan's port city of Karachi during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 . Operation Trident saw the first use of anti-ship missiles in combat in the region. The operation was conducted on the night of 4–5 December and inflicted heavy damage on Pakistani vessels and facilities. While India suffered no losses, Pakistan lost a minesweeper ,

1036-593: Was awarded the Nau Sena Medal for the detailed operational planning; the Maha Vir Chakra was awarded to the strike group commander, Cdr Babru Bhan Yadav , for planning and leading the task force; and Vir Chakras were awarded to Lieutenant Commanders Bahadur Nariman Kavina, Inderjit Sharma, M O Thomachan and Om Prakash Mehta, the commanding officers of INS Nipat , INS Nirghat , and INS Veer respectively. Master Chief M. N. Sangal of INS Nirghat

1073-554: Was based in Karachi Harbour . Since Karachi was also the hub of Pakistan's maritime trade, a blockade would be disastrous for Pakistan's economy. The security of Karachi Harbour was predominant to the Pakistani High Command, and it was heavily defended against any air or naval strikes. The strike aircraft based at airfields in the area secured the port's airspace. Towards the end of 1971, there were rising tensions between India and Pakistan, and after Pakistan declared

1110-397: Was being planned. Pakistani warships attempted to outsmart the Indian Navy by mingling with merchant shipping. To counter these moves, Operation Python was launched on the night of 8/9 December 1971. A strike group consisting of one missile boat and two frigates attacked the group of ships off the coast of Karachi. While India suffered no losses, Pakistani fleet tanker PNS  Dacca

1147-601: Was damaged beyond repair, and the Kemari Oil Storage facility was lost. Two other foreign ships stationed in Karachi were also sunk during the attack. In 1971, the Port of Karachi housed the headquarters of the Pakistan Navy and almost the entire Pakistan Naval fleet was based at Karachi Harbour . It was also the hub of Pakistan's maritime trade. Pakistan Air Force 's shore-based aircraft were tasked with providing uninterrupted cover to Karachi port, against any possible air strikes. It also gained significance as it

Operation Python - Misplaced Pages Continue

1184-468: Was damaged beyond repair, while Harmattan sank. As Vinash had now expended all of its missiles, the group immediately withdrew to the nearest Indian port. Between Operations Trident and Python , and the Indian Air Force attacks on Karachi's fuel and ammunition depots, more than fifty percent of the total fuel requirement of the Karachi zone was reported to have been destroyed. The result

1221-488: Was decided to assign support vessels to the group. On 4 December, what was now designated as the Karachi Strike Group was formed and consisted of the three Vidyut -class missile boats: INS  Nipat , INS Nirghat and INS  Veer , each armed with four Soviet-made SS-N-2B Styx surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi), two Arnala -class anti-submarine corvettes : INS  Kiltan and INS  Katchall , and

1258-558: Was formed. This strike group was to be formed around the three Vidyut -class missile boats already deployed off the coast of Okha. However these had limited operational and radar range and to overcome this difficulty, it was decided to assign support vessels to the group. On 4 December, what was now designated as the Karachi Strike Group was formed and consisted of the three Vidyut -class missile boats: INS  Nipat , INS  Nirghat and INS  Veer , each armed with four P-15 Termit (SS-N-2B Styx) surface-to-surface missiles with

1295-426: Was planned that the attack would take place between dusk and dawn. At 10.30 pm Pakistan Standard Time (PKT), the Indian task group moved 180 nmi (330 km; 210 mi) from its position towards the south of Karachi. Soon, Pakistani targets, identified as warships, were detected 70 nmi (130 km; 81 mi) to the northwest and northeast of the Indian warships. INS Nirghat sailed forward in

1332-462: Was still afloat, Nirghat fired its second missile, hitting Khaibar in the second boiler room on the ship's starboard side, eventually sinking the ship and killing 222 sailors. After verifying two targets in the area northwest of Karachi, at 11.00 pm (PKT), INS Nipat fired two Styx missiles – one each at cargo vessel MV Venus Challenger and its escort PNS  Shah Jahan , a C-class destroyer. Venus Challenger , carrying ammunition for

1369-471: Was the only major seaport in West Pakistan . Towards the end of 1971, there were rising tensions between India and Pakistan, and after Pakistan declared a national emergency on 23 November, the Indian Navy deployed three Vidyut -class missile boats in the vicinity of Okha , near Karachi, to carry out patrols. As the Pakistani fleet would also be operating in the same waters, the Indian Navy set

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