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{{Short description|Flag Officer in the Indian Navy (1934 - 2021)}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific prefix = [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]]
| name = Arun Auditto
| honorific suffix = [[AVSM]], [[Nao Sena Medal|NM]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1934|07|24|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2021|04|21|1934|07|24}}
| birth_place = [[Allahabad]], [[United Provinces of British India]]
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[India]]
| placeofburial =
| image =
| caption =
|
| allegiance = {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg}} [[Indian Navy]]
| serviceyears = 1955–1988
| rank = [[File:British_Royal_Navy_(sleeves)_OF-7.svg|23px]] [[File:12-Indian_Navy-RADM.svg|23px]] [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]]
| commands = Fortress Andaman and Nicobar {{ship|INS|Trishul|F143}} [[INS Virbahu]] {{ship|INS|Kursura|S20}}
| unit =
| battles = [[Annexation of Goa]] [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
| relations =
| awards = [[File:Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] [[File:Nao_Sena_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Nao Sena Medal]]
| laterwork =
}}

[[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] '''Arun Auditto''', [[AVSM]], [[Nao Sena Medal|NM]] was a Flag Officer in the [[Indian Navy]]. He was decorated with a gallantry award during the [[Liberation of Goa]]. A pioneer submariner in the Indian Navy, he was the [[Ship commissioning|commissioning]] [[Commanding Officer]] of the [[Kalvari-class submarine (1967)|Kalvari-class submarine]] {{ship|INS|Kursura|S20}}, which he commanded during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. He later commanded the [[submarine base]] [[INS Virbahu]] and the [[Whitby-class frigate]] {{ship|INS|Trishul|F143}}. After promotion to flag rank, he served as the Fortress Commander Andaman and Nicobar (FORTAN) and as the first [[Flag Officer Submarines (India)|Flag Officer Submarines]], before retiring in 1988.

==Early life and education==
Auditto was born in Allahabad to Gyan Chander, a college lecturer. He completed his schooling in Allahabad, attending the [[Boys' High School & College (Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh)|Boys' High School & College]]. He then attended the [[Ewing Christian College]] for a year before getting selected to attend the [[Joint Services Wing]] (JSW), [[Dehradun]]. While at the JSW, he chose to join the [[Indian Navy]]. After graduating from JSW, he trained on board the [[training ship]] {{ship|INS|Tir|K256}}.<ref name="RA int">{{cite web |title=RobinAge: Knowledge - Walk the Talk: Indian Navy |url=https://www.robinage.com/knowledge/walk-the-talk-indian-navy.htm |website=www.robinage.com}}</ref>

==Naval career==
===Early career===
Auditto was commissioned into the [[Indian Navy]] in 1955. After training on the ''Tir'', he spent his early years on board the [[Ton-class minesweeper]] ''INS Cannanore'' and the [[Hunt-class destroyer]] {{ship|INS|Godavari|D92}}. He chose to specialise in [[Anti-submarine warfare|Torpedo and anti-submarine warfare]] (TAS) and was selected to attend the Long course at the TAS school in Cochin.<ref name="RAdm - ACNS">{{cite web |title=ADMIRAL AUDITTO PROMOTED |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1983-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1983-06-24_212.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=24 June 1983}}</ref> In early November 1961, while he was undergoing the course, he was selected to command a [[landing party]] and was posted to the Gunnery school.{{sfn|Singh|1991}}

===Operation Vijay 1961===
{{main|Annexation of Goa}}
The landing party was [[platoon]]-sized and consisted of recently graduated seaman gunners who were being trained in small arms and short gunnery. It also had a demolition section who were trained on underwater weapons. The platoon, led by Auditto, was intensively trained over the month. On 16 December, the platoon embarked on {{ship|INS|Trishul|F143}}, commanded by Captain [[K. L. Kulkarni]]. The landing party was to assault and capture [[Anjadip Island]] and Auditto discussed the plan with Captain Kulkarni and the Task Force Commander - the [[Flag Officer Commanding Indian Fleet]] Rear Admiral [[B.S. Soman]]. On 18 December, the day of the landing, they received intelligence that the Portuguese garrison had surrendered and that no resistance was expected.{{sfn|Singh|1991}}

