INS Nipat (K86)

For other ships with the same name, see INS Nipat.
History
 Indian Navy
NameINS Nipat
Commissioned26 April 1971
Decommissioned29 February 1988
General characteristics
Class and typeVidyut-class missile boat
Displacement245 tons (full load)[1]
Length38.6 meters
Beam7.6 meters
Speed37+ knots
Complement30
Armament
  • 4 × SS-N-2A Styx AShM
  • 2 × AK-230 30mm guns

INS Nipat (K86) was a Vidyut-class missile boat of the Indian Navy.[2][3] It was part of the 25th "Killer" Missile squadron.

Operation Trident

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, INS Nipat was part of the Operation Trident strike force. On the afternoon of 4 December, the strike group made its way towards Karachi. Late that evening, around 70 miles south of Karachi, the Nipat detected two targets about 42 miles to the northeast, later identified as the merchant vessel, MV Venus Challenger, chartered by the Pakistan Navy to carry US ammunition to East Pakistan and its escort PNS Shah Jahan, a C-class destroyer. Venus Challenger, carrying ammunition for the Pakistani forces, exploded immediately after the missile hit and eventually sank 23 nmi (43 km; 26 mi) south of Karachi. The other missile targeted Shah Jahan and damaged the ship very badly.

The INS Nipat continued towards Karachi and targeted the Kemari oil storage tanks, placing itself 14 nmi (26 km; 16 mi) south of the Karachi Harbour. Two missiles were launched; one misfired, but the other hit the oil tanks, which burned and were destroyed completely. [4]

Other vessels of the strike group sank a Pakistan Navy destroyer PNS Khaibar and a minesweeper PNS Muhafiz.[citation needed]

Lieutenant Commander Bahadur Nariman Kavina, the Commanding Officer of the Nipat was awarded the Vir Chakra for his role during the operation.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ "Indian Naval Ships-Missile Boat - Chamak Class". Indiannavy.nic.in. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  2. ^ John Pike (4 December 1971). "K83 Vidyut (Sov Osa-I) / K90 Viyut (Sov Osa-II)". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  3. ^ "NAVY - Osa I Class". Bharat-Rakshak.com. 28 October 1971. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  4. ^ "Chapter-10". Indiannavy.nic.in. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Chapter-42". Indiannavy.nic.in. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Indian Navy". Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.