▁first ▁Indian ▁Muslim ▁to ▁be ▁commission ed ▁a ▁mid ship man ▁in ▁the ▁Royal ▁Indian ▁Navy ' s ▁Executive ▁Branch ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 1 . ▁On ▁ 1 ▁September ▁ 1 9 3 3 , ▁he ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁sub - lie utenant , ▁receiving ▁promotion ▁to ▁lieutenant ▁on ▁ 1 ▁September ▁ 1 9 3 6 . ▁On ▁ 2 4 ▁May ▁ 1 9 3 8 , ▁he ▁was ▁assigned ▁to ▁the ▁esc ort ▁vessel ▁H M IS ▁Lawrence ▁as ▁its ▁first ▁lieutenant ▁and ▁was ▁serving ▁in ▁this ▁position ▁at ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁war ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 9 ; ▁the ▁future ▁Indian ▁Navy ▁C NS ▁S our endra ▁N ath ▁Koh li ▁served ▁under ▁him ▁as ▁a ▁sub - lie utenant . ▁▁ ▁He ▁was ▁trained ▁as ▁tor ped o ▁and ▁anti - sub marine ▁special ist ▁and ▁held ▁various ▁officer ' s ▁appoint ments ▁both ▁at ▁sea ▁and ▁with ▁land - based ▁naval ▁form ations ▁before ▁and ▁after ▁the ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁At ▁the ▁out set ▁of ▁the ▁war , ▁he ▁saw ▁action ▁against ▁the ▁Italian ▁Reg ia ▁Marina ▁in ▁the ▁Red ▁Sea ▁and ▁off ▁the ▁Som ali ▁coast s . ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁he ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁Britain ▁where ▁he ▁qualified ▁as ▁a ▁special ist ▁officer ▁in ▁the ▁Tor ped o ▁Branch . ▁He ▁then ▁went ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁deliver ing ▁lect ures ▁on ▁the ▁role ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁Indian ▁Navy