Below is the structure of the Royal Naval Service in 2020, which includes the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Fleet Air Arm. As the navy continues to expand and commission new ships following the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, this page will be updated. For further information regarding the future of the navy, see; Future of the Royal Navy. The below page will also include the Submarine Delivery Agency or SDA, which is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) responsible for the procurement, in-service support and disposal of all Royal Naval submarines. [1] [2]
The Royal Navy provides security at sea, prevents conflict, delivers humanitarian assistance and strengthens international partnerships in order to protect and develop the United Kingdom's economic interests. Its ships, submarines and aircraft are deployed every day around the world, together with the Royal Marines, who are the Royal Navy's amphibious troops and the UK's commando force. They are supported by the logistics and supply ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The Royal Navy also delivers the Continuous at Sea Deterrent on behalf of NATO and the nation. [1]
The Sunday Times reported that First Sea Lord Admiral Tony Radakin was considering reducing the number of Rear-Admirals at Navy Command by five. [3] The fighting arms excluding Commandant General Royal Marines would be reduced to 1-star or Commodore rank and the surface flotillas would be combined together. [4] Training would be concentrated under the Fleet Commander. [5]
Throughout 2020 and 2021, the Royal Navy has gone through what has been described as the 'Royal Navy Transformation Programme'. Under this programme, the Portmouth, Devonport, and Fasland Flotillas which came about after the "Fleet FIRST" reorganisation of c2002 were merged into: Surface (previously Portsmouth and Devonport Flotillas), and Submarine (Faslane).
COMUKAMPHIBFOR, previously an additional duty for Commandant General Royal Marines, was disestablished earlier, and merged into Commander United Kingdom Strike Force. The role of CGRM, titular head of the Royal Marines was then assumed by the Deputy Commander of Strategic Command, Lieutenant General Robert Magowan. [6]
As part of this program, a "United Kingdom forward shipbuilding plan" is to be implemented, focusing on United Kingdom shipbuilding. This follows the announcement regarding the new Type 83 destroyer and Type 26, Type 31 [7], and Type 32 frigates [8]. [9] [10]
The Headquarters of the Royal Navy is at HMS Excellent, Whale Island, Portsmouth [11], and the service is led by the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, a 4-star Admiral. The First Sea Lord is supported at 3-star level by the Second Sea Lord, who is responsible for people, training, capability, development, and acquisition; and the Fleet Commander, who is responsible for force generation and operations. [1]
Up until May 2020, the Flag Officer Sea Training led a training organisation responsible for ensuring that Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels were fit to join the operational fleet. [26] A Freedom of Information answer states that as of 1 May 2020, the position of Flag Officer Sea Training will no longer exist and the position taken up by a Commodore, in the appointment of Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training. [27] [24]
The Royal Navy Mine Clearance Branch, also known as the 'Diving Section/Diving Branch' is an unofficial branch of the Royal Naval Service. The Superintendent of Diving oversees all diving activities and units with the exception of the Reserve Diving Group which is overseen by Commodore, Maritime Reserves. [47] [48] [49]
The flag of the Admiral Commanding Reserves was struck for the last time on 1 January 1977, following the 1974 Defence White Paper, when the Naval Reserves came under the command of the Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command (CINCNAVHOME or CNH) assisted by a Chief Staff Officer (Reserves) with the rank of Captain. Since 1995, following the Options for Change, senior Royal Navy responsibility for the Naval Reserves has been vested in the Director Naval Reserves, a Captain. [60] Sometime following 2002 the post was expanded into a commodore's rank. [61] The current Maritime Reserves are made up of the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Marines Reserve, with the University Royal Naval Units coming under this command also. [62]
The Royal Navy Reserve (RNR) is a part-time force of civilians consisting of around 3,000 trained professionals. [65] Each Royal Naval Reserve Unit is commanded by a Commander.
Each Royal Marine Reserve (RMR) unit is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel thereby holding the equivalent of a battalion, with each detachment varying in size depending upon needs and the area. Each unit however has roughly 600 personnel each. [87]
A University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) is a Royal Navy training establishment connected to a university, or a number of universities concentrated in one area. There are 15 URNUs nationwide in the UK, and each URNU has land-based facilities near the university in question, up to four training officers (members of the Royal Naval Reserve) and, with the exception of Devon, a dedicated training vessel (an Archer-class P2000 fast patrol boat). [108] Since 2020, two more university units, Bristol and Glasgow & Strathclyde, lost their ships to Gibraltar Squadron. [109] [110]
Note: at this time it is unknown if there is a central headquarters. Below is a list of the current URNUs. [31]
Royal Naval Engineers as a branch of the Royal Navy, have existed since 1835. Naval engineers are in charge of the management and upkeep of ship-board machinery. Traditionally this included engines, motors, pumps and other mechanical devices, but modern engineers are now responsible for both mechanical systems and high-tech electronics such radar and sonar systems and nuclear-power plants. [120]
The Royal Naval Logistics Branch is the heartbeat of the Royal Navy. The current branch consists of around 30,000 people employed in some type of logistical work. [121]
The below ships are in the process of commissioning, sea trials, or under construction.
