Thread by @ACG1947

Operation Trident (4th Dec 1971): Decoding Indian Navy's boldest operation to decimate Pakistan's Karachi port and destroy fuel & ammunition. With 0 casualties for India and overwhelming success, India celebrates 4th of December as Navy Day in memory of this operation. (1/n)

In the 1965 war, Indian Armed Forces weren’t organized properly. Air Force and Navy were considered as extensions of army.

Indian Navy didn't participate & silently watched as the Pak Navy attacked Dwarka with impunity.

Having learned the lessons, it was prepared in 1971.(2/n)

Karachi port was Pak's most valuable asset & was heavily defended; attacking it was going to be very risky move. Admiral SM Nanda, Vice-Admiral SN Kohli, and Cmdr BB Yadav were the trio that masterminded and executed the most ambitious naval attack after WW2. (3/n)

The 'Karachi Strike Group' was formed with 4 missile boats (each equipped with 4 Styx missiles) forming the core, with 3 executing the strike and 1 in backup. 2 anti-submarine corvettes would serve as escorts. To tackle their short-range, a tanker ship was included. (4/n)

PAF didn't possess night-bombing ability and hence the operation was to be executed at night. The ships would take time to return back to Indian base & could be attacked at dawn. To keep PAF busy next morning, IAF's Hawker Hunters were tasked with attacking Karachi airbase (5/n)

The Attack: On 4th Dec 10:30pm, INS Nirghat, the lead missile boat entered Karachi. It locked on a target and fired its Styx Missile. The Soviet missile first reached a high altitude, acquired its target, and dived right in to hit the bullseye. Chaos ensued in Pak Navy (6/n)

The target was Pak Navy's pride - Destroyer PNS Khaibar. Due to Styx's high altitude, Khaibar radioed that it was attacked by IAF jets & much to the amusement of Indians started firing its anti-aircraft guns. Nirghat fired its 2nd Styx which sealed the deal for Khaibar (7/n)

INS Nipat joined the action firing a missile each at a cargo ship carrying ammunition and destroyer PNS Shah Jahan. The cargo ship sank while Shah Jahan was badly damaged. INS Veer, picked up a ship on its radar and attacked. PNS Muhafiz, a minesweeper was struck and sunk. (8/n)

Styx anti-ship missile worked by identifying large metal signatures on radar. Thus large metallic oil tanks were also ships in the eyes of Styx. The strike force aimed its remaining missiles on Karachi's critical fuel storage. The resulting fire was visible from miles away. (9/n)

Although the Indian Navy had achieved all its objectives the mission was only half over. If PAF spotted these ships it could end in a disaster. However, IAF's actions and INS cmdrs' clever tactics ensured that Pak jets never located them and all ships returned home safely. (10/n)

Adding insult to injury, Operation Python was conducted 3 days later further damaging Pak navy & supplies. This established total Indian domination of Arabian sea. Int'l ships started taking India's permission before entering, which meant Karachi port was blocked for Pak. (11/n)

Tactical Summary:
Pak - 1 destroyer sunk, 1 destroyer damaged, 1 minesweeper sunk, 1 ammunition ship sunk
India - None

Strategic Summary:
Pak fuel shortage due to fuel tank destruction, Pak navy on the defensive for rest of the war, Karachi naval blockade (12/n)

The success was a result of close coordination b/w IAF and Navy and good decision-making from both Senior & Junior officers.

For conducting one of the most successful missions post WW2, the Indian Navy honored Operation Trident by celebrating Navy Day on 4th Dec. (n/n)

Tags: #indianavy #IndianArmy #navyday #operationtrident #IndvsPak #1971war #insvikrant #karachi #1965war #pnsghazi #battletactics #IndianAirForce #IndianNavy #indiannavyday #operationpython #karachiburns