Flag Officer, West Africa

Flag Officer, West Africa
Active	1942-1945
Country	Admiralty
Garrison/HQ	Freetown, Sierra Leone

The Flag Officer, West Africa (FOWA) was a

Second World War

. It existed from 1942 to 1945.

The Royal Navy's prior history in West Africa

During the 19th century, the

Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station

for the periods 1857-1865 and 1867-1920.

1807: British slave trade illegal
1808: First RN anti-slavery patrol, West Africa Squadron, ships on "particular service"
1819: West African Station an independent command under a Commodore
1840: West African Station still independent, but not under a Commodore
1842: West African Station once more commanded by a Commodore
1857-1865: West African Station again combined with
Cape of Good Hope Station
1866: West African Station an independent command again
1867 West Africa/Preventative Squadron is disbanded
1867-1920 Ships in West Africa under control of
Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station and West Africa Station
1942-1945 Flag Officer, West Africa operated from Freetown, Sierra Leone

The Second World War

In 1941, escort forces began to be built up at Freetown.

Free French ships.^[1] This was due to the growing importance of Freetown as a major base for convoy escorts.^[1]

It existed until 1945.

Flag Officers, West Africa

Post holders included:[2]

	Rank	Name	Term
Flag Officer, West Africa
1	Vice-Admiral	Frank Pegram	August, 1942 - May,1943 ^[2]
2	Vice-Admiral	Bernard Rawlings	May - November, 1943 ^[2]
3	Vice-Admiral	Arthur Peters	November, 1943 - 1945 ^[2]

Components

Distribution of units attached to station included:^[1]

	Unit	Date	Notes
1	18th Destroyer Flotilla	July 1941- January 1942	2 sloops, 18 corvettes ^[1]
2	18th Destroyer Flotilla	January 1942 - August 1942	2 sloops, 24 corvettes ^[1]
3	18th Destroyer Flotilla	August 1942 - July 1943	2 sloops, 23 corvettes ^[1]
4	18th Destroyer Flotilla	July 1943 - February 1944	15 destroyers, 2 sloops, 15 corvettes ^[1]
5	18th Destroyer Flotilla	February 1944 - September 1944	6 destroyers, 7 sloops & frigates, 7 corvettes ^[1]
6	55th Escort Group	September 1944 - May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]
7	56th Escort Group	September 1944 - May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]
8	57th Escort Group	September 1944 - May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]
9	58th Escort Group	September 1944 - May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers, 15 corvettes ^[1]
10	59th Escort Group	September 1944 - May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]
11	60th Escort Group	September 1944 - May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945:West Africa Command". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, p.84. February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

External links

Mackie, Colin. (2018) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Scotland, UK.
Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945:West Africa Command". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015.

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