Indian Navy Celebrates `Killers Nite' 2011

'40 Years of Valour' Special Cover Issued from Mumbai on 2 December 2011 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. Operation Trident was a thundering success with no damage to any of the ships of the Indian Naval Task Group, which returned safely. Operation Trident had introduced to the war, the first ever ship launched missiles in the region. Enthused by the success of this attack, the Indian Navy planned another offensive operation, code named Python. The continued presence of the Indian Navy’s larger ships is the area gave enough indication to the Pakistani naval authorities that more offensive operations were in the offing. The Pak aerial surveillance was stepped up and their ships attempted to outsmart the Indian Navy by mingling with merchant shipping. Notwithstanding these measures by the Pakistanis, operation Python was launched on the night on December 8 and 9, 1971. Despite bad weather and rough seas, the task group consisting of missile boat Vinash and two multipurpose frigates, executed the attack with razor sharp precision. INS Vinash approached close to the Karachi coast and fired four missiles. The first missile struck the fuel tanks at the Keamari Oil Farm. The other three missiles hit the merchant tankers Harmattan, Gulf Star and the Pakistani naval tanker Dacca. More than 50 percent of the total fuel requirement of the Karachi zone was reported to have been blown up. Operation Python was another great success. It further demoralised the Pakistani military and shattered their will to sustain war. The effect of the attacks was felt in the battles on both the western and eastern frontiers. The missile boats which took part in the attacks in 1971, have since been de-commissioned and replaced by the modern and more potent ‘Veer’ class missile vessels. These ships now form the 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron more popularly known as the ‘Killers Squadron’-the name inherited from their brave predecessors. 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". Writes Cdr R Madhusoodanan IN (Retd) in Sainik Samchar.

India made Frigate “D. Fernando II & Gloria”

India made Frigate “D. Fernando II  & Gloria”

 

The 19^th century frigate 'D.Fernando II & Gloria' built in Daman on the West coast of India is restored by Portugal to act as a museum ship in the Tagus river off Lisbon and re-commissioned in 1998.

Back of the D.Farnando II & Gloria, PPC

India teak, used to build the frigate, was far more resistant than timber used in Portugal made ships. This 62 metre-long ship made of famous Carreira da India voyages between India and Lisbon over 33 years. It was launched in 1843 and named after the husband of the then reigning Portuguese Queen and Our Lady of Glory.After restoration, the frigate stand 13 metres high and weigh 2,000 tonnes. Every bit of the repaired vessel produced as in the original based on photographs and plans that had survived. Wax dolls replaced about 700 passengers that the frigate transported during her Lisbon-India trips.

‘D. Fernando II  & Gloria’ had also acted as a link between India and Portuguese colonies in Africa – Mozambique and Angola – during her time. She assisted in the trade of precious stones and exchange of animals and exotic plants. Transportation of military personnel and those condemned to deportation was also a part of her functions. In 1963 the frigate served as a training ship, it caught fire due to negligence of a trainee. She remained half-sunk in the waters of the river Tagus for nearly 30 years. The total cost of the repair was more than 1.5 million Contos (60million US$). Which was mostly borne by the Portuguese National commission for discoveries, Portuguese Ministry of Defense and some private patrons . The restoration was carried out under master shipwright, Alberto Costa, at the Portuguese dry docks of Aveiro, while the final phase of repairs were done in Lisbon. Experts commented that it would have been less trouble some to build the frigate anew as it was difficult to restore the Daman teak which had survived. Nearly 1,600 tonnes of timber had however used in the project to reinforce the old Daman wood. 

