View source for Royal Indian Navy

{{short description|(1612–1947) military force}}
{{about|the navy of the British Indian Empire (1612–1947) and the navy of the Dominion of India (1947–1950) |the current navy of the Republic of India|Indian Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Royal Indian Navy
| image                         = File:Crest of the Royal Indian Navy (1947).svg
| image_size                    = 150px
| caption                       = 
| dates                         = 5 September 1612 – 26 January 1950<ref>{{cite news|url=https://indiannavy.nic.in/content/genesis-indian-navy|title=Genesis of Indian Navy|access-date=8 January 2022}}</ref>
| country                       = 
:{{flagicon|East India Company}} [[Company rule in India|Company ruled India]]
:{{flagcountry|British India}}
:{{flag|Dominion of India}}
| allegiance                    = 
| type                          = [[Navy]]
| size                          = 20,000 personnel During WW2 (1943)<ref name=amollo144>{{cite book|first=Andrew|last=Mollo|page=144|title=Naval, Marine and Air Force uniforms of World War 2|year=1976|publisher=Macmillan |isbn=0-02-579391-8}}</ref> to 
9,600 personnel by Independence after post war demobilization (1947)<ref name="Lancer's Publications and Distributors">{{cite book |last1=Goldrick |first1=James Vincent Purcell |author-link1=James Goldrick |title=No Easy Answers: The development of the navies of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka (1945-1996) |date=1997 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |location=London, UK |isbn=9781897829-028 |pages=270 |edition=1st |chapter-url=http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/PIAMA02.pdf |access-date=29 January 2019 |chapter=The Pakistan Navy (1947-71)}}</ref><ref>According to Rear Admiral Goldrick, one-third of the Navy personnel went to join the Pakistan Navy, which was about ~3200 personnel, while overwhelmingly two-thirds of the personnel were retained in the Indian Navy after the partition. One-thirds of the ~9,600 is ~3,200.</ref>
| command_structure             = 
| garrison                      = [[Bombay]]
| garrison_label                = 
| nickname                      = ''RIN''
| motto                         = 
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| colors                        = 
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| equipment                     = 
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| battles                       = [[Seven Years' War]] <br />[[American War of Independence]] <br />[[Napoleonic Wars]]<br> [[Anglo-Burmese Wars]] <br />[[First Opium War]] <br />[[Second Opium War]] <br />[[World War I|First World War]] <br />[[World War II|Second World War]]
| anniversaries                 = 
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| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = [[File:Flag of Imperial India.svg|200px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = Naval Ensign (1877-1928)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ensign of the Royal Indian Marine (1927-1947) |url=https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-723 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907003317/https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-723 |archive-date=September 7, 2024 |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=www.rmg.co.uk |publisher=[[Royal Museums Greenwich]] |place=[[National Maritime Museum]]}}</ref> & Naval Jack (1928-1947)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Indian Navy Jack with Star of India Badge. |url=https://www.flagcollection.com/itemdetails.php?CollectionItem_ID=2599 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907040841/https://www.flagcollection.com/itemdetails.php?CollectionItem_ID=2599 |archive-date=September 7, 2024 |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=www.flagcollection.com |publisher=Zaricor Flag Collection}}</ref>
| identification_symbol_2       = [[File:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|200px]]

| identification_symbol_2_label = Naval Ensign (1928-1950)
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| identification_symbol_3       = [[File:Naval Jack of Royal Indian Marine.svg|200px]]
| identification_symbol_3_label = Naval Jack (1884-1928)<ref>{{Cite web |title=
Jack of Royal Indian Marine before 1928 |url=https://www.fotw.info/flags/in-colon.html#flag |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829044432/https://www.fotw.info/flags/in-colon.html#flag |archive-date=August 29, 2024 |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=www.crwflags.com/fotw/ |publisher=FOTW Flags Of The World |place= }}</ref> 
}}

The '''Royal Indian Navy''' ('''RIN''') was the naval force of [[British Raj|British India]] and the [[Dominion of India]]. Along with the [[presidency armies]], later the [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]], and from 1932 the [[Royal Indian Air Force]], it was one of the Armed Forces of British India.

From its origins in 1612 as the '''East India Company's Marine''', the Navy underwent various changes, including changes to its name. Over time it was named the '''Bombay Marine''' (1686), the '''Bombay Marine Corps''' (1829), the '''Indian Navy''' (1830), '''Her Majesty's Indian Navy''' (1858), the '''Bombay and Bengal Marine''' (1863), the '''Indian Defence Force''' (1871), '''Her Majesty's Indian Marine''' (1877) and the '''Royal Indian Marine''' (1892). It was finally named the '''Royal Indian Navy''' in 1934. However, it remained a relatively small force until the [[World War II|Second World War]], when it was greatly expanded.

After the [[partition of India]] into two independent states in 1947, the Navy was split between India and Pakistan.  One-third of the assets and personnel were assigned to the [[Pakistan Navy]]. Approximately two thirds of the fleet remained with the Union of India, as did all land assets within its territory.   This force, still under the name of "Royal Indian Navy", became the navy of the Dominion of India until the country became a republic on 26 January 1950. It was then renamed the [[Indian Navy]].

==History==
{{main|History of the Indian Navy}}

[[File:Battery breaching the Delhi Gate of the town, manned by European sailors of the Indian Navy. Jan. 1, 1849 - ILN 1849.jpg|thumb|Sailors of the Indian Navy breaching the Delhi gates during the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]].]]
[[File:Organisation of Royal Indian Marine, 1914.svg|alt=Organisation of Royal Indian Marine, 1914|thumb|Organisation of Royal Indian Marine, 1914]]
[[File:HMIS Bombay (305827).jpg|thumb|[[HMIS Bombay (J249)|HMIS ''Bombay'']] in [[Sydney Harbour]], 1942.]]
[[File:Commonwealth Forces in Burma IND4428.jpg|thumb|Royal Indian Naval personnel on board a landing craft during combined operations off [[Myebon]], [[Burma]], January 1945.]]
[[File:The Allied Occupation of Japan IND5225.jpg|thumb|[[HMIS Sutlej|HMIS ''Sutlej'']] leaves [[Hong Kong]] for [[Japan]] as part of the Allied forces of occupation.]]

