Thread by @srikantkesnur

1/n. As VAdm R Hari Kumar & VAdm AB Singh take over as FoCinC WNC & ENC respectively they assume charge on a date of great significance for Indian Navy. This day 01 Mar 68 was day of restructuring of Indian Navy. It was the day when Western Naval Command, Eastern Naval Command

2/n. Southern Naval Area & Western Fleet were formed & plans made for formation of Eastern Fleet, which took shape couple of years later. It was also the day that the then Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Adhar Kumar (AK) Chatterji was promoted to the rank of a full Admiral.

3/n. These were not matters of mere pomp or protocol. They underlined that fledgling Indian Navy, smallest among three services, had grown its wings & was ready to take off. The year 1968 marks that point when Navy turned a decisive corner & propelled itself into a higher orbit.

4/n. Do remember, earlier, in Dec 67, submarine INS Kalvari was inducted making the Navy truly three dimensional.
Today, Indian Navy is an internationally highly regarded professional force with three dimensional capabilities. The 140 ship Navy of 2020 with aircraft carrier &

5/n. Nuclear submarines in its arsenal is a far cry from Navy of 1947 that consisted of less than half a dozen sloops. The narrative of its growth has also seen other success stories such as achievements in indigenisation wherein it pioneered making in India or its impressive

6/n. World class niche capabilities in fields such as hydrography, underwater medicine, diving & ocean sailing to name a few. More importantly, as matters maritime become increasingly important in International affairs & India becomes an important player in the Indo-Pacific

7/n. As well as preferred security partner in Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Navy has become a significant asset in our foreign policy & international cooperation matrix. Thus the restructuring on 01 Mar 68 were not mere cosmetic moves but form the template that lasts till today

8/n. and has provided the Indian Navy with the framework to transform itself into a world class force. The visionary changes of fifty years ago continue to serve the navy well. While we have transitioned into a two Fleet Navy, we still have not been able to centre them on

9/n. on two aircraft carriers as our founding fathers envisioned. That is still WIP. Vice Adm SM (Charles) Nanda was the last Flag Officer Bombay (FOB) & 1st FOCinC WNC. He went on to become CNS later & led the Navy during 1971 war. RAdm Jerry Nair was the first FOCinC ENC.

10/n. RAdm SN Kohli was last Flag Officer Commanding Indian Fleet & 1st Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet. He too became CNS succeeding Nanda. In good naval tradition Western Fleet was at sea on overseas deployment to SE Asian countries on 01 Mar 68 with Mysore the Flagship.

11/n. RAdm SH Sarma became 1st Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet which was formed on 01 Nov 71 just before the war. SH Sarma continues to be an inspiration, 98 years young and sprightly, settled in Bhubaneshwar. He retired as a Vice Adm after commanding ENC. Cmde Inder Singh

12/n. was the first Commodore Commanding Southern Naval Area. For more info on what happened then do read this article below
thedailyguardian.com/remembering-th…
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13/n. Thread on significance of 01 Mar for Indian Navy
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14/n. Thread on significance of 01 Mar for Indian Navy
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15/n. Thread on significance of 01 Mar for Indian Navy
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16/n. Thread on significance of 01 Mar for Indian Navy
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