Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships

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Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships
Queen-in-Council
Term lengthNot fixed (typically 1–4 years)
Inaugural holderRear-Admiral Reginald G. H. Henderson
Formation1970-1979

Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships (FOCAS) was a senior Royal Navy post that existed from 1970 to 1979. However, its antecedents date to 1931.

A

Flag Officer with specific responsibilities for command of aircraft carriers within the Royal Navy was first established in September 1931 with the appointment of Rear-Admiral Reginald Henderson as Rear-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers.[1] He was succeeded by Rear-Admiral the Hon. Sir Alexander R. M. Ramsay later Vice-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers. The post was held by successive flag officers under the titles listed below. In June 1968 the post Rear-Admiral, Carriers was renamed to Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships (FOCAS). The post was renamed Flag Officer, Third Flotilla in December 1979.[2]

The office holder reported to different senior flag officers during its existence including the Commander-in-Chief,

Western Fleet and finally the Commander-in-Chief Fleet
.

Rear-Admirals/Vice-Admirals Aircraft Carriers

Post holders included:[4]

Rank Flag Name Term Notes
Rear-Admiral/Vice-Admiral (A), Aircraft Carriers
1 Rear-Admiral Reginald G. H. Henderson September 1931-September.1933
2 Rear-Admiral the Hon. Sir Alexander R. M. Ramsay September 1933-March 1936 (VAdm by 06/1936)
3 Vice-Admiral Noel F. Laurence March 1936-July 1937
4 Vice-Admiral Guy C. C. Royle July 1937-July 1939
5 Vice-Admiral Lionel V. Wells July 1939-July 1940
6 Rear-Admiral Lumley Lyster July 1940 - August 1940 Post renamed Flag Officer, Mediterranean Aircraft Carriers in September 1940.[5]

Flag Officer, Mediterranean Aircraft Carriers

Rank Flag Name Term Notes
Flag Officer, Mediterranean Aircraft Carriers
1 Rear-Admiral Lumley Lyster September 1940 to 4 February 1941 office renamed FO/MAC 09.1040[5]
2 Rear-Admiral Denis Boyd February 1941 to January 1942
Post is re-established within the Home Fleet July 1942 till December 1943.

Admirals Commanding, Home Fleet Aircraft Carriers

Rank Flag Name Term Title / Remarks
Vice-Admiral Lumley Lyster July 1942 - 21 May 1943 Rear-Admiral, then Vice-Admiral, Home Fleet Aircraft Carriers, aboard HMS Indomitable[6]
Rear-Admiral Reginald Henderson 21 May 1943 – 1 December 1943 Rear-Admiral, Home Fleet Aircraft Carriers

On hauling down his flag as Vice-Admiral, Home Fleet Aircraft Carriers, about 27 April 1943, Admiral Lyster was appointed Flag Officer Carrier Training and Administration at HMS Monck (HQ Combined Training, Largs), which was transferred from 1 June 1944 to HMS Faraway, a training establishment & HQ of Flag Officer Carrier Training, at Greenock. He served in that post until 17.03.1945.[6]

Rear-Admiral Charles Woodhouse was listed as Rear-Admiral Aircraft Carriers, aboard HMS Implacable, March–April 1946.

Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers

Duties may have included (a) being responsible for the Fleet Air Arm afloat (b) ensuring the operational effectiveness of Carrier Task Groups.[3] Probably referring to pre-1967 when Home Fleet still existed.

Admirals flying this flag included:[7]

Rank Flag Name Term Notes
Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers
1 Rear-Admiral Walter T. Couchman December 1953-December 1954 (as first Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers)[8]
2 Rear-Admiral Arthur R. Pedder December 1954-May 1956
3 Vice-Admiral Manley L. Power May 1956-October 1957
4 Rear-Admiral Hector C. D. MacLean October 1957-January 1958
5 Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander N.C. Bingley January 1958-January 1959
6 Vice-Admiral Charles L.G. Evans January 1959-March 1960
7 Rear-Admiral Richard M. Smeeton March 1960-January 1962
8 Vice-Admiral Frank H.E. Hopkins January 1962-January 1963
9 Rear-Admiral Donald C.E.F. Gibson January 1963-April 1964
10 Rear-Admiral H. Richard B. Janvrin April 1964-February 1966 Also Commander Carrier Striking Group Two, STRIKFLTLANT.[9]
11 Rear-Admiral William D. O’Brien February 1966-April 1967
12 Rear-Admiral L. Derek Empson April 1967-June 1970
13 Rear-Admiral Michael F. Fell June 1968 - July 1970

In July 1970 the post was renamed Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships.

Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships

Included:[7]

Rank Flag Name Term Notes
Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships
1 Rear-Admiral Michael F. Fell July 1970
2 Rear-Admiral John D. Treacher July 1970-May 1972
3 Vice-Admiral Raymond D. Lygo May 1972-January 1974
4 Rear-Admiral Desmond Cassidi January 1974-May 1975 Ordered to fly out to Cyprus 1974 to become Naval Deputy to Commander British Forces Near East, Air Marshal Aiken.[10]
5 Vice-Admiral James H.F. Eberle May 1975-March 1977
6 Vice-Admiral William D.M. Staveley March 1977-July 1978
7 Rear-Admiral Peter G.M. Herbert July 1978 – July 1979

Notes

  1. ISBN 9781591146025
    .
  2. ^ Tailyour 1990, p. 113.
  3. ^ a b Beaver 1987, p. 38.
  4. ^ Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, p.84. February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  5. ^ a b Polmar 2006, p. 540.
  6. ^ a b Royal Navy Officers 1939-1945: L
  7. ^ a b Mackie.pp.84.
  8. ^ "The Fighting Services". Aeroplane and Commercial Aviation News. 99: 636. 11 November 1960.
  9. ^ Appendix K to
  10. ^ Henn, F., 2004. A Business of Some Heat: The United Nations Force in Cyprus Before and During the 1974 Turkish Invasion. Casemate Publishers, 2004.

References

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