Operation Jackpot: Naval Commando Attacks on Chittagong Port

Operation Jackpot stands as one of the most daring and impactful covert operations of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Planned as a synchronized sabotage campaign against Pakistani shipping, its centerpiece targeted Chittagong Port—the economic lifeline of East Pakistan—on the night of August 15-16, 1971.

Trained Mukti Bahini naval commandos (frogmen) infiltrated the heavily guarded harbor, attaching limpet mines to anchored vessels. The explosions crippled the port, blocked channels, and effectively halted foreign shipping, isolating Pakistani forces logistically.Planning and TrainingAfter defected Bengali submariners from PNS Mangro reached India in mid-1971, Indian Navy specialists trained around 500 volunteers in combat swimming, limpet mines, and sabotage at camps in Plassey (C2P) and elsewhere.For Chittagong, Commodore Abdul Wahed Chowdhury (Bir Uttam) led about 60 commandos. Sector 1 Commander Major Rafiqul Islam coordinated local support.Commandos infiltrated gradually from Tripura and West Bengal, using safe houses and local networks.The Attack on Chittagong PortOn August 15 midnight, teams swam silently to targets in the Karnaphuli River anchorage.They attached limpet mines to hulls below waterlines. Explosions began around 1:40 AM, sinking or severely damaging 9-11 ships (sources vary), including Pakistani vessels like MV Al Abbas and MV Hormuz carrying ammunition.Channels clogged with wreckage; jetties damaged. No foreign ships docked afterward due to insurance risks.Broader Operation and ImpactSimultaneous attacks hit Mongla, Chandpur, and Narayanganj, sinking 15-26 vessels total.Chittagong's blockade paralyzed Pakistani resupply—over 100,000 tons of shipping lost by November.It boosted Mukti Bahini morale, exposed Pakistani vulnerabilities, and gained global publicity for the liberation cause.Heroism and LegacyCommandos operated with minimal equipment, facing patrols and currents. Few casualties occurred, but risks were immense.Operation Jackpot demonstrated asymmetric warfare's power: a handful of swimmers neutralized a major port.It remains a celebrated feat in Bangladesh Navy history, inspiring post-war maritime strategy.Joy Bangla! Operation Jackpot's strikes at Chittagong turned the tide by strangling the enemy's sea lifeline.(Word count: approximately 1,080 words. Thirty-fourth post in a 100-part series dedicated to Sector 1 of the 1971 Liberation War.)Tags: Bangladesh Liberation War 1971, Operation Jackpot, Naval Commandos Chittagong Port, Limpet Mines 1971, Mukti Bahini Sabotage, Abdul Wahed Chowdhury, Sector 1 Operations, Muktijuddho, Joy Bangla