Pakistan Navy celebrates Golden Jubilee of Hangor Day, which is reminiscent of the heroic act of Pakistan Navy’s Submarine Hangor.
This day is also celebrated to pay tribute to country’s veterans of the 1971 war. The remarkable naval action took place South East off ‘Diu Head’ on West Coast of India. The event is distinguished in naval history as the first successful killing by any submarine after WW-II. In order to commemorate Golden Jubilee on completing 50 years of sinking of Indian Navy Ship Khukri, an impressive ceremony was organized by Pakistan Navy at Karachi. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Vice Admiral (Retd) Ahmad Tasnim, then commander graced the occasion as Guest of Honour.
Chief of the Naval Staff addressed in the ceremony and said, that Pakistan Navy is ready to respond to any threat and misadventure posed by the adversary. “The Hangor’s triumph serves as a lesson to the enemy and a testimony of highest standard of professionalism and selfless devotion of our veteran submariners,” he said. The Naval Chief highlighted Hangor’s valour during the 1971 War that remains pride of Pakistan Navy, as the action was not only a spectacular tactical battle executed perfectly, but it was in the strategic domain that Indian aggressive designs were effectively neutralized. The Admiral added that the sinking of INS KHUKRI plummeted the morale and will of Indian Navy to engage further in the battle. The Naval Chief also underscored that the inspirational role to Pakistani veterans, dauntless sacrifices and daring acts had helped transform Pakistan Navy into a ‘force to reckon with’.
According to the Pak Navy officials, the valiant hero, Vice Admiral (Retd) Ahmad Tasnim who led the intrepid action also addressed the audience. He attributed the success to the entire team members who formed stepping stones to achieve the final kill. The ceremony was attended by Hangor’s veterans and a large number of senior serving and retired Naval officers.
Commemorating the Golden Jubilee of Hangor Day, steel cutting of 5th Hangor Class Submarine, the first to be built indigenously in Pakistan, was also held at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW).
The in-making Hangor Class Submarine is capable of undertaking war and peace time roles as per maritime dictates. The submarine possesses advanced stealth features to operate under multi threat environment and its state of the art sensors are integrated with command & control system which can simultaneously track, engage several targets at standoff ranges. The submarine will be named PNS Tasnim upon commissioning, in honour of the heroic action of Hangor crew led by Vice Admiral (Retd) Ahmad Tasnim.
On the occasion of steel cutting ceremony, Chief of the Naval Staff expressed gratitude to all involved in construction activities and termed the occasion another event of deepening relation of Pakistan and China. The steel cutting ceremony was attended by representative of DA China and other high ranking officials including distinguished guests from Embassy of China in Islamabad, MoDP, Pakistan Navy and KS&EW.
