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PNS Ghazi: The real story
A THREAD
A THREAD
A few facts about PNS Ghazi -
PNS Ghazi was originally called USS Diablo (SS-479). It was leased from the United States by the Pakistani Navy in 1963. Earlier to this, the submarine had served the United States Navy from 1945 to 1963.
PNS Ghazi was originally called USS Diablo (SS-479). It was leased from the United States by the Pakistani Navy in 1963. Earlier to this, the submarine had served the United States Navy from 1945 to 1963.
PNS Ghazi officially began serving the Pakistani Navy from 1964. PNS Ghazi had a major role in the Indo-Pakistani war theatre of 1965.
Background -
In 1971, the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command under the leadership of INS Vikrant had effectively created a Naval blockade that completely isolated East-Pakistan in the Bay of Bengal.
In 1971, the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command under the leadership of INS Vikrant had effectively created a Naval blockade that completely isolated East-Pakistan in the Bay of Bengal.
Frustrated with the Naval Blockade, Pakistan decided to send the best submarine in its inventory - PNS Ghazi.
PNS Ghazi was assigned with a two-fold objective. The primary goal was to find and sink INS Vikrant and the second one was to lay mines on India's Eastern seaboard with..
PNS Ghazi was assigned with a two-fold objective. The primary goal was to find and sink INS Vikrant and the second one was to lay mines on India's Eastern seaboard with..
or without accomplishing the primary objective.
Without PNS Ghazi, Pakistan navy could not interfere with Vikrant's operations in East Pakistan. It was extremely risky of sending an ageing submarine completely around the subcontinent to attack the enemy’s flagship in it's home
Without PNS Ghazi, Pakistan navy could not interfere with Vikrant's operations in East Pakistan. It was extremely risky of sending an ageing submarine completely around the subcontinent to attack the enemy’s flagship in it's home
waters. Besides, Ghazi was by then experiencing regular equipment failures and maintenance facilities at Chittagong were poor. Overruling these objections, PNS Ghazi quietly sailed out of the Karachi Harbour on November 14, 1971.
The Masterplan --
Having sailed the fleet away to safety, Krishnan roped in INS Rajput, an aging WWII destroyer that was actually sent to Vishakapatnam for decommissioning. INS Rajput was to pretend to be INS Vikrant, sail out of the Vizag port, and generate heavy wireless...
Having sailed the fleet away to safety, Krishnan roped in INS Rajput, an aging WWII destroyer that was actually sent to Vishakapatnam for decommissioning. INS Rajput was to pretend to be INS Vikrant, sail out of the Vizag port, and generate heavy wireless...
traffic. The Indian Navy intentionally breached security by making an unclassified signal in the form of a private Telegram allegedly from one of Vikrant's sailors asking about the welfare of his mother who was "seriously ill".
Ghazi started looking for Vikrant on November 23 off Madras but was not aware that she was 10 days too late and the Vikrant was actually somewhere near the Andaman islands.
Vice Admiral Krishnan sent for Lt. Inder Singh, the Commanding officer of the Rajput for a detailed briefing and told him that a Pakistani submarine had been sighted off Ceylon and was absolutely certain that the submarine would be somewhere around Madras/Vishakaptanm.
He made it clear that once Rajput had completed refueling, she must leave the harbor with all navigational aids switched off.
Final hours of Ghazi -
INS Rajput sailed out on 2 December and returned to Vishakapatnam on 3 December and again sailed out with a pilot on board, just before the midnight of 3/4 December and on clearing the harbor, proceeded along the narrow entrance channel.
INS Rajput sailed out on 2 December and returned to Vishakapatnam on 3 December and again sailed out with a pilot on board, just before the midnight of 3/4 December and on clearing the harbor, proceeded along the narrow entrance channel.
When the ship was halfway in the channel, it suddenly occurred to the Captain that "What if the Pakistani submarine was waiting outside the harbor and torpedoes us as we disembark the pilot who was on board, at the Outer Channel Buoy?" He immediately ordered to stop engines...
and disembarked the pilot.
Meanwhile, Ghazi being unable to locate INS Vikrant around Vishakapatnam resumed laying mines on the night of 3rd December when Pakistan signaled the commencement of hostilities. Ghazi came up to periscope depth to establish her navigational position...
Meanwhile, Ghazi being unable to locate INS Vikrant around Vishakapatnam resumed laying mines on the night of 3rd December when Pakistan signaled the commencement of hostilities. Ghazi came up to periscope depth to establish her navigational position...
which was made very difficult due to the blackout and switching off of all navigational aids.
Rajput slowly increased speed to maximum by the time it reached the Outer channel buoy. At this point of time, Ghazi saw or heard a destroyer approaching her at high speed at an almost..
Rajput slowly increased speed to maximum by the time it reached the Outer channel buoy. At this point of time, Ghazi saw or heard a destroyer approaching her at high speed at an almost..
