'INS Nirghat (K89) was a Vidyut-class missile boat of the Indian Navy.[2][3]
| History | |
|---|---|
 Indian Navy | |
| Name | INS Nirghat |
| Commissioned | 29 January 1971 |
| Decommissioned | 31 July 1989 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Vidyut-class missile boat |
| Displacement | 245 tons (full load)[1] |
| Length | 38.6 m (126 ft 8 in) |
| Beam | 7.6 m (24 ft 11 in) |
| Speed | 37+ knots |
| Complement | 30 |
| Armament |
|
INS Nirghat was a part of the 25th "Killer" Missile Squadron of the Indian Navy.
Operation Trident
editDuring the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, INS Nirghat was part of the Operation Trident strike force, along with her sister vessels from the 25th Killer Squadron (INS Veer and INS Nipat). On the afternoon of 4 December 1971, the strike group made its way towards Karachi. Late that evening, around 70 mi (110 km) south of Karachi, Nirghat detected a large Pakistan Navy target, later identified as the destroyer PNS Khaibar, about 45 mi (72 km) to her northwest. Nirghat launched two SS-N-2 Styx missiles at Khaibar, sinking her.[4]
Other vessels of the strike group sank the Pakistan Navy minesweeper PNS Muhafiz and the merchant ship MV Venus Challenger.
Lieutenant Commander Inderjit Sharma, the commanding officer, and Master Chief Petty Officer M. N. Sangal of Nirghat were awarded the Vir Chakra for their roles during the operation.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Indian Naval Ships-Missile Boat - Chamak Class". Indiannavy.nic.in. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
- ^ John Pike (4 December 1971). "K83 Vidyut (Sov Osa-I) / K90 Viyut (Sov Osa-II)". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
- ^ "NAVY - Osa I Class". Bharat-Rakshak.com. 28 October 1971. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
- ^ "Chapter-10". Indiannavy.nic.in. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
- ^ "Chapter-42". Indiannavy.nic.in. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.