The 75 men of the platoon were launched in two boats in broad daylight. The first wave was commanded by Auditto and the next by his [[second-in-command]] Senior Commissioned Gunner Noel Kelman. The first boat landed on the beach without resistance but the second boat was met with machine gun fire. The wounded were sent back to ''Trishul'' and the platoon captured the Island and took over the [[prisoners of war]]. Auditto and Kelman were both wounded in the operation.<ref name="RAdm - ACNS" /><ref name="TOI">{{cite news |last1=Dec 19 |first1=Newton Sequeira / TNN / Updated |title=When the Navy's Operation Chutney evicted Portugal from Anjadiv {{!}} Goa News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/when-the-navys-op-chutney-evicted-portugal-from-anjadiv/articleshow/79805877.cms |work=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

Auditto was decorated with the [[Nao Sena Medal]] for gallantry.<ref name="NM">{{cite web |title=SENA, NAO SENA AND VAYU SENA MEDALS |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1963-MAY-JAN-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1963-01-25_044.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=25 January 1963}}</ref> The citation for the Nao Sena Medal reads as follows:{{sfn|Singh|1991}}
{{Quotation|Date of Award: 26 January 1963

{{center|'''CITATION''' 
'''LIEUTENANT ARUN AUDITTO''' 
'''(00176-Z)'''}}

Called upon to lead a 75-strong landing party on Anjadip Island under heavy enemy fire, Lieutenant Auditto who had no experience in jungle warfare, conducted land-fighting operations with imagination, vigour and determination. His calmness and courage inspired the officers and men under his command to go forward in the face of stiff opposition to final victory.|sign=|source=}}

===Submarine Arm===
In 1962, the [[Government of India]] approved the proposal of building the submarine arm and the first officers were selected for training. A large number of officers and sailors volunteered to join the submarine arm.{{sfn|Singh|1991}} In February 1962, Auditto was one of four officers selected to attend [[HMS Dolphin (shore establishment)|HMS Dolphin]], the home of the [[Royal Navy Submarine Service]].<ref name="Submarine Arm">{{cite web |title=INS VIRBAHU AND THE SUBMARINE ARM |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1987-JUNE-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1987-04-03_092.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=3 April 1987}}</ref> After completing the year-long course, Auditto returned to India and was appointed TAS officer of the [[Blackwood-class frigate]] {{ship|INS|Khukri|F149}}. He was subsequently posted as an instructor to the TAS school in Cochin.

In September 1965, India signed an agreement to acquire four submarines and a [[Submarine tender]] among other ships. {{ship|INS|Kalvari|S23}} was the first submarine to be inducted into the Indian Navy in December 1967.{{sfn|Hiranandani|1999}} Auditto underwent training in Russian language and oversaw training of the crew of the second submarine {{ship|INS|Khanderi|1968|6}}. He was appointed the commissioning [[executive officer]] of ''Khanderi'', commanded by Commander M. N. Vasudeva. ''Khanderi'' sailed from [[Riga]] and reached India after rounding the [[Cape of Good Hope]].{{sfn|Singh|1991}} In December 1969, the fourth submarine was to be commissioned in Riga. Auditto was promoted to the rank of [[Commander]] and appointed the [[ship commissioning|commissioning]] [[commanding officer]] of {{ship|INS|Kursura|S20}}.{{sfn|Hiranandani|2005}} ''Kursura'' was commissioned on 18 December 1969 and embarked on her maiden voyage from Balrisk on 20 February 1970.<ref name="Submarine Museum">{{cite web |title=Submarine Museum {{!}} Indian Navy |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/submarine-museum |website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}</ref> During her homecoming voyage, which lasted from February to April 1970, she visited [[Göteborg]], La Coruña, [[Takoradi]] and [[Mauritius]].{{sfn|Hiranandani|1999}}

