PNS Zulfiqar (K265)
History | |
---|---|
United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Deveron |
Builder | Smith's Dock Co Ltd |
Laid down | 16 April 1942 |
Launched | 12 October 1942 |
Commissioned | 2 March 1943 |
Fate | Transferred to India as HMIS Dhanush in 1945 |
India | |
Name | HMIS Dhanush |
Commissioned | 1945 |
Decommissioned | 1947 |
Fate | Transferred to Pakistan as PNS Dhanush |
Pakistan | |
Name | PNS Zulfiqar |
Namesake | Sword |
Builder | South Bank in England |
Laid down | 16 April 1942 |
Launched | 12 October 1942 |
Identification | Pennant number: F265 changed to F262 in 1963 |
Fate | Damaged beyond repair December 1971. Scrapped in 1983[1] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | River-class frigate |
Displacement |
|
Length | 91.9 m (301 ft 6 in) |
Beam | 11.2 metres (37 ft) |
Draught | 3.8 metres (12 ft) |
Propulsion | 2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, reciprocating vertical triple expansion, 5,500 ihp (4,100 kW) |
Speed | 20 kn (37 km/h) maximum |
Range | 6,000 nmi (11,000 km) |
Complement | 150, 20 officers, 130 enlists |
Armament |
|
PNS Zulfiqar was a
History
Following service in the Second World War, Deveron was transferred to the
In June 1953 she attended the
She was
Operation Trident
The
The Pakistan Air Force, giving air support to the Pakistan Navy at Karachi, had received the report. Clearance was given to attack by Cdre. A. W. Bhombal from the Pakistan Navy.[2]
At 0645 hrs, the F-86 jets were scrambled which strafed the vessel before it was identified as the Pakistan Navy's own frigate Zulfiqar.[7] During the aerial attack Zulfiqar was hit by more than 900 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition, killing several officers and men, with many more injured.[8] The air attack on Zulfiqar was halted after frantic efforts by her crew to identify their ship as a Pakistan Navy vessel finally succeeded.[2]
The incident was monitored by the Indian Navy on radio and revealed the following points:
- First, the incorrect identification and attack happened in spite of Zulfiqar's being anchored. This showed that PAF pilots could not clearly distinguish a frigate from a missile boat.
- Second, it showed the fear that the Pakistan Navy had of India's missile boats.
This incident vindicated the decision to proceed with second missile attacks (Ops: Python), which was being debated after a PAF attack on Okha on the night of 5/6 December 1971. It also prompted the Pakistan Navy to withdraw the Pakistan combat fleet closer to the Pakistan's shore.[2]
The shelling of Zulfiqar was a matter of interservice conflict between the Navy and the Air Force, in which the Air Force alleged the Navy was disregarding the "sense of camaraderie".[7] Responding to this incident, the PAF contested the claims made by the Indian Navy by holding Cdre. Bhombal responsible for giving the clearance when the Air Force's Board of Inquiry reportedly quoted: "[the] Navy unfortunately seems to have forgotten the sense of camaraderie and air support which was provided from the scarce resources with readiness."[7]
See also
- PNS Muhafiz
- INS Khukri
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
- Timeline of the Bangladesh Liberation War
- Military plans of the Bangladesh Liberation War
- Mitro Bahini order of battle
- Pakistan Army order of battle, December 1971
- Evolution of Pakistan Eastern Command plan
- Operation Searchlight
- Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts
- Military history of India
- List of military disasters
- List of wars involving India
References
- ^ "SHIPS CREST. HMPS Zulfiquar (Ex HMS Deveron) | #246517788". Worthpoint. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Trident, Grandslam and Python: Attacks on Karachi". Archived from the original on 26 September 2009.
- ^ "HMS Deveron (K265". www.uboat.net. Archived from the original on 20 June 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "HMS Deveron (K265)". teesbuiltships.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ Raymond V B Blackman (ed.). Jane's Fighting Ships 1963-4. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd. p. 195.
- ^ Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
- ^ a b c Haidar, Sajjad S.; Chopra, Pran. "War on the Western Front". www.archive.org. archives. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "DEFENCE NOTES". defencejournal.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
Publications
- ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.