Ballance, and then the final British officer Rear Admiral St John Tyrwhitt as FOCIF.

According to Vice Admiral Nilakanta Krishnan, the then Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command (FOC-in-C ENC), the aim of the Eastern fleet was: "To destroy the enemy's maritime forces deployed in support of his military operations in East Bengal and to deny all sustenance from reaching the enemy from the sea.

Apart from actual surveillance, each merchant ship in this area would have to be challenged, identified and boarded.

If neutral and carrying contraband, the ship would have to be escorted to the nearest Indian port.

The responsibility for this, it had been agreed with the Army and Air Force would be, in the main, that of the Navy.

Alizé and Hawker Sea Hawk aircraft from the INS Vikrant and the ships of the fleet bombarded Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.

[18] On 11 December, the FOC-in-C ENC signalled the Eastern Fleet: "Appreciate enemy with senior officers including FOCEF planning major breakout and will try to get away by hugging the coast.

"''[14] After the surrender of Pakistan on 16 December 1971, the FOCEF was given the task of reopening and reactivating the Port of Chittagong.

The entire Western Fleet had sailed from Mumbai to the North Arabian Sea to increase surveillance and adopt a deterrent posture.

[19][20][21][22][23] They began aggressive patrols and threatened to cut Pakistan's sea trade.