Operation Python
Encyclopedia
Operation Python, a follow up to Operation Trident
, was a code name of a naval attack launched on West Pakistan's port city of Karachi
by the Indian Navy
during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
. After the first attack during Operation Trident
on Karachi port, Pakistan stepped up aerial surveillance of its coast and the presence of large Indian Navy ships gave the impression that another attack was being planned. Pakistan warships attempted to outsmart the Indian Navy by mingling with merchant shipping. To counter these moves, Operation Python was launched on the night on December 8/9, 1971.
housed the headquarters of the Pakistani Navy and almost the entire fleet was based at Karachi Harbour. Karachi was also the hub of Pakistan's maritime trade, meaning that a blockade would be disastrous for Pakistan’s economy. The defence of Karachi harbour was therefore paramount to the Pakistani High Command and it was heavily defended against any airstrikes or naval strikes. Karachi received some of the best defences Pakistan had to offer as well as cover from strike aircraft based at two airfields in the area. The Indian fleet lay 250 miles from Karachi during the day, outside the range of Pakistani aircraft, and most of these aircraft did not possess night-bombing capability. The Pakistani Navy had launched submarine operations to gather intelligence on Indian naval efforts. Even so, with multiple intels provided by the submarines, the Navy had failed to divert the naval attacks, due to misleading intelligence and communications.
Operation Trident
was an enormous success with no damage to any of the ships of the Indian Naval Task Group, which returned safely. The success of this operation prompted another successful attack on the Pakistani coast, named Operation Python.
Vice-Admiral Muzaffar Hassan
met with Chief of Air Staff
Air Marshal Abdul Rahim Khan
in which an airstrike group was formed. Following Operation Python on the evening of 8 December at about 1800 hrs. The Chief of Air Staff of PAF was contacted by direct telephone and asked for the strike from the air. The Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy also had a word with him to emphasise the urgency.
and two multipurpose frigates, INS Talwar
and INS Trishul
, approached Karachi. INS Vinash fired four SS-N-2B Styx missiles. The first missile struck the fuel tanks at the Keamari Oil Farm. Another missile hit and sank a Panamian fuel tanker the Gulf Star. The third and fourth missiles hit the Pakistani Navy fleet tanker PNS Dacca and the British ship SS Harmattan, which were badly damaged. One Pakistani ship was captured off the Makran coast.
Between Operations Trident
and Python, and the Indian Air Force attacks on Karachi's fuel and ammunition depots, more than 50 percent of the total fuel requirement of the Karachi zone was reported to have been blown up. The result was a crippling economic blow to Pakistan. The damage was estimated at worth $3 billion, with most of the oil reserves and ammunition, warehouses and workshops had been destroyed and PAF was also hit.
Python was another successful operation by the Indian Navy. The Pakistani fuel reserves for the sector were destroyed and the flames could be seen even from miles away. India had established complete control over the oil route from the Persian Gulf to Pakistani ports. Shipping traffic to and from Karachi, Pakistan's only major port at that time, ceased. The Pakistani Navy's main ships were either destroyed or forced to remain in port. A partial naval blockade was imposed by the Indian Navy on the port of Karachi.
After the attack at the Karachi port while returning the fleet of the Indian Navy passed along the Makran
coast, and oil storages at Jiwani
and Gwadar
were also attacked.
Operation Trident (Indo-Pakistani War)
Operation Trident and its follow-up Operation Python were naval offensive operations launched on Pakistan's port city of Karachi by the Indian Navy during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Operation Trident resulted in the first use of anti-ship missiles in the region, as well as the first sinking of...
, was a code name of a naval attack launched on West Pakistan's port city of Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
by the Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
. After the first attack during Operation Trident
Operation Trident
Operation Trident or Trident, is a Metropolitan Police Service unit set up to investigate and inform people about black gun crime , with special attention being placed on shootings relating to the illegal sale of drugs. The initiative was set up in March 1998 by black people following a series of...
on Karachi port, Pakistan stepped up aerial surveillance of its coast and the presence of large Indian Navy ships gave the impression that another attack was being planned. Pakistan warships attempted to outsmart the Indian Navy by mingling with merchant shipping. To counter these moves, Operation Python was launched on the night on December 8/9, 1971.
Background
KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
housed the headquarters of the Pakistani Navy and almost the entire fleet was based at Karachi Harbour. Karachi was also the hub of Pakistan's maritime trade, meaning that a blockade would be disastrous for Pakistan’s economy. The defence of Karachi harbour was therefore paramount to the Pakistani High Command and it was heavily defended against any airstrikes or naval strikes. Karachi received some of the best defences Pakistan had to offer as well as cover from strike aircraft based at two airfields in the area. The Indian fleet lay 250 miles from Karachi during the day, outside the range of Pakistani aircraft, and most of these aircraft did not possess night-bombing capability. The Pakistani Navy had launched submarine operations to gather intelligence on Indian naval efforts. Even so, with multiple intels provided by the submarines, the Navy had failed to divert the naval attacks, due to misleading intelligence and communications.
Operation Trident
Operation Trident
Operation Trident or Trident, is a Metropolitan Police Service unit set up to investigate and inform people about black gun crime , with special attention being placed on shootings relating to the illegal sale of drugs. The initiative was set up in March 1998 by black people following a series of...
was an enormous success with no damage to any of the ships of the Indian Naval Task Group, which returned safely. The success of this operation prompted another successful attack on the Pakistani coast, named Operation Python.
