Pakistan patrol vessel severely damaged after grazing Indian warship
Pakistan suffered an embarrassing maritime setback in the North Arabian Sea on Tuesday when its offshore patrol vessel, PNS Hunain, grazed India’s frontline guided-missile destroyer, INS Kolkata. Participating in the Sea Spark exercise, the Pakistani ship shadowed the Indian vessel during a routine surveillance mission before a high-speed, close-range manoeuvre resulted in contact. While the 2,600-tonne Pakistani corvette retreated to harbour with severe frontal arch damage and possible structural cracking, the Indian warship sustained zero structural harm and maintained its operational deployment. Defense experts called the manoeuvre dangerous, noting that India's ship weighs 7,400 tonnes, nearly three times as much as its challenger.
Striking disparity In Naval firepower
Comparisons between these two vessels highlight a severe mismatch. Built by Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards, PNS Hunain spans 98 metres and reaches speeds up to 25 knots. It functions primarily for surveillance, carrying a 30 mm naval gun, limited anti-ship missiles, and small inflatables. Conversely, INS Kolkata measures 164 metres, travels at 30 knots, and dominates maritime warfare scenarios. Equipped with BrahMos supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, a 76-mm gun, and torpedo launchers, this Indian destroyer thrives in multi-dimensional combat environments. It features a bow-mounted sonar system for anti-submarine warfare and operates two helicopters. Demonstrating its rugged build, this same class of ship successfully rescued people during Cyclone Tauktae in 2021 while battling nine-metre waves.
Repeating past maritime mistakes
Historical context reveals this is not an isolated tactic; in June 2011, Pakistan’s PNS Babur similarly brushed against India's INS Godavari in the Gulf of Aden. This latest incident has already sparked diplomatic tensions, leading both nations to summon respective envoys. Shadowing a heavily armed destroyer with a light patrol boat borders on reckless. If the Indian crew had responded aggressively by turning into the smaller vessel to protect themselves, experts suggest the Yarmook-class corvette would have toppled and sunk. Pakistan ultimately picked an unwinnable fight.
