Eastern Naval Command

Quality 0.50 · 2 views · Updated 2 months ago

title: "Eastern Naval Command" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["indian-navy", "commands-of-the-indian-navy", "military-units-and-formations-established-in-1983"] topic_path: "geography/india" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Naval_Command" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox military unit"]

FieldValue
unit_nameEastern Naval Command
imageFile:Eastern Naval Command (India).png
image_size170
captionCrest of the Eastern Naval Command
dates1968
countryIndia
branch
typeCommand
garrisonVisakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
garrison_labelHeadquarters
battle_honours
commander1Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, AVSM, NM
commander1_labelFOC-in-C
commander2Vice Admiral Susheel Menon, VSM
commander2_labelChief of Staff
commander3Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, YSM
commander3_labelFOCEF
notable_commanders
identification_symbol_2_label
::

| unit_name = Eastern Naval Command | image = File:Eastern Naval Command (India).png | image_size = 170 | caption = Crest of the Eastern Naval Command | dates = 1968 | country = India | branch = | type = Command | role = | size = | command_structure = | garrison = Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh | garrison_label = Headquarters | nickname = | motto = | colors = | colors_label = | march = | mascot = | equipment = | equipment_label = | battles = | anniversaries = | decorations = | battle_honours = | commander1 = Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, AVSM, NM | commander1_label = FOC-in-C | commander2 = Vice Admiral Susheel Menon, VSM | commander2_label = Chief of Staff | commander3 = Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, YSM | commander3_label = FOCEF | notable_commanders = | identification_symbol = | identification_symbol_label = | identification_symbol_2 = | identification_symbol_2_label = | aircraft_attack = | aircraft_bomber = | aircraft_electronic = | aircraft_fighter = | aircraft_helicopter = | aircraft_helicopter_attack = | aircraft_helicopter_cargo = | aircraft_helicopter_multirole = | aircraft_helicopter_observation = | aircraft_helicopter_trainer = | aircraft_helicopter_utility = | aircraft_interceptor = | aircraft_patrol = | aircraft_recon = | aircraft_trainer = | aircraft_transport = | aircraft_tanker = | aircraft_general = | aircraft_helicopter_transport =

The Eastern Naval Command is one of the three command-level formations of the Indian Navy. It is headquartered in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The command is responsible for the all naval forces in the Bay of Bengal and parts of the Indian Ocean and the naval establishments on the east coast of India.

The Command was established in 1983. The Command is commanded by a Three Star Flag Officer of the rank of Vice Admiral with the title Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command (FOC-in-C). Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla is the current FOC-in-C ENC, who took over on 31 October 2025.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Eastern_Naval_Command_HQ_at_Visakhapatnam.jpg" caption="The HQ of the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam."] ::

History

After the independence and the partition of India on 15 August 1947, the ships and personnel of the Royal Indian Navy were divided between the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. The division of the ships was on the basis of two-thirds of the fleet to India, one third to Pakistan.

The Surface Fleet of the Navy was called Indian Fleet and was commanded by the Flag Officer Commanding Indian Fleet (FOCIF). Initially, the shore establishments on the eastern coast were headed by a captain in the appointment of Naval Officer-in-Charge, Vishakapatnam (NOIC). This was subsequently upgraded to the appointment of Commodore East (COMEAST), a One Star appointment. The FOCIF and COMEAST reported into the Chief of the Naval Staff. In July 1967, COMEAST was upgraded to the two-star appointment of Flag Officer, East Coast (FOEC). On 1 March 1968, the Eastern Fleet was also created. With this, the appointment of FOEC was re-designated Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command (FOC-in-C ENC). The Indian Fleet was split between the Western Fleet and the Eastern Fleet with the Fleet Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF) reporting into the FOC-in-C ENC. On 1 March 1971, Vice Admiral Nilakanta Krishnan took over as FOC-in-C, the first three-star officer to lead the command.

The oldest naval establishment of the Eastern Seaboard was the INS Circars, Visakhapatnam, which was identified as "an important convoy assembly point" for the Royal Indian Navy flotillas. A small Naval Base was established there on 12 December 1939 and the base was designated as HMIS Circars on 12 April 1942. Now, the base is the base depot ship of the Eastern Naval Command. It is the logistics and administrative support establishment of the Command, supporting all ships and units based in Visakhapatnam. As of 2018, the establishment supports 52 additional units with strength of 2,300 sailors and 400 officers, besides accommodating live-in sailors of Circars.

Area of responsibility

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).

The Eastern naval Command has the states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu etc., under its area of responsibility.

