NAVY DAY 1972

In the year 1971 India got engaged in a war with Pakistan. On December 4

, the Indian Navy carried out a stunning attack on Karachi harbour. Indian Navy’s six ‘Osa-I’ class Missile boats were deployed, spear heading the attack on Karachi, code named ‘Operation Trident’.

The cover depicts the map of India and parts of South Asia. On the left of the Indian sub-continent in the Arabian Sea is depicted the Indian Navy anti-submarine frigate INS Khukri which was unfortunately lost in the war during operations. On the right in the Bay of Bengal is depicted India's (then) only aircraft carrier INS Vikrant which played a significant role in the Eastern theatre of war leading to the surrender of East Pakistan Army and the creation of Bangladesh. I consider myself very fortunate for having participated in the war in the East. I was serving on board INS Brahmaputra.

The Pakistan navy's submarine PNS Ghazi (SS 479) (ex.USS Diablo) was lost in the Bay of Bengal off Fairway buoy near Visakhapatnam harbour during  the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

In May 1972, at the Senior Naval Officers Conference, it was decided that hence forth; “Navy Day” would be celebrated on 4th. December in commemoration of the very successful Naval actions in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal during the “Indo-Pak War of  1971”. 

The first "Navy Day" on December 04 was celebrated in 1972.
On this Day when the Navy dedicated itself anew to the service of the nation, the Army Postal Service Corps (56 APO) brought out a Special Cover to commemorate the Navy Day on 4 December 1972.