The Mystery Behind Pakistan’s Lost Submarine: What Really Happened to PNS Ghazi in 1971?

Pakistan’s PNS Ghazi submarine in the 1971 

In the history of South Asian naval warfare, few stories are as gripping, tragic, and mysterious as the sinking of Pakistan’s submarine PNS Ghazi during the 1971 Indo–Pakistan War. The incident, which unfolded off the coast of India’s Visakhapatnam port, continues to spark debate among historians, veterans, and naval experts worldwide.

A Submarine Born in America, Reborn in Pakistan

The submarine that Pakistan later renamed Ghazi was originally built for the U.S. Navy as the USS Diablo (SS-479), a Tench-class submarine. In 1964, under a U.S.-Pakistan agreement, the vessel was transferred to the Pakistan Navy. It became the first submarine ever operated by a South Asian navy, symbolizing a major leap in Pakistan’s maritime capability.

The word “Ghazi” means “warrior” or “conqueror” — a name that captured Pakistan’s confidence and ambition during the Cold War era. At the time, Pakistan had no other submarine capable of operating long-range missions. Ghazi’s induction transformed Pakistan’s naval strategy, allowing it to project power deep into the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.

The Mission: Hunt Down India’s Pride, INS Vikrant

By 1971, political tensions in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) were escalating. As India supported the independence movement in the east, Pakistan planned a daring pre-emptive strike. One of its most secret missions was assigned to the PNS Ghazi — to locate and destroy the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.

The Vikrant was India’s most prized naval asset — a symbol of its growing maritime strength. If Ghazi succeeded in sinking it, Pakistan would not only cripple India’s naval power but also alter the balance of the war in its favor. The mission was risky: Ghazi had to travel thousands of kilometers, operate in hostile waters, and survive without surface support. Yet, the crew accepted it with determination.

The Journey Across the Arabian Sea

On November 14, 1971, Ghazi quietly left Karachi, Pakistan’s main naval base, under the command of Commander Zafar Muhammad Khan. Disguised as a commercial vessel, it began its long voyage toward the Bay of Bengal. Its orders were clear — track down Vikrant, lay mines at Visakhapatnam harbor, and disrupt India’s naval operations in the east.

As the submarine moved silently beneath the waves, Indian naval intelligence had already begun picking up faint hints of its presence. Both sides were preparing for an underwater confrontation that would soon turn fatal.

A Race of Deception and Strategy

Unbeknownst to Pakistan, the Indian Navy had already moved INS Vikrant farther east toward the Andaman Islands to avoid detection. Meanwhile, Indian naval forces in Visakhapatnam were on high alert, aware that a Pakistani submarine might attempt to lay mines near the harbor. It was a tense waiting game — two navies playing cat and mouse in the dark waters of the Bay of Bengal.

On the night of December 3, 1971, India officially entered the war after Pakistan launched pre-emptive air strikes in the west. Hours later, something extraordinary happened near Visakhapatnam — an enormous underwater explosion that shook the coastline.

The Explosion That Changed Everything

At around midnight on December 3–4, local fishermen and coastal observers heard a massive blast. Indian naval ships, including the destroyer INS Rajput, were ordered to investigate. When they reached the area, the sea was boiling with debris and oil — the unmistakable signs of a submarine’s destruction.

The next morning, Indian divers found twisted metal fragments and wreckage floating near the harbor’s entrance. Among them were items marked with Urdu inscriptions — clear evidence that it was the lost submarine PNS Ghazi.

Conflicting Stories Begin

India immediately announced that its destroyer INS Rajput had sunk the Pakistani submarine using depth charges — a significant naval victory. But Pakistan rejected the claim, insisting that Ghazi had most likely exploded on its own while laying mines near the harbor. The truth, it seemed, had gone down with the submarine itself.

Over the years, both sides have stuck to their versions. India’s official records describe Ghazi’s sinking as the navy’s first major kill of the 1971 war. Pakistan, on the other hand, continues to honor Commander Zafar and his crew as martyrs who died in the line of duty. The conflicting accounts only add to the submarine’s legend — part truth, part mystery, and part national pride.

