| Eastern Naval Command | |
|---|---|
INS Jalashwa (L41), flagship of the Eastern Fleet |
|
| Active | |
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh |
| Commanders | |
| Flag Officer Commanding in Chief | Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma |
The Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy is one of its three major formations.[1] It utilizes Visakhapatnam as its HQ, and has bases there and at Kolkata.
Under the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command (FOC-in-C East) is the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet (FOCEF), Commodore Commanding Submarines (East) (COMCOS (E)), Admiral Superintendent Dockyard for Visakhapatnam, shore establishments, and five Naval Officers-in-Charge (NOICs). INS Jalashwa is the flagship of Eastern Fleet and provides amphibious capabilities to Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal. Eastern Fleet is equipped with submarine pens and maintenance dockyards. The Amphibious Task Group of Eastern Naval Fleet has INS Jalashwa (LPD), Rajput Class Destroyer, Talwar Class Frigate, along with Sindhughosh Class Submarine. The Naval Aviation is provided by Sea King Helicopters.
The FOC-in-C (East) is the submarine operating authority, under whom Commodore Commanding Submarines (East) [COMCOS (E)] operate. The 11th (Sindhugosh Class) and 8th (Foxtrot Class) Submarine Squadrons operate under COMCOS (E). INS Virbahu, a submarine base commissioned on 19 May 1971, is the alma matar of the Indian Navy submariners.
Until 1997, INS Vikrant was the flagship of Eastern Fleet. After her de-commissioning in 1997, the Eastern Fleet has been without an aircraft carrier. However, by year 2012-2013 the fleet will receive either the new INS Vikrant, the indigenous aircraft carrier under construction, or INS Vikramaditya, which is now under dock trials. With dock trials starting in early 2011, final delivery to India is now almost certain in the later half of 2012.[2]