Nilgiri Class Guided Missile Frigates of the Indian Navy

 Government of India’s decision to build Leander class Guided Missile Frigates (updated version) at Mazagon Dock Ltd. based on the designs obtained from the Ministry of  Defence (MOD), U.K. in early 1960s marked the early steps of modern warship building in the country.MDL  in collaboration with Vickers Defence Systems
and Yarrow (Shipbuilders)Ltd.
Six ships were built between 1972-81 at MDL. Ships of the class formed the 14th Frigate Squadron. The class and its lead ship, INS Nilgiri are named for the Nilgiri Hills. Subsequent ships in the class are also named for hill ranges of India.
The class and its lead ship, INS Nilgiri were named for the Nilgiri Hills. Subsequent, ships in the class were also named for hill ranges of India. INS Himgiri (F-34), INS Udaygiri (F-35), INS Dunagiri (F-36), INS Taragiri (F-41) & INS Vindhyagiri (F-42).  The last two vessels (F41 and F42) had more powerful engines than the earlier ones.

INS Nilgiri (F 33), first of the class was commissioned in 1972. Decommissioned in 1996.She was sunk on April 24, 1997, in a test firing of a Sea EagleSea Harrier Frs Mk.51 taking off from INS Viraat.

 INS Taragiri (F 41) was commissioned into the Navy on May 16, 1980. Named after a hill range in Garhwal Himalayas in Northern India.

INS Udaygiri (F35), an Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate, the third of the Leander class ships to be built indigenously was commissioned into the Navy on February 18, 1976. She was decommissioned on August 24, 2007. The ship derived her name from the Udaygiri hills in the state of Orissa. The cover illustrates "Man and Cheer Ship" during the last operational sailing of the ship.

 

 INS Dunagiri (F 36), the fourth of the class was commissioned on 5 May 1977. De-commissioned on 20 October 2010 at Mumbai after having rendered 33 years of glorious service.Named after one of the Himalayan peaks. Her crest depicts the Osprey, a Himalayan bird and the ship's motto is 'Victory Is My Profession'.
I understand there is no philatelic example available on INS Himgiri and INS Vindhyagiri.
INS Himgiri (F34) was commissioned into the Navy on November 23, 1974. the second Indian-built multi-role warship that remained fighting fit for 30 years, slipped into history on  May 6, 2005 as sailors lowered the naval ensign on her quarterdeck and her Paying Off Pennant, as a bugler sounded the last post.  INS Himgiri holds the record for the number of days at sea in a single deployment for a conventional ship of the Indian Navy. In 1976, she was the first ship of the Indian Navy to shoot down a pilot-less aircraft.

INS Vindhyagiri (F42), the last of the class was commissioned on 8 July 1981. On 30 January 2011, INS Vindhyagiri collided with a Cyprus flag merchant ship MV Nordlake near Sunk Rock Lighthouse at the entrance of Mumbai Harbour. On 31 January 2011, the ship sank due to the damage caused by the collision and subsequent fire.  Reportedly re-floated by TITAN Salvage on 15 February 2011

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Urgently needed the following stamps and FDCs/Special Covers for my personal  collection. Can buy or exchange.

Shall appreciate an early response/offer.

SUBMARINE OPERATIONS: STRATEGIES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

 

I have received a firsthand report from Mr. D.H. Rao, Chairman of the Naval Philatelic Society of India and a veteran Maritime philatelist who was especially  invited by the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi to exhibit his philatelic collections on "Submarines and Maritime history of India".

Here is the report (unedited version)of Mr. D.H.Rao .

 

 NAME  -  SUBMARINE OPERATIONS: STRATEGIES FOR THE 21ST CENT..

VENUE - INDIA HABITAT CENTER

ORGANISED BY - NATIONAL MARITIME FOUNDATION .

DATE - 16 - 17TH FEB. 2011.

 

WELCOME ADDRESS BY      -  ADM [RETD] ARUN PRAKASH

INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY   -  ADM NIRMAL VERMA, CNS

DIFFERENT SESSIONS          -  16TH FEB

                                                      SUBMARINE OPERATIONS  - 4 PAPERS

                                                      SUBMARINE CONSTRUCTION- 3 PAPERS

                                                   - 17TH FEB

                                                     SUBMARINE RESCUE & SAFETY - 3 PAPERS

                                                     SUBMARINE ACQUISITION,TRAINING & ASW - 3 PAPERS

                                                     NUCLEAR SUBMARINE OPERATIONS - 3 PAPERS

TOTAL NUMBER OF PAPERS READ -16

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS -     ADM [RETD] V S SHEKAWAT

CONCLUDING REMARKS -    CMDE [RETD] C UDAY BHASKAR.     