===East India Company===
====1612–1830, the Bombay Marine====
{{further|East India Company|Company rule in India|List of vessels of the Bombay Marine (1798)}}

The [[East India Company]] was established in 1599, and it began to create a fleet of fighting ships in 1612, soon after Captain [[Thomas Best (navy captain)|Thomas Best]] defeated the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] at the [[Battle of Swally]]. This led the company to build a port and to establish a small navy based at [[Suvali]], in [[Surat]], [[Gujarat]], to protect its trade routes. The Company named the force the 'Honourable East India Company's Marine', and the first fighting ships arrived on 5 September 1612.<ref name=bhatia15>Harbans Singh Bhatia, ''Military History of British India, 1607-1947'' (1977), p. 15</ref>

This force protected [[merchant shipping]] off the [[Gulf of Cambay]] and the rivers [[River Tapti|Tapti]] and [[River Narmada|Narmada]].  The ships also helped map the coastlines of India, Persia and Arabia.<ref name=low>[[Charles Rathbone Low]], ''History of the Indian Navy: (1613-1863)'' (R. Bentley & Son, 1877)</ref> During the 17th century, the small naval fleet consisted of a few English warships and a large number of locally built gunboats of two types, ''[[Grab (ship)|ghurabs]]'' and ''[[Gallivat (boat)|gallivats]]'', crewed by local fishermen. The larger ''ghurabs'' were heavy, shallow-draft [[gunboat]]s of 300 tons ([[Builder's Old Measurement|bm]]) each, and carried six 9 to 12-pounder guns; the smaller ''gallivats'' were about 70 tons (bm) each and carried six 2 to 4-pounder guns.<ref name=ensigns36>Rear Admiral Satyindra Singh AVSM, ''Under Two Ensigns: The Indian Navy 1945-1950'' (1986), p. 36</ref> In 1635, the East India Company established a [[shipyard]] at [[Surat]], where they built four [[Pinnace (ship's boat)|pinnaces]] and a few larger vessels to supplement their fleet.<ref>Singh 1986, p. 40</ref>

In 1686, with most of the English commerce moving to [[Bombay]], the force was renamed the "Bombay Marine".<ref name=bhatia15/> This force fought the [[Maratha]]s and the Sidis and took part in the [[Anglo-Burmese Wars]]. While it recruited Indian sailors extensively, it had no Indian commissioned officers.<ref name=low/>

[[Sir William James, 1st Baronet|Commodore William James]] was appointed to command the Marine in 1751. On 2 April 1755, commanding the Bombay Marine's ship ''Protector'', he attacked the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] fortress of Tulaji Angre at [[Suvarnadurg|Severndroog]] between [[Bombay]] and [[Goa]]. James had instructions only to blockade the stronghold, but he was able to get close enough to bombard and destroy it.<ref name=low/>

In February 1756, the Marine supported the capture of Gheriah ([[Vijaydurg Fort]]) by [[Robert Clive]] and Admiral Watson, and was active in skirmishes against the French, helping to consolidate the British position in India.<ref name=low/> In 1809, a fleet of 12 ships of the Marine bombarded the city of [[Ras al-Khaimah]], a pirate stronghold, in an unsuccessful attempt to quell Arab piracy. A subsequent mission in 1819 with 11 vessels proved successful in blockading the city for four days, after which the tribal chieftain surrendered.

In 1829, the "Bombay Marine" received the additional name of "Corps", and also received its first steam-powered vessel,  {{ship|HCS|Hugh Lindsay|1829|6}}. Steaming from Bombay on 20 March 1830, ''Hugh Lindsay'' reached [[Suez]] after 21 days under steam (plus coaling stops at [[Aden]], [[Mocha Island|Mocha]], and [[Jeddah]]), at an average speed of six knots.<ref name="Admiral Satyindra Singh AVSM 1986 p. 40-41">Rear Admiral Satyindra Singh AVSM, ''Under Two Ensigns: The Indian Navy 1945-1950'' (1986), p. 40-41</ref> Between 1830 and 1854 the Indian Navy was responsible for maintaining mail service on the Bombay and Suez leg of the "overland route" (England–Alexandria, Alexandria–Suez overland, and Suez–Bombay).

====1830–1858====

In 1830, the Bombay Marine was renamed the "Indian Navy". The British capture of [[Aden]] in the [[Aden Expedition]] increased its commitments, leading to the creation of the "Indus Flotilla". The Navy then took part in the [[First Opium War]] of 1840.<ref name=low/> By 1845, the Indian Navy had completed the conversion from sail to steam.<ref name="Admiral Satyindra Singh AVSM 1986 p. 40-41"/>

In 1848, an Indian Navy contingent of 100 ratings and seven officers took part in the [[Siege of Multan (1848-1849)|Siege of Multan]] during the [[Second Anglo-Sikh War|Anglo-Sikh War]].<ref>Rear Admiral Satyindra Singh AVSM, ''Under Two Ensigns: The Indian Navy 1945-1950'' (1986), p. 42</ref> In 1852, at the outset of the [[Second Anglo-Burmese War]], ships of Her Majesty's Indian Navy joined a [[Royal Navy]] force under the command of [[Charles Austen|Admiral Charles Austen]] to assist [[Henry Godwin (army officer)|General Godwin]] in the capture of [[Martaban]] and [[Rangoon]].<ref>Edmund Burke, ed., ''The Annual Register of the Year 1852'' (Longmans, Green, 1853), [https://books.google.com/books?id=d5k-AAAAYAAJ&pg=283 p. 283]</ref> Nabarun Rudra Paul, the great captain of India leased that time.

===Direct British rule in India===
After the end of [[Company rule in India]] following the [[Indian rebellion of 1857]], the force came under the command of the British government of India and was formally named "Her Majesty's Indian Navy".<ref name=low/>

====1858–1934====
Her Majesty's Indian Navy resumed the name "Bombay Marine" from 1863 to 1877, when it was renamed "Her Majesty's Indian Marine" (HMIM).  The Marine then had two divisions; an Eastern Division at [[Calcutta]] and a Western Division at Bombay.

