Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet | |
---|---|
Queen-in-Council | |
Term length | Not fixed (typically 2–4 years) |
Inaugural holder | Admiral Edward Ashmore |
The Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CINCFLEET) was the
In April 2012, the post was abolished, its rank downgraded from admiral to three-star vice admiral, and re-designated Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.
History
Prior to 1964 responsibility for control and direction of British naval affairs lay with the
In November 1971, force reductions resulted in the
The
The post of CINCFLEET also was assigned the NATO appointments of
In 1992 Fleet Headquarters moved to
Responsibilities
Full command of the Fleet and responsibility for the Fleet element of military operational capability including the Royal Marines and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, was delegated to Commander-in-Chief Fleet, as is described in official descriptions circa 2010.[9] In 1971 after the amalgamation of the Western and Far East Fleets the headquarters was established at Northwood, in the London Borough of Hillingdon (HMS Warrior). Both the CINCFLEET and CINCEASTLANT staffs were co-located there.
By the early 21st century the headquarters was split. In 2002 a new Command Headquarters, the
By the 2010s, CINCFLEET was supported by:[9][dead link]
- Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command, based in HMS Excellent, who was the Principal Personnel Officer for the Royal Navy. The CINCNAVHOME title lapsed in 2012.
- Deputy CINCFLEET, based in HMS Excellent, who directed the work of the Fleet Headquarters
- Commander Operations, based at Northwood, responsible for fleet operations
- Commander United Kingdom Amphibious Forces, who was Commandant General Royal Marines
- and the commander UK Carrier Strike Group (COMUKCSG).
Collectively, COMUKMARFOR, COMUKAMPHIBFOR, Commander UK Task Group (COMUKTG), and the 3 Commando Brigade Headquarters comprised the "Fleet Battle Staff".[14]
Commanders-in-Chief Fleet
The Commanders-in-Chief were:[15]
Image | Rank | Name | Term began | Term ended |
---|---|---|---|---|
Admiral of the Fleet |
Sir Edward Ashmore |
November 1971 | December 1973 | |
Admiral of the Fleet |
Sir Terence Lewin |
December 1973 | October 1975 | |
Admiral of the Fleet |
Sir John Treacher |
October 1975 | March 1977 | |
Admiral of the Fleet |
Sir Henry Leach |
March 1977 | May 1979 | |
Admiral | Sir James Eberle |
May 1979 | April 1981 | |
Admiral of the Fleet |
Sir John Fieldhouse |
April 1981 | October 1982 | |
Admiral | Sir William Staveley |
October 1982 | June 1985 | |
Admiral | Sir Nicholas Hunt |
June 1985 | May 1987 | |
Admiral | Sir Julian Oswald |
May 1987 | April 1989 | |
Admiral | Sir Benjamin Bathurst | April 1989 | January 1991 | |
Admiral | Sir Jock Slater |
January 1991 | December 1992 | |
Admiral | Sir Hugo White |
December 1992 | June 1995 | |
Admiral | Sir Peter Abbott |
October 1995 | September 1997 | |
Admiral | Sir Michael Boyce |
September 1997 | September 1998 | |
Admiral | Sir Nigel Essenhigh |
September 1998 | November 2000 | |
Admiral | Sir Alan West |
November 2000 | September 2002 | |
Admiral | Sir Jonathon Band |
September 2002 | November 2005 | |
Admiral | Sir James Burnell-Nugent |
November 2005 | November 2007 | |
Admiral | Sir Mark Stanhope |
November 2007 | June 2009 | |
Admiral | Sir Trevor Soar[16] |
June 2009 | January 2012 | |
Admiral | Sir George Zambellas[17] |
January 2012 | April 2012 |
Deputy Commander-in-Chief, and Chief of Staff
Deputy Commanders have included:[15]
- Vice Admiral Sir Roy Newman, Feb 1990–June 1992
- Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Biggs, June 1992–June 1994
- Vice Admiral Sir Jonathan Tod, June 1994–June 1997
- Vice Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackham, June 1997–Jan 1999
- Vice Admiral Sir Fabian Malbon, Jan 1999–May 2001
- Vice Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, May 2001–July 2002
