Name INS Nirghat Decommissioned 31 July 1989 Complement 30 Displacement 222,300 kg | Commissioned 29 January 1971 Speed 37+ knots Length 39 m Beam 7.6 m | |
Class and type Vidyut class missile boat | ||
INS Nirghat (K89) was a Vidyut-class missile boat of the Indian Navy.
INS Nirghat was a part of the 25th "Killer" Missile Squadron of the Indian Navy.
Operation Trident
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, INS Nirghat was part of the Operation Trident strike force, along with her sister vessels from the 25th Killer Squadron (INS Veer (K82) and INS Nipat (K86)). On the afternoon of 4 December 1971, the strike group made its way towards Karachi. Late that evening, around 70 miles south of Karachi, Nirghat detected a large Pakistan Navy target, later identified as the destroyer PNS Khaibar, about 45 miles to her northwest. Nirghat launched two SS-N-2 Styx missiles at Khaibar, sinking her.
Other vessels of the strike group sank the Pakistan Navy minesweeper PNS Muhafiz and the merchant ship MV Venus Challenger.
Lieutenant Commander Inderjit Sharma, the commanding officer, and Master Chief Petty Officer M. N. Sangal of Nirghat were awarded the Vir Chakra for their roles during the operation.