Indian Navy Celebration
The Navy Day celebrations are planned to be conducted in different commands of Indian Navy across the country on 04 Dec 11. It was on this day in 1971 that the Missile Boats of the Indian Navy carried out a deadly attack on Karachi Harbour during the Indo-Pak War. A curtain raiser for the activities planned for Navy Day by Eastern Naval Command on 04 Dec 11 at Visakhapatnam are given below. Three functions are scheduled on Sunday, 04 Dec 11, to commemorate the Event. The first activity is the Wreath Laying Ceremony at the War Memorial on the RK Beach by Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.
The Op-Demo would be followed by an At Home Function, being held for invitees at the Navy House, the residence of Vice Admiral Anil Chopra. The Navy day Operation Demonstration Rehearsals would be held on 02 Dec 11 and final Demonstration is scheduled on 04 Dec 11.During the Rehearsals on these days a number of Aircrafts would be flying over RK Beach. Birds flying near the display area pose a major threat to the flying aircrafts.
In order to ensure smooth conduct of the display and for air safety, the Naval Authorities request the public to keep the beach are litter free and avoid dropping food items, as these items attract birds to the display area and are a hazard for the aircraft.
At the very outset, I would like to thank all of you for being here this afternoon to attend this year’s press conference. I am glad to see that all forms and sections of media are well represented, which provides us with an opportunity for comprehensive interaction. I also avail this opportunity to compliment all of you for your valuable contribution in keeping the nation informed of our defence needs and imperatives.
I will make some opening remarks, after which I will take your questions. As you are aware, we celebrate Navy Day on 4th Dec every year. It is an occasion to remember our war heroes as well as to rededicate ourselves to the service of the Nation. On this occasion I would like to specifically remember one of my illustrious predecessors, Admiral Oscar Stanley Dawson, who passed away last month. He was the Director of Naval Operations in 1971 and one of the architects of the events of 04 Dec 1971.
Perspective planning is the key to building and maintaining a force structure, owing to the dynamics of a constantly changing geo-strategic environment and threats evolving thereof. Force Level Planning is thus an iterative process. An implementable Perspective Plan is particularly critical to building an indigenous Navy. I am glad to note that earlier this year, we have formulated the Maritime Capabilities Perspective Plan and formalised the XII plan for 2012-17.
The Navy is acutely conscious of the need for optimal utilisation of allocated monetary resources. Within the budget projections, the Navy is aiming at building a multi-dimensional capability, congruent to our increasing responsibilities as well as challenges. Our preferred choice of inducting ships and submarines has been through the indigenous route and of the 49 ships and submarines presently on order, 45 are from Indian shipyards.
Indian Navy ships have also engaged in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. Most notable amongst them was the deployment for evacuation of our citizens from Libya in March this year as part of Operation Blossom. Occurring in close wake to our Operational Readiness Exercise, TROPEX 11.
While the coastal security architecture has been strengthened considerably, to further improve the capacity and capability for coastal security, a case for Phase II of Coastal Security augmentation has been initiated. Under this initiative, additional assets such as patrol vessels, helicopters, UAVs, manpower, special forces, forward operating bases, etc. have been proposed. The utility of these assets will not be limited to coastal security alone.
I firmly believe that human resource is our most precious asset. Our uniformed and civilian personnel derive their strength and motivation from the finest traditions that we have inherited from our predecessors. Yet it is a reality that the Navy is facing a shortfall in both uniformed and civilian personnel. Civilian personnel form the backbone of our maintenance force and have longstanding expertise, which we can ill afford to lose. We are making all efforts in conducting special recruitment drives to make good the shortfalls. Shortage of service personnel are also being progressively reduced through additional recruitments.
Another recent initiative, the Navy–IGNOU Community College Scheme, Sagardeep, is a distinctive HR measure that will empower sailors, irrespective of entry-level qualification, branch or trade. The signing of the MoU this year between the Indian Navy and the Indira Gandhi National Open University has been a landmark event that will facilitate higher education amongst our sailors, thereby benefitting the Navy whilst significantly equipping our personnel for their second innings.
Additionally, the Navy is also progressing issues related to upgrading hospital and school facilities for our personnel and their dependents which would contribute to our overall sense of well being, satisfaction and pride.
It is a matter of great pride for me to state that the Indian Navy’s sportsmen have consistently done the country proud in the International arena. 32 Naval sportsmen have so far represented the country at various International sports events during the current year and have won 01 Gold, 02 Silver and 05 Bronze medals. Cdr Dilip Donde was awarded the Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award for his exemplary feat of successfully completing the maiden Solo Circumnavigation by an Indian, onboard the sailing yacht ‘Mhadei’ in 2011, Suranjoy Singh, MCPO II PT of the Navy Boxing team has been bestowed with the prestigious “Arjuna Award” for excelling in boxing for the year 2010-11. Sanjeev Rajput, MCPO II QA 3 of the Navy shooting team has qualified for the London Olympics 2012 in 50 Meters Rifle 3 Positions event. Ashok Kumar, Chief ME, Omkar Singh, Chief Petty Officer and Samarendra Singh, Leading Steward have won medals at the international level in wrestling, air pistol shooting and canoeing respectively. We are extremely proud of the achievement of our sports persons and the Navy would continue to nurture young men and women who have the potential to bring laurels to the country.
Indian Navy celebrates December 04 as the Navy Day. This day is celebrated as a tribute to the valiant maritime operations of the Indian Navy during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. However, the beating the retreat ceremony and the aerobatic display by the Naval Aerobatic team Sagar Pawan would be held on December 04. The Southern Naval Command has decided to go ahead with this ceremony as homage to all the victims of terror in the country.
The operational demonstration of the Navy’s firepower, display of missile, guns and other equipments used on war ships will not be there during this year’s Navy week. The three-day terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which began on Wednesday killed at least 197 people and left nearly 300 wounded.
The Indian Navy celebrated the annual ‘Killers Nite’
on December 1, last to commemorate its Missile Boat Squadron’s daring and successful attack against the Pakistani maritime forces in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The attacks were carried out in two phases on the nights of December 4 and 5, 1971 and December 8 and 9. The offensive operations undertaken by the Indian Naval ships delivered a severe blow to Pakistan’s war effort and its will to sustain maritime operations. Karachi was heavily defended with anti-aircraft guns. French made Daphne submarines and Pakistani naval ships were reported to be patrolling outside the harbour and off the coast. Air cover was being provided by the advanced US made Sabre jets.
Within hours of outbreak of hostilities, the Missile Boat Group was ordered to execute operation Trident, the code name for the first attack on Karachi. The task group consisting of three OSA class missile boats, escorted by two Kamorta class anti-submarine patrol vessels, regrouped off Okha and charged towards Karachi. At 2150 hrs on December 4, the task group was 70 nautical miles south-west of Karachi. Soon thereafter, the task group detected patrolling Pakistani naval ships on their sensors. The deadly missiles were heading towards their targets which were soon hit. PNS Khyber, a destroyer and PNS Muhafiz, a minesweeper were sunk. Another Pakistani destroyer Shajehan was badly damaged. The fuel storage tanks at Karachi harbour were set ablaze, causing heavy loss.
The ‘Killers Nite’ is held annually to commemorate these daring attacks and the gallant men who made them a success. The event was attended by senior Naval officers and civilian dignitaries. A number of retired Naval officers who had served in these ships and were associated with the offensive operations also joined the celebration to share their nostalgia with the new generation "Killers".
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