Editing INS Vikrant (1961) (section)

===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}}