PAPERS WERE PRESENTED BY A HOST OF INTERNATIONAL SUBMARINE EXPERTS FROM

CHILEAN NAVY,ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY,SWEDISH ARMED FORCES,FRENCH NAVY,

BRAZILLIAN NAVY,JAPANESE MARITIME SELF DEFENCE FORCE, NETHERLANDS NAVY,

US NAVY,RUSSIAN NAVY, BESIDES OUR INDIAN NAVY"S EXPERTS.

MOST REMARKABLE WAS THE PRESENCE OF CMDE[RETD] K SUBRAMANIAM, THE FIRST

SUBMARINER TO COMMAND INDIA'S FIRST SUBMARINE - INS KALVARI.

ADDED INTEREST WAS THE PHILATELIC EXHIBITION BY THE CHAIRMAN, NAVAL

PHILATELIC SOCIETY, MR D H RAO, WHO WAS SUDDENLY INVITED TO EXHIBIT HISMARITIME

 HISTORY OF INDIA AND TWO FRAMES ON -THIRD DIMENSION [INDIAN NAVAL SUBMARINES].

AFTER THE INAUGURAL OF THE SEMINAR, ADM NIRMAL VERMA,CNS, REQUESTEDCMDE[RETD]

 K SUBRAMAINIAM TO INAUAGURATE THE PHILATELIC EXHIBITION. MUCHAPPRECIATION WAS

 THERE FROM THE EMINENT VIPS.

THE SEMINAR PROCEEDINGS WERE EXCELLENT, ADHERING TO TIMINGS.

TWO DAYS FLEW BY, AND DINNER ON THE 15TH AND 16TH GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO

GET AUTOGRAPH FROM ALL THE SPEAKERS, INCLUDING, THE CNS AND ADM ARUN PRAKASH

AND ADMIAL SHEKAVAT. I GOT AT LAST AUTOGRAPH OF ADM SC CHOPRA., ON FLEET REVIEW

COVER OF 1989..

THE ORGANISERS PREPARED FEW SPL. COVERS FOR THIS EVENT, AND THEY SPARED, ABOUT

20 COVERS FOR MY SPECIALISED PASSION -FOR GETTING THE AUTOGRAPHSOF ALL THOSE

Veera Rani Abbakka Devi-Queen of Ullal ; Inshore Patrol Vessel CGS Rani Abbakka

 A couple of days back a friend of mine presented me a special cover of MANGALAPEX-2003 issued on 15 January 2003, in tribute to Veera Rani Abbakka Devi. Honestly speaking, I was  not known, till I got this special cover, about this valiant lady who fought the Portuguese invaders during the later half of 16th century and regarded by many as the "First woman freedom fighter of India". The pictorial cancellation depicts 'men-of-war' at the Mangalore coastal area of the Arabian sea.

 

Veera Rani Abbakka Rani  or Abbakka Mahadevi was the queen of Ullal (1594-1640). Veera Rani belonged to the Chowta dynasty who ruled over the area from the temple town of Moodabidri. The port town of Ullal served as their subsidiary capital. The Portuguese made several attempts to capture Ullal as it was strategically placed. But Abbakka repulsed each of their attacks for over four decades. For her bravery, she came to be known as Abhaya Rani ('The fearless queen'). Source; Wikipedia.

 In a fitting tribute, the first of the five IPVs (Inshore Patrol Vessel) for the Indian Coast Guard, launched on 28 May 2009, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, was named after "Rani Abbakka". The vessel, meeting International Maritime Organisation (IMO) standards, was built for dual class certification by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Indian Registered Shipping (IRS). It was a high speed patrol vessel built of light steel hull and fitted with water jet propulsion system to get high speed operations at 34 knots.

SUBMARINE DAY: 8 December & Submarines of Indian Navy

8th. December 1967 is the date of commissioning of “INS Kalvari (S-23) the first Submarine of the Indian Navy.

