>I ame shears at 15:22, 19 August 2021

2021-08-19T15:22:45Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = INS Virbahu
|native_name = Virbahu
| part of =
|location = [[Visakhapatnam]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]
|image =
|caption =
|map_type =
|map_size =
|map_alt =
|map_caption =
|type = Naval station
|coordinates =
|code =
|built = {{Start date|df=yes|1971|05|19}}
|builder =
|materials =
|height =
|used = 1971-present
|demolished =
|condition =
|ownership =
|open_to_public =
|controlledby = [[Indian Navy]]
|garrison =
|current_commander =
|commanders =
|occupants = [[Eastern Naval Command]]
|battles =
|events =
|image2 =
|caption2 =
}}

'''INS Virbahu''' is an [[Indian Navy]] [[submarine base]] of the [[Eastern Naval Command]] located near [[Visakhapatnam]], [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name=gs-bases>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/ports.htm|title=Indian Naval Bases|publisher=Global Security|access-date=2012-01-09}}</ref><ref name=is-virbahu>{{cite web|url=http://indiansubmariner.com/history/008.php|title=INS Virbahu - Home of the Dolphins|publisher=The Indian Submariner|access-date=2012-01-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707101015/http://indiansubmariner.com/history/008.php|archive-date=7 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/about-indian-navy/ins-virbahu | title=INS Virbahu | publisher=Indian Navy | access-date=5 July 2013}}</ref>

==History==
INS Virbahu was commissioned as the shore support base for submarines on 19 May 1971. With the commissioning of INS Virbahu the 8th Submarine Squadron of [[Vela-class submarine|Vela class]] submarines was based here. The Commanding Officer INS Virbahu was also designated as the Captain submarines 8th Submarine Squadron. Thereafter, with the induction of the [[Sindhughosh-class submarine|Sindhughosh class]] submarines, the 11th Submarine Squadron was created. As two Submarine Squadrons were based at Visakhapatnam, comprising eight submarines, the scope of responsibility of the Commanding Officer, INS Virbahu, increased many fold. The submarines were thus placed under the operational control of Captain Submarines, 8th and 11th Submarine Squadron. With the increase of the number and type of submarines the operational authority of Submarine Squadrons was elevated from Captain Submarines to Commodore Submarines in Apr 1990. Since the appointment of the Commodore Submarines had a command responsibility towards the submarines the appointment was thus re-christened as [[Commodore Commanding Submarines (East)]] in Jun 1997. Initially all training, maintenance, operational and logistic matters pertaining to submarines were dealt by Virbahu. As the Arm expanded, the training role was taken over by [[INS Satavahana]] and the Class Authority functions by Submarine Headquarters. But the attachment to the old Alma Mater persists and Virbahu continues to be regarded as the 'Home of the Dolphins' even today.<ref>{{cite book | title=Transition to Eminence: The Indian Navy 1976-1990 | publisher=Lancer Publishers | author=Hiranandani, G. M. | year=2008}}</ref>

== Objective ==
The role of INS Virbahu is to provide administrative and logistic support to the 8th and 11th Submarine Squadrons. It also provides accommodation, messing, welfare and recreational facilities to the crews of submarines as applicable.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} INS Virbahu is the seat of the [[Commodore Commanding Submarines (East)]] (COMCOS (W)). The COMCOS is also the commanding officer of the base.

==See also==
; Indian Navy
* [[Commodore Commanding Submarines (East)]]
* [[INS Vajrabahu]]
* [[List of Indian Navy bases]]
* [[List of active Indian Navy ships]]

; Integrated commands and units
* [[Armed Forces Special Operations Division]]
* [[Defence Cyber Agency]]
* [[Integrated Defence Staff]]
* [[Integrated Space Cell]]
* [[Nuclear Command Authority (India)|Indian Nuclear Command Authority]]
* [[Indian Armed Forces]]
* [[Special Forces of India]]

; Other lists
* [[Strategic Forces Command]]
* [[List of Indian Air Force stations]]
* [[List of Indian Navy bases]]
* [[List of countries with overseas military bases#India|India's overseas military bases]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Indian Navy}}
{{coord|17|41|58.9|N|83|16|14.3|E|scale:10000_region:IN|display=title}}

[[Category:Indian Navy bases|Virbahu]]

INS Virbahu - Revision history

>I ame shears at 15:22, 19 August 2021