INS Virbahu is
the alma matar of the submariners. With the
acquisition of submarines, INS Virbahu, a shore
establishment was commissioned at Vishakapatanam on
19 May 1971 to provide administrative support as
well as for training of submarine personnel. With
more induction of submarines a need was felt to
establish a separate training establishment. Thus,
INS Satavahana got into being on 21 Dec 1974, also
at Vishakapatanam. INS Virbahu now primarily
functions as shore support unit for providing
administrative, logistic and operational support to
the submarines based on the East Coast.
INS Vajrabahu was commissioned at Mumbai on 01 Feb
1996. As the submarine arm kept expanding, it was
felt that it was not possible to extend all the
support available from the east coast, viz INS
Virbahu. As submarines were based at Mumbai, the
shore support from Mumbai itself commenced with
formation of Captain S/M's office established in
1974, which was later upgraded to COMSUB(West) and
re designated as Commodore Commanding Submarine(
West) (COMCOS[W]). Now, INS Vajrabahu is the shore
support unit for providing administrative, logistic
and operational support to the submarines based on
the West Coast.
A highly professional fighting arm requires an
equally highly sophisticated premier training
establishment. INS Satavahana was commissioned on 21
Dec 1974 at Vishakapatanam to meet the requirement
of the growing submarine fleet. With time, it has
also evolved and is now equipped with the state of
art training aids, equipment and simulators to
ensure that the 'sentinels of the deep' remain the
fierce prowlers and predators that they ought to be
to keep our shores clear of the enemy. It has now acquired an awesome reputation both in India and
abroad for competent and professional training
imparted to officers and men of the submarine arm.
A Class Authority for the submarines was
created in 1986 which was designated as Flag Officer
Submarines (FOSM). FOSM operates from Submarine
Headquarters which was established at
Vishakapatanam.
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