Editing INS Vikrant (1961) (section)

==Service==
The Indian Navy's first aircraft carrier was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] as INS ''Vikrant'' on 4 March 1961 in Belfast by [[Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit]], the [[List of High Commissioners of India to the United Kingdom|Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom]].{{Sfn|Hobbs|2014|p=203}}<ref name="Bajaj V bike"/> The name ''Vikrant'' was derived from the [[Sanskrit]] word ''vikrānta'' meaning "stepping beyond", "courageous" or "bold". [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] [[P. S. Mahindroo|Pritam Singh Mahindroo]] was the first commanding officer of the ship. Two squadrons were to be embarked on the 
ship - [[INAS 300]], commanded by Lieutenant Commander B. R. Acharya which had British [[Hawker Sea Hawk]] fighter-bombers and [[INAS 310]], commanded by Lieutenant Commander [[Mihir K. Roy]] which had French Alizé anti-submarine aircraft. On 18 May 1961, the first jet landed on her deck. It was piloted by Lieutenant [[Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani]], who later served as admiral and [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff of India]] from 1984 to 1987. ''Vikrant'' formally joined the Indian Navy's fleet in Bombay (now [[Mumbai]]) on 3 November 1961, when she was received at [[Ballard Pier]] by then [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Jawaharlal Nehru]].<ref name="INS Vikrant - Bharat Rakshak"/>

That December, the ship was deployed for Operation Vijay (the code name for the [[annexation of Goa]]) off the coast of Goa with two [[destroyer]]s, {{INS|Rajput|D141|6}} and {{INS|Kirpan|1959|6}}.{{Sfn|Hobbs|2014|p=203}} ''Vikrant'' did not see action, and patrolled along the coast to deter foreign interference.<ref name="Operation Vijay: The Liberation of 'Estado da India'- Goa, Daman and Diu">{{cite web|author1=Brigadier A. S. Cheema|title=Operation Vijay: The Liberation of 'Estado da India' – Goa, Daman and Diu|url=http://usiofindia.org/Article/Print/?pub=Journal&pubno=594&ano=2188|website=USI of India|access-date=11 December 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221002945/http://usiofindia.org/Article/Print/?pub=Journal&pubno=594&ano=2188|archive-date=21 December 2016}}</ref> During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]], ''Vikrant'' was in [[dry dock]] refitting, and did not see any action.{{Sfn|Hobbs|2014|p=203}}

In June 1970, ''Vikrant'' was docked at the [[Bombay Dockyard|Naval Dockyard, Bombay]], due to many internal [[Fatigue (material)|fatigue cracks]] and fissures in the water drums of her boilers that could not be repaired by welding. As replacement drums were not available locally, four new ones were ordered from Britain, and Naval Headquarters issued orders not to use the boilers until further notice.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=118}} On 26 February 1971 the ship was moved from Ballard Pier Extension to the anchorage, without replacement drums. The main objective behind this move was to light up the boilers at reduced pressure, and work up the main and flight deck machinery that had been idle for almost seven months. On 1 March, the boilers were ignited, and basin trials up to 40 revolutions per minute (RPM) were conducted. Catapult trials were conducted on the same day.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=119}}

The ship began preliminary [[sea trial]]s on 18 March and returned two days later. Trials were again conducted on 26–27 April. The navy decided to limit the boilers to a pressure of {{convert|400|psi|lk=on}} and the propeller revolutions to 120 RPM ahead and 80 RPM astern, reducing the ship's speed to {{convert|14|kn}}. With the growing expectations of a [[Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts|war with Pakistan]] in the near future, the navy started to transfer its ships to strategically advantageous locations in Indian waters. The primary concern of Naval Headquarters about the operation was the serviceability of ''Vikrant''.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=119}} When asked his opinion regarding the involvement of ''Vikrant'' in the war, Fleet Operations Officer Captain [[Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani]] told the Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral [[S. M. Nanda|Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda]]:

{{blockquote
|text=...during the 1965 war ''Vikrant'' was sitting in Bombay Harbour and did not go out to sea. If the same thing happened in 1971, ''Vikrant'' would be called a white elephant and naval aviation would be written off. ''Vikrant'' had to be seen being operational even if we didn't fly any aircraft.
|author=Captain [[Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani]]
|source={{sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=119}}
}}

Nanda and Hiranandani proved to be instrumental in taking ''Vikrant'' to war. There were objections that the ship might have severe operational difficulties that would expose the carrier to increased danger on operations. In addition, the three {{sclass|Daphne|submarine|1}}s acquired by the [[Pakistan Navy]] posed a significant risk to the carrier.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=119}} In June, extensive deep sea trials were carried out, with steel safety harnesses around the three boilers still operational.{{efn|The A1 boiler was completely blanked off due to serious problems.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=118}}}} Observation windows were fitted as a precautionary measure, to detect any steam leaks. By the end of June, the trials were complete and ''Vikrant'' was cleared to participate on operations, with its speed restricted to 14 [[Knot (unit)|knots]].{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=120}}

===Indo-Pakistani War of 1971===
{{main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}}
[[File:Indian Navy Sea Hawk aircraft during 1971 Indo-Pakistani war.jpg|thumb|''Vikrant''{{'}}s Sea Hawk squadron ashore during the December 1971 Indo-Pakistan war]]
As a part of preparations for the war, ''Vikrant'' was assigned to the [[Eastern Naval Command]], then to the Eastern Fleet. This fleet consisted of INS ''Vikrant'', the two {{sclass|Leopard|frigate}}s {{INS|Brahmaputra|1957|6}} and {{INS|Beas|1958|6}}, the two [[Arnala-class corvette|Petya III-class]] [[corvette]]s {{INS|Kamorta|P77|6}} and {{INS|Kavaratti|P80|6}}, and one submarine, {{INS|Khanderi|1968|6}}. The main reason behind strengthening the Eastern Fleet was to counter the Pakistani maritime forces deployed in support of military operations in [[East Bengal]].{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=120}} A surveillance area of {{convert|18,000|sqmi}}, confined by a triangle with a base of {{convert|270|mi|abbr=on}} and sides of {{convert|165|and|225|mi|abbr=on}}, was set up in the [[Bay of Bengal]]. Any ship in this area was to be challenged and checked. If found to be neutral, it would be escorted to the nearest Indian port, otherwise, it would be captured, and taken as a [[war prize]].{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=121}}

In the meantime, intelligence reports confirmed that Pakistan was to deploy a US-built {{sclass|Tench|submarine|2}}, {{ship|PNS|Ghazi}}. ''Ghazi'' was considered as a serious threat to ''Vikrant'' by the Indian Navy, as ''Vikrant''{{'}}s approximate position would be known by the Pakistanis once she started operating aircraft. Of the four available surface ships, INS ''Kavaratti'' had no [[sonar]], which meant that the other three had to remain in close vicinity {{convert|5|–|10|mi|abbr=on}} of ''Vikrant'', without which the carrier would be completely vulnerable to attack by ''Ghazi''.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=121}}

On 23 July, ''Vikrant'' sailed off to [[Cochin]] in company with the Western Fleet. En route, before reaching Cochin on 26 July, Sea King landing trials were carried out. After the completion of the radar and communication trials on 28 July, she departed for [[Madras]], escorted by ''Brahmaputra'' and ''Beas''. The next major problem was operating aircraft from the carrier. The commanding officer of the ship, Captain (later Vice Admiral) S. Prakash, was seriously concerned about flight operations. He was concerned that aircrew morale would be adversely affected if flight operations were not undertaken, which could be disastrous. Naval Headquarters remained stubborn on the speed restrictions, and sought confirmation from Prakash whether it was possible to embark an [[Bréguet 1050 Alizé|Alizé]] without compromising the speed restrictions.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=122}} The speed restrictions imposed by the headquarters meant that Alizé aircraft would have to land at close to [[Stall (aviation)|stalling]] speed. Eventually the aircraft weight was reduced, which allowed several of the aircraft to embark, along with a Seahawk squadron.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=123}}

[[File:INS Vikrant (R11) launches an Alize aircraft during Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.jpg|thumb|A Bréguet 1050 Alizé anti-submarine aircraft taking off from INS ''Vikrant''|left]]

By the end of September, ''Vikrant'' and her escorts reached [[Port Blair]]. En route to [[Visakhapatnam]], tactical exercises were conducted in the presence of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command. From Vishakhapatnam, ''Vikrant'' set out for Madras for maintenance. Rear Admiral [[S. H. Sarma]] was appointed [[Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet]] and arrived at Vishakhapatnam on 14 October. After receiving the reports that Pakistan might launch preemptive strikes, maintenance was stopped for another tactical exercise, which was completed during the night of 26–27 October at Vishakhapatnam. ''Vikrant'' then returned to Madras to resume maintenance. On 1 November, the Eastern Fleet was formally constituted, and on 13 November, all the ships set out for the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]. To avoid misadventures, it was planned to sail ''Vikrant'' to a remote anchorage, isolating it from combat. Simultaneously, deception signals would give the impression that ''Vikrant'' was operating somewhere between Madras and Vishakhapatnam.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=123}}

On 23 November, an emergency was declared in Pakistan after a clash of Indian and Pakistani troops in [[East Pakistan]] two days earlier.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=123}} On 2 December, the Eastern Fleet proceeded to its patrol area in anticipation of an attack by Pakistan. The Pakistan Navy had deployed ''Ghazi'' on 14 November with the explicit goal of targeting and sinking ''Vikrant'', and ''Ghazi'' reached a location near Madras by the 23rd.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=143}}{{Sfn|Till|2013|p=171}} In an attempt to deceive the Pakistan Navy and ''Ghazi'', India's Naval Headquarters deployed ''Rajput'' as a decoy—the ship sailed {{convert|160|mi|abbr=on}} off the coast of Vishakhapatnam and broadcast a significant amount of radio traffic, making her appear to be ''Vikrant''.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=142}}

''Ghazi'', meanwhile, sank off the Visakhapatnam coast under mysterious circumstances.{{Sfn|Till|2013|p=171}} On the night of 3–4 December, a muffled underwater explosion was detected by a coastal battery. The next morning, a local fisherman observed flotsam near the coast, causing Indian naval officials to suspect a vessel had sunk off the coast. The next day, a [[clearance diver|clearance diving team]] was sent to search the area, and they confirmed that ''Ghazi'' had sunk in shallow waters.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=145}}

The reason for ''Ghazi''{{'}}s fate is unclear. The Indian Navy's official historian, Hiranandani, suggests three possibilities, after having analysed the position of the rudder and extent of the damage suffered. The first was that ''Ghazi'' had come up to [[Periscope#Naval use|periscope depth]] to identify her position and may have seen an anti-submarine vessel that caused her to [[crash dive]], which in turn may have led her to bury her bow in the bottom. The second possibility is closely related to the first: on the night of the explosion, ''Rajput'' was on patrol off Visakhapatnam and observed a severe disturbance in the water. Suspecting that it was a submarine, the ship dropped two [[depth charge]]s on the spot, on a position that was very close to the wreckage.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=143}} The third possibility is that there was a mishap when ''Ghazi'' was laying [[Naval mine|mines]] on the day before hostilities broke out.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=145}}

''Vikrant'' was redeployed towards [[Chittagong]] at the outbreak of hostilities. On 4 December, the ship's Sea Hawks struck shipping in Chittagong and [[Cox's Bazar]] harbours, sinking or incapacitating most of the ships present. Later strikes targeted [[Khulna]] and the [[Port of Mongla]], which continued until 10 December, while other operations were flown to support a naval blockade of East Pakistan.{{Sfn|Roy|1995|p=165}} On 14 December, the Sea Hawks attacked the [[cantonment]] area in Chittagong, destroying several Pakistani army barracks. Medium anti-aircraft fire was encountered during this strike. Simultaneous attacks by Alizés continued on Cox's Bazar. After this, ''Vikrant''{{'}}s fuel levels dropped to less than 25 per cent, and the aircraft carrier sailed to [[Paradip]] for refueling.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=139}} The crew of INS ''Vikrant'' earned two [[Maha Vir Chakra]]s and twelve [[Vir Chakra]] gallantry medals for their part in the war.{{Sfn|Till|2013|p=171}}

===Later years===

[[File:INS Vikrant (R11) with a Sea King helicopter during Indo-Pakistani war of 1971.jpg|thumb|A Sea King helicopter with INS ''Vikrant'']]
''Vikrant'' did not see much service after the war, and was given two major modernisation [[refit]]s—the first one from 1979 to 1981 and the second one from 1987 to 1989.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=151}} In the first phase, her boilers, radars, communication systems and anti-aircraft guns were modernised, and facilities to operate Sea Harriers were installed.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2000|p=276}} In the second phase, facilities to operate the new Sea Harrier Vertical/Short Take Off and Land (V/STOL) fighter aircraft and the new Sea King Mk 42B Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopters were introduced. A 9.75-degree [[Aircraft ski-jump|ski-jump ramp]] was fitted.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=151}} The [[steam catapult]] was removed during this phase.{{Sfn|Hobbs|2014|p=203}} Again in 1991, ''Vikrant'' underwent a six-month refit, followed by another fourteen-month refit in 1992–94. She remained operational thereafter, flying Sea Harriers, Sea Kings and Chetaks until her final sea outing on 23 November 1994.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=151}} In the same year, a fire was also recorded aboard.{{Sfn|Hobbs|2014|p=203}} In January 1995, the navy decided to keep ''Vikrant'' in "safe to float" state.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=151}} She was [[laid up]] and formally decommissioned on 31 January 1997.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=152}}

===Squadrons embarked===

During her service, INS ''Vikrant'' embarked four squadrons of the Naval Air Arm of the Indian Navy:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Squadron
! style="width:10%; "| Name
! Insignia
! style="width:13%; "|Aircraft
!Notes
|-
| rowspan=2|[[INAS 300]] || rowspan=2|White Tigers || rowspan=2|<!-- [[File:INAS 300 insignia.jpg|50px]] --> || [[Hawker Sea Hawk]]||Operated during the 1971 war, and phased out in 1978.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=151}}
|-
|[[BAE Sea Harrier]]||Introduced in 1983, with the first Harrier landing on the ship's deck on 20 December 1983, operated until the ship was decommissioned in late 1997.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=151}}{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=154}}
|-
| [[INAS 310]] || Cobras || || [[Breguet Alizé]]||Operated during the 1971 war, and phased out in 1987, with the last Alizé flown off on 2 April 1987.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=151}}
|-
| [[INAS 321]] || Angels || <!-- [[File:INAS 321 insignia.jpg|50px]] --> || [[Alouette III]]/<br />[[HAL Chetak]]{{efn|French [[Alouette III]] light helicopters were produced in India under license by [[Hindustan Aircraft Limited]] (HAL) as "Chetaks".{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=158}}}}||The Alouettes/Chetaks were first embarked in 1960s, and operated until the ship was decommissioned in 1997.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=158}}
|-
| [[INAS 330]] || Harpoons || || [[Westland Sea King]]||Introduced into the Indian Navy in 1974,{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=157}} the Sea Kings operated on ''Vikrant'' from 1991, and remained until the ship was decommissioned in 1997.{{Sfn|Hiranandani|2009|p=152}}
|}