4th December is an important day in Indian History as today is an Indian Navy Day. It marks the Indian Navy Operation Trident, an attack launched in 1971 by Indian Navy in 1971 during Indo-Pakistan War and that was the time when an anti-ship missile was used in the operation. This operation is popularly known as Operation Trident.
There was three Indian Navy Ship in this operation INS Nipat, INS Nirghat and INS Veer.
The hostilities in both the country had their origins in the atrocities of Pakistan’s masses on its eastern front. There were around 10 million people that crossed from Eastern Pakistan border and sough for refugee in India. When India gradually started supporting the liberation movement of Eastern Pakistani masses, then Pakistan expressed its hostility by attacking 11 Indian airbases. Indian counterattack marked the launch of Operation Trident.
The only link between east and west Pakistan was the sea. India decided to strike on Pakistan through the sea. Those days Pakistan had no night fighter aircraft, so Indian carried out the operation after sunset. In the Indian attack, Pakistan’s major fuel reserves and ammunition stocks were destroyed badly. The group attacking the vessels were known as the Killer Squadron. The operation ended on 16the December 1971 with East Pakistan liberation as a new country known as Bangladesh.
Many Indian navy soldiers who were the part of this operation awarded with gallantry awards.
Indian President and Navy’s Commander-in-chief
Indian Navy is the marine branch of the Indian Army and its Commander-in-Chief is Indian President. Chhatrapati Shivaji Bhosle, Maratha emperor, is called ‘Father of the Indian Navy’. The day is celebrated every year for working towards securing the marine border and strengthening the relationship with other countries.
