The Indian Navy Day is celebrated every year on December 4 to remember the achievement and role the Indian Navy has played in keeping the country’s coastal lines safe during wars. The day is highly significant for India as it was on this day that the successful action by the Indian Navy blocked an enforcing Pakistan naval force from entering the maritime borders of the country during the Indo-Pak War in 1971. The action is famously known as Operation Trident.
The primary focus of the Navy has always been to increase its capabilities in the zone of the Indian Ocean. Protecting the national interest has been the prime motto. To mark the achievements and celebrate the accomplishments of the Indian Navy each year the Indian Navy Day is celebrated with a lot of fervour and enthusiasm.
History of Indian Navy
The East India Company established the naval forces in India in 1612. After India gained independence, it was renamed on January 26, 1950 as Indian Navy. During the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971, Pakistan attacked the Air Base of India on December 3. To combat this attack the Indian Naval forces decided to start an Operation Trident on the night of December 4 which continued till December 5.
Through this operation, the Indian Navy successfully conducted a pre-emptive strike on the borders of Karachi thereby crippling the naval capabilities of Pakistan. In this operation, the Navy for the first time used the Vidyut-class missile boats including INS Nipat, INS, Veer, and INS Nirghat, and two anti-submarine corvettes INS Katchall, and INS Kiltan.
All three boats and the submarine corvettes played a crucial role during the attack and were successful in sinking four Pakistani Navy ships. The Indian Naval forces also destroyed the Karachi harbour fuel fields and killed more than 500 Pakistani Navy personnel.
This year the day is being celebrated at Sindhudurg fort in Maharashtra.