The Birth of a Legend
Before she became Pakistan’s first submarine, PNS Ghazi was known as USS Diablo (SS-479), a Tench-class submarine commissioned by the United States Navy on December 1, 1944. She was the only U.S. warship to be named ‘Diablo,’ meaning ‘Devil’ in Spanish. Measuring 95 meters in length and 8.33 meters in width, she displaced 1,570 tonnes when surfaced and 2,453 tonnes when submerged, moving at a speed of 8.75 knots underwater. Her insignia depicted a devil running through the sea with a torpedo, a symbol that foreshadowed the havoc she would later wreak upon India’s naval forces.
Acquired by the Pakistan Navy in 1963 on a four-year lease from the United States, Ghazi became a formidable addition to Pakistan’s naval fleet. Despite its age, this submarine was retrofitted and put into active duty, solidifying Pakistan’s presence beneath the waves and changing the strategic calculus of naval warfare in South Asia.
Ghazi’s impact went beyond its military capabilities. It became a symbol of national pride, inspiring generations of Pakistanis to join the navy and serve their country. The submarine’s crew, known for their discipline and bravery, set a standard of excellence that continues to inspire the Pakistan Navy to this day.
PNS Ghazi in the 1965 Indo-Pak War: The Silent Predator
During the 1965 war, PNS Ghazi played a crucial role in Pakistan’s naval strategy. On September 17, 1965, she fired three Mark 14 torpedoes at the Indian Navy’s INS Brahmaputra. War logs recorded three explosions, but no confirmed hits or damages were reported. Despite the lack of confirmed damage, Ghazi’s actions during the war were highly effective. Its mere presence created a sense of fear and uncertainty among Indian naval commanders. Upon its return to base, Ghazi was bestowed with 10 war awards, a testament to its contributions during the conflict.
Although Ghazi did not engage in direct combat, its mere presence created paranoia in the Indian naval command. The fear of an unseen enemy lurking beneath the waters crippled India’s ability to move its fleet freely. The psychological warfare Ghazi initiated in 1965 set the tone for what was to come in 1971—when it truly became the nightmare of the Indian Navy.
After the war, the U.S. imposed an arms embargo on both India and Pakistan. When the embargo was lifted, Pakistan sought to renew Ghazi’s lease in 1967. However, the submarine’s condition had deteriorated significantly. Pakistan made a strategic decision to send Ghazi to Turkey for an extensive refit and mid-life upgrade at the Golcuk Naval Shipyard. The $1.5 million upgrade, completed in 1969, modernized Ghazi’s electromechanical systems and extended her operational life.
The 1971 Indo-Pak War: The Hunt for INS Vikrant
The Indo-Pak War of 1971 saw PNS Ghazi assigned its most ambitious and daring mission:
Neutralize India’s aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant – the pride of the Indian Navy.
Dominate the Bay of Bengal and restrict Indian naval movements.
On November 14, 1971, Ghazi undertook a perilous 4,800 km journey from Pakistan’s shores, navigating through hostile waters to lay mines along India’s eastern coast while tracking Vikrant.
Commanded by Commander Zafar Muhammad Khan and crewed by 10 officers and 82 sailors, Ghazi’s mission was twofold: locate and sink INS Vikrant, and mine strategic Indian ports. However, challenges arose due to the inadequate facilities at Chittagong Port in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), limiting support for her mission. Nevertheless, Ghazi pressed forward, a lone warrior in enemy waters.
A Nightmare for the Indian Navy
The presence of Ghazi in the Bay of Bengal threw the Indian Navy into disarray. India’s naval command, despite superior numbers, was gripped with fear. Admiral S.M. Nanda, Chief of the Indian Navy, later admitted:
“We were uncertain about the location of Ghazi, and that uncertainty cost us vital operations.”
Vice Admiral G.M. Hiranandani in his war history accounts also acknowledged that:
“The Indian Navy had no counter to the threat posed by Ghazi. The best we could do was avoid it.”
Ghazi’s stealth and speed had given Pakistan a strategic advantage, forcing India into defensive tactics.
The Mysterious Sinking of PNS Ghazi
On December 3, 1971, Ghazi met a tragic fate off the coast of Visakhapatnam. India claimed that its destroyer INS Rajput sank Ghazi by depth charges. However, post-war investigations and statements by Indian naval officials later debunked this narrative.
Today, the wreck of Ghazi lies at the bottom of the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Visakhapatnam. It serves as a sacred grave for the 92 brave souls who gave their lives in service of their country. Despite offers from the U.S. and Russia to salvage the wreck, India has consistently refused, fearing that the operation could reveal the truth about Ghazi’s sinking and expose the flaws in their narrative.
Underwater video footage obtained by divers shows jagged portions of the wreckage jutting outward, adding credence to the internal explosion theory. The wreck remains a hallowed site for Pakistanis, a reminder of the sacrifices made by the crew and the submarine’s enduring legacy.
Debunking the Indian Narrative
Inconsistent Reports: Indian naval records provide contradictory accounts of how Ghazi sank. Some claim depth charges, while others admit to an internal explosion.
