Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet

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 Chief of the Royal Indian Navy was designated Flag officer Commanding Royal Indian Navy (FOCRIN). Serving under him was the Commodore Commanding Indian Naval Squadron (COMINS), the precursor to the Fleet Commander. In 1951, the appointment was upgraded to Two-star rank and was designated Rear Admiral Commanding Indian Naval Squadron (RACINS). In 1952, with the increase in number of naval vessels, the appointment was designated Flag Officer (Flotillas) Indian Fleet (FOFIF) and Flag Officer Commanding Indian Fleet (FOCIF) in 1957.

With the establishment of the Eastern Naval Command on 1 March 1968, the Indian Fleet was renamed as the Western Fleet and the Commander was designated Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF).

The designations over time:

• 1947 – 1951 – Commodore Commanding Indian Naval Squadron (COMINS)
• 1951 – 1952 – Rear Admiral Commanding Indian Naval Squadron (RACINS)
• 1952 – 1957 – Flag Officer (Flotillas) Indian Fleet (FOFIF)
• 1957 – 1968 – Flag Officer Commanding Indian Fleet (FOCIF)
• 1968 – present – Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF)