I have recently read the Hindi Version of the novel by Major General(retd.) Ian Cordozo titled "INS Khukri kaise doobi"!!! I agree with his view completely that Khukri was hit by THE TORPEDOES OF Pakistani Submarine PNS Hangar,Commanded by Commander Tasneem Ahmed, who had himself told this to Leiutenant Commander Manu Sharma on his way to Bangladesh after escaping a pakistani jail. There was one more important incident, on 2nd December,1971- When the Western Fleet of Indian Navy passed over PNS Hangar safely.Commander Tasneem Ahmed did not gave the order to fire on them, because war was not declared by then in the western theatre.There was a heated arguement in the control room of Hangar, even Tasneem's Second in Command OR 2IC was asking him to open fire, as it was a golden chance, but in the end wisdom prevailed over hatred.I was really astonished at the discipline shown by a Pakistani Officer.Captain M.N.Mulla's Wife's Mrs.Sudha Mulla's interview moved me a lot,I SALUTE HER TO HAPPILY SACRIFICE HER HUSBAND FOR THE NATION, I also liked the interview of his daughter Amita Mulla and Mrs.Rekha Khanna(Sharma) wife of Lt.Commander Manu Sharma, specially the incident in which she told that she and Lt.Comm.Manu Sharma met some crew members of PNS Hangar at a dinner party in the home of one of their friend, when they were returning to Bangladesh via New Delhi. I WAS LITERALLY BOWLED OVER ON READING THIS INCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAJ.GEN.IAN COR
I AM PRITAM SINGH EX MCEAR SURVIVOR FROM I.N.S.KHUKRI. THERE ARE MANY CONFLICTING STORIES I M READING ABOUT SINKING OF KHUKRI.YES THE SPEED WAS ONE OF THE FACTOR WHICH WAS REQUESTED BY LT. VK JAIN TO REDUCE TO 12 KNOTS FOR HIS TESTS ON SONAR H.E.. BEING EAR3 THAT TIME I WAS LOOKING AFTER THE SONAR SETS WHICH WRE FULLY OPERATIONAL. THE FACT IS THAT OUR DETECTION RANGE WAS MUCHLESS THAN HALF OF THE FIRING RANGE OF HANGOR.IT HAPPEND AT THE TIME OF START OF HINDI NEWS BY A.I.R.THAT NIGHT. AB AAP PURE SAMACHAR SUNIYE ,THEN THE BIG THUNDER. NO ONE kNEW ITS A MISSILE HIT OR A TARPEDO.DURING TWO AND A HALF MINUTES TIME WHILE SHIP SINKING I AM AWARE OF ALL THE OPERATIONS.KHUKRI WAS HIT BY THREE TARPEDOS.TO MY VIEWS HANGOR FIRED A SALVO OF 6 TARPEDOS THREE FRM EACH PORT AND STBD LAUNCHERS ENGAGING BOTH KHUKRI AND KIRPAN AT THE SAME TIME.FORTUNATELY KIRPAN WAS MISSED DUE TO DISTANCE AND ANGLE CALCULATION ERROR.WHILE FLOATING WITH MY LIFE JACKET ON, ISAW KHUKRI VERTICAL WITH HEAD UP FROM BRIDGE AND WENT DOWN VERTICAL.IT WAS MY LAST SALUTE TO CAPT. M.N.MULLA AND ALL THOSE WHO WENT DOWN WITH HIM.I CAN EXPLAIN MORE IN DETAILS IF ANY TIME REQUIRED.
I AM ONE OF THE 66 SURVIVORS FROM INS KHUKRI WHICH SUNK DURING 1971 WAR. I HAVE SEEN SO MAY STORIES ABOUT THIS TRAGEDY. BUT NO ONE STATED "WHO'S MISTAKE IT WAS" SOME PUT BLAME ON CAPT MULLAH, WHICH I DONT AGREE AT ALL... DID ANY ONE TALK ABOUT THE T.A.S. OFFICER (TARPEDO ANTI SUBMARINE) ON DUTY THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT???? EVEN COMDR MANU SHARMA ASKED ME A HELPING HAND WHILE WE WERE FLOATING/SWIMMING, BECAUSE I WAS THE ONLY ONE WAS HAVING LIFE JACKET ON !! NO ONE IN THAT PARTICULAR TIME. I HAVE SEEN CAPT MULLAH IN SIDE THE BRIDGE JUST MICRO SECOND BEFORE THE SHIP WENT DOWN. NEITHER HE WAS SMOKING OF DRINKING. AND IT WAS DARK IN SIDE THE BRIDGE AFTER 3 TARPEDO HIT. HE WAS A GEM.
