How India Sank Pakistan's Ghazi Submarine in the 1971 War

May 09, 2025 Komal Das

India's Vijay Diwas, December 16, celebrates the 1971 victory over Pakistan, but the war wasn’t just fought on land—it was also won at sea

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The sinking of Pakistan's PNS Ghazi by INS Rajput is one of India’s most decisive naval victories, securing INS Vikrant’s safety

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Ghazi, Pakistan’s only long-range attack submarine, was sent to destroy INS Vikrant, India’s aircraft carrier

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INS Rajput acted as a decoy, mimicking Vikrant’s signals to lure Ghazi into a trap

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On December 3-4, 1971, INS Rajput fired depth charges, sinking PNS Ghazi and killing 93 crew members

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This sinking prevented Ghazi from attacking Vikrant, securing India’s dominance in the Bay of Bengal

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The naval victory was a key part of India's broader strategy, crippling Pakistan’s naval forces and disrupting its supply lines

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In 2024, India located the wreckage of PNS Ghazi off Visakhapatnam, confirming its sinking

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