No Visible Damage from an External Attack: The wreckage, later examined, showed no damage from an explosion caused by depth charges, which should have torn the hull apart. There is no concrete evidence to support the Indian claim. No debris or wreckage consistent with a depth charge attack has ever been found.
US and Egyptian Naval Analysis: Independent studies suggest that Ghazi likely suffered a hydrogen gas explosion in its forward torpedo room due to technical malfunction.
India’s Mysterious Document Destruction: In 2010, India destroyed all official records related to Ghazi’s sinking, raising suspicion about the truth behind the incident. Experts have pointed out that Ghazi’s design and construction made it highly resistant to depth charge attacks. The submarine’s hull was designed to withstand significant pressure, making it unlikely that it could have been sunk by a single attack.
In 2003, Indian Navy divers recovered war logs and official mission files from Ghazi’s wreck, confirming an internal explosion as the cause of its sinking. The data was sent to the Indian Eastern Naval Command, but no comprehensive report was ever made public.
In 2010, Indian Lieutenant-General J. F. R. Jacob, who commanded Eastern Command during the war, admitted that INS Rajput played no role in Ghazi’s sinking and that the submarine was lost due to an accident.
In 2011, former Indian Naval Chief Admiral Arun Prakash stated at a national security conference that Ghazi sank due to an internal explosion, contradicting earlier Indian claims.
In 2021, he reaffirmed this position in an article, rejecting the idea that India’s navy directly sank Ghazi.
The most credible theory suggests that Ghazi suffered from an internal explosion caused by hydrogen gas buildup while charging its batteries underwater, or that one of its mines detonated prematurely. Jagged portions of the wreckage and outwardly bent metal suggest an explosion from within, rather than external damage from a depth charge.
The Indian Navy’s Fear and Reluctance to Salvage Ghazi
Even decades after its sinking, the Indian Navy refuses to allow the wreckage of Ghazi to be salvaged. Both Russia and the U.S. offered assistance in recovering the submarine for forensic analysis, but India rejected these offers. The refusal indicates either a fear of exposing the truth behind Ghazi’s sinking or a deep-seated reverence for the vessel’s legend.
PNS Ghazi in Popular Culture: A Legacy of Truth vs. Indian Propaganda
Pakistan honored Ghazi through films like 'Ghazi Shaheed' (1998), a tribute to the heroic submarine. The series, which aired on PTV, captured the bravery and sacrifice of the men who served on Ghazi, earning widespread acclaim and touching the hearts of millions.
In contrast, India’s attempts to portray Ghazi in films have been marred by inaccuracies and propaganda. Movies like The Ghazi Attack (2017) and Raazi (2018) are riddled with historical inaccuracies and serve as a desperate attempt to rewrite history. These films fail to capture the true essence of Ghazi and its legacy, instead resorting to sensationalism and falsehoods. The fear of Ghazi’s legacy continues to haunt the Indian psyche.
The Eternal Guardian: Honoring Ghazi’s Memory
A Ghazi Monument stands tall at the Karachi Naval Dockyard, honoring the 93 brave souls who went down with the submarine. Their sacrifice was not in vain; their valor inspired the Pakistan Navy to enhance its submarine capabilities and implement stricter safety protocols.
My Personal Tribute: A Legacy That Brings Tears to My Eyes
Even today, the name PNS Ghazi evokes emotions that words struggle to capture. It was not just a submarine; it was an unstoppable force, a nightmare for India, and a symbol of unrelenting courage. Its brave crew ventured into enemy waters, knowing they might not return, yet never hesitated in their duty. Even in death, Ghazi refused to surrender to Indian propaganda, with truth surfacing time and again.
This submarine was Pakistan’s first and finest undersea warrior, and its memory still commands respect, not just in Pakistan but across naval communities worldwide.
The fact that India refuses to salvage Ghazi speaks volumes—it is a specter that continues to haunt them. A war machine that was supposed to be obsolete defied odds and remains one of the most respected submarines in history.
As I write this, my eyes well up with tears, not out of sorrow, but out of pride—pride in the men who dared, in the machine that struck fear in the hearts of our enemies, and in the enduring spirit of Pakistan’s naval legacy.
Today, as I think of Ghazi resting silently in the depths of the ocean, I am reminded of the words of Allama Iqbal:
"خودی کو کر بلند اتنا کہ ہر تقدیر سے پہلے
خدا بندے سے خود پوچھے بتا تیری رضا کیا ہے"
("Elevate yourself so high that before every decree,
God Himself asks, 'Tell me, what is your wish?'")
Ghazi and its crew achieved that elevation, becoming immortal in the process. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and their legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
The story of PNS Ghazi is one of bravery, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to duty. It is a story that transcends time and borders, reminding us of the price of freedom and the valor of those who defend it. Ghazi may have sunk, but its spirit lives on, a beacon of hope and resilience for Pakistan and its people.
PNS Ghazi lives on—not as a wreck on the seabed, but as an immortal legend in the annals of history.
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