Pakistan Navy celebrates Hangor Day

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy marked Hangor Day 2023 to celebrate reminiscent of the unmatched courage and unwavering commitment of the PNS submarine during the 1971 war.

On the occasion of “Hangor Day”, the Pakistan Navy released a special documentary to celebrate the day.

Every year, December 9 is celebrated in the Pakistan Navy as Hangor Day to commemorate the historic event of the sinking of the Indian Navy Frigate Khukri and severely damaging another Indian Navy Ship Kirpan by the Pakistan Navy submarine Hangor in the 1971 war.

On the night of 21/22 November 1971 when the Indian army crossed the international border in East Pakistan, now known as Bangladesh, HANGOR sailed with a full wartime load of torpedoes and was deployed off Bombay by 26 Nov. A defect in the seawater circulating system developed which required docking of the submarine to effect repairs.

The remarkable naval action took place a few miles southeast off ‘Diu Head’ on the west coast of India. The submarine remained underwater for a long time and successfully returned to harbour on December 13, 1971 after completion of the mission.

The event is distinguished in naval history as being the first successful kill by a submarine since World War II. It was in 1982 that HMS Conqueror of the Royal Navy sank the General Belgrano of the Argentine Navy.

In recognition of the heroic act, the crew of Hangor was decorated with four Sitara-e-Jurrat, six Tamgha-e-Jurrat and 16 lmtiazi Asnad.