Analyzing the Wreck: What the Evidence Says

In the months following the war, Indian naval divers conducted extensive salvage operations. They brought up portions of the submarine’s hull, personal items, documents, and human remains. A close study revealed that the damage pattern suggested an internal explosion, possibly from a torpedo or mine detonating prematurely inside the bow section. Yet, the exact cause remained uncertain.

Modern naval analysts have proposed several theories: a buildup of oxygen or hydrogen gas inside the hull, a malfunctioning torpedo, or a magnetic mine triggered accidentally. Each theory points to one conclusion — Ghazi’s end was most likely self-inflicted, not due to an external hit.

However, the Indian Navy maintains that the timing of the explosion, just after INS Rajput dropped depth charges, cannot be dismissed as coincidence. As with many wartime mysteries, the line between evidence and interpretation remains thin.

The Loss That Shook Pakistan

The sinking of PNS Ghazi was a devastating blow for Pakistan early in the war. It not only lost its most advanced submarine but also its entire crew of ninety-two brave sailors. The incident demoralized Pakistan’s eastern operations, while India gained psychological and strategic advantage in the Bay of Bengal.

Meanwhile, the INS Vikrant remained untouched and went on to play a decisive role by launching air strikes that crippled Pakistani positions in East Pakistan, paving the way for Bangladesh’s liberation.

For a detailed look at how deception and decoys shaped modern naval warfare, you can explore this in-depth article on America’s Ghost Army.

The loss of Ghazi was more than a tactical failure — it was a moment that redefined Pakistan’s naval doctrine and forced both countries to reassess the risks of underwater warfare.

(Continue reading in the next section for the investigation, legacy, and the ongoing mystery that still divides historians.)

External Reference: BBC – PNS Ghazi: The Submarine Mystery

Unraveling the Mystery: The Investigation After 1971

After the war ended in December 1971, Indian naval authorities launched a full-scale investigation into the loss of PNS Ghazi. Divers from the Indian Navy’s Eastern Command examined the wreckage that lay about one nautical mile off the Visakhapatnam harbor entrance. What they discovered only deepened the enigma.

The hull was ripped open near the bow section, and the submarine’s forward compartments were completely destroyed. Investigators found that the damage pattern suggested an explosion that originated from within the vessel, possibly from a mine or torpedo. However, the wreck also showed signs of external shockwaves, consistent with nearby depth charges. This left experts divided on whether Ghazi’s demise was self-inflicted or triggered by Indian attack.

Inside the Submarine: Evidence from the Deep

Among the items recovered were maps, navigational charts, and handwritten notes in Urdu. Some of these documents revealed that Ghazi’s final recorded position matched the area where the explosion occurred. Crew items — clothing, personal letters, and a few diaries — gave haunting glimpses into their last days underwater.

Divers also found torpedo fragments that appeared warped by internal pressure rather than external impact. That detail strengthened the theory that an onboard detonation may have caused the disaster. Sadly, most of the crew members’ remains were never recovered; the submarine became their permanent tomb beneath the Bay of Bengal.

India’s Official Account: The First Naval Victory

For India, the destruction of PNS Ghazi became a celebrated naval victory. According to Indian Navy reports, the destroyer INS Rajput detected suspicious sonar activity on the night of December 3, 1971, and immediately dropped depth charges. Moments later, a thunderous explosion shook the waters — and Ghazi was gone. This marked the Indian Navy’s first confirmed kill of the war and a turning point in maritime operations.

India’s success not only eliminated a significant underwater threat but also ensured that INS Vikrant could operate freely. In the following days, Vikrant’s aircraft launched repeated strikes on Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, and Khulna — crippling Pakistan’s eastern defenses and cutting off supply routes. In Indian military history, this sequence of events is seen as a masterstroke of intelligence and naval coordination.

