Babru Bhan Yadav Explained

Honorific Prefix:Commodore
Babru Bhan Yadav
Honorific Suffix:MVC
Birth Date:1928 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Bharawas, Rewari district, Haryana
Death Place:Delhi, India
Allegiance: India
Serviceyears:1951–1982
Servicenumber:00101-B[1]
Unit:25th Missile Boat Squadron
Battles:Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Operation Trident (1971)
Awards: Maha Vir Chakra

Commodore Babru Bhan Yadav, MVC (14 September 1928  - 22 January 2010), also known as B.B. Yadav, was a former Indian Navy Officer. He led the 25th Missile Boat Squadron during Operation Trident in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.[2]

Early life and education

He was born in the village Bharawas in the Rewari district of Haryana to Major Bhagwan Singh Yadav. His father is known for taking part in both world wars. Yadav studied from Banares Hindu University and completed his graduation from St. Stephen's College in Delhi in 1947.

Military career

Yadav joined Indian Navy on 1 January 1951 at the age of 23. He received his training from United Kingdom.[3] He also went to Russia for training. He was the first Naval officer to be awarded the Maha Vir Chakra award for gallantry in the 1971 war.[4]

He received the Maha Vir Chakra for his exceptional leadership and military skills which led to the destruction of Pakistan's most powerful naval regiment at the Karachi Naval base in the 1971 war.[5] The Karachi Strike Group formed for Operation Trident and Operation Python was under his command.[6] The strike group is also known as the Killer Squadron as India gained Naval supremacy over Pakistan in 1971 war. In memory of both the operations Indian Navy celebrates Navy Day on 4 December every year.

Maha Vir Chakra Citation

The citation for the Maha Vir Chakra reads as follows:[7] [8]

Later life

Yadav served as the state Director of National Cadet Corps in Chandigarh for Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. He retired from the navy in 1982. He later worked in the Merchant Navy.[9] He died in Delhi, aged 81.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BB YADAV - Gallantry Awards. Gallantryawards.gov.in. 18 May 2018. 4 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180104145057/http://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/bb-yadav. dead.
  2. Web site: Opinion: How the fall of Karachi port was brought by India's 'Killer Squadron' in 1971. 15 December 2017.
  3. Web site: Commodore BB Yadav . 2018-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235333/http://www.haryana-online.com/WarHeroes/commodore_b_b_yadav.htm . 2016-03-03 . dead .
  4. Web site: The Veer Ahir who set Karachi ablaze. 23 June 2013. Hindustantimes.com.
  5. Web site: 10 Daredevil Heroes of the Indian Navy You Should Know About. 4 December 2015.
  6. Web site: 40 Years Since Operation Trident - SP's Naval Forces. Spsnavalforces.com.
  7. Web site: Gallantry Awards Ministry of Defence, Government of India . www.gallantryawards.gov.in . 13 December 2023.
  8. Web site: Mahavir Chakra (MVC), Awardee: Cmde Babru Bahan Yadav, MVC (retd) @ TWDI . twdi.in . 13 December 2023.
  9. Web site: India Strategic : Indian Navy: Indian Navy's War Hero passes away. Indiastrategic.in.