The day "8th December" is observed by the Indian Navy as the “Submarine Day”- the foundation day of the Indian Navy’s Submarine Arm. 
INS Kalvari (S-23) - a Foxtrot class submarine was built at Riga, erstwhile USSR. She was De-commissioned after 29 years of service on 31 May 1996. INS Kalvari's Fin (tower) is  now installed at Beach Road, Vizag and is maintained by the Vizag City as part of its Museum. 

The special postmark was provided inside the INS Kalvari Fin on  8th Dec. 1999. The day coincides with the ‘32nd. Submarine Day’.(The cover and the cachet were designed by Cdr. U.N.Acharya).
On the occasion of this commemoration, a philatelic exhibition on stamps on 'Ships', 'Navies of the World' and 'Lighthouses' was organised in the Central Gallery of the Corporation Museum. The collection was lent by the eminent philatelist D.H.Rao of Chennai.
Cdr. U.N.Acharya, Hon. Secretary, Naval Philatelic Society was an organising member and the driving force of the Kalvari Fin Philatelic Commemoration Committee.

Special Post Mark of 8.12.1982, Visakhapatnam Naval Base P.O., first ever cancellation provided underwater, commemorating 15th Anniversary of Submarine Arm.

 '15th Anniversary of Submarine Arm' special Post Mark of 8.12.1982, Calcutta.

 Special Post Mark of 8.12.1987, Visakhapatnam, commemorating 20th Anniversary of Submarine Arm.

 20th Anniversary of Submarine Arm, postmark 8-12-1987, New Delhi.

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Submarines of Indian Navy
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 INS Virbahu is the alma matar of the submariners. With the acquisition of submarines, INS Virbahu, a shore establishment was commissioned at Vishakapatanam on 19 May 1971.  INS Virbahu  primarily functions as shore support unit for providing administrative, logistic and operational support to the I.N.Submarines based on the East Coast.

  Special cancellation provided from Visakhapatnam Naval base P.O., on 17 Sept,1986 to mark the home coming of INS Sindhughosh at INS Virbahu - the submarine base of Eastern Naval Command.

INS Sindhughosh (S55) is the lead ship of her class of diesel-electric submarines of the Indian Navy.The submarine was commissioned in April 1986 in Riga, Latvia. Sindhughosh class is one of the three diesel-powered submarine classes in the Indian Navy which is made in the surname of Ghosh. The Project 877 Submarines, known in India as the 877 EKM or Kilo class Submarine or 'Sindhu' class, were built under a contract between Rosvooruzhenie (USSR) and the Ministry of Defence (India).

 

 De-Commissioning of INS Khanderi on 18-10-1989. INS Khanderi (S22) commissioned on 6th December 1968 was a Kalvari class diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy.
 INS Vela (Date of Issue: 12.2.1984)              A Foxtrot class submarine INS Vela (S40) was the lead ship of her class of diesel-electric submarines of the Indian Navy. INS Vela was Commissioned on 31 August, 1973 by the then Lt Cdr. J.M.S. Sodhi  at Riga, Latvia, in the erstwhile Soviet Union and decommissioned by Rear Admiral (Retd.) J.M.S. Sodhi, the Commissioning Commanding Officer of the submarine on 25 June,  2010.

INS Sindhugosh (S-55) & INS Shiskumar (S-44)

Indian Navy has four Shiskumar class submarines of German design under 10th Submarine Squadron INS Vajrabahu, Western Naval Command.  INS Shalki (S-46) and INS Shankul (S-47) were built at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai in technical collaboration with HDW, Germany.

NAVY DAY: December 04

On 21 October 1944, the Royal Indian Navy celebrated 'Navy Day' for the first time.This met with considerable success and aroused enthusiasm not only in the ports where parades were held but also in inland centres where public meetings were organised. Encouraged by its success, it was decided to organise similar functions every year on a larger scale, and later, in the season when the weather was cooler.  Accordingly, the second “Navy Day” was celebrated in Bombay and Karachi on December 01, 1945.
In due course,“Navy Day” came to be celebrated on ‘15 December’ and the week in which '15 December' fell was observed as the ‘Navy Week’.
The special stamp depicting INS Nilgiri, issued on December 15, 1968 honouring the “Navy Day”, The ‘Navy Day-1968’ was very special, in this year the launching of India’s first Leander class Guided Missile Frigate ‘INS Nilgiri’ took place (23 October,1968) at Mazagon Dock Ltd., Bombay. 

