INS Nirghat (K89)

For other ships with the same name, see INS Nirghat.

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	4 × SS-N-2A Styx anti-ship missiles 2 × AK-230 30 mm (1.2 in) guns

'INS Nirghat (K89) was a Vidyut-class missile boat of the Indian Navy.[2][3]

INS Nirghat was a part of the 25th "Killer" Missile Squadron of the Indian Navy.

Operation Trident

Main article: Operation Trident (1971)

During 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

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.