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{{Infobox military person
| honorific prefix = [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| name = E C Kuruvila
| honorific suffix = [[PVSM]], [[AVSM]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1922|10|04}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1994|03|17|1922|10|04}}
| birth_place = [[Bangalore]], [[Kingdom of Mysore]], [[British India]]
| death_place = [[Ooty]], [[Nilgiris district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| placeofburial =
| image =
| caption =
| nickname = Chandy Thambi
| allegiance = {{flag|British Raj}} {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{navy|British Raj}} {{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg}} [[Indian Navy]]
| serviceyears = 1942-1976
| rank = [[File:British_Royal_Navy_(sleeves)_OF-8.svg|23px]] [[File:13-Indian_Navy-VADM.svg|23px]] [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| commands = [[Southern Naval Command|Southern Naval Area]] [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]] {{INS|Vikrant|1961|6}} 15th Frigate Squadron {{ship|INS|Trishul|F143}} [[INS Garuda]] [[HMIS Kistna|INS Kistna]]
| unit =
| battles = [[World War II]] [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
| awards = [[File:Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] [[File:Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
| relations =
| laterwork = Chairman and Managing Director [[Mazagon Dock Limited]]
}}
[[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] '''Elenjikal Chandy Kuruvila''', [[PVSM]], [[AVSM]] was a former Flag officer in the [[Indian Navy]]. He was the Fleet commander of the [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], for which he was awarded the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]. He later led the [[Southern Naval Command|Southern Naval Area]] and then served as the Chairman and Managing Director of [[Mazagon Dock Limited]].

==Early life and education==
Kuruvila was born on 4 October 1922 in a wealthy [[Saint Thomas Christians|Syrian Christian]] family to Elenjikal John Kuruvila, a businessman who set up the Annamalais Timber Trust Company, and Anna Kuruvila ([[née]] Chandy). He was born in Bangalore and grew up in Bangalore and Thrissur. He attended the [[St. Thomas College, Thrissur]] and later the [[Madras Christian College]] (MCC). At MCC, he met and befriended [[K. M. Mathew]], later the [[editor-in-chief]] of the [[Malayalam]]-language daily, [[Malayala Manorama]].{{sfn|Mathew|2015}}

Kuruvila applied for a commission in the Royal Indian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RINVR). Successful in the written test and the interview, he was commissioned in the RINVR on his 20th birthday, 4 October 1942 as an [[Sub-lieutenant#Acting sub-lieutenant|Acting Sub-lieutenant]] in the Executive Branch.

==Naval career==
===Early career===
As a temporary Sub-Lieutenant, Kuruvila served on the auxiliary patrol vessel HMIS ''Sitakhoond''.<ref>{{cite web |title=(1167) - Navy lists > Bimonthly > 1943 > August > Volume 2 - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/93185634 |website=digital.nls.uk}}</ref> On 13 May 1944, he was promoted to the rank of [[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]].<ref name="Navy List">{{cite book |title=The Navy List: August 1943 |publisher=HM Government, UK |date=1945 |pages=2114 |chapter=Officers of the Royal Indian Naval Volunteer Reserve }}</ref> He later served on the {{sclass|Black Swan|sloop|1}} {{ship|HMIS|Sutlej}} when it was deployed in the [[Bay of Bengal]]. He then served on the {{sclass|Bangor|minesweeper|1}} {{ship|HMIS|Carnatic|J199}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=(574) - Navy lists > Quarterly > 1945 > April > Volume 1 - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/93433922 |website=digital.nls.uk}}</ref> In 1945, he participated in [[Operation Dracula]], the amphibious assault on Burma. After the war, he was granted a permanent commission in the [[Royal Indian Navy]] (RIN). He was selected to attend the Long Gunnery course in 1947, thus becoming the first Long 'G' officer post-Independence, and embarked for the [[United Kingdom]]. He attended the [[Royal Naval College, Greenwich]] where he and [[Sir Henry Leach]], who rose to become the [[First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff]] of the [[Royal Navy]] were course-mates. Kuruvila quickly became popular with the course and with the locals.{{sfn|Leach|1993}}

===Post-Independence===
He completed the course at {{HMS|Excellent|shore establishment|6}} on Whale Island at Portsmouth in January 1948. After completing the gunnery course, he returned to India and was appointed an instructor at the gunnery school in Cochin, which later became the {{INS|Dronacharya}}.{{sfn|Sahai|2006|p=204-205}} He later served on the [[Q and R-class destroyer|R-class destroyer]] {{ship|INS|Ranjit|1949}} and was appointed the [[first lieutenant]] of the ship. The ''Ranjit'' was commanded by Commander [[Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda|S M Nanda]].{{sfn|Krishnan|2014|p=174}} Kuruvila was promoted to acting lieutenant-commander (paid) on 31 December 1950.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=8 |date=13 January 1951 |url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1951/O-2306-1951-0002-107770.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

In early 1952, [[Queen Elizabeth II|Princess Elizabeth]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] set out for a tour of [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] by way of Kenya. The ''Rajput'' and the ''Ranjit'' were nominated to escort {{ship|HMY|Britannia}} from Mombasa to Australia.<ref>{{cite web |title=IN DESTROYERS FOR ROYAL ESCORT |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1951-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1951-12-18_244.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=18 December 1951}}</ref> With the death of [[King George VI]], this was cancelled. To commemorate the [[Coronation of Elizabeth II]], a massive Coronation review of the fleet was held at [[Portsmouth]]. The flagship INS ''Delhi'', destroyer INS ''Ranjit'' and frigate {{ship|INS|Tir|K256}} represented India at the review. A naval armada consisting of ships from the Indian Navy, [[Royal Navy]], [[Royal Australian Navy]] and the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] sailed from Portsmouth to Gibraltar. The fleet carried out exercises along the way and was under the command of [[Lord Mountbatten]]. The ''Ranjit'' under Nanda acquitted itself well during these exercises. Subsequently, the Indian ships continued conducting exercises with the Mediterranean Fleet. They sailed from Gibraltar to Malta, the [[List of islands of Greece|Greek islands]] and to [[Istanbul]].{{sfn|Nanda|2004|p=78-81}}

In 1953, he was selected to attend the [[Defence Services Staff College]], [[Wellington Cantonment|Wellington]].<ref name="DSSC">{{cite web |title=DEFENCE SERVICES STAFF COLLEGE - WELLINGTON 1953-54 |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1953-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1953-10-01_202.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=1 October 1953}}</ref> In January 1956, Kuruvila was appointed to the staff at the [[High Commission of India in London]] in the rank of [[Commander]]. The [[List of High Commissioners of India to the United Kingdom|High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom]] during his stint was [[Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit]].<ref>{{cite web |title=High Commission of India, London, United Kingdom : Former High Commissioners of India to the United Kingdom |url=https://www.hcilondon.gov.in/page/former-high-commissioners-of-india-to-the-united-kingdom/ |website=www.hcilondon.gov.in}}</ref> India was in the process of acquiring the {{sclass2|Crown Colony|cruiser|1}} {{ship|HMS|Nigeria|60}} which became the {{ship|INS|Mysore|C60}}. Apart from the ''Mysore'' which was to become the flagship, three [[anti-submarine warfare]] (ASW) {{sclass|Blackwood|frigate|1}}s were also being acquired which were to become {{ship|INS|Khukri|F149}}, {{ship|INS|Kirpan|F144}} and {{ship|INS|Kuthar|F146}}. Kuruvila was the liaison officer at the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] during the acquisition of these ships. He visited the ASW ships periodically and provided help and advice to the [[ship commissioning|commissioning]] [[commanding officer]]s.{{sfn|Sarma|2001|p=100-101}} He was promoted substantive commander on 30 June 1957.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=144 |date=13 June 1959 |url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1959/O-1990-1959-0024-89892.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

After a three-year stint, in 1959, Kuruvila returned to India was appointed Commander ([[Executive officer]]) of the erstwhile flagship - the {{sclass|Leander|cruiser|1||1931}} {{ship|INS|Delhi|C74}}. The ''Delhi'' was commanded by Captain [[Nilakanta Krishnan]]. Krishnan and Kuruvila made a great team and led the ship admirably. In March 1960, the ''Delhi'', under Krishnan, was part of the fleet in the Joint Commonwealth exercises which was the largest till then, with the [[Royal Navy]], [[Royal Australian Navy]], [[Royal Ceylon Navy]], [[Pakistan Navy]], [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] and [[Royal Malaysian Navy]] participating.<ref>{{cite web |title=COMMONWEALTH NAVAL EXERCISES CONCLUDE |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1960-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1960-03-01_179.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=1 March 1960}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nadkarni |first1=Admiral J G |title=A man for all seasons |url=https://www.navyfoundationmumbaicharter.in/pdf/finalqd_2012.pdf |website=navyfoundationmumbaicharter.in}}</ref>

In 1960, Kuruvila was appointed [[Commanding Officer]] of the cadet training ship, the ''Black Swan''-class sloop [[HMIS Kistna|INS ''Kistna'']]. His executive officer on the ''Kistna'' was Lieutenant Commander [[Mahendra Nath Mulla]]. In July 1961, he led the ship, which was part of a squadron consisting of the {{ship|INS|Mysore|C60}} and the {{sclass|Leopard|frigate|1}} {{ship|INS|Beas|1958}} on a goodwill tour to East Africa. ''Kistna'' and ''Beas'' called on [[Tanga, Tanzania|Tanga]] and participated in the celebrations of [[Tanganyika (1961–1964)|Tanganyika]] National Union Day.<ref>{{cite web |title=TANGANYIKA NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1961-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1961-07-10_352.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=10 July 1961}}</ref> Thereafter, for a short stint, he also commanded the [[Naval air station]] [[INS Garuda]] at Cochin. In 1963, Kuruvila was promoted to the rank of [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] and appointed Captain (F) 15th Frigate squadron as well as the Commanding Officer of the lead frigate of the squadron, the {{sclass|Whitby|frigate|1}} {{ship|INS|Trishul|F143}}. The other ship in the squadron was {{ship|INS|Talwar|F140}}.{{sfn|Singh|1991}}

After a two-year stint, in 1965, Kuruvila was appointed commanding officer of INS ''Circars'', the boys' training establishment in [[Visakhapatnam]]. In December 1967, he took over as the fifth commanding officer of the Navy's [[flagship]] - the [[aircraft carrier]] {{INS|Vikrant|1961|6}}. He commanded the ''Vikrant'' for two full years, till December 1969. After handing over command to Captain [[Kirpal Singh (Indian Navy officer)|Kirpal Singh]], he moved to Naval Headquarters. He was promoted to the rank of [[Commodore (India)|Commodore]] and officiated as the [[Chief of Personnel (India)|Chief of Personnel]] (COP) at Naval HQ. As the COP, he also served as the President of the Services Sport Control Board.<ref name="2 March 1970">{{cite web |title=COMMODORE KURUVILLA NEW PRESIDENT OF SERVICES SPORT CONTROL BOARD |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1970-JAN-MAY-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1970-03-02_089.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in}}</ref>

===Flag Rank===
In August 1970, Kuruvila was appointed the next Commander of the [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]].<ref name="FOCWF">{{cite web |title=NAVAL PROMOTIONS |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1970-JUNE-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1970-08-07_069.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=7 August 1970}}</ref> In October, he was promoted to the rank of [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] and took over as the third [[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]] (FOCWF) from Rear Admiral [[V. A. Kamath]]. As the FOCWF, Kuruvila flew his flag on his old ship, the ''Vikrant''. On 26 January 1971, he was awarded the [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] for distinguished service of an exceptional order.<ref name="AVSM">{{cite web |title=GALLANTRY AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1971-JAN-AUG-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1971-01-25_054.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=25 January 1971}}</ref>