- Vice Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, July 2002–June 2004
- Vice Admiral Sir Timothy McClement, June 2004–Oct 2006
- Vice Admiral Paul Boissier, Oct 2006–July 2009
- Vice Admiral Sir Richard Ibbotson, July 2009–Jan 2011
- Vice Admiral Sir George Zambellas, Jan 2011–Dec 2011
- Vice Admiral Philip Jones Dec 2011–April 2012[15]
Chiefs of Staff
The Commander-in-Chief, Fleet's principal staff officer was the Chief of Staff, Fleet, responsible for coordinating the supporting staff of Fleet Headquarters from November 1971 to 2012.[18]
# | post holder | see | dates | notes/ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Chief of Staff Fleet | 1971-2012 | In 1990 became a joint title of the Deputy C-in-C[19] | |
2. | Chief of Staff, (Warfare) Fleet | 2002-2006 | became CoS Capability[20] | |
3. | Chief of Staff (Capability) Fleet | 2006-2012 | [21] | |
4. | Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations | 1971-2010 | became ACOS Operations (Navy) in 2002[22] | |
5. | Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans | 1971-2012 | [23] | |
6. | Assistant Chief of Staff, Warfare | 1973-2012 | [24] | |
7. | Command Secretary, Fleet | 1971-2012 | [25][26] |
Subordinate commands
At various times included:[27][28][29][30][31]
# | post holder | see | dates |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Chaplain of the Fleet and Director-General Naval Chaplaincy Services | 1971-2012 | |
2. | Commandant General Royal Marines | 1971-2012 | |
3. | Commander British Forces Gibraltar | 1992-2012 | |
4. | Commander Operations | 1993-2012 | |
5. | Commander UK Amphibious Forces | 2001-2012 | |
6. | Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces | 2001-2012 | |
7. | Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships | 1971-1979 | |
8. | Flag Officer First Flotilla | 1971-1990 | |
9. | Flag Officer Naval Air Command | 1971-2010 | |
10. | Flag Officer Gibraltar and Gibraltar Naval Base Commander | 1971-1992 | |
11. | Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland | 1996-2012 | |
12. | Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland | 1971-1996 | |
13. | Flag Officer Sea Training | 1971-2012 | |
14. | Flag Officer, Second Flotilla | 1971-1992 | |
15. | Flag Officer Submarines | 1971-1991 | |
16. | Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla | 1990-2002 | |
17. | Flag Officer, Third Flotilla | 1979-1992 |
Structure charts
Flag Officer First Flotilla, 1989
The
- First Flotilla, HMNB Portsmouth[33]
- 1st Frigate Squadron, HMNB Devonport with
- Type 22 frigates (Batch 2): HMS Boxer, HMS Beaver, HMS Brave, HMS London, HMS Sheffield, HMS Coventry
- 2nd Frigate Squadron, HMNB Devonport with
- Type 22 frigates (Batch 1): HMS Broadsword, HMS Battleaxe, HMS Brilliant, HMS Brazen
- 5th Destroyer Squadron, HMNB Portsmouth with
- 6th Frigate Squadron, HMNB Devonport with
- Leander-class frigates (Batch 3A): HMS Andromeda, HMS Hermione, HMS Jupiter, HMS Scylla, HMS Charybdis
- Dartmouth Training Squadron (JFS 1989, p. 651)
- Type 82 destroyer: HMS Bristol, Leander-class frigates (Batch 3B): HMS Ariadne, HMS Achilles
- 1st Frigate Squadron, HMNB Devonport with
Flag Officer, Second Flotilla, 1989
The
- Second Flotilla, with ships based HMNB Devonport:
- 3rd Destroyer Squadron, RN Dockyard Rosyth with
- 4th Frigate Squadron, HMNB Devonport with
- 7th Frigate Squadron, HMNB Devonport with
- Leander-class frigates (Batch 2): HMS Cleopatra, HMS Arethusa (Batch 1, decommissioned April 1989), HMS Sirius, HMS Phoebe, HMS Danae, HMS Argonaut, HMS Penelope
- 8th Frigate Squadron, HMNB Devonport with
- Type 22 frigates (Batch 3): HMS Cumberland, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Chatham (commissioned 4 May 1990), HMS Cornwall
Flag Officer, Third Flotilla, 1989
The Flag Officer, Third Flotilla was a rear admiral based at HMNB Portsmouth who doubled as NATO Commander Anti-Submarine Warfare Striking Force. In 1989 Vice Admiral Alan Grose held this appointment.
