BACKGROUND
Portugal/ Portuguese India
V/Z
Republic of India
Aim- Liberation of Goa, Daman and Diu from Portuguese colonial rule and merger into Republic of India
Suggested read- Sequence of events leading to Operation Vijay 1961 and Goa liberation
Diu was far too long under Portuguese control and they knew the terrain and strategy well plus they had cover of the indomitable DIU fort. Major Fernando de Almeida e Vasconcelos was commanding the military garrison at Diu with 500 soldiers and they had laid out the artillery, mortars and machine guns at strategic positions.
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| Diu military action during Operation Vijay 1961 |
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
During the time of hostilities, the present-day Ghogla bridge did not exist. DIU island was connected to the mainland, through a shallow channel that could only by used by smaller fishing boats which posed a challenge.
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| Diu channel with fishing boats (below) |
Indian army's 20th Rajput Battalion and 4th Madras Battalion were assigned the mission on Diu. They are assisted by Indian naval ships INS Delhi and INS Dharini. The task was to capture Diu airfield for which the units were instructed by Wg Cdr (late) Micky Blake to attack at first light*, so that the operation would receive close support from the airforce.
*First light- correct military technical term is BMNT 'Beginning Morning Nautical Twilight'. In lay terms at the break of dawn
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| Army plan for military action on Diu 1961 |
18th Dec 1961, Kob side, 20th Rajput Battalion
03.00 hours- 20th Rajput Battalion under L/Hav Shishpal Singh attempt at crossing the muddy swamp with chest high water using improvised rafts, but their efforts are foiled by the Portuguese soldiers (around 130 men) with semi-automatic sten guns and medium machine guns. No sooner that the Rajputs reach the middle of the creek the Portuguese open fire capsizing the makeshift rafts. 5 Indian soldiers along with L/Hav Shishpal Singh mangaged to get past the creek and destroy the Portuguese light machine gun operating trenches.
Once again the Indian side faces medium machine gun fire from another position and 3 Indians are wounded/ evacuated to safety. Further heavy artillery fire from the Portuguese side damages the improvised water crossing systems that were used forcing the Indian side to retreat to Kob.
18th Dec 1961, Ghoghla side, 4th Madras Battalion
01.30 hours- Failing to follow the time command, 4th Madras Battalion commences attack from Ghoghla, but are repulsed
02.00 hours- Second attempt to attack is also repulsed by Portuguese artillery
04.00 hours- Indians retaliates wounding 13 Portuguese
05.30 hours- Portuguese artillery launch an attack forcing Madras Battalion to retreat.
18th Dec 1961, IAF Toofani airstrikes
07.00 hours- IAF airstrikes on Portuguese positions Kob side compells them to retreat into the fort.
09.00 hours- Portuguese positions at Ghogla side also retreat. Now Rajput B company despite heavy artillery advance and occupy the town of Diu.
10.15 am- INS Delhi naval ship attacks Portuguese target along the shore.
12:45 pm- Indian jets pinpoint Diu fortress and fire a rocket at a mortar there causing a major fire to the munitions dump inside. The Portuguese are therefore forced to evacuate. Heavy bombing continues by Indians.
14:15 pm- Diu fortress is completely evacuated.
18.00 pm- The Portuguese unable to establish any contact with Goa or Lisbon are helpless and their commanders request for a meeting with the Indian side.
AFTERMATH
19 Dec 1961, 12.00 noon- Indian military action concludes and the Portuguese formally surrender to Indian army. 403 men Portuguese POWs are captive/ surrendered including governor of Diu- Major Fernando de Almeida e Vasconcelos. 7 casualty/ death were reported.
HEROES OF DIU MILITARY ACTION 1961 OPERATION VIJAY
1) Wing Cmdr (late) Micky Blake, (VrC) Vir Chakra
Portuguese governor, Major Vasconcelos at the time of surrender admits that he was quite capable of stalling Indian army advances for a few days/ weeks, but what he found most intimidating were the airstrikes and Indian naval attacks.... And The credit for Indian Air operations in the Diu sector goes to Wg Cdr (late) Micky Blake from the Armaments Training wing. At a personal level Blake is an Anglo Indian from Bangalore who later moved to Australia.
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Wing Cmdr (late) Micky Blake, (VrC) Vir Chakra
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2) The Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan (French Hurricane) locally called Toofani was the backbone of the airstrikes in Diu
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| Toofani / Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan (French Hurricane was the backbone of airstrikes in Diu, Operation Vijay 1961 |
3) Palamadai Muthuswamy Ramachandran (PVSM, AVSM, SC, VM), Indian airforce officer (24 Feb 1935 to 6 May 2021). He targeted and did airstrikes on 'munition dumps inside Diu fort and also on Portuguese patrol boat N.R.P. Vega. He is the proud recipient of Shaurya Chakra. |
| air strikes on munition dumps inside Diu fort and also on Portuguese patrol boat N.R.P. Vega |
4) 20th Rajput Battalion won 3 Ashok Chakras
L/Hav Shishpal Singh who commanded the battalion fought well making the operation a success. He was wounded in the exchange of gunfire and succumbed to his injuries.
Major Mal Singh and Sepoy Hakam Singh were also martyred in the operation at Diu.
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| In memory of the bravehearts of 20th Rajput Battalion, Jodhpur who lost their lives at Diu Operation Vijay 1961 |
Please comment if I missed something significant. Thanks for reading through 🙏 JAIHIND 🇮🇳
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