The FOC-in-C (East) is the submarine operating authority, under whom COMCOS (E) operates. The 11th (Sindhughosh class submarine) and 8th (Foxtrot class) Submarine Squadrons operate under COMCOS (E). INS Virbahu, a submarine base commissioned on 19 May 1971, is the alma mater of the Indian Navy submariners. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/INS_Jalashwa_departs_Maldives.jpg" caption="[[INS Jalashwa]] flagship of Eastern Naval Command"] ::

Organization

The Eastern Naval Command is organized as follows: ::data[format=table]

PostCurrent HolderReferences
Flag Officer Commanding-in-ChiefVice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, AVSM, NM
Chief of StaffVice Admiral Susheel Menon, VSM
Flag Officer Commanding Eastern FleetRear Admiral Alok Ananda, YSM
Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu & Puducherry Naval AreaRear Admiral Ravi Kumar Dhingra, VSM
Flag Officer SubmarinesRear Admiral Chetan C Chandegave
Admiral Superintendent Dockyard (ASD) - VisakhapatnamRear Admiral R. Vijay Sekhar, AVSM, NM
Commodore Commanding Submarines (East)Commodore L. M. Fernandes
::

Naval bases

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Admiral_DK_Joshi_receives_a_guard_of_honour_during_a_visit_to_the_Eastern_Naval_Command_in_November_2013.jpeg" caption="Admiral DK Joshi, then Chief of the Naval Staff, receiving a guard of honour during a visit to the Eastern Naval Command in November 2013"] ::

The headquarters in Visakhapatnam, is also a strategically important dockyard for two nuclear-powered submarines of the Arihant-class submarine. Due to congestion and heavy shipping traffic, a new 20 square km base INS Varsha is being developed for exclusive naval use about 50 km south of Visakhapatnam.

The Eastern Navy fleet is distributed among its bases at Paradip, Tuticorin, Kakinada and Chennai on the east coast, and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Vikrant_Museum_Ship.jpg" caption="The ex-INS ''Vikrant'' as a museum ship in Mumbai."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/IAC1_Vikrant_during_sea_trials_(cropped).png" caption="INS Vikrant during its sea trials"] ::

::data[format=table]

BaseCityState/TerritoryRole
INS CircarsVisakhapatnamAndhra PradeshLogistics and Administrative support
INS DegaNaval Air Station
INS VirbahuSubmarine base
INS SatavahanaSubmarine Training Base of the Indian Navy
INHS KalyaniNaval Hospital
INS KalingaNaval Missile Depot
INS EksilaMarine gas turbine maintenance
INS KarnaMARCOS Base
INS Varsha (Under Construction)RambilliFuture submarine base for the ENC
INS AdyarChennaiTamil NaduLogistics and Maintenance support
NAE ChennaiNaval Air Enclave at Chennai International Airport
INS ParunduUchipuliNaval Air Station
INS RajaliArakkonamNaval Air Station
INS KattabommanTirunelveliSubmarine VLF facility
INS TuticorinTuticorinLogistics support
INS Netaji SubhashKolkataWest BengalLogistics and Administrative support
INS Paradip (Under Construction)ParadipOdishaForward Operating Base
INS Bhubaneswar (Under Construction)BhubaneswarNaval Air Enclave
::

Capabilities

In 2005, Eastern Naval Command was home to 30 warships. INS Jalashwa is the flagship of Eastern Fleet and provides amphibious capabilities to the 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). It also includes five Rajput-class destroyers, four Kora-class corvettes, three Godavari-class frigates, three Shivalik-class frigates, Sindhughosh-class submarines and the INS Chakra. Naval aviation is provided by Westland Sea King helicopters. Apart from these, a number of smaller vessels such as fast attack craft made the total fleet strength of the command 52 vessels in 2012.

Future

Until 1997, was the flagship of Eastern Fleet. After her de-commissioning in 1997, the Eastern Fleet has been without an aircraft carrier. Its aircraft carrier capability will get restored after first indigenously built aircraft carrier joins the Eastern Fleet by 2023 after completing extensive sea trials and is likely to based in Vishakapatnam.

List of commanders

::data[format=table]

