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{{Short description|Former Indian Navy appointment}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Fortress Commander, <br/> Andaman and Nicobar Islands (FORTAN)
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| abbreviation = FORTAN
| member_of =
| reports_to = [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command]]
| residence =
| seat = [[Port Blair]], [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
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| precursor = Commodore, Andaman & Nicobar (COMAN)
| formation = 1977
| first = [[Commodore (India)|Commodore]] HML Saxena
| last = [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] OP Bansal
| abolished = 2001
| superseded_by = [[Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command]]
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}}

The '''Fortress Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Islands (FORTAN)''' was a senior appointment of the [[Indian Navy]]. As the head of the Fortress, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, FORTAN was based at [[Port Blair]] in the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], a [[Union Territory]] of [[India]]. The Fortress and the appointment were disbanded in 2001 after the [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]] was operationalised as the first [[Integrated Theatre Command (India)|Integrated Theatre Command]] of India.

The first FORTAN was [[Commodore (India)|Commodore]] HML Saxena, who took over in 1977 and the last was [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] OP Bansal who relinquished charge as FORTAN on 27 September 2001.

==History==
The [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] became a [[Union territory]] of India in 1956. The first military unit on the islands was the [[naval base]] [[INS Jarawa]], which was commissioned in 1964.<ref name=in-transition>{{cite book|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/t2t2e/Trans2Trimph/chapters/20%20repair%20refeit%20facility.htm|chapter=Chapter 20 - Maintenance, Repair And Refit Facilities|title=Transition to Triumph|author=Vice Admiral [[Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani]]|publisher=Indian Navy|access-date=2012-01-09}}</ref> The base was commanded by a Resident Naval Officer (RNO). After establishing subsequent garrisons in the islands, the post was upgraded to Naval Officer-in-Charge Andaman & Nicobar (NOIC A&N).{{sfn|Singh|2018|p=299}} The naval establishments were under the command of the [[Eastern Naval Command]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. In October 1976, the operational control of all forces in the islands was given, and the post was upgraded to Commodore, Andaman & Nicobar (COMAN). In 1977, all establishments came under the newly created Fortress Andaman & Nicobar to signify jointness. The appointment was re-designated to Fortress Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Islands (FORTAN). Commodore HML Saxena, the COMAN, took over as the first FORTAN.{{sfn|Hiranandani|2010}}

In March 1981, FORTAN was upgraded to a [[Two-star rank|Two star]] appointment tenanted by a [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]].<ref>{{cite web |title=h5 |url=http://www.sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2011/oct16-11/h5.htm |website=www.sainiksamachar.nic.in |access-date=2025-08-27 |archive-date=2012-09-10 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910211916/http://www.sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2011/oct16-11/h5.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1987, the post was further upgraded to a [[Three-star rank|three star]] appointment.{{sfn|Hiranandani|2005}} In 1998, a 'Far East Naval Command' (FENC) was proposed, to be commanded by a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Far East Naval Command. However, this proposal was changed in the aftermath of the [[Kargil War]]. The Kargil Review Committee recommended the establishment of a tri-service command replacing the FORTAN by a Commander-in-Chief Andaman & Nicobar to control the assets of the three Services and the [[Indian Coast Guard]]. {{sfn|Singh|2018|p=300}}

The recommendation was implemented with the [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]] being operationalised in October 2001 and [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Arun Prakash]] taking over as the First [[Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command]] (CINCAN).<ref>{{cite web |title=ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR COMMAND BEING OPERATIONALISED |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/2001-AUG-OCT-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-III/PDF/DEF-2001-09-28_136.pdf}}</ref>

