Indian Navy Day 2014

Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Armed Forces of India. It is operational since 1947. Navy Day is celebrated on 4th day of December every year. 4th December is not the day on which Indian Navy was raised. 4th December is the day on which Operation Trident was launched in 1971, against Pakistan, in the Indo-Pak War. So this day is celebrated to commemorate the successful start of Operation Trident, in 1947.

Operation Trident: On 4th December, India launched a naval strike on the Pakistan Naval Head Quarters. It was a part of the war India was fighting on behalf of Bangladesh to free the latter. So on 4th December, India launched a fast naval strike on the port of Karachi. The task group for the operation consisted of three Vidyut class missile boats, INS Nipat (K86), INS Nirghat (K89) and INS Veer (K82) from the 25th “Killer” Missile Boat Squadron, escorted by two anti-submarine Arnala class corvettes, INS Kiltan (P79) and INS Katchall (P81), and a fleet tanker, INS Poshak.

Operation Trident resulted in the first use of anti-ship missiles in combat in the region, and only the second worldwide (the first being the sinking of the Eilat) as well as the first sinking of naval vessels during hostilities in the region since World War II. Overall, the Indian Navy’s missile attack was carefully planned and executed well. The attack achieved complete surprise and was a shock to Pakistan’s Armed Forces Command. A disjointed and haphazard rescue operation was launched to locate and recover survivors of PNS Khaibar, while PNHQ was not aware of the sinking of PNS Muhafiz.

Certainly Operation Trident is a landmark in India Navy’s success. It is like a feather in the cap of Navy.  It’ll be celebrated with full josh today in Vizag. Full dress rehearsals were already held yesterday. According to the sources operation display will have 20 ships, 23 aircrafts and a submarine showcasing the capability and versatility of Naval ships, submarines, aircraft and the Special Forces. The event will begin with Chief of Eastern Naval Command Vice-Admiral Satish Soni laying a wreath at the War Memorial on the RK Beach.