S.NoNameAssumed officeLeft officeNotesReferences
Naval Officer-in-Charge, Visakhapatnam (NOIC Visakhapatnam)
1Captain Geoffrey Gowlland11 January 194812 December 1951Seconded from the Royal Navy
2Captain Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman12 December 19512 December 1953First Indian appointee. Later served as Chief of the Naval Staff.title=Press Note
3Captain Reginald Sawhny2 December 1953June 1954title=I.N. Appointments
4Captain Reginald Sherring David27 December 1954
Commodore, East Coast (COMEAST)
1Commodore Manchar Krishna Heble12 June 19585 February 1960
2Commodore G. S. Kapoor5 February 1960June 1962
3Commodore Jai Shankar Mehra14 June 1962June 1965
4Commodore Douglas St. John CameronJune 196531 May 1967
Flag Officer, East Coast (FOEC)
1Rear Admiral Kesavapillai Ramakrishnan NairJuly 19671 March 1968
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command (FOC-in-C ENC)
1Rear Admiral Kesavapillai Ramakrishnan Nair1 March 19681 March 1971title=Admiral Krishnan Takes Over as FOC-in-C Eastern Naval Command
2Vice Admiral Nilakanta Krishnan PVSM, DSC1 March 1971March 1973
3Vice Admiral K. L. KulkarniMarch 19731 April 1976
4Vice Admiral Swaraj Parkash1 April 19761 March 1977
5Vice Admiral S. H. Sarma1 March 19772 February 1978
6Vice Admiral M. R. Schunker2 February 197824 March 1980
7Vice Admiral Mihir K. Roy24 March 198031 March 1984
8Vice Admiral Jayant Ganpat Nadkarni8 April 198428 February 1986Later served as Chief of the Naval Staff
9Vice Admiral S. C. Chopra28 February 198627 February 1989
10Vice Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas27 February 198930 November 1990Later served as Chief of the Naval Staff
11Vice Admiral Vijai Singh Shekhawat31 December 199031 October 1992Later served as Chief of the Naval Staff
12Vice Admiral B. Guha10 November 199231 May 1995
13Vice Admiral P. S. Das31 May 199527 February 1998
14Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha28 February 199828 February 2001
15Vice Admiral John Colin De Silva1 March 20011 January 2002
16Vice Admiral Raman Puri15 January 200230 September 2003title=VizagCityOnline.com - Vizag Snapshots
17Vice Admiral O. P. Bansal1 October 200330 September 2005url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=11492
18Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta1 October 200531 October 2006Later served as Chief of the Naval Staff
19Vice Admiral Arun Kumar Singh1 November 200631 March 2007
20Vice Admiral Raman Prem Suthan1 April 200730 March 2008Later served as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
21Vice Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma1 April 200831 August 2009Later served as Chief of the Naval Staff
22Vice Admiral Anup Singh1 September 200931 October 2011
23Vice Admiral Anil Chopra1 November 20112014Later served as FOC-in-C Western Naval Command
24Vice Admiral Satish Soni16 June 201429 February 2016
25Vice Admiral Harish Bisht1 March 201630 October 2017
26Vice Admiral Karambir Singh31 October 201730 May 2019Later served as Chief of the Naval Staff
27Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain1 June 201928 February 2021url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=190135
28Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh28 February 202128 November 2021Later served as FOC-in-C Western Naval Commandurl=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/vice-admiral-ab-singh-to-take-over-as-foc-in-c-of-enc/article33952380.ece
29Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta1 December 202131 July 2023
30Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar1 August 202331 October 2025
31Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla31 October 2025Present
::