- Third Flotilla, HMNB Portsmouth[34]
- patrol vessel)
Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland, 1989
The
- Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland, RAF Pitreavie Castle, Rosyth
- Mine Countermeasures Flotilla, Royal Naval Dockyard Rosyth
- 1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron, RN Dockyard Rosyth with
- 2nd Mine Countermeasures Squadron, RN Dockyard Rosyth with
- 3rd Mine Countermeasures Squadron, HMNB Portsmouth with
- Ton-class minesweepers: HMS Hubberston, HMS Iveston, HMS Sheraton, HMS Brinton, HMS Brereton, HMS Maxton (decommissioned August 1989)
- Sandown-class minehunter: HMS Sandown (commissioned 9 June 1989)
- 4th Mine Countermeasures Squadron, RN Dockyard Rosyth with
- 10th Mine Countermeasures Squadron, manned by the Royal Naval Reserve and each of the squadron's ships assigned to a reserve divisions:
- River-class minesweepers: HMS Waveney, HMS Carron, HMS Dovey, HMS Helford, HMS Humber, HMS Blackwater, HMS Itchen, HMS Helmsdale, HMS Orwell, HMS Ribble, HMS Spey, HMS Arun
- Fishery Protection Squadron, RN Dockyard Rosythwith:
- Ton-class minesweepers: HMS Kellington, HMS Soberton, HMS Upton
- Castle-class patrol vessel: HMS Dumbarton Castle
- Island-class patrol vessels: HMS Anglesey, HMS Alderney, HMS Jersey, HMS Guernsey, HMS Shetland, HMS Orkney, HMS Lindisfarne
- Northern Ireland Patrol Squadron, Belfast Harbour with
- glass-reinforced plastic)
- Bird-class patrol vessels: HMS Cygnet, HMS Kingfisher, HMS Redpole
- Mine Countermeasures Flotilla, Royal Naval Dockyard Rosyth
Flag Officer Plymouth, 1989
The
Flag Officer Submarines, 1989
The
- Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM), Northwood Headquarters, Eastbury
- 1st Submarine Squadron, HMS Dolphin with
- Oberon-class submarines: HMS Orpheus (only harbour service), HMS Olympus (sold to Canada in 1989), HMS Osiris (sold to Canada in 1989), HMS Onslaught, HMS Otter, HMS Otus, HMS Opossum, HMS Opportune, HMS Onyx
- 2nd Submarine Squadron, HMNB Devonport with
- Swiftsure-class submarines: HMS Swiftsure, HMS Splendid (refit at HMNB Devonport), HMS Superb
- Trafalgar-class submarines: HMS Trafalgar, HMS Turbulent, HMS Tireless, HMS Torbay, HMS Trenchant, HMS Talent (commissioned 12 May 1990)
- 3rd Submarine Squadron, HMNB Clyde with
- Oberon-class submarines: HMS Odin, HMS Oracle, HMS Ocelot
- Churchill-class submarines: HMS Churchill (refit at RN Dockyard Rosyth), HMS Conqueror, HMS Courageous
- Valiant-class submarines: HMS Valiant, HMS Warspite (refit at HMNB Devonport)
- Swiftsure-class submarines: HMS Sceptre, HMS Spartan, HMS Sovereign
- 10th Submarine Squadron, HMNB Clyde with
- 1st Submarine Squadron, HMS Dolphin with
The
- RNAS Yeovilton[38]
- RNAS Prestwick:
- 819 Naval Air Squadron (Anti-submarine, Sea King HAS.5)
- 824 Naval Air Squadron (Anti-submarine, Sea King HAS.6) (disbanded August 1989)
- RNAS Yeovilton:
- 707 Naval Air Squadron (Air assault, Sea King HC.4)
- 800 Naval Air Squadron (Sea Harrier FRS.1, being upgraded to F(A).2)
- 801 Naval Air Squadron (Sea Harrier FRS.1, being upgraded to F(A).2)
- 845 Naval Air Squadron (Air assault, Sea King HC.4)
- 846 Naval Air Squadron (Air assault, Sea King HC.4)
- 899 Naval Air Squadron (Training, Sea Harrier FRS.1, Sea Harrier T.4A/T.4N, Hunter T.8M)
- Fleet Requirements and Aircraft Direction Unit (Canberra TT.18, Hunter GA.11/T.8, Dassault Falcon 20)
- RNAS Culdrose:
- 705 Naval Air Squadron (Basic helicopter training, Gazelle HT.2/HT.3)
- 706 Naval Air Squadron (Sea King training, various Sea King)
- Sea King Training Unit (RAF unit attached to 706 Naval Air Squadron, 2x Sea King HAR.3)
- 750 Naval Air Squadron (Observer training, Jetstream T.2)
- 771 Naval Air Squadron (Search & Rescue, Sea King HAR.5)
- 814 Naval Air Squadron (Anti-submarine, Sea King HAS.5)
- 820 Naval Air Squadron (Anti-submarine, Sea King HAS.6)
- 826 Naval Air Squadron (Anti-submarine, Sea King HAS.6)
- 849 Naval Air Squadron (Airborne early warning and control, 10x Sea King AEW.2A)
- RNAS Portland:
- 702 Naval Air Squadron (Training, Lynx HAS.3S)
- 772 Naval Air Squadron (Air assault, Sea King HC.4)
- 810 Naval Air Squadron (Anti-submarine, Sea King HAS.5, began conversion to HAS.6 in October 1989)
- 815 Naval Air Squadron (Frigate & destroyer helicopters, Lynx HAS.3S, most deployed on frigates and destroyers at sea)
