The newer IAC-1, INS Vikrant, has also joined the Western fleets carrier battle group.

In 1956, Rear Admiral Ram Dass Katari became the first Indian flag officer, and was appointed the first Indian Commander of the Fleet on 2 October, when he took over from Rear Admiral Sir St John Tyrwhitt.

[8][9][10] At the outbreak of war, the Western Fleet was commanded by Rear Admiral E C Kuruvilla, PVSM, AVSM.

According to Admiral Sourendra Nath Kohli, the then Commander-in-Chief Western Naval Command, "The Western Fleet was given a broad directive to seek and destroy enemy warships, protect our merchant shipping, deny sealanes to enemy shipping and render ineffective the maritime line of communication between West Pakistan and East Pakistan to prevent any reinforcements from reaching the beleaguered Pakistani forces at that end.

"[13] The Order of Battle of the Western Fleet in 1971 was:[14] Fleet Commander: Rear Admiral Elenjikal Chandy Kuruvila Flag Ship INS Mysore - Captain R K S Gandhi, VrC 15th Frigate Squadron 14th Frigate Squadron 31 Patrol Squadron Patrol Vessels Frigates Destroyer Submarines OSA Class Patrol Boats 25 K Squadron - Commander Babru Bhan Yadav, MVC 251K Division 252 K Division On 4 December, the fleet successfully executed 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.

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