在印度第78个独立日前夕，两名印度海军军官Sharad Sinsunwal上尉和Kapil Yadav中校因其在亚丁湾反海盗行动中表现出的非凡勇气而被授予著名的Shaurya Chakra勋章。另外六名海军人员因在这些高风险任务中的服务而获得英勇勋章。

从2023年12月16日开始，在“亚丁湾海盗行动”中，INS Kolkata现任指挥官Sharad Sinsunwal上尉带领船员经历了一系列危险的遭遇。

这次行动是为了应对胡塞***武装日益增加的威胁而发起的。胡塞***武装向该地区的商船发射了27枚导弹，严重损坏了13艘船只，造成船员大量损失。

尽管导弹袭击的持续威胁和索马里海盗带来的风险，Sinsunwal船长和他的船员进行了多次英勇的救援，挽救了67人的生命，释放了17名人质。

有四个重要的事件突出地展示了他们的勇敢和专业精神。

2024年2月22日，“商船岛民”号被两枚反舰弹道导弹击中，引发了求救。尽管面临进一步导弹袭击的高风险，Sinsunwal舰长还是派遣“INS Kolkata”前往事发地点，由爆炸物处理人员和医务人员保护该船，确保其安全继续航行。

3月4日，两枚胡塞导弹袭击并烧毁了商船MSC Sky II。Sinsunwal船长率领一个小组成功扑灭了大火，救出了该船及船上的13名印度船员。

两天后，也就是3月6日，“True Confidence”号商船被导弹击中并起火。尽管有风险，Sinsunwal船长还是领导了救援行动，救出了所有幸存的船员；其中三人在袭击中死亡，另有三人受重伤。

最令人印象深刻的救援行动发生在3月13日至15日，当时INS Kolkata拦截了被劫持的商船Ruen，船上有35名全副武装的海盗。经过40个小时的艰苦行动，Sinsunwal船长和他的团队迫使海盗投降，并救出了所有17名人质。

INS Kolkata助理工兵Kapil Yadav中校因其在这些行动中的勇气而受到表彰。

2024年1月26日，在导弹袭击导致运输极易燃石脑油的商船Marlin Luanda起火后，Yadav中校自愿登上燃烧的船只。他及时采取行动，比如焊接一块金属板来修补燃料箱上的一个洞，帮助控制了火势，拯救了这艘船和船员。

这些军官的勇敢和奉献精神为他们赢得了国际赞誉。保加利亚、菲律宾和其他国家的领导人对印度海军坚定不移的承诺表示感谢。

印度总理纳伦德拉·莫迪也赞扬了他们的勇敢，强调了印度海军在确保海上安全方面的关键作用。

▲Image Credits: Indian Navy/X

▲Image Credits: Indian Navy/X

▲Image Credits: Indian Navy/X

英文原文

Two Indian Navy officers, Captain Sharad Sinsunwal and Lieutenant Commander Kapil Yadav, were awarded the prestigious Shaurya Chakra for their exceptional bravery during anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden on the eve of India’s 78th Independence Day. Six other Navy personnel received gallantry medals for their services to these high-risk missions.



Captain Sharad Sinsunwal, the current commanding officer of INS Kolkata, led his crew through a series of perilous encounters beginning December 16, 2023, under Operation ‘Piracy in the Gulf of Aden.’



The operation was initiated in response to a rising threat from Houthi rebels, who had launched 27 missile attacks on merchant vessels in the region, severely damaging 13 ships and causing numerous losses among sailors.



Despite the continuous threat of missile attacks and the risk posed by Somali pirates, Captain Sinsunwal and his crew carried out multiple heroic rescues, saving 67 lives and releasing 17 hostages.



Four important occurrences stand out as demonstrations of their bravery and professionalism.



On February 22, 2024, the Merchant Vessel Islander was hit by two anti-ship ballistic missiles, prompting a distressed call for assistance. Despite the high risk of additional missile strikes, Captain Sinsunwal dispatched INS Kolkata to the location, where an explosive disposal and medical crew secured the vessel, ensuring its safety for continued navigation.



On March 4, two Houthi missiles struck and set fire to the Merchant Vessel MSC Sky II. Captain Sinsunwal led a team that successfully extinguished the fire, rescuing the ship and its 13 Indian crew members.



Two days later, on March 6, the Merchant Vessel True Confidence was struck by missiles and set on fire. Despite the risk, Captain Sinsunwal led a rescue effort that saved all surviving crew members; three of them died in the attack, and three others were seriously injured.



The most impressive rescue operation occurred between March 13 and 15, when INS Kolkata intercepted the hijacked Merchant Vessel Ruen, which 35 heavily armed pirates held. After an exhaustive 40-hour operation, Captain Sinsunwal and his team forced the pirates to surrender and rescued all 17 hostages.



Lieutenant Commander Kapil Yadav, the Assistant Engineer Officer of the INS Kolkata, received recognition for his courage during these operations.



On January 26, 2024, after a missile attack started a fire on the Merchant Vessel Marlin Luanda, an oil tanker transporting extremely flammable Naphtha, Lt Cdr Yadav volunteered to board the burning vessel. His timely actions, such as welding a metal plate to patch a hole in the fuel tank, helped to control the fire and save the ship and its crew.



The officers’ bravery and dedication earned them international acclaim. Leaders from Bulgaria, the Philippines, and other nations expressed gratitude for the Indian Navy’s unwavering commitment.



Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised their bravery, highlighting the crucial role of the Indian Navy in ensuring maritime security.

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