On 3rd December, 1971, the World was shaken by another war between India and Pakistan. Pakistani air force raided Indian cities and airstrips. The Indian PM, Indira Gandhi, brought the country in the state of emergency and ordered Indian army to reflect the aggression. Fierce military operations developed on the ground, in the air and in the sea.
As India had decided to go on with the war, and Indira Gandhi had failed to gain American support and sympathy for the Bengalis who were being tortured in East Pakistan. She finally took a hard move and on August 9, signed a treaty of peace, friendship and cooperation with Soviet Union.
The Soviet Intelligence has reported that the British battleships are sailing nearer to territorial India water, led by an aircraft carrier “Eagle” [On December 10]. For helping friendly India, Soviet government has directed a group of ships under the command of contr-admiral V. Kruglyakov.
He positioned his battleships in the Bay of Bengal and watched for the British carrier "Eagle".
But Soviet Union didn't have enough force to resist if they encountered the British Carrier. Therefore, to support the existing Soviet fleet in the Bay of Bengal, Soviet cruisers, destroyers and nuclear submarines, equipped with anti ship missiles, were sent from Vladivostok.
In reaction British Navy retreated and went South to Madagascar.
Soon the news of American carrier Enterprise and USS Tripoli's advancement towards Indian water came. Admiral V. Kruglyakov had obtained the order from the commander-in-chief not to allow the advancement of the American fleet to the military bases of India.
Soviet ships encircled American ships and aimed the missiles at the ' USS Enterprise'. Soviets had blocked American ship’s way and didn't allow them to head anywhere, neither to Karachi, nor to Chittagong or Dhaka".
The Soviet ships had small range rockets (only up to 300 KM). Therefore, to hold the opponent under the range, commanders ran risks of going as near to the enemy as possible.
The Chief Commander had ordered admiral V. Kruglyakov to lift the submarines and bring them to the surface so that it can be pictured by the American spy satellites or can be seen by the American Navy!' It was done to demonstrate, that we had all the needed things in Indian Ocean, including the nuclear submarines. Soviet Admiral had lifted them, and American’s spy satellites saw it as soviets expected.
Then, Soviet admiral V. Kruglyakov intercepted the American communication.
The commander of the Carrier Battle Group was then the counter-admiral Dimon Gordon. He sent the report to the 7th American Fleet Commander: 'Sir, we are too late. There are Russian nuclear submarines here, and a big collection of battleships'.
Americans returned and couldn't do anything.
Soviet Union had also threatened China that, if they ever opened a front against India on its border, they will receive a tough response from North.
1971 war is only a one reason in history for consider Russia as India's true best friend.
No comments:
Post a Comment