THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF FULL
THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF PROFESSIONAL

Commander Operations, based at Northwood, responsible for fleet operations.

Deputy CINCFLEET, based in HMS Excellent, who directed the work of the Fleet Headquarters.

Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command, based in HMS Excellent, who was the Principal Personnel Officer for the Royal Navy.

īy the 2010s, CINCFLEET was supported by: Thereafter the headquarters was split between the Command HQ and CINCFLEET's Operational Headquarters at Northwood, co-located with the Permanent Joint Headquarters. In 2002 a new Command Headquarters, the Navy Command Headquarters Building at HMS Excellent in Portsmouth was completed. Both the CINCFLEET and CINCEASTLANT staffs were co-located there.īy the early 21st century the headquarters was split.

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). Responsibilities Structure in 2010įull 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.

THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF FULL

In 2005, the Second Sea Lord, reduced in rank from full Admiral to Vice-Admiral, came under CINCFLEET's command, a situation that lasted until the Levene reforms of 2012. In 1992 Fleet Headquarters moved to Portsmouth. On 1 July 1994, the Channel Command was disestablished: however most of its subordinate commands remained in existence although reshuffled: most of the headquarters were absorbed within Allied Command Europe particularly as part of the new Allied Forces Northwestern Europe.

The post of CINCFLEET also was assigned the NATO appointments of Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic Area (CINCEASTLANT) and Commander-in-Chief Channel (CINCHAN). In the late 1980s two small patrol craft, HMS Cormorant, HMS Hart, were reported as being attached to FO Gibraltar. The Flag Officer Gibraltar, and Gibraltar Naval Base Commander, a Rear Admiral, double-hatted as NATO's Commander Gibraltar Mediterranean (COMGIBMED). Operational control was delegated to FOSNI, Flag Officer Plymouth, Flag Officer Gibraltar, Flag Officer Malta, Senior Naval Officer West Indies, Commander, ANZUK Naval Forces, and Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong. From 1971-72 CINCFLEET directed Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships Flag Officer First Flotilla Flag Officer, Second Flotilla Flag Officer Submarines the Hydrographer of the Navy, Rear Admiral Geoffrey Hall (all survey vessels) Flag Officer Sea Training (all ships in workup at Portland) and Captain, Mine Countermeasures. Previous to November 1971, on CINCWF had already assumed responsibility for the administration of ships in the Far East Fleet. It was to be commanded by a four star admiral who held the title Commander-in-Chief Fleet, with his headquarters at the Northwood Headquarters, Middlesex, England. In November 1971, force reductions resulted in the Western Fleet being amalgamated with the Far East Fleet. Following the merger of the Admiralty in 1964 into the new Ministry of Defence it became known as the Navy Department. Prior to 1964 responsibility for control and direction of British naval affairs lay with the Admiralty, naval command lay with the Admiralty Naval Staff. 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. In its last years, as the Navy shrank, more administrative responsibilities were added.

THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF PROFESSIONAL

The post was subordinate to the First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Naval Service. The Commander-in-Chief Fleet ( CINCFLEET) was the admiral responsible for the operations of the ships, submarines and aircraft of the British Royal Navy from 1971 until April 2012. Subject to formal approval by the Queen-in-Council

The commander in chief