Interesting & Amazing Facts That You Must Know About Indian Navy Being ADefence Aspirants

India is the fifth-largest country in the world and owns the coastline of 7,516.6 km. The Indian Navy can trace its lineage back to the 17th-century East India Company’s Marine; it was succeeded by the Royal Indian Navy, which was renamed in 1950 after India became a republic. The 17th-century Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Bhosle is considered as the ‘Father of the Indian Navy’.

Here are some facts related to Indian Navy:

• The Indian Navy was officially formed in 1830 when the colonial navy became known as Her Majesty’s Indian Navy. Although a naval history of India dates back thousands of years into the Chola dynasty.
• The Royal Indian Navy mutiny was a rebellion by 20,000 Indian sailors in 1946 against the British policies of discrimination and trial of ex-INA soldiers.
• Vice Admiral Ram DassKatari was the first Indian to assume office as the Chief of Staff of the Indian Navy on April 22, 1958.
• The first action of the Indian Navy was against the Portuguese Navy during the liberation of Goa in 1961
• Indian Navy was at its best during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Under the command of Admiral SardarilalMathradas Nanda, the navy successfully enforced a naval blockade of West and East Pakistan.
• On December 4, the Indian Navy launched Operation Trident and attacked the Pakistan Naval Headquarters in Karachi sinking a minesweeper, a destroyer, and an ammunition supply ship.
• The attack also destroyed oil storage tanks at the Karachi port. This day is celebrated as Navy Day. It was followed by Operation Python on December 8, 1971.
• The Indian Navy also conducted three international operations.
• One to protect Seychelles from an armed coup and the other two to defend the Maldives from coups both at the request of elected governments of the two countries.
• The Indian Navy launched Operation Talwar during the Kargil War as part of the larger Operation Vijay.
• Marine commandos fought alongside the Indian army in the Himalayas. This was, however, kept classified for some time.
• The first aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy was INS Vikrant.
• It was Lt. Cdr. M.S. Kohli of the Indian Navy who led the country’s first successful expedition to Mount Everest in 1965 by any military officer.
• The first Indian to receive a permanent commission was sub-Lieutenant D.N. Mukerji
• After the terrorist attack of 26/11, Indian Navy came up with patrolling units known as SagarPrahariBal (SPB) to keep a check on India’s coastal waters.
• The Indian Navy currently has two aircraft carriers: INS Viraat and INS Vikramaditya.
• The Navy works under three commands: Western Command in Mumbai, Eastern Command in Vishakhapatnam and Southern Command in Cochin. All these commands are headed by a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
• All the ships of Indian Navy are prefixed with INS which means Indian Naval Ship or Indian Navy Station.
• There are 9 destroyers, 15 frigates, one nuclear-powered attack submarine, 14 conventionally-powered attack submarines, 25 corvettes in operation with the Indian Navy.
• India will have its first supercarrier in INS Vishal by 2025
• The Indian Navy has successfully completed an expedition to the North Pole and the South Pole. On April 9, 2008, a ten-member team of the Indian Navy created history by reaching the North Pole and joining an elite group of adventurers who have conquered the “three poles”
• The Navy has its own satellite, the ISRO-built GSAT-7, which has enhanced its maritime capabilities manifold.
• The Indian Navy has been playing a key role in humanitarian operations as was seen during Operation Rahat and evacuation of Indian nationals from Libya and Aden.
• Indian Navy ensign (the flag) still incorporates the St. George’s Cross design, the flag of England.
• The largest naval academy in Asia, INS Zamorin at Ezhimala, is operated by Indian Navy.
• The Indian Navy has an air arm, which operates MiG 29Ks and Sea Harrier jets from the two aircraft carriers besides a host of helicopters for both defence and rescue missions.
• The Indian Navy is the principal user of the BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile.
• MARCOS is the special commando force raised by the Indian Navy for counter-terrorism, direct action, recon and rescue missions.