Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla

The Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla was a senior British Royal Navy appointment from 1990 to 2002.

Surface Flotilla
Active1990–2002
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
SizeFlotilla
Part ofCommander-in-Chief Fleet
Garrison/HQHMNB Portsmouth
Commanders
FirstVice-Admiral A. Peter Woodhead
LastRear-Admiral Alexander K. Backus

When the post of Commander-in-Chief Fleet was created in 1971, three major subordinate appointments were also created: First Flotilla, Second Flotilla and Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships, each held by a rear-admiral.[1] In 1990 the First Flotilla was re-designated Surface Flotilla. In April 1992, the system was changed when the Third Flotilla was abolished and the remaining two flotilla commanders became: Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla – responsible for operational readiness and training – and Flag Officer, UK Task Group – who would command any deployed task group.[2]

Exercise Teamwork was a major NATO biennial exercise in defense of Norway against a Soviet land and maritime threat. Teamwork '92 was the largest NATO exercise for more than a decade.[3] Held in the northern spring of 1992, it included a total of over 200 ships and 300 aircraft, held in the North Atlantic. Vice Admiral Nicholas Hill-Norton, Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla, led the RN contingent as Commander, Anti-Submarine Warfare Striking Force (CASWF), with Commodore Amphibious Warfare (COMAW) embarked in HMS Fearless.[4]

Subordinate squadrons

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Unit Date Notes
3rd Destroyer Squadron 1990–2002 [5]
5th Destroyer Squadron 1990–2002 [5]
1st Frigate Squadron 1990–2002 [5]
3rd Frigate Squadron 1990–2002 [5]
4th Frigate Squadron 1990–2002 [5]
5th Frigate Squadron 1990–2002 [5]
6th Frigate Squadron 1990–2002 [5]
7th Frigate Squadron 1990–2002 [5]
8th Frigate Squadron 1990–2002 [5]


Flag Officer Surface Flotilla

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Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla (FOSF)
 
Ensign of the Royal Navy
Navy Department, Ministry of Defence
Reports toCommander-in-Chief, Fleet
NominatorSecretary of State for Defence
AppointerPrime Minister
Subject to formal approval by the Queen-in-Council
Term lengthNot fixed (typically 1–4 years)
Inaugural holderVice-Admiral A. Peter Woodhead
Formation1990–2002

Flag officers commanding

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Included:[6]

Notes

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  1. ^ Roberts, John (2009). Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. p. 89. ISBN 9781848320437.
  2. ^ Watson, Graham; Smith, Gordon (12 July 2015). "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947–2013". www.naval-history.net. G. Smith. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  3. ^ Arkin 2005, p. 525.
  4. ^ Roberts 2009, p. 219.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Smith.2015.
  6. ^ Mackie, Colin (August 2018). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865". gulabin.com. C. Mackie. p. 217. Retrieved 6 August 2018.

References

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