Pakistan’s Stand: A Story of Sacrifice, Not Defeat

The Pakistan Navy, however, rejects India’s claim. In its official narrative, Ghazi was not destroyed by Indian attack but was lost while performing its mission — most likely due to an internal explosion caused by a faulty mine. Pakistan honors the submarine’s 92 crewmen as martyrs, commemorating their bravery each year at the Ghazi Memorial in Karachi.

For Pakistan, the story of Ghazi is not about defeat, but about courage — a crew that sailed into enemy waters on a near-impossible mission and never returned. Their sacrifice continues to inspire naval officers and defense students across the country.

International Opinions and Declassified Views

Several declassified American naval reports and independent analyses have also weighed in on the incident. Western experts tend to agree that PNS Ghazi likely met its end due to a technical malfunction or a mine explosion rather than direct Indian attack. However, they acknowledge that the timing of INS Rajput’s actions could have indirectly contributed to the disaster by creating pressure waves near the submarine.

This version attempts to bridge both sides — suggesting that Ghazi was already vulnerable, and the Indian Navy’s maneuvers might have triggered a chain reaction that sealed its fate.

Legacy of Ghazi: Lessons in Strategy and Submarine Warfare

The fall of PNS Ghazi had a lasting impact on the naval doctrines of both India and Pakistan. For India, it underscored the importance of coastal defense, anti-submarine warfare, and intelligence gathering. For Pakistan, it highlighted the dangers of overextending a single submarine without adequate support or updated technology.

In the decades since, both nations have significantly upgraded their underwater fleets. India now operates advanced diesel-electric and nuclear-powered submarines, while Pakistan has modernized its fleet with French Agosta-class submarines and Chinese-designed vessels. Yet, the ghost of Ghazi continues to haunt the deep — a reminder of how fragile life beneath the ocean can be.

A Symbol of Valor Beneath the Waves

To this day, the wreck of PNS Ghazi lies silent near the entrance of Visakhapatnam harbor. Fishermen occasionally report oil slicks or debris resurfacing after storms, but the submarine itself remains untouched — preserved as an underwater war grave. Both India and Pakistan have chosen to let it rest, as a mark of respect to the sailors who perished inside.

Over the years, filmmakers, authors, and military historians have revisited Ghazi’s story, turning it into documentaries and feature films. Each interpretation adds a layer to the legend — part heroism, part tragedy, part mystery. Yet, the core truth remains simple: Ghazi was a daring mission that ended in silence, but not in shame.

Modern Relevance: The Ghost That Shaped Naval Thinking

The PNS Ghazi incident continues to influence maritime security studies. It demonstrates how intelligence, timing, and technology can decide the outcome of war at sea. It also reminds military planners that even the most advanced submarines are not invincible — a lesson that resonates in today’s age of drone surveillance and undersea warfare.

If you’re interested in understanding how cyber intelligence now plays a similar role in modern defense, read this analysis on Middle East Cyberwarfare Surge, which shows how information control has become as critical as submarine stealth once was.

Final Reflections: Heroes Never Vanish

More than five decades later, the story of PNS Ghazi still echoes through naval academies, war memorials, and maritime history books. Whether viewed as a tragedy or a triumph, its legacy is eternal. The men aboard Ghazi embarked on a mission knowing the odds — and faced the unknown with courage that transcends politics.

As the tides of history wash over the wreck each year, the legend of Ghazi endures — not as a weapon lost to war, but as a timeless reminder of valor beneath the sea. Its mystery may never be fully solved, but its place in naval history is secure.

External Source: Naval History Net – PNS Ghazi Report

Location: Visakhapatnam, India
Labels: Pakistan Navy, 1971 War, PNS Ghazi, Indian Navy
Search Description: Discover the true story of Pakistan’s lost submarine PNS Ghazi — the 1971 naval mystery that still divides historians. Learn how it sank near Visakhapatnam and how its legacy reshaped Indian and Pakistani naval strategy.