- 829 Naval Air Squadron (Frigate & destroyer helicopters, Lynx HAS.3S, most deployed on frigates and destroyers at sea)
- Lynx HMA.8 trials unit (formed in September 1989)
- Roborough:
Commandant General Royal Marines, 1989
The
- Commandant General Royal Marines, London
- Major-General, Commando Forces
- 3 Commando Brigade, Plymouth
- 40 Commando, Taunton
- 42 Commando, Bickleigh
- 45 Commando, Arbroath
- 4 Assault Squadron, Plymouth (4x LCU Mk.9, 4x LCVP Mk.4, 2x Centurion BARV), served aboard HMS Fearless (L10)
- 539 Assault Squadron, Plymouth (4x LCU Mk.9, 4x LCVP Mk.4, 2x Centurion BARV), served aboard HMS Intrepid (L11)
- RNAS Yeovilton (12x Gazelle AH.1, 6x Lynx AH.1)
- 2 Raiding Squadron, Royal Marines (Reserve), Plymouth
- Comacchio Group, HMNB Clyde, guarded HMNB Clyde and the UK's naval nuclear weapons stored at RNAD Coulport
- Royal Marines Police, Plymouth
- Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Lympstone
- Royal Marines Reserve (RMR), Plymouth
- RMR Bristol, Bristol
- RMR London, Wandsworth
- RMR Merseyside, Liverpool
- RMR Scotland, Edinburgh
- RMR Tyne, Newcastle
Note: "(V)" denotes British Army reserve units.
See also
References
- ^ Stationery Office, H.M. (31 October 1967). The Navy List. Spink and Sons Ltd, London, England. pp. 524–532.
- ISBN 978-0787650155.
- ^ "Maritime Affairs". The Army Quarterly and Defence Journal. 101: 404. 1971.
- ^ Commander R.W. Moland RN. "One Fleet: A Structural Outline". RUSI Journal. 117 (666): 19.
- ^ Jane's Defence Weekly. Vol. 8. 1987. p. 489. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
- ^ NATO Handbook07. 25 March 1993. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
- ^ Young, Thomas-Durrell (1 June 1997). "Command in NATO After the Cold War: Alliance, National, and Multinational Considerations". U.S. Army Strategic Studies Institute. p. 11. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ^ Levene of Portsoken, Lord (1 June 2011). "An independent report into the structure and management of the Ministry of Defence" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Fleet Battle Staff Headquarters". Archived from the original on 13 February 2011.
- ^ "Commander UK Maritime Force". Archived from the original on 11 February 2011.
- ^ "Cougar". Archived from the original on 11 December 2010.
- ^ "New Admiral Visits Fleet Flagship". Archived from the original on 12 June 2011.
- ^ "Commander UK Amphibious Force". Archived from the original on 16 March 2011.
- ^ "Admiral Sir Trevor Soar takes up Navy fleet position". Portsmouth News. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
- ^ "Admiral George Zambellas takes up role as CinC Fleet". British Forces News. 6 January 2012. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- ^ Mackie, Colin (January 2019). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin. C. Mackie. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ Mackie 2019 p.135-136.
- ^ Mackie 2019 p.135.
- ^ Mackie 2019 p.135-136.
- ^ Mackie 2019 p.135-136.
- ^ Mackie 2019 p.135-136.
- ^ Mackie 2019 p.135-136.
- ^ The Civil Service Yearbook 1998 p.164.
- ^ The Civil Service Yearbook 2002 p.170.
- ISBN 9780230271166.
- ISBN 9781473817791.
- ISBN 9781904499176.
- ISBN 9781848320437.
- ISBN 9780230271197.
- ^ a b c Smith, Gordon (12 July 2015). "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947–2013: Summary of Fleet Organization 1972–1981". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
- ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1947–2013". Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- Jane's Fighting Ships1989–1990. Jane's Information Group. p. 651.
- ^ "Appointments". Navy News. 1 May 1983. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ "Flag Officer Plymouth". Navy News. 1 August 1982. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ "Notice Board". Navy News. 30 May 1992. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ "World's Air Forces 1989". Flight International: 61–62. 29 November 1989. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- ISBN 0-552-13818-5.
Further reading
- Rear Admiral Colin Cooke‐Priest CB (1993). "The naval air command in the 1990s". The RUSI Journal. 138 (2): 53–58. . Cooke-Priest was Flag Officer, Naval Aviation.
- Commander R. W. Moland RN (1972) One Fleet: A Structural Outline, The RUSI Journal, 117:666, 17-20, DOI: 10.1080/03071847209429770