THE REAL CULPRIT WAS T.A.S OFFICE ON DUTY. I KNOW THE COMPLETE STORY. HE COULD NOT SURVIED DUE.........!!!!!
The debate on Khukhri is unwarranted as we should not forget that Khukhri sank along with its Capt Mulla and his brave Jawans, which in itself speaks of the supreme sacrifice. In a way, INDIAN NAVY was the pioneer for alarming the BRITISH in 1946 soon after INA prisoners cases and a secret survey.V.Thapar, Khetrapal, SOMNATH Sharma, and thousands of other unsung heroes from the Defence/Para Military/Police forces had perished on the lines of Mulla.Does any child know the name of any of them who laid down their lives to preserve India of whatever we have been left with? Oh! What a drama was seen all over the country just last week when every political group was trying to encash the celebration of VICTORY DAY- 16th December 2006 in their own way fairly sidelining the widows/parents/daughters/wards and welfare of the class - Defence/Para Military/Police forces, whether in wars since 1947 or saving lives of the Parliamentarians. No wonder, Mrs Khetrapal, mother of Indias greatest soldier of 1971 War, stated in a public function on 16 12- 2006 in Delhi on VIJAY DIWAS, No mother would send her sons to Defence Forces in future as per present policies of Government. TV Kumar
On a trip to the INS VIKRANT which was promoted as a tourist site off the coast of Bombay, we had been shown a model of the INS KHUKRI on board and were told by the Naval Sailor guide that this ship was sacrificed to save the INS VIKRANT. That a Pakistani submarine had fired a torpedo at VIKRANT and it being a huge ship didnt have the time to turn around and an SOS had been sent to KHUKRI to come in between to face the torpedo.
But this version here seems that the attack on the KHUKRI was aimed at KHUKRI and NOT on the VIKRANT.
Now which version is correct ? Since this is coming from a survivor I would guess this is correct. Am feeling a little let down that a Sailor on board the INS VIKRANT has fed such wrong details to many tourists like me.
You have a valid question about authencity of version.
But just use of little common sense could clear the cloud of doubts..
Think by yourself if what that Gentleman on INS VIKRANT told you ppl was correct version...Are our Indian Defense officials so fool who would dispatch full fledged fleet having 19 Quality officers and 178 Sailors for suicidal attempt?? Hence ,very clearly Torpedo was targeted on INS KHURKI only!
This is well known fact that about 200 Valuable life were lost with that sinking! Then think by yourself and decide...
And yes,next time if you are lucky enough to meet same official on INS VIKRANT, kindly ask him not to spread such rumours and keep information polished with little work on history books with related incident.
Re: Which is the correct version
by rajeev on Aug 13, 2010 09:46 PM Permalink
hey Rahul, man pleazse learn the basics of ship navigation , your doubts will clear
No point to debate and discussion over a 35 year old story, when the lessons learned are not to be imbibed as a society.
Even if there is a war today with pakistan, India will loose big times, forget the rhetoric of China. India will loose in a day with China.
For centuries, India has seen all types of crusaders from Aryans, Alexander, Babar, Taghlut, Ghori, and now jehadis. Lives have been sacrificed and will continue to be sacrificed due to incoherence. This is a failure to India as a unified nation, as India was unified Indian nation in old centuries.
Everybody in army is trying to sell out all known-so called secrets to Pakistani, Chinese, Russian and USA spies. India for sale and Madmohan singh will complete his term, if no war is called out far. What self-respect and what dignity??? Just shut-up and vote for our manisfestoes is the attitude of both BJP and congress.
