Indian Navy’s Operation Trident dealt a crippling blow to Pakistan on December 4, 1971.  Pakistan had launched an attack on December 3 on Indian air bases. In response, the Indian Navy targeted the Pakistan Naval Headquarters of Karachi. It launched three missile boats INS Veer, INS Nipat and INS Nirghat; and Vidyut-class boats towards Karachi. It sank three Pakistani Navy ships, including PNS Khaibar. Commodore Kasargod Pattana Shetty Gopal Rao led the operation.

We commemorate this event by celebrating Navy Day annually on 4th December.

Source: Indiannavy.nic.in

Picture Credit: Sketch of the assault on Karachi, Indian Navy

On September 02, 2022, India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier – Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant was commissioned. It weighs 45,000 metric tons. It can cover an area of almost 4 acres. It cost us INR 20,000 Cr, one fifth of the cost of a regular aircraft carrier.

It was built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. It is the biggest ship ever built in India – the carrier can handle 30 aircrafts & helicopters in all and 12 planes and 6 helicopters at a time. It can sail at a maximum speed of ~28 knots (52 km/hr.). A crew of 1700 will work and live in the carrier.

So far only 5 nations – USA, UK, France, Russia, and China had the capability to build their own carriers. Interestingly, all of them are permanent members of UN Security Council. Who will be the 6th permanent member?

Source: Invest India

Picture Credit: Indian Navy

Submarines provide the ‘Third Dimension’ to the Navy. The first submarine of the Indian Navy INS Kalvari was commissioned in 1967.

INS Kursura is the fourth submarine of the Kalvari Class of submarines. It was decommissioned in 2001 after 31 years of service. It was beached and converted into a museum.

The purpose of this museum is to impart knowledge about submarines to the visitor. The visitors get to walk inside the submarine. They can even observe the radar room, sonar room and control room. The weapons used during war are on display in the submarine. It has become one of the top tourist destinations of Visakhapatnam.

Picture Credit: VMRDA

Indian Navy supports in humanitarian causes or in disaster management. Operation Samudra Setu was part of the national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas during Covid crisis. It brought 3,992 Indian citizens back to their homeland by sea.

Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa (Landing Platform Dock), and Airavat, Shardul and Magar (Landing Ship Tanks) participated in this operation. It lasted over 55 days and involved traversing more than 23,000 kilometers by sea. Indians were evacuated from Dubai, Maldives, Kuwait , Baharin, Quatar and Singapore.

Source: Indiannavy.nic.in

Picture Credit: Indian Navy

Commander Dilip Donde of Indian Navy became the first Indian to complete a solo circumnavigation around the world under sail, south of the 3 Great Capes. This has been done by just about 200 people in the world.

He wrote a book that chronicled his progress over four years, from building a suitable boat with an Indian boat-builder; weaving his way through the ‘sea-blind’ and often quixotic bureaucracy; and training himself with no precedent or knowledge base in the country, to finally sailing solo around the world. During this grueling task he was mentored by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo non-stop around the world.

Source: Cdr Dilip Donde’s book, “The First Indian Solo Circumnavigation Under Sail”

Picture Credit: Cdr Dilip Donde

The marine Commando Force known as MARCOS is a highly specialized and trained combatant team of the Indian Navy founded in 1987. They are equivalent to the SEALS of the US Navy. The members of this elite team are selected through a tough process. They undergo a grueling training including close combat and amphibious warfare. They are also deployed in fighting terrorists in Kashmir as well as rescue missions both in India and overseas.

Picture Credit: Indian Navy

Liberation of Goa was the first major engagement of the Indian Navy. Operation Vijay liberated Goa, Daman & Diu from the Portuguese in Dec 1961.

The Navy watched the Goa Coast as a part of Operation Chutney from September which provided vital inputs for Operation Vijay. They also made an all-out assault on the Portuguese naval garrison at Anjadiv island, off the coast of Cancona from where fierce attacks came. The island was captured on Dec 18th. The Portuguese governor general surrendered the next day. The Navy earned its first Kirti (Ashoka) Chakra, awarded to Commander Noel Kelman.

Source: Bharat Rakshak, Lt Cdr V.S. Kore

Picture Credit: Photo of NRP Afonso de Albuquerque which was sunk by Indian Navy.

Chanthujohnson, Wikimedia Commons

During the command of a ship, even the rank of a senior officer like Commodore is changed to Captain. Upon completion of this tenure, the Commodore rank is restored.

The Indian Navy, a few days back, appointed its first woman commanding officer in a naval ship.

Picture Credit: Indian Navy

The ‘Operations Demonstration,’ involving the Navy’s submarines, ships and aircrafts is held on Navy day every year. Traditionally the Operations Demonstrations are held off Mumbai/ Visakhapatnam where the headquarters Western/ Eastern naval commands are located. This year it will be off Sindhudurg Fort.

Chatrapati Shivaji built a string of 13 seaports on the Konkan coast. Perhaps the best preserved is Sindhudurg, built on an island off Malwan, earmarked but never destined to become the headquarters of the Maratha naval force. You can go all around Sindhudurg and still miss the entrance gate, for it is concealed in many folds of walls which are miraculously preserved. The descendants of the priests originally appointed by Shivaji chant daily prayers to ensure that ‘the sea should not encroach upon its walls, nor should an enemy prevail.’ Their prayers still prevail!

A footprint of Shivaji, implausibly large, is still worshipped in Sindhudurg, the Fort of the Ocean.

Source: “The Sea Hawk: Life and Battles of Kanhoji Angrey’, Manohar Malgonkar

Picture Credit: Maharashtra Tourism

The octagonal shape of the Naval ensign is derived from the Raja Mudra (imperial Sign) of Shivaji Maharaj.

Chola dynasty had a formidable navy at the start of the last millennium. No Indian ruler dominated the seas after that. Chatrapati Shivaji was an exception. Indeed some say that the sea was his first love. He spent his youth at Mahad in Konkan. He also led his fleet to Karwar.

By the time of his coronation in 1674 CE, he had built up a fleet of approx. 60 ships with 5000 men. The ships ranged from 30 to 150 tons and were three masted. While directly avoiding European fleets, Shivaji used his navy to mostly ‘show the flag’ and keep them on their toes. He also collaborated with the Siddis of Janjira. Together, they snatched a large part of the Konkan coast from the Europeans. Shivaji built a string of 13 naval ports on the Konkan coast, including familiar names like Colaba, Alibaug & Sindhudurg. Some call him the ‘Father of the Indian Navy’.

Source: “The Sea Hawk: Life and Battles of Kanhoji Angrey,’ Manohar Malgonkar

Picture Credit: Seal of Shivaji Wikimedia Commons