Introduction
q The
first operation launched by the naval commandos
q Launched
on the night of 15 August 1971
q Simultaneous
attack on the port of Mongla, Chittagong, Chandpur, Narayanganj
q The
attacks impacted the tactical warfare
q Apprised
the attention of international media
Map: the locations of attacks on the operation jackpot.
Initiation of Operation Jackpot
No separate naval wing for Mukti Bahini during April–July
1971
08 Bengali
Submariners defected from PN. (Undergoing training at Toulon in France, a
submarine base)
They were the nucleuses of naval operations in Bangladesh.
On 23 May 1971, a secret training camp code name C2P was commissioned near the monument of Palassey on the bank of Bhagirathi.
More than
300 trainee were selected from 11 sectors over country who were good at
swimming specially.
To disrupt seaborne trade and discourage international shipping from visiting Bangladesh in order to hinder the movement of troops and Military supplies.
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Preparation of operation jackpot
Training was for 3months which included-
- Swimming
- Survival
- Use of Limped mine, demolition
- Hand to Hand Combat
Each commando carried-
Ø A
pair of fins
Ø A
knife
Ø A
limpet mine
Ø Swimming
trunks
Ø Some
had compasses
Ø 1
in 3 commandos had Sten guns and hand grenades
Ø The
group leaders carried a transistor radio
By August’ 71 Suicidal Commando Team was ready to go!
- All
the groups carried their own equipment to their targets
- The
groups entered in Bangladesh between 3 to 9 August
- Reached
their destinations by 12 August.
- They
used the local Mukti Bahini network of safehouses.
- A pair of songs was played in All India
Radio (Akashbani) at specific times to convey the intended signal for
commencing the operations
- The
first song was played on 13 August
- The
second song was played on 14 August
- Only Col M.A.G. Osmani and the regional commander knew about this operation to keep the secrecy .
Chittagong Operation
- Sixty
commandos divided into 3 groups of 20
- One
group failed to arrive on time
- 31
commandos mined 10 ships
- Led by
Submariner Abdul Wahed Chowdhury (Bir Uttam)
- The
operations were launched under the leadership of sector commander Major
Rafiqul Islam.
- Explosions
sank the MV Al-Abbas, the MV Hormuz and the Orient Barge no. 6
- 19,000
tons of arms and ammunition sank along with them
- 7
other barges/ ships were also damaged or sunk.
Chandpur operation
q 20
commandos were sent
q 18
commandos divided into 6 groups
q Under
the leadership of Badiul Alam (Bir Uttam)
q 4
ships were mined.
q 3
steamers and barges were damaged or sunk.
Narayangonj operation
q 20
commandos conducted the sabotage operation.
q Four
ships were sunk or damaged.
q Submariner
Abdur Rahman (Bir Bikram) and Shahjahan Siddique (Bir Bikram) conducted
successful operation in Narayanganj and Daudkandi river ports.
q 9
commandoes were assigned to Daudkandi.
q Ferries
and jetties were destroyed there.
Mongla operation
q 60
commandos in 5 groups of 12 members each.
q Ultimately
48 commandos mined 6 ships.
q Twelve
commandos had been sent on a separate mission.
q Leader
submariner Ahsanullah (Bir Pratik).
q In this ops, ships from different countries like, China , USA, Somalia etc. were destroyed.
Impact on the liberation war
• Naval
commandos managed to sink or damage 126 ships/coasters/ferries during August-
December 1971.
• Those
included at least 15 Pakistani ships, 11 coasters, 7 gunboats, 11 barges, 2
tankers and 19 river crafts.
• At
least 100,000 tons of shipping was sunk or crippled.
• Jetties
and wharves were disabled and channels blocked.
• Pakistan
Army investigation concluded that no one had imagined Mukti Bahini capable of
conducting such an operation.
• The
operational capability of Pakistan Navy was reduced.
• The
control of the inland waterways, and of the Sea ports were removed from the
hand of Pakistan Army.
• The
movement and logistics of Pakistan army were largely disrupted.
• International shipping were
discouraged from visiting Bangladesh and seaborne trading was stopped.
• The
simultaneous attacks destroyed the myth of normalcy in East Pakistan in the
international media.
Recognition and casualties of Naval Commandos
- Over the
span from 15 August to 16 December
• 8
commandos killed
• 34
injured
• 15
caught
The ‘national hero award’ recognition:
• 6
Bir Uttam
• 1
Bir Bikrom
• 6 Bir Protik
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