Indian Navy’s newly acquired underwater search and rescue capability, the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV), recently located the wreckage of the Pakistani submarine PNS Ghazi near the east coast of Vishakhapatnam. Leased from the United States, the PNS Ghazi served as the flagship submarine for the Pakistan Navy until it sank under mysterious circumstances in December 1971 during the Indo-Pak war, claiming the lives of all 93 personnel on board. 

Disclosing the discovery of the long-lost Pakistani submarine Ghazi wreck, a senior official of the Indian Navy’s Submarine Rescue Unit revealed, “We have located the Ghazi by a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV). The discovery was made just a few nautical miles off the Vishakhapatnam coast, but we do not touch it in deference and out of respect for those fallen in true traditions of the Indian Navy,” 

The recently acquired capabilities are regarded as a crucial tool for mapping unexplored ocean currents, providing enhanced navigation support for the Indian Navy’s underwater platforms. Vishakhapatnam stands out as one of the few port cities with deep inlets offering anchorage for sea-faring ships, thanks to an average depth of about 16 meters. This natural advantage allows submarines to operate in proximity to the coast. It was this unique feature that led the ill-fated Pakistani Navy submarine PNS Ghazi to patrol near the Vishakhapatnam coast during the 1971 war with India. The Indian narrative asserts that INS Rajput was responsible for sinking the Ghazi, but Pakistan attributes the incident to an internal explosion and mines deployed by India to safeguard the Vishakhapatnam port. 

Another Submarine Discovery in India’s East Coast

Not only does the PNS Ghazi rest on the seabed near the port city, but also the wreckage of a Japanese submarine, RO-110, has laid on the seafloor for the past 80 years. The RO-110 was sunk by depth charges released by the Royal Indian Navy’s HMIS Jumna and the Australian Navy’s Ipswich during World War II.

In 2018, India obtained the capability to deploy Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs) to locate sunken vessels and submarines and conduct rescue operations as necessary. Currently, India operates two DSRVs – one for the eastern and one for the western seaboard – both adaptable for ship-mounting or air transport. Currently, India is one of the 12 nations equipped with this specialised technology, alongside the likes of the US, China, Russia, and Singapore. Among the approximately 40 countries with submarine capabilities, India stands out. Moreover, the Navy expects to include two indigenously manufactured diving support vessels (DSVs) from Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Visakhapatnam, designed explicitly for submarine rescue operations. This advanced technology, capable of operating at depths of 650 meters, highlights the Indian Navy’s commitment to regional maritime safety.

Ravi Shankar, Vizag