===Indo-Pakistani War of 1971===
{{Main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}}
{{further|Indo-Pakistani Naval War of 1971}}
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was sparked by the [[Bangladesh Liberation war]], a conflict between the traditionally dominant [[West Pakistan]]is and the majority [[East Pakistan]]is. In 1970, East Pakistanis demanded autonomy for the state, but the [[Government of Pakistan|Pakistani government]] failed to satisfy these demands and, in early 1971, a demand for secession took root in East Pakistan. In March, the [[Pakistan Armed Forces]] launched a fierce campaign to curb the secessionists, the latter including soldiers and police from East Pakistan. Thousands of East Pakistanis died, and nearly ten million refugees fled to [[West Bengal]], an adjacent Indian state. In April, India decided to assist in the formation of the new nation of [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="Global Security - 1971 War">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/indo-pak_1971.htm|title=Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|work=Global Security|access-date=27 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126094736/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/indo-pak_1971.htm|archive-date=26 November 2016}}</ref>

Auditto was in command of the submarine during this time. ''Kursura'' and {{ship|INS|Karanj|S21}} were part of the [[Western Naval Command]]. Operating under the direction of the [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command]] [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Sourendra Nath Kohli]], ''Kursura'' was deployed on patrol with the aims:
* To attack and sink all Pakistani warships
* To sink all merchant shipping sighted/detected when specifically ordered
* Patrol and surveillance

Auditto deployed the submarine on 13 November 1971 and was in the designated waiting station till 18 November, moving on to a second waiting station where she remained till 30 November. She then rendezvoused with ''Karanj'' on 30th and returned to Mumbai on 4 December.{{sfn|Kohli|1989|p=82}}

===Post-war career===
After the war, in March 1972, Auditto relinquished command of the submarine. He was appointed Commander (executive officer) of the [[submarine base]] [[INS Virbahu]] in [[Visakhapatnam]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shekhawat |first1=V S |title=A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART |url=https://www.navyfoundationmumbaicharter.in/pdf/QD%20Book%202021.pdf|journal=Quarterdeck |issue=2021}}</ref> He served as EXO to the first three commanding officers of the base - Captains K. S. Subramaniam, [[Mohan Narayan Rao Samant|M. N. R. Samant]] and M. N. Vasudeva. After a long tenure of about four years, he took over as the commanding officer (CO) of the base on 31 January 1976.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Garg |first1=K K |title=HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE AND SOME REMINISCENCES |journal=Quarterdeck |issue=2018 |pages=9–11 |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/sites/default/themes/indiannavy/images/pdf/Quarterdeck2018.pdf}}</ref> He served as CO Virbahu for about two years, after which he assumed command of the ship he had been launched from during Operation Vijay - the [[Whitby-class frigate]] ''INS Trishul''. Subsequently, he moved to Naval headquarters as the Director Submarine Arm (DSA).

===Flag rank===
In June 1983, Auditto was promoted to the rank of [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] and appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Operations (ACNS Ops). He then moved to Visakhapatnam as the Chief of Staff (COS) to the [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command]], Vice Admiral [[Jayant Ganpat Nadkarni]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/IndianNavy/posts/1371528279868695/ |website=Facebook |language=en}}</ref> On 26 January 1986, he was awarded the [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] for distinguished service of an exceptional order.<ref>{{cite web |title=GALLANTRY AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1986-JAN-JULY-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1986-01-24_089.pdf|website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=24 January 1986}}</ref> After a year-long stint as COS ENC, he took over as the Fortress Commander, Andaman and Nicobar Islands (FORTAN) on 30 April 1986. In 2001, the [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]] was created this post was re-designated [[Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command]].{{sfn|Hiranandani|2010|p=xxxiv}}

In 1987, a class authority for submarines was created. The [[Flag Officer Submarines (India)|Flag Officer Submarines]] (FOSM) would be located in Visakhapatnam and be the single-point authority for all training and maintenance of submarines.{{sfn|Hiranandani|2010|p=137}} Auditto was appointed the first FOSM and assumed office on 30 March 1987.<ref>{{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> As the first FOSM, he was instrumental in setting standards with regard to submarine safety, training, maintenance and operating schedules, operational readiness inspections, etc.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Singh |first1=Arun Kumar |title=Nostalgia and Genesis of India's Submarine Force for the 21st Century |journal=Quarterdeck |issue=2018 |url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/sites/default/themes/indiannavy/images/pdf/Quarterdeck2018.pdf}}</ref> After a stint of around sixteen months, Auditto was placed on the retired list and superannuated on 31 July 1988.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=1559 |date= 14 October 1989 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

