During
World War II, a need was felt to supplement the torpedo handling and operations in India by establishing a torpedo school. Since a torpedo school required waters where torpedo running and depth charge firing could be possible, a suitable location had to be selected. Since Cochin already had multiple establishments, the
P-class destroyer then in India was tasked with scouting a suitable location.
Pathfinder found the sea area around Rozi island in
Nawanagar State. Rozi Island was already a well-known port and was connected to
Jamnagar by road and railway. The
Jam Sahib of
Nawanagar,
Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji offered the Rozi Island, his 38-acre
game reserve, for a token rent of
Re. 1 per annum.
HMIS Valsura was commissioned on 15 December 1942 by the
Maharani Gulab Kunverba Sahiba with
Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, the
Commander-in-Chief, India and
Admiral Sir Herbert Fitzherbert, the
Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Navy in attendance. As the torpedo school of the
Royal Indian Navy, the establishment was modelled after the
Royal Navy's torpedo school
HMS Vernon in
Portsmouth. Commander MFB Ward was the first commanding officer of the establishment. After the
Independence of India, the torpedo school was moved to Cochin. The Jam Sahib donated another 600 acres for the expansion of the establishment. Since a separate branch for Naval Electrical Engineering was formed in the Navy, the Naval Electrical Engineering school was founded in 1948 at Valsura. On 26 January 1950, India became a republic and the name changed to
INS Valsura. Commander D. H. R. Dadabhoy was the first Indian commanding officer. ==Today==