Flag Officer Submarines (India): Difference between revisions

The submarine arm of the [[Indian Navy]] was formed with the commissioning of {{ship|INS|Kalvari|S23}} in December 1967. Three other submarines – {{ship|INS|Khanderi|1968|2}}, {{ship|INS|Karanj|S21|2}} and {{ship|INS|Kursura|S20|2}} were acquired from the [[Soviet Union]] and the 8th Submarine squadron was formed.{{sfn|Singh|1991|p=217}} The [[submarine base]] [[INS Virbahu]] in [[Visakhapatnam]] was commissioned on 19 May 1971 as the shore support base for submarines.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shekhawat |first1=Adm VS |title=A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART |journal=Quarterdeck |issue=2021}}</ref> The Commanding Officer of ''Virbahu'' functioned as the Captain of the submarine squadron and the class Authority for all submarines.{{sfn|Hiranandani|2022}}

In 1985, the Navy's Command and Control structure was streamlined. To rationalise Command and Control of the Submarine Arm, a single-point class authority was constituted which would be located at the Submarine Headquarters in Visakhapatnam. This authority would be responsible for all training and maintenance of submarines, analogous to Flag Officer Naval Aviation (FONA).{{sfn|Hiranandani|2022}} The authority was christened '''Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM)''' and Rear Admiral [[Arun Auditto]], {{small|[[AVSM]], [[Nau Sena Medal|NM]]}} took over as the first FOSM.<ref name="Submarine Firsts">{{cite web |title=Firsts in Submarine Arm of IN {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/firsts-submarine-arm |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref> The FOSM was to be responsible to NHQ for all Class Authority and training functions in regard to submarines. The FOSM would be under the administrative control of the [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command]]. (FOC-in-C ENC), but interact with the FOC-in-C of both Eastern Naval Command and [[Western Naval Command]] on all matters related to his charter of duties.

In the 1990s, the need for a senior officer at Naval headquarters was felt. The officer would impart senior level advice on submarine matters. On 14 October 1996, the appointment of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Submarines) (ACNS SM) was created. Rear Admiral Arun Kumar Singh, {{small|[[AVSM]], [[Nau Sena Medal|NM]]}} took over as the first ACNS (SM).<ref name="Submarine Firsts"/> He also dual-hatted as the FOSM. While the policy decisions were taken by the FOSM, the administration of the submarine HQ was carried out by a [[Commodore (India)|Commodore]].<ref name="Submarine Firsts"/>{{sfn|Hiranandani|2022}} The ACNS functioned under the [[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]]. In January 2001, the post of ACNS (SM) was instituted as a separate billet. The ACNS (SM) is based at NHQ while the FOSM is based at Visakhapatnam.{{sfn|Singh|2018|p=248}}