{{anchor|Indian Marine Service Act 1884}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Indian Marine Service Act 1884
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to provide for the regulation of Her Majesty's Indian Marine Service.
| year                  = 1884
| citation              = [[47 & 48 Vict.]] c. 38
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 28 July 1884
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
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| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
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| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
As the HMIM wasn't covered by [[Naval Discipline Act 1866]] ([[29 & 30 Vict.]] c. 109) or the [[Merchant Shipping Act 1854]] ([[17 & 18 Vict.]] c. 104), the Governor General in Council was empowered to by the '''Indian Marine Service Act 1884''' ([[47 & 48 Vict.]] c. 3)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Piggott|first=Francis Taylor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AVNGAQAAMAAJ|title=The Imperial Statutes Applicable to the Colonies|publisher=W. Clowes & sons, limited|year=1904|pages=131|language=en}}</ref> to help formulate maritime and naval laws. These laws were first formulated and codified in the "Indian Marine Act, 1887<ref>{{Cite book|last=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j_QZAAAAYAAJ|title=The Unrepealed General Acts of the Governor General in Council: 1895-90|publisher=Government printing press|year=1898|location=Calcutta|pages=161|language=en}}</ref>" and followed by an amendment act to the same in the next year.<ref>{{Cite book|last=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tGwrAQAAMAAJ|title=A Collection of the Acts of the Central Legislature and Ordinances of the Governor General|publisher=Manager of Publications|year=1889|location=Calcutta|pages=84|language=en}}</ref> The former adopted the general lines of the Naval Discipline and Indian Navy Acts as far as possible, whilst the latter merely supplied deficiencies in regard to grading and rating.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PfU2AQAAMAAJ|title=Statement Exhibiting the Moral and Material Progress and Condition of India During the Year 1901-02|year=1903|location=London|pages=297|language=en}}</ref>

In recognition of its fighting services, HMIM was given the title of "Royal Indian Marine" in 1892. By this time it consisted of over fifty vessels.<ref>[http://indiannavy.nic.in/genesis.htm Genesis] at indiannavy.nic.in {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111202914/http://indiannavy.nic.in/genesis.htm |date=January 11, 2011 }}</ref> In 1905, the service was described as having "Government vessels engaged in troop-ship, surveying, police or revenue duties in the East Indies".<ref>Archibald Greig Cowie, ''The sea services of the empire as fields for employment'' (1905), p. 246</ref>

When mines were detected off the coasts of Bombay and Aden, during the [[First World War]], the Royal Indian Marine went into action with a fleet of [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweepers]], patrol vessels and troop carriers. Besides patrolling, the Marine ferried troops and carried war stores from India to [[Mesopotamia campaign|Mesopotamia]] (now [[Iraq]]), [[Sinai and Palestine campaign|Egypt]] and [[East African campaign (World War I)|East Africa]].

The first Indian to be granted a commission was Engineer Sub-Lieutenant D.N. Mukherji, who joined the Royal Indian Marine as an officer on 6 January 1923.<ref>D. J. E. Collins, ''The Royal Indian Navy, 1939-45'', vol. 1 (Bombay, 1964), p. 8</ref>

===World War II===
In 1934, the Royal Indian Marine changed its name, with the enactment of the Indian Navy (Discipline) Act 1934. The Royal Indian Navy was formally inaugurated on 2 October 1934, at Bombay.<ref name=bhatia28>Bhatia (1977), p. 28</ref> Its ships carried the prefix '''HMIS''', for His Majesty's Indian Ship.<ref name=collins>D. J. E. Collins, ''The Royal Indian Navy, 1939-45'', vol. 1 (Bombay, 1964)</ref>

At the start of the [[World War II|Second World War]], the Royal Indian Navy was small, with only eight warships. The onset of the war led to an expansion in vessels and personnel described by one writer as "phenomenal". By 1943 the strength of the RIN had reached twenty thousand.<ref name=amollo144/> During the war, the [[Women's Royal Indian Naval Service]] was established, for the first time giving women a role in the navy, although they did not serve on board its ships.<ref name=bhatia28/>

During the course of the war, six anti-aircraft [[Sloop-of-war|sloops]] and several fleet minesweepers were built in the United Kingdom for the RIN. After commissioning, many of these ships joined various escort groups operating in the northern approaches to the British Isles. {{HMIS|Sutlej|U95|6}} and {{HMIS|Jumna|U21|6}}, each armed with six high-angle 4-inch guns, were present during the Clyde "Blitz" of 1941 and assisted the defence of this area by providing anti-aircraft cover. For the next six months these two ships joined the Clyde Escort Force, operating in the Atlantic and later the Irish Sea Escort Force where they acted as the senior ships of the groups. While engaged on these duties, numerous attacks against U-boats were carried out and attacks by hostile aircraft repelled. At the time of action in which the {{ship|German battleship|Bismarck}} was involved, the ''Sutlej'' left Scapa Flow, with all despatch as the senior member of a group, to take over a convoy from the destroyers which were finally engaged in the sinking of the ''Bismarck''.<ref name=Collins248>The Royal Indian Navy, 1939–1945 - Collins, p248</ref>

Later {{HMIS|Cauvery|U10|6}}, {{HMIS|Kistna|U46|6}}, {{HMIS|Narbada|U40|6}}, {{HMIS|Godavari|U52|6}}, also anti-aircraft sloops, completed similar periods in the U.K. waters escorting convoys in the Atlantic and dealing with attacks from hostile U-boats, aircraft and glider bombs. These six ships and the minesweepers all eventually proceeded to India carrying out various duties in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Cape stations en route. The fleet minesweepers were {{HMIS|Kathiawar|J155|6}}, {{HMIS|Kumaon|J164|6}}, {{HMIS|Baluchistan|J182|6}}, {{HMIS|Carnatic|J199|6}}, {{HMIS|Khyber|J190|6}}, {{HMIS|Konkan|J228|6}}, {{HMIS|Orissa|J200|6}}, {{HMIS|Rajputana|J197|6}}, {{HMIS|Rohilkhand|J180|6}}.<ref name=Collins248/>

Four Australian-built [[Bathurst-class corvette|Bathurst-class sloops]] served with the RIN from 1943 onwards. These included {{HMIS|Bengal|J243|6}}, which was a part of the [[Eastern Fleet]] during World War II, and escorted numerous convoys between 1942 and 1945.<ref>{{cite web|last = Kindell |first = Don  |url= http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWD-EF1943a.htm |title=  EASTERN FLEET - January to June 1943 |work = ADMIRALTY WAR DIARIES of WORLD WAR 2}}</ref>

