Naval Fleet Reviews in India

The first known fleet Review in India was conducted in 1531, by the Portuguese Admiral, Nuno Da Cunha, off Bombay wherein some 400 ships participated, and a parade was held in the general area of the Esplanade. Subsequently, during the 18th century, the Maratha Navy held a fleet Review off Ratnagiri, in which traditional indian designed ships like the Pal and Galibat participated.

Fleet Reviews post Independence

In independent India, the tradition of reviewing the fleet has continued, and the privilege of receiving the salutes of the massed ships devolved to the President of India in his or her capacity as Head of of State and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Although a Naval fleet Review can be equated to the ceremony of taking the salute at a conventional ceremonial parade on land, it has a larger purpose which can be summarised as;

. To interact with with personnel of the Navy and to view their ships, thereby raising their morale.

. To Showcase Naval might to the world, which is a reflection of the country’s industrial progress, economic growth, confidence, assertiveness and global reach.

Traditionally, Review of fleet takes place once in a President’s tenure, or otherwise once in five years. However, there have been two occasions when reviews have been conducted by dignitaries other than the president- once by the visiting Shah of Iran in 1956 and once by the Defence minister, YB Chavan, in 1964, on behalf of president S Radhakrisnan, who was indisposed.

Nine Fleet Reviews, including one international fleet Review in 2011, have been conducted in India. Most fleet Reviews have been conducted in Mumbai harbour, on account of its capacity to accommodate a large number of ships at anchorages deep enough for ships with large draughts. The last review, in 2006 was, however, held off Visakhapatnam, while in 1966, the review was conducted at Sea. No Fleet Reviews were held during the tenures of President Zakir Hussein (1967 – 69), President N Sanjiva Reddy (1977 – 1982) and Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma (1992 – 97).

Highlights of Past Reviews

India’s first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, participated for the first time during a fleet Review at Sea in 1966. During the subsequent Review in 1969, an Indian submarine was displayed for the first time before President VV Giri, and in 1976, the first Indian built frigate INS Nilgiri was showcased to the world, while President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed reviewed the fleet. The Soviet built INS Rajput class destroyers, the indigenously built Godavari Class frigates and the Sea Harrier aircraft made their appearance during the review by President Giani Zail Singh in 1984. The progress in Indian shipbuilding and the advancement of Indian technology was very much in evidence when the indigenous Delhi class destroyers and Brahmaputra class frigates were proudly displayed to the world’s navies during the first ever International Fleet Review in Indian waters in 2001. This review also saw the largest ever collection of warships in Mumbai harbour. In 2006, it was decided to shift the review to the east coast, and accordingly, Visakhapatnam, the home of the Eastern Naval Command and the Eastern Fleet, was chosen as the venue.