A special day’s cover as well as an official stamp created by the department of postal services were issued to commemorate the event. Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the Honourable President of India has presented his Presidential Standard to 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron, also called The Destroyers Squad of the Indian Navy during an impressive ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on 28 December 21.
It was also attended by Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari who is the Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra Admiral R Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC Director of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh AVSM, VSM, Flag Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command and many other military and civilian top officials.
The 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron is located in Mumbai and includes Missile vessels Prabal, Pralaya, Nashak, Nishank, Vipul, Vibhuti, Vinash and Vidyut.
The Killers Squadron traces its genesis to the year 1971. War during which Osa I class missile boats which were recently incorporated to the Indian Navy from the erstwhile USSR and participated during Operations Trident and Python that proved decisive in letting for the Indian Navy dominate operations in the Arabian Sea. The attack on Pakistan naval units as well as Karachi harbours during these two wars effectively destroyed the Pakistan Navy’s capabilities to fight wars and earned these vessels the name “Killers”.
2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the victory in the 1971 War and also marks the 50th anniversary year of the Killers Squadron. The Squadron is in the leading edge of India’s seaward defence along the Western seaboard.
The president’s Standard ceremony was a flawlessly led ceremonial parade that started by the naval-armed guards presenting an arm salute to the President. It it was then followed by ceremony of the Standard. The ceremony ended with the Continuity Drill performed by navy personnel as well as an operational demonstration from MARCOS and naval helicopters.