===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|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>

In mid-1971, the aircraft carrier ''Vikrant'', along with the frigates {{ship|INS|Brahmaputra|1957}} and {{ship|INS|Beas|1958}} were moved from the Western Fleet to the [[Eastern Naval Command]]. With this, the [[Eastern Fleet (India)|Eastern Fleet]] came into being. The ''Mysore'', commanded by Captain [[Rustom K. S. Ghandhi|R K S Ghandhi]], became the flagship of the Western Fleet on which Kuruvila flew his flag.{{sfn|Krishnan|2014}} He argued in favour of using the [[Vidyut-class missile boat]]s offensively. He suggested that taking the missile boats in tow with the Fleet would ''"decisively tilt the scales in any encounter between the opposing Fleets."'' He even wrote to the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) [[Western Naval Command]] [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Surendra Nath Kohli]] in a proposal stating:

''"I have no doubt whatsoever that the correct utilisation of the missile boats is to use them offensively, two at a time, in company with the Fleet. If I have these boats with me at sea, as your Fleet Commander I can guarantee total victory once contact has been made with enemy surface units, regard less of his superiority in speed and gun power".''{{sfn|Hiranandani|2000}}

====ORBAT====
The Order of Battle of the Western Fleet under Kuruvila was:{{sfn|Cardozo|2006|p=181-182}} 
'''Fleet Commander:''' [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] '''Elinjikal Chandy Kuruvila''', [[PVSM]], [[AVSM]]
* '''Flag Ship''' [[INS Mysore (C60)|INS Mysore]] - [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] [[Rustom K. S. Ghandhi|R K S Gandhi]], [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]
* '''15th Frigate Squadron'''
** [[INS Trishul (F143)|INS Trishul]] - [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] K M V Nair, [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]
** [[INS Talwar (F140)|INS Talwar]] - [[Commander]] S S Kumar, [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]
* '''14th Frigate Squadron'''
** [[INS Khukri (F149)|INS Khukri]] - [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]] [[Mahendra Nath Mulla]], [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]]
** [[INS Kirpan (F144)|INS Kirpan]] - [[Commander]] R R Sood, [[Vir Chakra|VrC]], [[Nau Sena Medal|NM]]
** [[INS Kuthar (F146)|INS Kuthar]] - [[Commander]] U C Tripathi, [[Nau Sena Medal|NM]]
* '''31 Patrol Squadron'''
** [[INS Kiltan (P79)|INS Kiltan]] - [[Commander]] K P Gopal Rao, [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]]
** [[INS Katchall (P81)|INS Katchall]] - [[Commander]] K N Zadu, [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]
** [[INS Kadmatt (P78)|INS Kadmatt]] - [[Commander]] S Jain, [[Nau Sena Medal|NM]]
*'''Frigates'''
** [[HMIS Cauvery|INS Cauvery]] - [[Commander]] I K Erry
** [[HMIS Kistna|INS Kistna]] - [[Commander]] R A J Anderson
** [[HMIS Tir|INS Tir]] - [[Commander]] M Pratap
*'''Destroyer'''
** [[HMS Redoubt (H41)|INS Ranjit]] - [[Commander]] R N Singh
*'''Submarines'''
** [[INS Karanj (S21)|INS Karanj]] - [[Commander]] [[Vijai Singh Shekhawat]], [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]
** [[INS Kursura (S20)|INS Kursura]] - [[Commander]] [[Arun Auditto]], [[Nau Sena Medal|NM]]
*'''OSA Class Patrol Boats'''
*'''25 K Squadron''' - [[Commander]] [[Babru Bhan Yadav]], [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]]
*'''251K Division'''
** [[INS Nashak (K87)|INS Nashak]] - [[Lieutenant Commander]] R B Suri
** [[INS Nipat (K86)|INS Nipat]] - [[Lieutenant Commander]] B N Kavina, [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]
** [[INS Nirghat (K89)|INS Nirghat]] - [[Lieutenant Commander]] J Sharma, [[AVSM]], [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]
** [[INS Nirbhik (K88)|INS Nirbhik]] - [[Lieutenant Commander]] S Issac
*'''252 K Division'''
** [[INS Vijeta (K84)|INS Vijeta]] - [[Commander]] A K Parti
** [[INS Vinash (K85)|INS Vinash]] - [[Lieutenant Commander]] V Jerath, [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]
** [[INS Veer (K82)|INS Veer]] - [[Lieutenant Commander]] O P Mehta, [[Vir Chakra|VrC]], [[Nau Sena Medal|NM]]
** [[INS Vidyut (K83)|INS Vidyut]] - [[Lieutenant Commander]] B B Singh

