French Daphne Class Submarines HANGOR, MANGRO, SHUSHUK and GHAZI
have served actively in Pakistan Navy from 1967 till
Jan
2006.
PNS/M HANGOR:
Pakistan Navy Submarine HANGOR is
the first of the Daphne type submarines
acquired by Pakistan Navy from France.
It was commissioned on 1st December
1969 and arrived in Pakistan on 20th
December 1970.
Since its induction in the Pakistan
Navy, PNS/M HANGOR has always been
an efficient unit of the squadron
and the Navy. She has actively participated
in all the major exercises at home
and abroad. The submarine has shown
the Pakistan Flag at various foreign
ports which includes Toulon, Puero
de Laluz, Las Palmas, Dakar, Launda,
Lounanco Marques, Diego Suarez, Bandar
Abbas (Iran), Dubai, Abu Dahbi and
Muscat (1993).
PNS/M MANGRO:
MANGRO was commissioned in Pakistan
Navy on 5th Aug 70 at France. In Pakistan,
she has accomplished a variety of
operational tasks & patrols and
participated in many exercises with
different countries. PNS/M MANGRO
is a promising unit of Pakistan Fleet
for more than 30 years and also participated
in 1971 war. The submarine is equipped
with variety of torpedoes and sub
surface launch missiles.
PNS/M SHUSHUK:
SHUSHUK was commissioned in Pakistan
Navy on 12 Jan 70 at France. In Pakistan,
she has accomplished a variety of
operational tasks & patrols and
participated in many exercises with
different countries. PNS/M SHUSHUK
is a promising unit of Pakistan fleet
for more than 30 years and also participated
in 1971 war. The unit has the distinction
in the war and to be the first ever
S/Ms to enter Kamafuli River (B.D)
and Yanfoonriver (Myanmar). The submarine
is equipped with variety of torpedoes
and sub surface launch missiles.
PNS/M GHAZI:
The present PNS/M GHAZI (S-134) is
the second submarine of this name.
She is a Daphne type submarine built
by France for Portuguese Navy in 1969.
She flew Portuguese flag for 8 years
as CACHALOTE (S-166), meaning Sperm
Whale. The submarine was sold to Pakistan
through France and commissioned as
PNS/M GHAZI on 17 January 1977. The
submarine was given a major refit
and equipment updation at Toulon,
France before being handed over to
Pakistan. She joined the Pakistan
Navy Submarine Force in April 1977.
GHAZI is a Diesel-Electric propelled
submarine and is fitted with the most
modern electronic devices for detection
and reliable weapons for attacking.
She has been equipped to carry Sub
Harpoon Anti-ship Missiles in subsurface
to surface configuration. Her lethality
has thus overtaken her old age and
she now commands a new respect from
the enemy.
GHAZI is a high performance submarine
which can operate deep, silent and
for extended period at sea. GAHZI
has taken part in various national
and international maritime exercises
in Arabian Sea and the Gulf.
Daphne
submarines were decommissioned on 2
January 2006 from Pakistan Navy,
after the relentless contribution in
the defence of the motherland for
four decades. These were the
machines of great resilience and
they served the Navy untiringly with
full vigour yet silently. These
boats have seen wars and crisis
alike and performed extremely
arduous sea duties with their
moments of excitement and prolonged
operational deployments. Daphne
submarines were relatively simple
war machines but they placed great
demands on their officers and crew
as they operated with stealth and
attacked with swiftness and
surprise. During war deployment in
1971, HANGOR sailed to sink INS
KHUKRI and damaged INS KIRPAN.
HANGOR and MANGRO returned from a
successful mission during this war.
The valiant crew of HANGOR was
rewarded 04 Sitara-e-Jurrat, 06
Tamgha-e-Jurrat and 24 Imtiazi
sanads in total. |