Pakistan's Naval Intelligence
The Pakistani Navy had continued its submarine operations in the region, even after the first missile attack. On December 6th, naval intelligence learned the second major formation was moving close to Karachi, in an intel passed regularly by her submarines deployed in the region. To counter this threat, Chief of Naval StaffChief of Naval Staff (Pakistan)
The Chief of the Naval Staff, abbreviated as CNS, is the highest ranking officer in the Pakistani Navy unless a 4-star naval officer is appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The current Chief of the Naval Staff is Admiral Asif Sandila who commands the Navy. The CNS reports...
Vice-Admiral Muzaffar Hassan
Muzaffar Hassan
Vice Admiral Muzaffar Hassan, HQA, SPk, was the last Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Navy from 1969 to 1972, and led the Pakistan Navy during the Indo-Pakistan Naval Operations of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War...
met with Chief of Air Staff
Chief of Air Staff (Pakistan)
The Chief of the Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, abbreviated as CAS, is typically the highest ranking 4-star rank officer in the Pakistan Air Force, unless a four-star officer is appointed as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The CAS is a senior and permanent member of the...
Air Marshal Abdul Rahim Khan
Abdul Rahim Khan
Air Marshal Abdur Rahim Khan, HJ, HQA, SPk, SBt was a 3-star rank general and air officer who served as the last Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force between 1969 and 1972...
in which an airstrike group was formed. Following Operation Python on the evening of 8 December at about 1800 hrs. The Chief of Air Staff of PAF was contacted by direct telephone and asked for the strike from the air. The Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy also had a word with him to emphasise the urgency.
Operation Python
On the night of December 8, 1971, in rough seas, a small strike group consisting of missile boat INS VinashINS Vinash
The following ships of the Indian Navy have been named INS Vinash: was a Vidyut class missile boat of the Indian Navy which served in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 is a Veer class corvette, currently in active service with the Indian Navy...
and two multipurpose frigates, INS Talwar
INS Talwar
The following ships of the Indian Navy have been named INS Talwar: was a Type 12, Whitby class frigate commissioned in 1959, which served in the Portuguese-Indian War and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 is the lead ship of her class, currently in active service with the Indian Navy...
and INS Trishul
INS Trishul
The following ships of the Indian Navy have been named INS Trishul: was a Type 12, Whitby class frigate commissioned in 1960, which served in the Portuguese-Indian War and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 is a Talwar class frigate, currently in active service with the Indian Navy...
, approached Karachi. INS Vinash fired four SS-N-2B Styx missiles. The first missile struck the fuel tanks at the Keamari Oil Farm. Another missile hit and sank a Panamian fuel tanker the Gulf Star. The third and fourth missiles hit the Pakistani Navy fleet tanker PNS Dacca and the British ship SS Harmattan, which were badly damaged. One Pakistani ship was captured off the Makran coast.
Between Operations Trident
Operation Trident
Operation Trident or Trident, is a Metropolitan Police Service unit set up to investigate and inform people about black gun crime , with special attention being placed on shootings relating to the illegal sale of drugs. The initiative was set up in March 1998 by black people following a series of...
and Python, and the Indian Air Force attacks on Karachi's fuel and ammunition depots, more than 50 percent of the total fuel requirement of the Karachi zone was reported to have been blown up. The result was a crippling economic blow to Pakistan. The damage was estimated at worth $3 billion, with most of the oil reserves and ammunition, warehouses and workshops had been destroyed and PAF was also hit.
Python was another successful operation by the Indian Navy. The Pakistani fuel reserves for the sector were destroyed and the flames could be seen even from miles away. India had established complete control over the oil route from the Persian Gulf to Pakistani ports. Shipping traffic to and from Karachi, Pakistan's only major port at that time, ceased. The Pakistani Navy's main ships were either destroyed or forced to remain in port. A partial naval blockade was imposed by the Indian Navy on the port of Karachi.
Aftermath
The rescue efforts were immediately coordinated by Rear-Admiral Patrick Julian Simpson (later 3-star Vice-Admiral) who kept morale high among the officers. For this, he conferred with Sitara-e-Jurat. Apart from the obsolescence of its weapons, the lack of adequate air support inhibited the success of its operations. The Pakistan Navy's has surface force's human and economic casualties. Due to heavy funding for the Pakistani Army's weapons and production, the neglect of the Navy over several decades came through clearly in the 1971 war.After the attack at the Karachi port while returning the fleet of the Indian Navy passed along the Makran
Makran
The present day Makran is a semi-desert coastal strip in the south of Sindh, Balochistan, in Iran and Pakistan, along the coast of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. The present day Makran derived its name from Maka, a satrap of Achaemenid Empire....
coast, and oil storages at Jiwani
Jiwani
Jiwani or Jwani is a town and commercial port that is located along the Gulf of Oman in the Gwadar District of the Balochistan province in Pakistan. It is located near the Pakistani border with Iran...
and Gwadar
Gwadar
Gwadar also known as Godar is a developing port city on the southwestern Arabian Sea coast of Pakistan. It is the district headquarters of Gwadar District in Balochistan province and has a population of approximately 50,000.Gwadar is strategically located at the apex of the Arabian Sea and at the...
were also attacked.