References

References

  1. "Organisation of the Eastern Naval Command". Indian Navy.
  2. "The might of the Indian Navy: ENC - Times of India".
  3. "CM Chandrababu Naidu envisions Andhra Pradesh as maritime gateway of India".
  4. Bhatia (1977), p. 28: "Consequent on the partition of the country on 15 August 1947, two thirds of the undivided fleet and associated assets came to India."
  5. (17 July 1967). "Admiral Nair, New Flag Officer, East Coast".
  6. (2000). "Transition to triumph : history of the Indian Navy, 1965-1975". Lancer Publishers.
  7. (1 November 1973). "Vice Admiral to Head Eastern Naval Command".
  8. (2014-12-11). "Platinum jubilee of INS Circars today". The Hindu.
  9. (2018-12-11). "Indian Naval Ship Circars".
  10. "Indian Navy ENC Authorities & Units". Indian Navy.
  11. "Organisation {{!}} Indian Navy".
  12. (31 October 2025). "Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla takes charge as flag officer commanding-in-chief, eastern naval command".
  13. "Eastern Naval Command".
  14. "The Eastern Sword".
  15. "Change of Command - Flag Officer Commanding TN and P Naval Area {{!}} Indian Navy".
  16. "Spokesperson Navy".
  17. "Rear Adm R Vijay Sekhar Takes Over as Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam".
  18. "Cmde LM Fernandes took over as Commodore Commanding Submarines (East) and CO #INSVirbahu from Cmde Chetan Chandegave.".
  19. (31 December 2012). "Navy boosting Eastern flank". New Indian Express.
  20. "ENC Authorities & Units {{!}} Indian Navy".
  21. "Navy chief's maiden visit to ENC today".
  22. "N O I C (OR) {{!}} Indian Navy".
  23. "INS Vikramaditya Trials Finally Begin".
  24. (February 2024). "Indigenous carrier INS Vikrant likely to be based in Visakhapatnam - The Economic Times".
  25. "INS Vikrant aircraft carrier to be based in Vizag - The New Indian Express".
  26. "The Navy List for May 1952". HM Stationery Office.
  27. (18 November 1951). "Press Note".
  28. "The Navy List for May 1953". HM Stationery Office.
  29. (28 November 1953). "I.N. Appointments".
  30. (25 June 1954). "I. N. Appointments".
  31. (22 August 1955). "Naval Chief's Visit to the Circars".
  32. "The Navy List for May 1955". HM Stationery Office.
  33. (23 August 1958). "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India.
  34. (9 April 1960). "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India.
  35. (29 April 1961). "Senior Naval Officers to Meet".
  36. (7 July 1962). "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)". The Gazette of India.
  37. (15 February 1964). "New Naval Establishment at Andamans".
  38. (9 August 1965). "Defence Minister Visits Naval Installations at Vishakapatnam".
  39. (28 February 1971). "Admiral Krishnan Takes Over as FOC-in-C Eastern Naval Command".
  40. (2 March 1973). "Admiral Krishnan To Head Cochin Shipyard".
  41. (1 April 1976). "Admiral Kulkarni Retires".
  42. (28 February 1976). "New Senior Naval Appointments".
  43. (2 April 1976). "Admiral Parkash to Head Eastern Naval Command".
  44. (8 March 1977). "Admiral Sarma to Head Eastern Naval Command".
  45. (2 February 1978). "Admiral Schunker to Head Eastern Naval Command".
  46. (1 April 1980). "Vice Admiral Schunker Takes Over as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff".
  47. (23 March 1980). "New Naval Commander-in-Chief for the Bay of Bengal".
  48. (6 April 1984). "Senior Naval Appointments".
  49. (8 April 1984). "Vice Admiral Nadkarni Takes Over Eastern Naval Command".
  50. (28 February 1986). "Vice Admiral Nadkarni New Vice Chief of Navy".
  51. (28 December 1990). "Vice Admiral Chopra Takes Over Eastern Naval Command".
  52. "Loss of INS Andaman points to maintenance problems in Indian Navy".
  53. (28 December 1990). "New Vice Chief, Flag Officer Commanders-in-Chief and Deputy Chief for Indian Navy".
  54. (10 November 1992). "New Deputy Chief of Naval Staff".
  55. (1 June 1995). "P. S. Das, New Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command".
  56. (26 February 1998). "Top Naval Appointments Announced by the Government".
  57. . (1 March 2001). ["Major shake up in naval command structure"](https://www.rediff.com/news/2001/mar/01navy.htm). *Rediff.com*.
  58. "VizagCityOnline.com - Vizag Snapshots".
  59. "Navy officer to head Integrated Defence Staff".
  60. "Press Information Bureau".
  61. "Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta, takes over as Foc-In-C East".
  62. "Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta to be the next Naval Chief".
  63. "Vice Admiral R P Suthan to head Eastern Naval Command - Times of India". The Times of India.
  64. "Vice Admiral Raman P Suthan, AVSM VSM appointed Foc-in-C East".
  65. "domain-b.com : Vice Adm N Verma to head eastern naval command, Vice Adm RP Suthan is new vice chief".
  66. "..:: India Strategic ::.. Vice Admiral Anup Singh AVSM NSM".
  67. "Vice Admiral Anil Chopra Takes over as The Commander-in-chief of The Eastern Naval Command {{!}} Indian Navy".
  68. (2011-10-29). "Vice Admiral Anil Chopra appointed as FOC-in-C, Eastern Naval Command {{!}} NetIndian".
  69. "India: Admiral Chopra Takes Over as Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Naval Command". Naval Today.
  70. (2014-06-17). "Satish Soni takes over as ENC chief". The Hindu.
  71. "Vice Admiral Satish Soni takes over as FOC-in-C East {{!}} Indian Navy".
  72. "Vice Admiral HCS Bisht taking over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command {{!}} Indian Navy".
  73. "Vice Admiral Karambir Singh takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ENC".
  74. (2019-05-30). "Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ENC".
  75. (28 February 2021). "Vice Admiral A.B. Singh to take over as FOC-in-C of ENC". The Hindu.
  76. (2021-11-28). "ENC bids Farewell to Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh". United News of India.
  77. (1 December 2021). "Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, AVSM, YSM, VSM Takes Over As The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ENC". Government of India.
  78. "Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, AVSM, VSM Takes Over As The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ENC". Government of India.
  79. (31 October 2025). "Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla takes charge as flag officer commanding-in-chief, eastern naval command".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

indian-navycommands-of-the-indian-navymilitary-units-and-formations-established-in-1983