Divide india on caste, tribes, religion, and brew intolerance. My God is better then yours and so is my religion and my tribe and caste and we shall not change = MadMohan Attitude, Vajpayee (Alcoholic) attitude and Gandhi family attitude.
Re: Incompetence-(political, economic, defense, police and everyw
by rajeev on Aug 13, 2010 09:49 PM Permalink
I am not surprised to learn the comments from a person from Gujrat all the invasions , what so ever have happened in the hstory of INDIA ,( excluding ALEX) were from Gujrat cheers!!!!!!!!!!!! you r bound to under estimate and surrender but we don't
RE:Incompetence-(political, economic, defense, police and everywhere) rules
by manu on Dec 11, 2006 11:19 PM Permalink
It is a matter of shame that an incident in which all the actors played their part with honours still get debated upon. Khukri hunted Hangor, was out classed and got torpedoed. She sank with her Captain going down like a man and setting standards for a nation and a service. The ships which later came to the scene were also fighting a war ! remember ?!! what was more important ? Picking up survivors and get torpedoed or hunt the 'B#@%$#' which sank Khukri ? I think its a no win question.
Re: Incompetence-(political, economic, defense, police and everyw
by Nilay on Jan 29, 2011 05:02 AM Permalink
I think u really are nuts!!! YOU ARE SAYING THAT IF INDIA WAGES A WAR WITH PAKISTAN TODAY, WE WILL LOOSE BIG TIME!!! I have never read such a stupid statement ever in my lyf. PAKISTAN WILL BE WIPED OUT FROM THE MAP OF THIS WORLD,MARK MY WORDS- "WIPED OUT", IF IT DARES TO WAGE A WAR AGAINST US!!! YOU PROBABLY HAVE FORGOT THAT WE CRUSHED THEM IN 1948, 65,71 AND 1999 KARGIL WARS ALL THAT WE HAD WITH THEM SO FAR, SO THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT WE WILL LOOSE NOW. AS FAR AS CHINA IS CONCERNED, INDIA IS A STRONG NUCLEAR POWER NOW, SO THEY WILL HAVE TO THINK TWICE BEFORE REPEATING 1962, AND IF THEY DO REPEAT IT, INDIA WILL DEFINITELY TEACH THEM A BEFITTING LESSON, AS THE U.S IS ALSO A VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF INDIA NOW!!!
AS FAR AS ARMY SELLING SECRETS TO THE SPIES, U SHOULD FEEL ASHAMED OF YOURSELF IN PUTTING SUCH A SHAMEFUL BLAME ON THOSE PEOPLE, BECAUSE OF WHOM WE SLEEP PEACEFULLY. THESE STATEMENTS CAN SEVERELY AFFECT THE MORALE OF OUR BRAVE AND VALIANT TROOPS, BUT, I DO AGREE WITH UR COMMENTS MADE ON POLITICIANS, VAAJPAYEE IS ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MAJORITY OR HINDUS AND FOCUSSED ON WIPING OUT INDIAN MUSLIMS AND CONGRESS ONLY SUPPORTS MUSLIMS, SOME TERRORISTS ALSO!!!
There are many versions of the sinking of the Khukri. One of the widely prevalent views in the Navy is that the rate of fire of the Hangor did not support the rate at which the Khukri got hit. There was a widely held view that an american submarine might have been responsible. There are also disparate views on what happened with regard to Capt Mulla's death. I have heard one survivor state that he was sucked down by the turbulence that follows a sinking ship. Such incidents tend to get glamorised later. Ditto for many other award winners in later conflicts. Ex servicemen, particularly officers, will understand what I mean. There is no doubt errors were made. Human beings are prone to errors, and the fog of war obliterates fact during and after the event, in this case a tragic one for India and the families of those lost. The sad fact is that the loss could have been avoided. Many of the survivors were lost as the ships that arrived on the scene focused on hunting or deterring the submarine rather than pick up survivors, many of whom are feared to have been lost in the dark waters due to anti submarine mortar shelling. We will never know the full truth about Khukri.
