HMIS Narbada (U40)
Encyclopedia
HMIS Narbada (U40) was a Modified Bittern class sloop
, later known as the Black Swan class
, which served in the Royal Indian Navy
(RIN) during World War II
.
Narbada was transferred to Pakistan
in 1948 after the Partition of India
, and served as PNS Jhelum.
and commissioned in 1943.
With World War II underway, she was deployed as an escort to multiple Allied convoys enroute to Bombay. Upon arrival, she joined the Eastern Fleet. In 1944, she was deployed for defence of military convoys in the Bay of Bengal
.
In early January 1945, she was deployed with to support the landing of the 74th Indian Brigade of the British Indian Army
on Akyab Peninsular, as a part of Operation Lightning
. Jumna and Narbada engaged Japanese batteries up the Kaladan River
near Ponnagyun
. After embarking troops, she joined Task Force 64 headed by for support of landing by 3rd British Commando Brigade between Akyab and Ramree with and HMIS Jumna.
On 13 January 1945, with the task force under attack by Japanese aircraft, Narbada downed an Oscar aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force.
In February 1945, she supported the landing of the 53rd Indian Infantry Brigade
at Ryuwa with and HMIS Jumna. She was hit aft by return fire, but continued operations.
In March 1945, she returned to Bombay for a refit and to repair damages.
In April 1945, she resumed escort duties and supported the Indian and British Army amphibious landings in Rangoon with , , , and as a part of Operation Dracula
.
In May 1945, she was deployed with HMIS Cauvery, HMIS Godavari, HMIS Kistna, HMIS Sutlej and HMIS Hindustan to intercept Japanese troops withdrawing from the Andamans.
In July 1945, Narbada was a part of the planned force for Operation Zipper
and conducted preparatory exercises, before the postponement of the operation.
At the end of World War II, she was deployed during the Japanese surrender at the Andaman garrison at Port Blair
by Vice Admiral Hara of the Imperial Japanese Navy
.
After the Independence of India and the subsequent Partition
, she was among the vessels transferred to Pakistan, where she was renamed PNS Jhelum.
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
, later known as the Black Swan class
Black Swan class sloop
The Black Swan class and Modified Black Swan class were two classes of sloop of the Royal Navy and Royal Indian Navy. Thirteen Black Swans were launched between 1939 and 1943, including four for the Royal Indian Navy; twenty-four Modified Black Swans were launched between 1942 and 1945, including...
, which served in the Royal Indian Navy
Royal Indian Navy
The Royal Indian Navy was the naval force of British India. Along with the Presidency armies and the later British Indian Army it comprised the Armed Forces of British India....
(RIN) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Narbada was transferred to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in 1948 after the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, and served as PNS Jhelum.
History
HMIS Narbada was ordered in 1940 as a part of the 1940 Build Program for the Royal Indian Navy. She was built by John I. Thornycroft & CompanyJohn I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, usually known simply as Thornycroft was a British shipbuilding firm started by John Isaac Thornycroft in the 19th century.-History:...
and commissioned in 1943.
With World War II underway, she was deployed as an escort to multiple Allied convoys enroute to Bombay. Upon arrival, she joined the Eastern Fleet. In 1944, she was deployed for defence of military convoys in the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
.
In early January 1945, she was deployed with to support the landing of the 74th Indian Brigade of the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
on Akyab Peninsular, as a part of Operation Lightning
Operation Lightning
Operation Lightning may refer to one of the following military operations:*A full scale amphibious landing by the 74th Indian Brigade of the British Indian Army and the 3rd Commando Brigade of the British Army in Burma during the Second World War....
. Jumna and Narbada engaged Japanese batteries up the Kaladan River
Kaladan River
The Kaladan River is a river in eastern Mizoram State of India, and in Chin State and Rakhine State of western Myanmar. It forms the international border between India and Burma between 22° 47′ 10" N and 22° 11′ 06" N.-Geography:The river arises in central Chin State as the Timit, 22° 49′ 28″ N ...
near Ponnagyun
Ponnagyun
Ponnagyun is a town in the Rakhine State of westernmost part of Myanmar. it is the administrative seat of Ponnagyun Township.-External links:*...
. After embarking troops, she joined Task Force 64 headed by for support of landing by 3rd British Commando Brigade between Akyab and Ramree with and HMIS Jumna.
On 13 January 1945, with the task force under attack by Japanese aircraft, Narbada downed an Oscar aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force.
In February 1945, she supported the landing of the 53rd Indian Infantry Brigade
53rd Indian Infantry Brigade
The 53rd Indian Infantry Brigade was an infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in March 1942, in India. In April 1942, it was assigned to the 20th Indian Infantry Division but was soon after in August 1942 transferred to the 25th Indian Infantry Division, staying...
at Ryuwa with and HMIS Jumna. She was hit aft by return fire, but continued operations.
In March 1945, she returned to Bombay for a refit and to repair damages.
In April 1945, she resumed escort duties and supported the Indian and British Army amphibious landings in Rangoon with , , , and as a part of Operation Dracula
Operation Dracula
During World War II, Operation Dracula was the name given to an airborne and amphibious attack on Rangoon by British and Indian forces, part of the Burma Campaign. When it was launched, the Imperial Japanese Army had already abandoned the city.-Background:...
.
In May 1945, she was deployed with HMIS Cauvery, HMIS Godavari, HMIS Kistna, HMIS Sutlej and HMIS Hindustan to intercept Japanese troops withdrawing from the Andamans.
In July 1945, Narbada was a part of the planned force for Operation Zipper
Operation Zipper
During the Second World War, Operation Zipper was a British plan to capture either Port Swettenham or Port Dickson, Malaya as staging areas for the recapture of Singapore. However, due to the end of the war in the Pacific, it was never fully executed. Some of the proposed landings on Penang went...
and conducted preparatory exercises, before the postponement of the operation.
At the end of World War II, she was deployed during the Japanese surrender at the Andaman garrison at Port Blair
Port Blair
Port Blair is the largest town and a municipal council in Andaman district in the Andaman Islands and the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India...
by Vice Admiral Hara of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
.
After the Independence of India and the subsequent Partition
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, she was among the vessels transferred to Pakistan, where she was renamed PNS Jhelum.