The sloops {{ship|HMIS|Sutlej|U95|6}} and {{HMIS|Jumna|U21|6}} played a role in [[Operation Husky]], the Allied invasion of [[Sicily]] by providing air defence and anti-submarine screening to the invasion fleet.<ref>[http://www.wewerethere.mod.uk/wewerethere_old/inmed.html Inmed] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124112038/http://www.wewerethere.mod.uk/wewerethere_old/inmed.html |date=24 January 2008 }}</ref><ref name=Collins252>The Royal Indian Navy, 1939–1945 - Collins, p252</ref>

Furthermore, the Royal Indian Navy participated in convoy escort duties in the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean and was heavily involved in combat operations as part of the [[Burma Campaign]], carrying out raids, shore bombardment, naval invasion support and other activities.<ref name=Collins255>The Royal Indian Navy, 1939–1945 - Collins, p255 - p316</ref>

====Royal Indian Naval combat losses====

The sloop [[P-class sloop|HMIS ''Pathan'']] was sunk in June 1940 by the Italian Navy Submarine [[Brin-class submarine|''Galvani'']] during the [[East African campaign (World War II)|East African Campaign]]<ref name=r&h23>Rohwer & Hummelchen, p.23</ref><ref name="rin3945">{{cite book |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/India/RIN/index.html#contents |title=The Royal Indian Navy, 1939–1945, Official History of the Indian Armed Forces In the Second World War |last=Collins |first=D.J.E. |publisher=Combined Inter-Services Historical Section (India & Pakistan) |date=1964 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1940-11-20a.1988.4 |title=House of commons debate - Indian, Burman, and Colonial War Effort.|work=[[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]]|date=20 November 1940}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/ships/indian.htm|title=Fighting the U-boats = Indian Naval forces |work=Uboat.net }}</ref>

In the days immediately following the [[Attack on Pearl Harbor]], {{HMS|Glasgow|C21|6}} was patrolling the [[Laccadive Islands]] in search of Japanese ships and submarines. At midnight on 9 December 1941, HMS ''Glasgow'' sank the RIN patrol vessel {{HMIS|Prabhavati}} with two [[Lighter (barge)|lighters]] in tow en route to Karachi, with 6-inch shells at {{convert|6,000|yd}}. ''Prabhavati'' was alongside the lighters and was mistaken for a surfaced Japanese submarine.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/22394.html|title=Allied Warships - HMIS Prabhavati}}</ref><ref name=Collins96>The Royal Indian Navy, 1939–1945 - Collins, p96</ref><ref name="maccart153">Neil MacCart, ''Town Class Cruisers'', Maritime Books, 2012, {{ISBN|978-1-904-45952-1}}, p. 153</ref>

{{HMIS|Indus|U67|6}} was sunk by a Japanese aircraft during the Burma Campaign on 6 April 1942.<ref name=Collins>{{cite book|last=Collins|first=J.T.E.|title=The Royal Indian Navy, 1939–1945|series=Official History of the Indian Armed Forces In the Second World War|year=1964|publisher=Combined Inter-Services Historical Section (India & Pakistan)|location=New Delhi|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/India/RIN/index.html}}</ref>

====Royal Indian Naval successes====

{{HMIS|Jumna|U21|6}} was ordered in 1939, and built by [[William Denny and Brothers]]. She was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] in 1941,<ref name=ub>{{cite web |url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3915.html |title=HMIS Jumna (U 21) |website=uboat.net |access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref> and with World War II underway, was immediately deployed as a convoy escort. ''Jumna'' served as an anti-aircraft escort during the [[Dutch East Indies campaign|Java Sea campaign]] in early 1942, and was involved in intensive anti-aircraft action against attacking Japanese twin-engined level bombers and dive bombers, claiming five aircraft downed from 24 to 28 February 1942.

In June 1942, {{HMIS|Bombay|J249|6}} was involved in the defence of Sydney Harbour during the [[attack on Sydney Harbour]].

On 11 November 1942, ''Bengal'' was escorting the Dutch tanker {{MV|Ondina||2}}<ref name=Visser>{{cite web |last=Visser |first=Jan |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/ondina.html |title=The Ondina Story |date=1999–2000 |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942 |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-date=21 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321233336/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/ondina.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> to the southwest of [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands|Cocos Islands]] in the Indian Ocean. Two Japanese [[commerce raider]]s armed with six-inch guns attacked ''Ondina''. ''Bengal'' fired her single four-inch gun and ''Ondina'' fired her 102&nbsp;mm and both scored hits on {{ship||Hōkoku Maru}}, which shortly blew up and sank.<ref name=Visser/><ref>{{cite web |first= Klemen |last= L |date= 2000 |title= Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942 |url= https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/index.html |access-date= 4 May 2021 |archive-date= 26 July 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110726053035/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/index.html |url-status= dead }}</ref>

On 12 February 1944, the {{Jsub|Ro-110}} was depth charged and sunk east-south-east off Visakhapatnam, India by the Indian sloop {{HMIS|Jumna|U21|6}} and the Australian corvettes {{HMAS|Launceston|J179|6}} and {{HMAS|Ipswich|J186|6}}. ''Ro-110'' had attacked convoy JC-36 (Colombo-Calcutta) and torpedoed and damaged the British merchant ''Asphalion'' (6,274 GRT).<ref name=ub/><ref>The Royal Indian Navy, 1939–1945 - Collins, p309</ref>

On 12 August 1944, the {{GS|U-198}} was sunk near the [[Seychelles]], in position 03º35'S, 52º49'E, by [[depth charge]]s from {{HMIS|Godavari|U52|6}} and the British frigate [[List of River-class frigates|HMS ''Findhorn'']].<ref name=uboat>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3922.html|title=HMIS Godavari (U 52) of the Royal Indian Navy - Indian Sloop of the Black Swan class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net}}</ref><ref name=Collins/>

====Mutiny of 1946====
{{Main|Royal Indian Navy Mutiny}}
In February 1946, Indian sailors launched the [[Royal Indian Navy Mutiny]] on board more than fifty ships and in shore establishments, protesting about issues such as the slow rate of demobilization and discrimination in the Navy.<ref>Christopher M. Bell, Bruce A. Elleman, ''Naval mutinies of the twentieth century: an international perspective'' (2003), p. 6: "The first navy to experience a major mutiny after the Second World War was the Royal Indian Navy. For five days in February 1946, Indian sailors rose up against their predominantly British officer corps: approximately 56 ships..."</ref> The mutiny found widespread support and spread all over India, including elements in the [[British Indian Army|Army]] and the [[Royal Indian Air Force|Air Force]]. A total of seventy-eight ships, twenty shore establishments and 20,000 sailors were involved in this mutiny.