==List of Commanders==
The following is a list of Commanders-in-Chief of the A&N command.{{sfn|Mukherjee|Mohan|2015}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col" style="width: 40px;"|S.No.
! scope="col" style="width: 450px;" | Name
! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Assumed office
! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Left office
! scope="col" style="width: 500px;" | Notes
|-
|1
|[[Commodore (India)|Commodore]] HML Saxena {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|NM}}}}
|1977
|1980
|<ref>{{cite web |title=National Staff College for Educational Planners and Adnninistrators |url=https://hindi.niepa.ac.in/download/Publications/Annual%20Reports_archives/NIEPA%20Annual%20Report%201977-78.pdf |website=hindi,niepa.ac.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
|2
|[[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] RP Sawhney {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}
|27 June 1980 {{refn|Post upgraded to Rear Admiral in March 1981.|group= n}}
|30 June 1982
|Later [[Commandant of the National Defence Academy]] and [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Commodore Sawhney takes over as Fortress Commander |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1980-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1980-06-27_216.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Admiral Sawhney appointed Commandant NDA |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1982-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1982-06-29_268.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
|3
|[[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] Arindam Ghosh {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|VSM}}}}
|1 July 1982
|15 May 1983
|
|-
|4
|[[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] RR Sood {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|VrC|NM}}}}
|15 May 1983
|29 April 1986
|<ref>{{cite web |title=First Naval Air Station in Andamans |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1985-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1985-05-11_157.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
|5
|[[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] [[Arun Auditto]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM|NM}}}}
|30 April 1986
|30 March 1987
|First [[Flag Officer Submarines (India)|Flag Officer Submarines]].
|-
|6
|[[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] SP Govil {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}
|30 March 1987
|1 September 1988
|Later [[Commandant of the National Defence College]], [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command]] and [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]].<ref>{{cite web |title=New Fortress Commander for Andamans |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1987-JUNE-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1987-03-30_104.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral Govil appointed Commandant, NDC |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1988-JULY-DEC-DEFENCE-II/PDF/DEF-1988-08-31_065.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
|7
|[[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] SW Lakhkar {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|NM|VSM}}}}
|5 October 1988
|28 June 1990
|Later [[Director General of the Indian Coast Guard]].<ref>{{cite web |title=New Fortress Commander for Andaman & Nicobar Islands |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1988-JULY-DEC-DEFENCE-II/PDF/DEF-1988-10-05_105.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
|8
|[[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] JMS Sodhi {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|VSM}}}}
|13 July 1990
|23 September 1990
|
|-
|9
|[[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] Inderjit Bedi {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}
|24 September 1990
|26 August 1991
|Later [[Commandant of the National Defence Academy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=New Fortress Commander for Andaman and Nicobar |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1990-JULY-DEC-DEFENCE-II/PDF/DEF-1990-09-16_082.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
|10
|[[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] SK Chand {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}
|16 August 1991
|29 August 1992
|Later [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command]] and [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]].<ref>{{cite web |title=New Fortress Commander and Commandant NDA |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1991-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1991-08-02_188.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral SK Chand takes over Southern Naval Command |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1992-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1992-08-29_193.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
|11
|[[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] PS Das {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|UYSM|VSM}}}}
|29 August 1992
|13 May 1994
|Later [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command]].<ref>{{cite web |title=PS DAS, NEW FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF EASTERN NAVAL COMMAND |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1995-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1995-06-01_118.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
|12
|[[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Sushil Kumar (admiral)|Sushil Kumar]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|UYSM|AVSM|NM}}}}
|13 May 1994
|30 November 1995
|Later [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]].<ref>{{cite web |title=New Fortress Commander |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1994-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE-/PDF/DEF-1994-05-06_175.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
|13
|[[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[R. N. Ganesh]] {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM|NM}}}}
|30 November 1995
|11 November 1996
|Later [[Director General Indian Coast Guard]] and [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral RN Ganesh is the New Fortress Commander |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1995-DEFENCE%20(2)/PDF/DEF-1995-12-05_173.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
|14
|[[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] Harinder Singh {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM}}}}
|12 November 1996
|12 March 1999
|Later [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral Harinder Singh takes over as Fortress Commander |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1996-JULY-DEC-DEFENCE-III/PDF/DEF-1996-11-13_177.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Navy to host MILAN-97 at Port Blair |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1997-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1997-02-12_044.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
|15
|[[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] Raman Puri {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM|VSM}}}}
|13 March 1999
|20 November 2000
|Later [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command]] and [[Chief of Integrated Defence Staff]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Appointments |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/2000-OCT-DEC-MIN-OF-DEC/PDF/DEF-2000-11-24_111.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
|16
|[[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] OP Bansal {{small|{{postnominals|country=IND|sep=,|AVSM|VSM}}}}
|13 March 1999
|20 November 2000
|Later [[Director General of the Indian Coast Guard]], [[Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command]] and [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Vice Admiral OP Bansal takes over as Director General Indian Coast Guard |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/2001-AUG-OCT-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-III/PDF/DEF-2001-10-01_142.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |access-date=27 August 2025}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
* [[Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist |30em|group=n}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{citation|first1=G M|last1=Hiranandani|title=Transition to eminence : the Indian navy 1976-1990|year=2005|isbn=978-8170622666|publisher=Lancer Publishers}}
*{{citation|first1=G. M.|last1=Hiranandani|title=Transition to Guardianship: The Indian Navy 1991-2000|year=2010|isbn= 978-1935501268|publisher= Lancer InterConsult, Incorporated}}
* {{citation|first1=Anup|last1=Singh|title=Blue Waters Ahoy!, The Indian Navy 2001-2010 |year=2018|isbn= 978-93-5302-552-6|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers India}}
* {{citation|first1=Anit|last1=Mukherjee|first2=C. Raja|last2=Mohan|title=India's Naval Strategy and Asian Security |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-317-36133-6 |publisher=Routledge}}

{{Military of India}}
{{Indian Army}}
{{Indian Navy}}

[[Category:Indian Army]]
[[Category:Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force]]
[[Category:Indian military appointments]]
[[Category:Fortress Commanders, Andaman and Nicobar Islands| ]]

Fortress Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Revision history

Realsouravbiswas: new a article