 In the year 1971 India got engaged in a war with Pakistan. On December 4, the Indian Navy carried out a stunning attack on the Karachi harbour.Indian Navy’s six ‘Osa-I’ class Missile boats were deployed spear heading the attack on Karachi, code named ‘Operation Trident’.

 INS Khukri (F-149)

INS Khukri - a British Blackwood class Frigate was commissioned into Indian Navy on 20 November 1956. On December 8/9, 1971, INS Khukri was deployed on a mission to hunt enemy submarines present in sea lanes used by Indian submarines. Unfortunately, INS Khukri was hit by torpedoes launched by the Pakistan Naval Submarine Hangor. As INS Khukri started sinking,40 nautical miles off Diu Coast taking down with her a crew of 18 officers and 176 sailors, its Commanding Officer Capt.Mahendra Nath Mulla recipient of Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) (posthumous) did not try to save himself. He went down with his ship, observing the greatest traditions of the Indian Navy.  

  The act of Capt. Mullah and his crew is a shining example of the unyielding spirit and indomitable courage glorifying the highest traditions of the Indian Navy. In memory of the ship crew who laid down lives for the country, a memorial named ‘Khukri Memorial’ was set up in Diu in 1999. The memorial depicts the scale model of the frigate INS Khukri.

 The Pakistan navy's submarine PNS Ghazi (SS 479)  (ex.USS Diablo) was lost in the Bay of Bengal off Fairway buoy of Visakhapatnam harbour during  the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

In May 1972, at the Senior Naval Officers Conference, it was decided that hence forth; “Navy Day” would be celebrated on 4th. December in commemoration of the very successful Naval actions in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal during the “Indo-Pak War of  1971”. 

The first "Navy Day" on December 04 was celebrated in 1972.
 On this Day when the Navy dedicated itself anew to the service of the nation, the Army Postal Service Corps (56 APO) brought out a Special Cover to commemorate the Navy Day on 4 December 1972.

  Indigenously built Missile Frigate INS Taragiri appears on the NAVY DAY stamp issued on 4 December,1981.

This special cover was issued at Bombay to commemorate 30 years of Naval Aviation in India on Navy Day on 4 December 1983. The Naval aviation formally saw the light of day with the commissioning of INS Garuda, a Naval Air Station at Cochin (now Kochi) on May 11, 1953. The cover has the picture of  INS Vikrant (R11), ex. HMS Hercules (R49))  -a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier, the first aircraft carrier in the Indian Navy acquired  in 1957.

 Slogan Postmark “INDIAN  NAVY  THE  NATION’S  PRIDE” provided from some select Post Offices on “Navy Day"- 4th. December 1987.(The letter shown above was posted from Secendrabad by my friend Cdr.(Rtd) U.N.Acharya)

 50th. Anniversary of ‘I.N.S. Netaji Subhas’(formerly INS Hooghly), the Naval establishment in Kolkata was celebrated on 'NAVY DAY-2004'.

 NAVY DAY-2005 was dedicated to ‘BUILDER’S NAVY’ in recognition of the Indian Warship Designers & Shipbuilders.

 Navy Queen contestants on board the INS Mumbai in Kochi on the occasion of Navy Day on December 04, 2007.

  Navy Day stamp of  04 December 2008

Dedicated to the stellar role of the Indian Navy in “Reaching Out to Our Maritime Neighbours” in peace and in war in the Indian Ocean. Smaller Navies in the Indian Ocean Region like those of Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Mauritius and Maldives, look up to India and it's Navy as a source of help, support and assistance.  The theme "Reaching Out to Maritime Neighbours" is essentially framed on these lines.Indian Navy wants to reach out and extend a hand of genuine friendship to all these nations for mutual benefit.