Karachi Port

Note: This story Karachi Port is written to salute the unsung heroes of our Indian Naval forces during 1971 Kargil War. The story depends more on action(Active voice) sequences and less on dialogues. Christopher Nolan sir's Dunkirk served as a source of inspiration for me to write this action-war story.

KARACHI PORT, PAKISTAN:

ARABIAN SEA:

8 DECEMBER 1971- 9 DECEMBER 1971:

The Indian Naval Headquarters in Delhi along with the Western Naval Command planned to attack the strategically important port of Karachi. A strike under Western Naval Command was formed. This strike group was to be formed around the three Vidyut-class missile boats already deployed off the coast of Okha. However, these had limited operational and radar range and to overcome this difficulty, it was decided to assign support vessels to the group. On 4 December, what was now designated as the Karachi Strike group was formed and consisted of the three Vidyut-class missile boats: INS Nipat, INS Nirghat and INS Veer, each armed with four SS-N-2B Styx surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 40 nautical miles, two Amala-class anti-submarine corvettes: INS Kiltan and INS Katchall, and a fleet tanker, INS Poshak. The group was under the command of Commander Babru Bhan Yadav, the commanding officer of the 25th Missile Boat Squadron.

On the night of 4/5 December, Admiral S.M.Nanda launched Operation Trident with the Karachi Strike Group off the coast of Karachi. The Commanders and leaders: Lieutenant Commander Shasank Swaroop, Captain Ravindra Varma, Lieutenant Rajendra Reddy, Commander Ramesh Devaraj and Captain Vijeyader Singh listens to Admiral Nanda's instructions.

The Vice-Admiral Harindra Varma is instructed to bring the map of Karachi port by Nandha and he gives it to him. After looking the map, he looked at the commanders and leaders instructing: "Our Commanders(from three Vidyut-class missile portals) of Operation Trident have confusions whether they attacked Karachi port correctly. So, we have planned to form Operation Python."

10:00 PM-

At 10:00 PM, Lieutenant Commander Shasank Swaroop wakes up from his sleep in INS Vinash and the prelude events were running in the minds of Swaroop. The INS Vinash in rough seas, equipped with four Styx missiles and two multipurpose frigates, INS Talwar and INS Trishul, approached Manora, a peninsula south of the Port of Karachi. As per the instructions of Admiral and Vice-Admiral, only two multipurpose frigates were sent for Operation Python.

During their voyage, Captain Harindra Varma notices a Pakistani patrol vessel, a few kilometers away from the sea. He informed Lieutenant Commander Swaroop and Commander Ramesh Devaraj saying: "Sir. Our enemy patrol vessel is approaching in three kilometers distance."

"Fire the missile! Fire the missile!" Siddha instructed the Captain. The Captain instructs the missile controllers to fire Styx against the patrol vessel of enemy troupes.

The patrol vessel was encountered and sunk as instructed. While the group approached Karachi, Trishul's electronic surveillance revealed that the radar there had stopped rotating and was directed straight at the group, confirming that it had been detected.

"Sir. Is there any other enemy troupes approaching us?" asked Commander Ramesh Devaraj to which the Ship captain said: "Sir. No ship is visible."

"See clearly sir. Since it's dark, there may be some chances for blur visuals" said Lieutenant Commander Shasank to which, the Captain replied: "When the ship approach, we would alert you sir."

ONE HOUR LATER:

11:00 PM:

Around 11:00 PM, the group were called by the Ship captains. They detected a batch of ships at a distance of 12 nmi(22 km, 14 mi). Captain Ravindra Varma now asked the Lieutenant Rajendra Reddy, "Sir. What shall we do now? Shall we go back?"

"From the ocean to the sand, we adore this land! We salute the men in white. But, what have we done or contributed for our nation? We have got a golden opportunity to prove ourselves sir. It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it. You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake sir. In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons sir. Decide, whether we have to prove our worth or to go back sir." Lieutenant General Shasank Swaroop said, looking at them.

The Pakistan Lieutenant General Ameer Ahmed wondered, whether Indian Navy have backed off. He asked Lieutenant Hasan Ahmed, "Sir. Since, we all have gathered in the port with full protection, Naval forces could have feared. They would surely back off."

Hearing this, Captain Ajmal Khan slammed his statements, telling: "Sir. As we were this much causal, Commander Babru Bhan Yadav successfully launched Operation Trident. If we behave careless now too, then Indian Navy will successfully launch Operation Python."

Noting the statement as right, Lieutenant instructed: "What he said is right! The more you sweat in joy, the less you bleed in war. So, be careful and alert. Since, Indian Navy is not to be misjudged."