===Transition to Independence and Partition===

{{Main|Partition of India}}

On 1 March 1947, the designation of "Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Navy" was replaced with that of "Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy."<ref name="RIN_designation"/> On 21 July 1947, H.M.S. Choudhry and Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman, both of whom later commanded the Pakistani and Indian Navies, respectively, became the first Indian RIN officers to attain the acting rank of captain.<ref name="higher_rank">{{cite web|title=Higher Ranks for Indian Officers of the R.I.N.|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1947-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1947-07-21_321.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=21 July 1947|access-date=3 January 2021}}</ref> Following India's independence in 1947 and the ensuing partition, the Royal Indian Navy was divided between the newly independent [[Dominion of India]] and the [[Dominion of Pakistan]], and the Armed Forces Reconstitution Committee divided the ships and men of the Royal Indian Navy between India and Pakistan. The division of the ships was on the basis of two-thirds of the fleet to India, one third to Pakistan.<ref>Bhatia (1977), p. 28: "Consequent on the partition of the country on 15 August 1947, two thirds of the undivided fleet and associated assets came to India."</ref>

The committee allocated to the [[Royal Pakistan Navy]] (RPN) three of the seven active sloops, {{ship|HMIS|Godavari|U52|6}}, {{ship|HMIS|Hindustan|L80|6}} and {{ship|HMIS|Narbada|U40|6}}, four of the ten serviceable [[minesweeper]]s, two [[frigate]]s, two [[naval trawler]]s, four harbour launches and a number of [[Harbour Defence Motor Launch]]es. 358 personnel, and 180 officers, most of whom were Muslims or Europeans, volunteered to transfer to the RPN. India retained the remainder of the RIN's assets and personnel, and many British officers opted to continue serving in the RIN.<ref name=bhatia28/> As only nine of the Navy's 620 Indian commissioned officers in 1947 had more than 10 years' service, with the majority of them only having served from five to eight years, British officers seconded from the Royal Navy continued to hold senior RIN shore appointments after Independence, though all naval vessels had Indian commanders by the year's end.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nationalisation of Armed Forces|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1947-AUG-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1947-12-20_075.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=20 December 1947|access-date=4 January 2021}}</ref>

===Dominion of India===

In May 1948, [[Ajitendu Chakraverti]] became the first Indian commodore in the post-independence RIN, in the appointment of Chief of Staff Naval HQ.<ref>{{cite web|title=PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (DEFENcE WING)|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-05-08_240.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=8 May 1948|access-date=3 January 2021}}</ref> On 21 June 1948, the additional designation of "Chief of the Naval Staff" was added before that of "Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy."<ref name="communique">{{cite web|title=Press Communique|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-06-21_287.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=21 June 1948|access-date=21 July 2020}}</ref> In January 1949, the first batch of 13 Indian officers began their flight training, initiating the process which would lead to the formation of the [[Indian Naval Air Arm]].<ref>{{cite web|title=RIN Takes to Aviation|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1949-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1949-01-24_020.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=24 January 1949|access-date=3 January 2021}}</ref>

On 26 January 1950, when India adopted its current [[constitution of India|constitution]] and became a [[republic]], the Royal Indian Navy became the [[Indian Navy]]. Its vessels were redesignated as "Indian Naval Ships", and the "HMIS" ship prefix for existing vessels was changed to 'INS'.<ref>''Indian and Foreign Review'', vol 3 (Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Publications Division, 1965), p. 65: "The residual part which continued as the Royal Indian Navy had to face many problems, specially regarding personnel. On India becoming  a republic on January 26, 1950, the Navy dropped the word "Royal" in its name and became the Indian Navy."</ref> At 9:00 that morning, the [[White Ensign]] of the Royal Navy was struck and replaced with the [[Indian Naval Ensign]], with the [[Flag of India]] in its canton, symbolically completing the transition to the new Indian Navy.<ref name="ensign">{{cite web|title=Indian Naval Ensign Replaces the White Ensign|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1950-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1950-01-19_021.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=19 January 1950|access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref>

==Commanding officers==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan=2| Portrait
! rowspan=2| Name<br />{{small|(born–died)}}
! colspan=3| Term of office
! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|Ref.|Refences}}
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Commodore, Bombay Marine (1738-1739)'''
|-
|1
|
|Commodore Bagwell
|1738
|1739
|1 year
|<ref name="Sridharan">{{cite book |last1=Sridharan. AVSM (Retd). |first1=Rear-Admiral K. |title=A Maritime History of India |date=1 January 1982 |publisher=Minister of Publications and Broadcasting, Government of India. |location=New Delhi, Republic of India. |isbn=9781135146788 |pages=415–418 |chapter=Appendix I: Chief's of the Navy of India}}</ref>

