Navy Day: What you must know about our water warriors

Today, on 4 December, India is celebrating Navy Day to commemorate the contribution of our naval forces who protect the country's maritime borders and are actively involved in disaster relief operations as well.

For a country which is surrounded by water from three sides and has a coastline of 7,517 kilometers, the role of naval forces is extremely crucial. Especially after the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, when the terrorists chose our coastline as an entry way. After this, a Sagar Prahari Bal (SPB) was formed in March 2009 to patrol the coastal waters.

Here are six interesting facts about our navy:

• The Indian navy is the fifth largest in the world with a strength of 58,350 personnel. The United States Navy ranks first followed by People's Liberation Army Navy of China, the Russian Navy and the Royal Navy of he United Kingdom.

Photo: Punit Paranjpe/AFP

• The navy has two aircraft carriers, 10 destroyers, 15 frigates, 9 landing ship tanks, one amphibious transport dock, 26 corvettes, 7 mine countermeasure vessels, 10 large offshore patrol vessels, 4 fleet tankers, 14 conventionally powered attack submarines and one nuclear powered attack submarine.

Photo: AFP

• It is becoming self-dependent with time by manufacturing most of the ships and submarines ingenuously. The list includes INS Aditya, INS Astradharani, INS Shivalik, INS Trinkat, etc. India is among two countries (the other being United States) to have a naval aerobatic team called Sagar Pawan.

Photo: wikicommons

• Interestingly, the navy day is celebrated not to commemorate the day of its formation but the day when India successfully executed Operation Trident in 1971. The attack was launched on Pakistan's naval headquarters in Karachi during the war.

File Photo

• The Indian Navy flag resembles the flag of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom and is said to remind people of India's colonial past. The flag incorporates St George's Cross design the same way it is displayed on the Royal Navy's flag. On 15 August 2001, a new flag was introduced without the red cross but it was again replaced on 25 April 2004 as the blue emblem that was used instead of the cross was not visible in the ocean.

File Photo

• Chhatrapati Shivaji is known as the father of Indian Navy as he was responsible for building a strong naval presence across the Goan and Konkan coast during his rule. He also encouraged building ships, which were used for commercial purposes as well as battles. Several battles were fought by his forces against the Siddis of Janjira on the coastline.

Photo: shivajimaharaj.in