The meantime in INS boat, Captain Ravindra Varma said: "Sir. My daughter used to ask me, what have I done for my nation. I don't have anything to tell her. Now, I say. Older man declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die. Jai Hind!"

"Jai Hind!" said the other naval forces chanting Indian Navy slogan, the meantime. Meanwhile, Ramesh Devaraj instructs Vinash saying: "Sir. Fire all four missiles immediately! Fire immediately."

The Vinash immediately fired all four of its missiles, the first of which struck the fuel tanks at the Kemari Oil Farm causing a heavy explosion. Seeing Panamanian fuel tanker SS Gulf Star, Shasank instructed: "Fire down the shipman. Fire, fire."

The missile hit and sank the Panamanian fuel tanker SS Gulf star. Subsequently, Lieutenant Rajendra Reddy ordered: "Sir. PNS Dacca and the British Merchant vessel SS Harmattan is also approaching at five kilometers distance from our ship. Hit them. Fire both the ships. Fire."

While the Pakistan Lieutenant Commander Hassan Ahmed asked the Ship captain, "What happened sir?"

"We are watching it sir" said the Ship Captain. Meanwhile, the missile handler hits the third missiles hit the Pakistani Navy fleet tanker PNS Dacca, killing few Pakistani Naval officers in the ship. Threatened by this, Hasan Ahmed said: "Hey. What happened?"

An officer said: "Sir. Our PNS Dacca have been attacked. Red Alert, Red Alert sir! Dacca was damaged beyond repair."

Panicked, Hassan Ahmed instructs the Ship captain to turn back the ship by any means. Meanwhile, Indian Navy ship notices British Merchant vessel SS Harmattan, at a distance of 12 kilometers through it's radar system. Ordered by the army commanders and members, the ship controller hit the fourth missiles, that hit the SS Harmattan, which sank immediately, killing Hassan Ahmed's five other subordinates in Harmattan.

Lieutenant Rajendra Reddy rejoice in happiness telling: "Our mission Python is successful."

An elated Shasank said, "Yes sir. Vinash had now expended all of its missiles." Now, Captain Ravindra Varma asked the Ship captain, "Captain. Turn back the ship to our nearest Indian port immediately.

"Without fighting the enemy face to face, we have subdued them sir." Ramesh Devaraj said to which Rajendra Reddy said "That's the supreme art of war sir." He smiled.

"Now, I could say my daughter proudly that, we too have contributed something for our nation's benefit sir." Ravindra Varma smiled in happiness.

 Shasank Swaroop and the group reached the nearby port and board a train. They reach Jammu and Kashmir, from where they arrives in Kargil, receiving a hero's welcome. There, Shasank reads Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's address to the House of Parliament which states:

"Between Operation Trident and Python, and the Indian Air force attacks on Karachi's fuel and ammunition deposits, more than fifty percent of the total fuel requirement of the Karachi zone was reported to have been destroyed. The result was a crippling economic blow to Pakistan. The damage was estimated to be worth $3 billion, with most of the oil reserves and ammunition warehouses and workshops destroyed. The Pakistan Air Force was also affected by the loss of fuel."

FEW DAYS LATER:

Few days later, the one, who fought for Operation Python are granted leave to meet their family once, before Kargil war starts. So, Shasank returns to his hometown Coimbatore district, for meeting his wife Anshika. Since, he is said to have a good news from her. A warm hero welcome is given by his family and Shasank asked his wife, "What's the good news dear?"

She asked him to touch her womb, to which he touches and feels something moving here and there. Shasank realizes that, "Anshika is pregnant with his child."

"You told in peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons. But, A son who is loved by his father becomes a father who loves his son." Tears filled the eyes of Anshika and an emotional Shasank embraced her.

EPILOGUE:

With no casualties observed on the Indian side, both missile attacks(Trident and Python) led the Pakistan Navy to take extreme measures to prevent any further damage. The rescue efforts were immediately coordinated by Real Admiral Patrick Simpson who kept morale high among the Pakistani Navy officers. For this, he was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat. Lieutenant Commander Vijai Jerath, the commanding officer of Vinash, was awarded the Vir Chakra for this operation. The Pakistani High Command ordered ships to reduce their ammunition dumps so as to reduce the explosion damage if hit. The ships were also ordered not to manoeuvre out at sea, especially during the night, unless ordered to do so. These two measures severely demoralized Pakistani naval crews. With the destruction caused by the Indian Navy, natural merchant vessels soon started to seek safe passage from the Indian authorities before heading to Karachi. In effect, a de facto naval blockade was created by the Indian Navy. Civilian casualties from the attack included at least seven killed and six wounded on the British merchant ship Harmattan.

The story is dedicated to all those Indian Navy officers, who have fought effortlessly during 1971 Kargil wars, that was fought. Jai Hind!