NEW PAKISTANI SUBMARINE NAMED AFTER OFFICER WHO MADE HISTORY IN 1971 CONFLICT

摘要

Last month steel was cut on the fifth Hangor Ⅱ submarine for the Pakistan Navy (PN), the future PNS Tasnim. The date (December 9) is known as 'Hangor Day' and commemorates events 50 years ago during the 1971 Indo-Pak War that gave birth to Bangladesh. The new submarine is named after Vice Admiral Ahmad Tasnim, who in 1971 commanded the Daphne Class boat Hangor, which sank an Indian frigate, so lifting the blockade of Karachi, and preventing further Indian Navy strikes on the port city. Admiral Tasnim was the guest of honour for the ceremony to cut steel for the submarine bearing his name. The Hangor Ⅱ Class comprise eight Chinese designed Type 039B Air Independent Power (AIP) equipped subs, being built in China and Pakistan. They will feature an indigenous Combat Management System (CMS), sensors and also weaponry enabling them to carry Pakistan's sea-based nuclear deterrent. The first four (Chinese-built) submarines are being delivered in 2022-2023 and the remaining four by 2028 (and all built in Pakistan). IF anything the 1971 Indo-Pak War demonstrated the submarine's supremacy, but also that it is a weapon most effective as part of a balanced fleet. Having observed India's post-1965 Indo-Pak War massive (Soviet-aided) naval modernisation and expansion, Pakistan's navy starved its WW2-era surface fleet of funds and invested limited resources in acquiring three French designed Daphne Class subs and six Italian origin Cosmos SX-404/B minisubs. The elderly US-supplied Tench Class boat Ghazi (ex-USS Diablo) was also refitted in Turkey to restore her ability to dive and equip her to lay mines. However, she was only slated to serve until 1974, as the vessel was becoming too difficult to maintain.