==Personal life, later life and death==
Auditto was married to Ranjana (née Langer), daughter of an [[Indian Army]] officer. The couple met while playing badminton at the [[United Services Club]] in [[Colaba]], Mumbai. The couple had three children and resided at the Goldcroft Bungalow in [[Walkeshwar]], [[Malabar Hill]] in [[South Mumbai]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blogger |first1=Resident |title=Story 30: Goldcroft I Houses of India |url=https://housing.com/news/story-30-goldcroft-i-houses-india/ |website=Housing News |date=9 October 2016}}</ref>

After his retirement, Auditto served as the President of the Naval Foundation Mumbai Chapter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Press Information Bureau: Government of India news site, PIB Mumbai website, PIB Mumbai, Press Information Bureau, PIB, India's Official media agency, Government of India press releases, PIB photographs, PIB photos, Press Conferences in Mumbai, Union Minister Press Conference, Marathi press releases, PIB features, Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign, Public Information Campaign, Bharat Nirman Campaign, Public Information Campaign, Indian Government press releases, PIB Western Region |url=http://pibmumbai.gov.in/scripts/detail.asp?releaseId=E2015PH469 |website=pibmumbai.gov.in}}</ref> On 27 February 2001, ''INS Kursura'' was [[Ship commissioning#Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] at the [[RK Beach]]in Visakhapatnam and inaugurated as a museum.<ref name="Museum">{{cite web |title=SUBMARINE MUSEUM INAUGURATED AT VISAKHAPATNAM |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/2001-JAN-MARCH-DEFENCE-I/PDF/DEF-2001-02-27_141.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=27 February 2001}}</ref> As the submarine's first commanding officer, Auditto was the guest of honour during the decommissioning ceremony.

Auditto died peacefully at his home in Mumbai on 21 April 2021.
His last wish was his ashes be immersed by the museum of the submarine he first commanded- INS Kursura and the same was done by his son.

==See also==
* [[Annexation of Goa]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{citation|first1=Satyindra|last1=Singh|title=Blueprint to bluewater: The Indian Navy, 1951-65|year=1991|isbn= 978-8170621485|publisher=Lancer International}}
*{{citation|first1=G.M.|last1=Hiranandani|title=Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy, 1965-1975|year=1999|isbn= 978-1897829721|publisher= Spantech & Lancer}}
*{{citation|first1=G M|last1=Hiranandani|title=Transition to eminence : the Indian navy 1976-1990|year=2005|isbn=978-8170622666|publisher=Lancer Publishers}}
*{{citation|first1=S N|last1=Kohli|title=We Dared: Maritime Operations in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War|year=1989|isbn=978-0861322091|publisher=Sangram Books Ltd}}
*{{citation|first1=G. M.|last1=Hiranandani|title=Transition to Guardianship: The Indian Navy 1991-2000|year=2010|isbn= 978-1935501268|publisher= Lancer InterConsult, Incorporated}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-new|reason=New appointment}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Flag Officer Submarines (India)|Flag Officer Submarines]]|years=1987-1988}}
{{s-aft|after=J. M. S. Sodhi}}
{{s-bef|before=R. R. Sood}}
{{s-ttl|title=Fortress Commander Andaman and Nicobar|years=1986-1987}}
{{s-aft|after=[[S. P. Govil]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Auditto, Arun}}
[[Category:Indian Navy admirals]]
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Flag Officers Submarines (India)]]
[[Category:Submariners]]
[[Category:People from Allahabad]]
[[Category:National Defence Academy (India) alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Nau Sena Medal]]

Arun Auditto - Revision history

Bot at 13:28, 8 October 2022