|-
|colspan="7"|'''Superintendent, Bombay Marine (1739-1830)'''
|-
|1
|
|Charles Rigby Esq.<br/>{{small|(also Deputy Governor of Bombay)}}
|1739
|
|
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|2
|[[File:Sir William James.jpg|100px]]
|Commodore [[Sir William James, 1st Baronet]]
|1751
|1754
|3 years
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|3
|
|Captain Samuel Hough
|1754
|1772
|18 years
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|4
|
|Commodore John Watson
|1772
|1774
|2 years
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|5
|
|Captain Simon Matham
|1774
|1776
|2 years
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|6
|
|Commodore [[George Emptage]]
|1781
|1785
|4 years
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|7
|
|Captain [[Philip Dundas]]
|1792
|1801
|9 years
|<ref>Day, John Frederick. (April 2012) ' British Admiralty Control and Naval Power in the Indian Ocean (1793-1815) (Volume 1 of 2)'. Submitted as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Maritime History, University of Exeter. p. 429.</ref>
|-
|8
|[[File:The Money Brothers William Taylor, 1769-1834, James, 1772-1833, and Robert, 1775-1803 (cropped).jpg|100px]]
|Captain Sir [[William Taylor Money]]
|1801
|1810
|9 years
|<ref>Day. p. 429.</ref> 
|-
|9
|
|Captain [[Henry Meriton]]
|1813
|1825
|12 years
|<ref name="Sridharan"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Letter from William Bruce, Resident at Bushire to Henry Meriton, Superintendent of the HC Marine, Bombay (1822) |url=https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100024054342.0x000035 |website=Qatar Digital Library |publisher=Qatar National Library |access-date=14 June 2021 |location=Doha |language=English |date=2014-11-26}}</ref> 
|-
|10
|
|Captain Thomas Buchanan
|1825
|1827
|2 years
|<ref name="Sridharan"/><ref>{{cite journal |title=The Monthly Miscellany |journal=The Asiatic Journal |date=1822 |volume=25 |page=120 |publisher=Wm. H. Allen & Company |location=London}}</ref>  
|-
|11
|[[File:Charles Malcolm.Jpeg|100px]]
|Captain [[Sir Charles Malcolm]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CB}}
|1827
|1830
|3 years
|<ref>{{cite book |last1=Parliament |first1=British |title=Reports from Commissioners |date=1876 |publisher=House of Commons |page=216 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ezhcAAAAQAAJ&q=Superintendent%2C+Bombay+Marine+in+1829&pg=RA1-PA216 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Sridharan"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Laughton |first1=John Knox |title=Dictionary of National Biography: Malcolm, Charles |date=1885–1900 |publisher=Smith, Elder & Co |location=London |pages=402–403 |edition=Vol 35}}</ref>
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Superintendent, Indian Navy (1830-1844)'''
|-
|1
|rowspan=2|[[File:Charles Malcolm.Jpeg|100px]]
|Captain [[Sir Charles Malcolm]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CB}}
|April 1830
|10 January 1837
|{{ayd|1830|04|01|1837|01|10}}
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|2
|Rear-Admiral [[Sir Charles Malcolm]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CB}}
|10 January 1837
|July 1838
|{{ayd|1837|01|10|1838|07|01}}
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|3
|
|Captain Sir Robert Oliver 
|July 1838
|October 1844
|{{ayd|1838|07|10|1844|10|01}}
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Officiating Superintendent, Indian Navy (1844-1845)'''
|-
|1
|
|Captain John Pepper
|October 1844
|April 1845
|{{ayd|1844|10|01|1845|04|01}}
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|2
|
|Acting Captain [[Henry Blosse Lynch]]
|April 1845
|December 1845
|{{ayd|1845|04|01|1845|12|01}}
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Superintendent, Indian Navy (1845-1848)'''
|-
|1
|
|Captain Sir Robert Oliver
|December 1845
|April 1848
|{{ayd|1845|12|01|1848|04|01}}
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy (1848)'''
|-
|1
|
|Commodore Sir Robert Oliver
|April 1848
|6 August 1848
|{{ayd|1848|04|01|1848|08|06}}
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Officiating Superintendent, Indian Navy (1848-1849)'''
|-
|1
|
|Captain Henry Blosse Lynch
|6 August 1848
|30 August 1848
|{{ayd|1848|08|06|1848|08|30}}
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Superintendent, Indian Navy (1848-1849)'''
|-
|1
|
|Captain John Croft Hawkins
|31 August 1848
|26 January 1849
|{{ayd|1848|08|31|1849|01|26}}
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Superintendent & Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy (1849–62)'''
|-
|1
|
|Commodore [[Stephen Lushington (Royal Navy officer)|Stephen Lushington]]
|26 January 1849
|March 1852
|{{ayd|1849|01|26|1852|03|01}}
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|2
|
|Commodore [[Henry John Leeke]]
|March 1852
|15 April 1854
|{{ayd|1852|03|01|1854|04|15}}
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|3
|
|Rear-Admiral [[Henry John Leeke]]
|15 April 1854
|July 1857
|{{ayd|1854|04|15|1857|07|01}}
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|4
|[[File:Gwellesley.jpg|100px]]
|Commodore [[George Greville Wellesley]]
|July 1857
|July 1862
|5 years
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Superintendent, Indian Navy (1862-1863))'''
|-
|1
|
|Commodore John James Frushard
|July 1862
|April 1863
|{{ayd|1862|07|01|1863|04|01}}
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Superintendent, Bombay Marine (1863-1874))'''
|-
|1
|
|Captain John  Wellington Young {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CB}}
|April 1863
|April 1868
|5 years
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|2
|
|Captain G. F. Robinson
|April 1868
|September 1874
|6 years
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Naval Adviser to Government of India (1874-1880)'''
|-
|1
|rowspan=2|[[File:John Bythesea VC RN.jpg|100px]]
|Captain [[John Bythesea]]
|5 August 1877
|November 1880
|3 years
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|2
|Rear-Admiral [[John Bythesea]]
|1874
|5 August 1877
|3 years
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|
|colspan="7"|'''Director, Her Majesty's Indian Marine (1882–83)'''
|-
|1
|
|Captain Harry Woodfall Brent
|1883
|1883
|1 year
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Director of H.M.'s Indian Marine (1883–1892)'''
|-
|1
|
|Captain [[John Hext]]
|1883
|1892
|9 years
|<ref name="Sridharan" />
|-
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Director of the Royal Indian Marine (1892–1928)'''{{refn|The post was officially titled as ''Officiating Director R.I.M.'' from February to March 1898, then ''Director R.I.M.'' March 1898 to June 1917, and again ''Officiating Director R.I.M.'' June 1917 to September 1920 and back to ''Director R.I.M.'' until October 1929.<ref name="Sridharan" />|group= n}}
|-
|1
|
|Rear-Admiral Sir [[John Hext (admiral)|John Hext]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KCIE}}<br/>{{small|(1842-1924)}}
|1892
|February 1898
|6 years
|
|-
|2
|
|Captain Walter Somerville Goodridge {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CIE}}<br/>{{small|(30 March 1849-2 April 1929)}}
|5 March 1898
|5 March 1904
|{{ayd|1898|03|05|1904|03|05}}
|<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27261/supplements/2 The London Gazette, 1 January 1901]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/catalogue-archive/lot.php?auction_id=224&lot_id=76752 |title=Lot 596, Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria (30 March 2011) - Dix Noonan Webb |work=googleusercontent.com }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><br /><ref>{{cite book |last=Wadia |first=A. R. |date=1957 |title=The Bombay Dockyard and the Wadia Master Builders |page=86 }}</ref>
|-
|3
|
|Captain [[George Hayley Hewett]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CIE}}<br/>{{small|(30 November 1855-1930)}}
|5 March 1904
|17 March 1909
|{{ayd|1904|03|05|1909|03|17}}
|<ref>{{cite book |title=The Navy List: July 1908 |publisher=HM Government, UK |date=July 1908 |pages=439 |chapter=Officers of the Royal Indian Marine }}</ref>
|-
|4
|[[File:Walter Richard Sickert - Portrait of Rear Admiral Walter Lumsden, C.I.E., C.V.O. - 64.73 - Minneapolis Institute of Arts.jpg|alt=Walter Lumsden|100px]]
|Commodore [[Walter Lumsden]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CIE|CVO}}<br/>{{small|(16 April 1865-22 November 1947)}}
|17 March 1909
|12 June 1917
|{{ayd|1909|03|17|1917|06|12}}
|<ref>{{cite book |title=The Navy List: January 1918 |publisher=HM Government, UK |date=January 1916 |pages=489 |chapter=Officers of the Royal Indian Marine }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite book |title=The Navy List: January 1920 |publisher=HM Government, UK |date=January 1920 |pages=1158 |chapter=Officers of the Royal Indian Marine }}</ref><br /><ref>''Who's Who'', 1948, pp 1703-1704</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite book |title=Administration Report: Bombay Port Trust 1916-17 |publisher=Government of Bombay |date=1917 |pages=81 }}</ref>
|-
|5
|
|Captain Neville Frederick Jarvis Wilson {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CMG|CBE}}<br/>{{small|(1865-1947)}}
|12 June 1917
|27 August 1920
|{{ayd|1917|06|12|1920|08|27}}
|<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite book |title=The Navy List: November 1920 |publisher=HM Government, UK |date=November 1920 |pages=1168 |chapter=Officers of the Royal Indian Marine }}</ref><br /><ref name=":1" />
|-
|6
|
|Rear-Admiral [[Henry Lancelot Mawbey]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CB|CVO}}<br/>{{small|(16 June 1870-4 June 1933)}}
|28 August 1920
|3 August 1922
|{{ayd|1920|08|28|1922|08|3}}
|<ref>{{cite book |last=Sridharan |first=K. |title=A Maritime History of India |publisher=Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India |edition=2nd }}</ref><ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32722/pages/4715 The London Gazette, 23 June 1922]</ref><br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Henry_Lancelot_Mawbey|title=Henry Lancelot Mawbey|work=dreadnoughtproject.org}}</ref>
|-
|7
|[[File:Capt._Sir._Edward_James_Headlam.jpg|100px]]
|Captain Sir [[Edward James Headlam ]]{{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CSI|CMG|DSO}}<br/>{{small|(1 May 1873-14 July 1943)}}
|3 August 1922
|4 October 1928
|{{ayd|1922|08|3|1928|10|4}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.headlam.me.uk/html_pages/headlam_E_H.htm|title=E-H. HEADLAM|work=headlam.me.uk}}</ref><ref name="rim">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The Royal Indian Marine |work=The Times |date=7 June 1928 }}</ref>
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Flag Officer Commanding and Director, Royal Indian Marine (1928–1934)'''
|-
|1
|[[File:Humphrey T. Walwyn.jpg|100px]]
|Vice-Admiral Sir [[Humphrey T. Walwyn]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KCSI|CB|DSO}}<br/>{{small|(1879-1957)}}
|5 October 1928
|2 October 1934
|{{ayd|1928|10|05|1934|10|02}}
|<ref name="rim"/>
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Navy (1934–1947)'''
|-
|1
|[[File:Humphrey T. Walwyn.jpg|100px]]
|Vice-Admiral Sir [[Humphrey T. Walwyn]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KCSI|CB|DSO}}<br/>{{small|(1879-1957)}}
|2 October 1934
|16 November 1934
|{{ayd|1934|10|2|1934|11|16}}
|<ref name=ibiblio>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/India/RIN/RIN-A6.html|title=HyperWar: The Royal Indian Navy (Appendix 6)|work=ibiblio.org}}</ref><ref name="command_in">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Royal Navy: Command of Indian Navy |work=The Times |date=16 November 1934 }}</ref>
|-
|2
|[[File:Arthur_Bedford,_1915.jpeg|100px]]
|Vice-Admiral [[Arthur Bedford]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CB|CSI}}<br/>{{small|(1881-1949)}}
|16 November 1934
|23 November 1937
|{{ayd|1934|11|16|1937|11|23}}
|<ref name="command_in"/><ref name=ibiblio/><br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/Mariners/2004-10/1098629014|title=RootsWeb: MARINERS-L Re: [Mar] Arthur E F Bedford|work=rootsweb.com}}</ref><ref name="FoC_RIN"/>
|-
|3
|[[File:Vice Admiral Herbert Fitzherbert 01.jpg|100px]]
|Vice-Admiral Sir [[Herbert Fitzherbert]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KCIE|CB|CMG}}<br/>{{small|(1885-1958)}}
|23 November 1937
|19 March 1943
|{{ayd|1937|11|20|1943|03|19}}
|<ref name=unithistories>{{cite web|url=http://www.unithistories.com/units_index/default.asp?file=..%2Fofficers%2Fpersonsx.html|title=World War II unit histories & officers|work=unithistories.com|access-date=11 February 2011|archive-date=4 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204165504/http://www.unithistories.com/units_index/default.asp?file=..%2Fofficers%2Fpersonsx.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="FoC_RIN">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The Royal Indian Navy |work=The Times |date=9 March 1937 }}</ref>
|-
|4
|[[File:Vice Admiral Godfrey WWII IWM A 20777.jpg|100px]]
|Admiral [[John Henry Godfrey]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CB}}<br/>{{small|(1888-1970)}}
|19 March 1943
|15 March 1946
|{{ayd|1943|03|19|1946|03|15}}
|<ref name=ibiblio/><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Vice-Admiral Godfrey's New Post |work=The Times |date=19 March 1943}}</ref>
|-
|5
|
|Vice-Admiral Sir [[Geoffrey Audley Miles]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KCB|KCSI}}<br/>{{small|(1890-1986)}}
|15 March 1946
|1 March 1947
|{{ayd|1946|03|15|1947|03|01}}
|<ref name=unithistories/><ref name="RIN_designation">{{cite web|title=Press Note|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1947-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1947-02-10_056.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|date=10 February 1947|access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> 
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy (1947–1948)'''
|-
|1
|
|Vice-Admiral Sir [[Geoffrey Audley Miles]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KCB|KCSI}}<br/>{{small|(1890-1986)}}
|1 March 1947
|14 August 1947
|{{ayd|1947|03|01|1947|08|15}}
|<ref name=unithistories/><ref name="RIN_designation"/>
|-
|2
|[[File:John Talbot Savignac Hall.jpg|100px]]
|Rear Admiral [[John Talbot Savignac Hall]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CIE}}<br/>{{small|(1896-1964)}}
|15 August 1947
|20 June 1948
|{{ayd|1947|08|15|1948|06|20}}
|<ref name=unithistories/><ref name="RIN_designation"/>
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Chief of the Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy (1948–1950)'''
|-
|1
|[[File:John Talbot Savignac Hall.jpg|100px]]
|Rear Admiral [[John Talbot Savignac Hall]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CIE}}<br/>{{small|(1896-1964)}}
|21 June 1948
|14 August 1948
|{{ayd|1948|06|21|1948|08|14}}
|<ref name=unithistories/><ref name="communique"/>
|-
|2
|
|Vice Admiral Sir [[Edward Parry (Royal Navy officer)|William Edward Parry]] {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|KCB}}<br/>{{small|(1893-1972)}}
|14 August 1948
|25 January 1950
|{{ayd|1948|08|14|1950|01|25}}
|
|-
|}

