The PNS Ghazi was the naval submarine, which was used in the naval battle of India-Pakistan Naval War of 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation War and hence popularly known as "Ghazi Attack". It was deployed in East-Pakistan shore (which is now in Bangladesh east coast) to locate INS Vikrant and the Indian Eastern Command base of Visakhapatnam.
How PNS Ghazi came in Pakistan Navy Command?
The Tench-class diesel-electric submarine i.e. USS Diablo (SS-479) was previously based on the command of the USA which was leased to Pakistan in the 1963 under the Security Assistance Program (SAP). Then after it was renamed in PNS Ghazi which was the first fast-attack submarine of the Pakistan Navy.
Journey of PNS Ghazi in Pakistan Naval Services
It starts serving Pakistan Navy from 1964 and deployed at Karachi coast to stalk INS Vikrant (India's only aircraft carrier). But it was deployed at Eid Pakistani shores when it's unable to locate INS Vikrant as INS transferred to Visakhapatnam coast. That forced the Pakistan Navy to deploy PNS Ghazi to the Bay of Bengal.
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Episode of Ghazi attack and the reaction Indian Naval fleets
The episode of Naval War theatre commenced when Pakistan Navy attacked INS Brahmaputra from Work War II-origin Mark 14 torpedoes, but not affected as they assumed while stalking INS Vikrant.
In 1971, INS Vikrant was transferred to Vishakhapatnam Coast that created the insecurity between Pakistani Naval Commander and in order to stalking INS Vikrant leads them to Ghazi to the Arabian Sea to Bay of Bengal by 3,000 miles (4,800km above).
What Caused the Pakistani Submarine Ghazi Sinking?
Indian Navy got wind of the Ghazi's presence off the Sri Lankan coast by local fisherman who was spotted by INS Akshay through oil slick. The divers of naval fleet confirmed the estimated length of submarine over 300 feet. That information stunned the Eastern Indian Naval Command because they knew that Pakistan had four submarines and only the biggest one in the fleet was longer than 300 feet, i.e. Ghazi
So, the Navy ordered the submarines to slip out of the house quietly. INS Rajput (guided-missile destroyer) was released by the PNS Ghazi under the command of Lt. Cdr. (SDG) Inder Singh On December 4, 1971, Ghazi was sunk during Naval strike between INS Rajput and Ghazi but the Rajput suffered a serious problem.
The Untold Story of Ghazi Attack
INS Rajput was sailed to mislead the Ghazi which was actually a suicide mission for Rajput but INS Rajput is not anything in front of Ghazi but giving as bait to Pakistan for the safety of Vikrant.
The sinking of Pakistani submarine PNS Ghazi with 90 men aboard in 1971 Indo-Pak war is considered as one of the high points of India's first-ever emphatic military victory.
Today, the submarine lies embedded in the seabed of Visakhapatnam about 1.5 nautical miles from the breakwaters, which is close to the harbor channel. The spot has been marked on navigational maps to help ships the wreck and tell the story of India's naval glory.
