INS Dronacharya, the gunnery training establishment of Indian Navy as it is today, is a conglomeration of three components viz ex-Naval Coastal Battery, Kochi, ex-Naval Battery, Kochi and Gunnery School, Naval Base, Kochi. This was a natural polarisation of different establishments having similar professional assignments.

On September 3, 1939 the Cochin Port was threatened when second world war broke out. Four 60-pounders backed by two Coastal Artillery Search Lights (CASLs) boomed in Fort Cochin whose reverberations marked the beginning of historical Naval Coastal Battery at Kochi. A year later, the 3rd Heavy Battery RA consisting of 120 Madras, 50 British and Punjabi NCOs was raised.

Simultaneously, during 1941, it was decided to re-equip the Battery with searchlights and heavier calibre guns. This was the time when three 6" MK7, one Mark 5/6 Mounting for counter bombardment role and two 4.5" guns in coast defence/anti-air role (CD/AA) were installed. Work on the famous 6" gun, which gave the Battery a fearsome reputation, was completed in July 1943, and the guns installed resulting in the withdrawal of the 60 pounders. Subsequently, 2 pounder anti-tank guns in NTB role and two 12 pounder heavy artillery (HA) guns in CO/AA role were installed at the harbour and by the side of armoury quarters on the beach. These 2 pounder and 12 pounder guns were replaced with two 40/60 Bofors installed in AMTB role. On cessation of hostilities in 1945, these 40/60 Bofors along with CASLs were removed and the site was abandoned. However to cater for AA defence of Battery and the port, 3.7" AA guns were installed. In March 1946, the Coastal Regiment was disbanded with the exception of 5 Coast Battery, RIA (Royal Indian Army), for maintenance of the equipment. The coast maintenance batteries were also disbanded and the coastal batteries were taken over by 505 Coast Battery (Territorial Army) in November 1950. In September 1964, Naval ratings took over the manning of these batteries from 505 Coastal Battery (TA).

Consequent to removal of 3.7" AA guns from NCB in December 1952, a need for AA cover for the Battery and the port was felt giving rise to the construction of an AA Battery at the Southern end of NCB and was equipped with two 4" mountings, 20 mm hydraulically operated twin barrel mounting and three 40/60 MK 5 Bofors. These guns were also used for imparting practical training to gunnery sailors and officers undergoing courses at the erstwhile Gunnery School. Similarly in 1978, Leander complex was commissioned and the already existing 4.5" MK 3 gun was remoted to this system.

Before independence, the gunnery training for third-rate courses was being conducted at HMIS Himalaya on Manora Island, Karachi (now in Pakistan). After the partition of India, no gunnery training could be conducted for a year. Hence the 3rd rate course was started in October 1948 at Kochi in an improvised building located at the site of present Command Parade Ground. Within four years, training of gunnery rates was shifted to its permanent premises viz Gunnery School in INS Venduruthy. Till then, training was imparted to junior classes only.