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When surprise attack from Okha sank Pak navy ships
The highly successful missile attack on Karachi port on December 4 during the 1971 war by Indian Navy was the first of its kind naval offensive, which originated from Okha naval base in Gujarat.
The surprise attack on Pakistani Naval headquarters, where almost the entire fleet of Pakistan Navy was harboured then, sank several Pakistan Navy ships and crippled the country’s maritime trade. The success of the operation prompted Indian Navy to declare December 4 as Navy Day, thereafter.
Vadodara-based Commander (Retd) Bharat Patel, then a young Lieutenant, was posted at Okha naval base as a communication officer, saw the operation commence and then received the news of successful attack. The base then became the target of constant pounding byPakistan Air Force rendering it ineffective for launching any further missile ships. However, by then, the damage to the most important and a heavily guarded Karachi port had been done.
“At Okha, the three missile bearing naval ships were to be towed by other ships because of their limited range. Accompanied by a refueling tanker, the ships sailed out at evening, which was quite unusual since there were no night operating facilities available at the base. Fishermen carrying lanterns lined up their vessels on both sides of the canal from the jetty to guide the way,” recalls Cdr Patel, talking to TOI on the eve of 41st Vijay Divas, which marked India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971.
“Till then, we all thought it was one of the night exercises in view of the threat of Pak attack. Then, in the middle of the night, I was woken up to receive a top secret message in the communication room. The message said ‘Karachi had been successfully attacked.” That’s when we got to know about operation Trident (the name given to the Op of missile attack on Karachi).”
By four in the morning, Pakistan fighter planes swooped down at the base, with the intentions of attacking the missile ships, hoping that the same had returned to the base by then. “But, anticipating the move, all the ships anchored at Okha had been moved away while the attack ships were headed some other way. The planes could hit only a refueling tank. For the next three days, they continued to pound us, but fortunately, there was not a single casualty,” remembers Patel, who was incidentally, one of the only three Gujaratis serving with the Indian Navy then. “All three of us were Patels,” he laughs.
Now, 68-year-old runs a construction business in the city. Patel remembers further Pak air attacks continuing till December 10 during the base was badly damaged, but without any casualty. “Immediately after the ceasefire, Navy chief Admiral S M Nanda flew down to meet us at Okha saying, “I want to congratulate these boys who carried out a direct naval attack.’” It was the first time that missiles were used for direct attack by Navy.
When surprise attack from Okha sank Pak navy ships - The Times of India
The highly successful missile attack on Karachi port on December 4 during the 1971 war by Indian Navy was the first of its kind naval offensive, which originated from Okha naval base in Gujarat.
The surprise attack on Pakistani Naval headquarters, where almost the entire fleet of Pakistan Navy was harboured then, sank several Pakistan Navy ships and crippled the country’s maritime trade. The success of the operation prompted Indian Navy to declare December 4 as Navy Day, thereafter.
Vadodara-based Commander (Retd) Bharat Patel, then a young Lieutenant, was posted at Okha naval base as a communication officer, saw the operation commence and then received the news of successful attack. The base then became the target of constant pounding byPakistan Air Force rendering it ineffective for launching any further missile ships. However, by then, the damage to the most important and a heavily guarded Karachi port had been done.
“At Okha, the three missile bearing naval ships were to be towed by other ships because of their limited range. Accompanied by a refueling tanker, the ships sailed out at evening, which was quite unusual since there were no night operating facilities available at the base. Fishermen carrying lanterns lined up their vessels on both sides of the canal from the jetty to guide the way,” recalls Cdr Patel, talking to TOI on the eve of 41st Vijay Divas, which marked India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971.
“Till then, we all thought it was one of the night exercises in view of the threat of Pak attack. Then, in the middle of the night, I was woken up to receive a top secret message in the communication room. The message said ‘Karachi had been successfully attacked.” That’s when we got to know about operation Trident (the name given to the Op of missile attack on Karachi).”
By four in the morning, Pakistan fighter planes swooped down at the base, with the intentions of attacking the missile ships, hoping that the same had returned to the base by then. “But, anticipating the move, all the ships anchored at Okha had been moved away while the attack ships were headed some other way. The planes could hit only a refueling tank. For the next three days, they continued to pound us, but fortunately, there was not a single casualty,” remembers Patel, who was incidentally, one of the only three Gujaratis serving with the Indian Navy then. “All three of us were Patels,” he laughs.
Now, 68-year-old runs a construction business in the city. Patel remembers further Pak air attacks continuing till December 10 during the base was badly damaged, but without any casualty. “Immediately after the ceasefire, Navy chief Admiral S M Nanda flew down to meet us at Okha saying, “I want to congratulate these boys who carried out a direct naval attack.’” It was the first time that missiles were used for direct attack by Navy.
When surprise attack from Okha sank Pak navy ships - The Times of India
it paid handsomely