==Partition of ships, 1947==
{|class="toccolours plainlinks"  style="padding:0;"
!Vessel types
!India
!Pakistan
|-
![[Frigate]]s
|
* [[HMIS Tir (K256)|HMIS ''Tir'']]
* HMIS ''Khukri''
|
* HMPS ''Shamsher''
* [[PNS Zulfiqar (K265)|HMPS ''Dhanush'']]
|-
![[Sloop of war|Sloop]]s
|
* [[HMIS Sutlej (U95)|HMIS ''Sutlej'']]
* [[HMIS Jumna (U21)|HMIS ''Jumna'']]
* [[HMIS Kistna (U46)|HMIS ''Kistna'']]
* [[HMIS Cauvery (U10)|HMIS ''Cauvery'']]
|
* [[HMIS Narbada (U40)|HMPS ''Narbada'']]
* [[HMIS Godavari (U52)|HMPS ''Godavari'']]
* [[HMIS Hindustan (L80)|HMPS ''Hindustan'']]
|-
![[Corvette]]s
|
* [[HMIS Assam (K306)|HMIS ''Assam'']]
|
|-
![[Minesweeper (ship)|Minesweeper]]s
|
* [[HMIS Orissa (J200)|HMIS ''Orissa'']]
* [[HMIS Deccan (J129)|HMIS ''Deccan'']]
* [[HMIS Bihar (J247)|HMIS ''Bihar'']]
* [[HMIS Kumaon (J164)|HMIS ''Kumaon'']]
* [[HMIS Rohilkhand (J180)|HMIS ''Rohilkhand'']]
* [[HMIS Khyber (J190)|HMIS ''Khyber'']]
* [[HMIS Carnatic (J199)|HMIS ''Carnatic'']]
* [[HMIS Rajputana (J197)|HMIS ''Rajputana'']]
* [[HMIS Konkan (J228)|HMIS ''Konkan'']]
* [[HMIS Bombay (J249)|HMIS ''Bombay'']]
* [[HMIS Bengal (J243)|HMIS ''Bengal'']]
* [[HMIS Madras (J237)|HMIS ''Madras'']]
|
* [[HMIS Kathiawar (J155)|HMPS ''Kathiawar'']]
* [[HMIS Baluchistan (J182)|HMPS ''Baluchistan'']]
* [[HMIS Oudh (J245)|HMPS ''Oudh'']]
* [[HMIS Malwa (J55)|HMPS ''Malwa'']]
* [[HMIS Punjab (J239)|HMPS ''Punjab'']]
|-
!Survey Vessels
|
* HMIS ''Investigator''
|
|-
!Trawlers
|
* HMIS ''Nasik''
* HMIS ''Calcutta''
* HMIS ''Cochin''
* HMIS ''Amritsar''
* HMIS ''Shillong''
|
* HMPS ''Rampur''
* HMPS ''Baroda''
|-
!Motor Minesweepers (MMS)
|
* MMS 130
* MMS 132
* MMS 151
* MMS 154
|
* MMS 129
* MMS 131
|-
![[Motor launch (naval)|Motor Launch]]es (ML)
|
* ML 420
|
|-
![[Harbour Defence Motor Launch]]es (HDML)
|
* HDML 1110
* HDML 1112
* HDML 1117
* HDML 1118
|
* HDML 1261
* HDML 1262
* HDML 1263
* HDML 1266
|-
! [[Tanker (ship)|Tanker]]s
|
* [[SS Empire Bairn|HMIS ''Chilka'']]
|
|-
! Miscellaneous
| All existing landing craft
|
|}

==See also==
* [[List of ships of the Royal Indian Navy]]
* [[List of ships of the Indian Navy]]
* [[Royal Indian Navy mutiny]]
* [[History of the Indian Navy]]
* [[British Indian Army]]
* [[Royal Indian Air Force]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|50em|group=n}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Harbans Singh Bhatia, ''Military History of British India, 1607–1947'' (1977)
* Collins, D.J.E. ''The Royal Indian Navy'' (1964 [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/India/RIN/index.html online official history]

{{Indian Navy}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Royal Indian Navy (1612-1950)}}
[[Category:Royal Indian Navy| ]]
[[Category:Naval history of India]]
[[Category:Naval history of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1934]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1950]]
[[Category:1612 establishments in India]]
[[Category:1612 establishments in the British Empire]]
[[Category:Military history of India during World War II]]
[[Category:India–Pakistan military relations]]
[[Category:Organisations based in India with royal patronage]]
[[Category:Military history of the Mediterranean]]
[[Category:Military history of the Indian Ocean]]
[[Category:Military history of the Pacific Ocean]]