====Operation Trident & Operation Python====
{{Main articles|Operation Trident (1971)|Operation Python}}
On 4 December, the fleet successfully executed [[Operation Trident (1971)|Operation Trident]], a devastating attack on the Pakistan Naval Headquarters at [[Karachi]] that sank a minesweeper, a destroyer and an ammunition supply ship. The attack also irreparably damaged another destroyer and oil storage tanks at the Karachi port.<ref name="1971 War: The First Missile Attack on Karachi">{{cite web|author1=Vice Admiral G. M. Hiranandani (retd.)|author-link1=Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani|title=1971 War: The First Missile Attack on Karachi|url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/interviews/1971-war-the-first-missile-attack-on-karachi/|website=Indian Defence Review|access-date=25 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217084537/http://www.indiandefencereview.com/interviews/1971-war-the-first-missile-attack-on-karachi/|archive-date=17 February 2017|date=11 July 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> To commemorate this, 4 December is celebrated as the [[Navy Day (India)|Navy Day]].<ref name="In 1971 Navy Day">{{cite web|title=In 1971, The Indian Navy Attempted One of the World's Most Daring War Strategies on Karachi|url=https://www.scoopwhoop.com/In-1971-The-Indian-Navy-Attemped-One-Of-The-Worlds-Most-Daring-War-Strategies-On-Karachi/|website=Scoop Whoop|access-date=25 June 2017|language=En|date=9 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209141754/https://www.scoopwhoop.com/In-1971-The-Indian-Navy-Attemped-One-Of-The-Worlds-Most-Daring-War-Strategies-On-Karachi/|archive-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> This was followed by [[Operation Python]] on 8 December 1971, further deprecating the Pakistan Navy's capabilities.<ref name="1971 War: The First Missile Attack on Karachi"/>

For his command of the Western Fleet during the war, Kuruvila was awarded the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] (PVSM) on 26 January 1972.<ref>{{cite web |title=RASHTRAPATHI BHAVAN CIRCULAR |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/RASHTRAPATI%20BHAWAN/1972-JAN-MAY-RASHTRPATI-BHVAN/PDF/RPB-1972-01-26_057.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=26 January 1972}}</ref> The citation for the PVSM reads as follows:<ref name="PVSM">{{cite web |title=PRESIDENT'S SECRETARIAT |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/RASHTRAPATI%20BHAWAN/1972-JAN-MAY-RASHTRPATI-BHVAN/PDF/RPB-1972-01-06_012.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=6 January 1972}}</ref>
{{Quotation|
{{center|'''CITATION''' 
'''REAR ADMIRAL ELENJIKAL CHANDY KURUVILA, AVSM ''' 
'''Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet'''}}

REAR ADMIRAL ELENJIKAL CHANDY KURUVILA, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet, was the Operational Commander of all Indian Naval forces in the Western Sector, He was responsible for the Defence of the Western Coast and for conduct of offensive operations against Pakistan's Naval forces at Sea. The officer guided the Naval operations in his theatre of war with exemplary skill and determination and displayed an offensive spirit and ingenuity of the. highest order in the execution of Naval war plans. His forces gained a decisive victory over the enemy in the crucial Naval action of the war and attacked the so far impregnable defences of Karachi port causing serious damage to vital harbour installations. The officer's action confined the Pakistani Naval ships to the sanctuary of Karachi s inner harbour, giving us Undisputed superiority in Pakistani waters. This denied enemy forces the much needed support from outside the country and severely restricted their ability to continue to fight. He has displayed outstanding leadership and ability in the conduct of his duties as Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet.|sign=|source=}}

===Post-war career===
Kuruvila continued to lead the Western Fleet after the war. In May 1972, he led two ships of the fleet - the flagship ''Mysore'' flying his flag and the [[Leopard-class frigate]] {{ship|INS|Betwa|F139}} to a goodwill visit to ports in the gulf. The ships called on Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain
and Kuwait.<ref>{{cite web |title=I.N. SHIPS TO VISIT GULF PORTS |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1972-JAN-MAY-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-/PDF/DEF-1972-05-05_226.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=5 May 1972}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME TO INDIAN NAVY IN KUWAIT |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/EXTERNAL%20AFFAIRS/1972-JAN-JUNE-EXTERANAL-AFFAIRS/PDF/EXT-1972-06-01_262.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=1 June 1972}}</ref>

In March 1973, he was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Southern Naval Area (FOCSOUTH).<ref name="FOCSOUTH">{{cite web |title=ADMIRAL KRISHNAN TO HEAD COCHIN SHIPYARD |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1973-JAN-MAY-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1973-03-02_108.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=2 March 1973}}</ref> He took over as the second FOCSOUTH from Rear Admiral V A Kamath. This was a short stint, as he was appointed Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the [[Mazagon Dock Limited]] (MDL) in Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web |title=ADMIRAL KURUVILA TO HEAD MAZGAON DOCK |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1973-JUNE-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1973-09-26_105.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=26 September 1973}}</ref><ref name="CMD-MDL">{{cite web |title=REAR ADMIRAL SARMA TO HEAD SOUTHERN NAVAL COMMAND |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1973-JUNE-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1973-09-30_111.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=30 September 1973}}</ref> During his stint as CMD of MDL, he was promoted to the rank of [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]. Kuruvila retired from the Navy on 1 March 1976.

==Personal life and later life==
Kuruvila married Pinky and the couple had two daughters - Pria and Laila. After Pinky's death in 1982, Kuruvila married Priya. The Kuruvilas moved to Ooty after his retirement. He served as the President of the Ootacamund Club from 1987 to 1990.<ref>{{cite web |title=PRESIDENTS OF THE OOTACAMUND CLUB |url=https://www.ootacamundclub.com/index.php/about-us/committee-history |website=www.ootacamundclub.com}}</ref> He died in Ooty in March 1994.

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

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{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Jal Cursetji]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[INS Vikrant (1961)#Commanding officers|Commanding Officer INS Vikrant]]|years=1967-1969}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Kirpal Singh (Indian Navy officer)|Kirpal Singh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of Personnel (India)|Chief of Personnel]] ''(officiating)''|years=1970-1970}}
{{s-aft|after=R N Batra}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[V. A. Kamath]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]]|years=1970-1973}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Kirpal Singh (Indian Navy officer)|Kirpal Singh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Flag Officer Commanding [[Southern Naval Command|Southern Naval Area]]|years=1973-1973}}
{{s-aft|after=[[S H Sarma]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuruvila, E C}}
[[Category:Indian Navy admirals]]
[[Category:Royal Indian Navy officers]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Personnel (India)]]
[[Category:Flag Officers Commanding Western Fleet]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich]]

Elenjikal Chandy Kuruvila - Revision history

Bot at 08:10, 1 November 2022