The Royal Navy Medical Service headed by the Medical Director General (Naval) was responsible for the medical care aboard ships and in shore establishment of the Royal Navy. It works closely with the Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service, which however not part of the Royal Navy. [136]
The Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service provides chaplains to the Royal Navy. The chaplains are commissioned by the Sovereign but do not hold military rank other than that of "Chaplain Royal Navy". They are usually addressed as Padre, Reverend or more informally Bish. Chaplains are recruited from a number of Christian denominations.
The Royal Navy Police was known as the Royal Navy Regulating Branch until 2007, when the service was renamed the Royal Navy Police in a change brought about by the Armed Forces Act 2006. [140] Members are, however, still known as "Regulators". [141] The RNP subsumed the Royal Marines Police in 2009, although for operational purposes the majority of the two cadres of personnel are employed within their respective areas of the service. The RNP provide a Troop strength unit of Royal Marines to 3 Commando Brigade to provide policing services as part of the UK Landing force. The RNP is the smallest of all police branches in the three services, with its provost marshal holding the rank of commander. [142] [143] [144]
Each RNP Regional Headquarters is lead by a Naval Provost Marshal at Commander rank. [144] [139] Below is the current (rough) organisation of the RNP: [145]
The Fleet Commander is the effective commander of almost all sea-going ships and operational groups of the Royal Navy. Under the 2019-2021 Royal Navy Transformation Program, many former 'Flag Officer' positions were de-enriched (lowered) to status of commodores and captains. This left the old style flotillas reorganised into 'type flotillas' which fall under the Fleet Commander's guise. [148]
On 1 April 2020, the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron was renamed as the 'Coastal Forces Squadron' to oversee all Archer-class patrol boats. [118] [179] The squadron's focus "is to provide training and support to front line units and the training platform for navigation and other sea serials that can be consolidated on an Archer-class patrol vessel being used within the wider fleet ships and submarines". [118]
On 1 April 2020, the Fishery Protection Squadron was redesignated as the 'Overseas Patrol Squadron'. They control the fishery protection Offshore Patrol Vessels (Batch 1), they also control the Forward Deployed units around the world. [118] All vessels in the squadron are part of the River offshore patrol vessel class.
Note for August addition: Both Tamar and Spey will deploy to the Far East. Initially only one was to do this (Tamar), but now it's been reported by the MoD that both will in-fact go. Furthermore, one will be based out of Diego Garcia and one out of Singapore. Even further information: these will remain in their respective areas (with crew rotations of course), until being replaced by the Type 31-class general purpose frigates. [195]
1st Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCM1) consists of all Sandown-class mine countermeasures vessels.
2nd Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCM2) consists of all Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels.
The Commander of the submarine flotilla is also Commodore, Submarine Service. [246] [247] [248] [249]
The 1st Submarine Squadron oversees all Vanguard-class submarines, and eventually the new Dreadnought Class. [256]
Until 2020, the 2nd Submarine Squadron was based in Devonport, and oversees all Trafalgar and Astute-class submarines. [256] [266] [267] [249]
The Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron ensures all traffic inside, through, and around HMNB Faslane is clear and safe. The boats also provide (along side the Ministry of Defence Police and 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group, Royal Marines) security for the base from mines and surface vessels.
3rd Commando Brigade is a Royal Marines command, headed by a Royal Marines Brigadier, currently Brigadier Richard J. Cantrill since September 2020. If mobilised, the brigade is able to deploy as a full group, but typically deploys its commandos (most equivalent to that of a battalion) in detachments where needed.
Commandant General Royal Marines (CGMR) reports to the Fleet Commander. [15] CGRM supervises training, and institutional support arrangements, administered day to day by the Director Royal Marines. However, CGRM does not oversee 3 Commando Brigade (operationally), which reports to Commander Naval Operations, and the Royal Marines Reserve which reports to Commandant Royal Naval Reserve.
The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) operates all the Royal Navy's aircraft. A vital element for many of the wide and varied roles undertaken by the Royal Navy, FAA roles range from humanitarian operations, through to securing the seas, fighting terrorism and landing troops onto hostile shores. [299] Since the commissioning of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the FAA's role has switched from a mostly ship-based support role to that of a carrier operations and anti-submarine warfare role. This is indicated by the commissioning of 744 Naval Air Squadron which will oversee the operational conversion of the new 'crowsnest' variant of the Merlin, something which will become very pivotal in supporting the carrier strike group.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) delivers worldwide logistic and operational support to Royal Navy military operations. They are the uniformed civilian branch of the Naval Service, staffed by UK merchant sailors.
Fully integrated into front-line warships, the RFA is an essential element of how the Royal Navy operates with freedom around the globe. The RFA supports a wide spectrum of operations from high-tempo upthreat war-fighting to counter-piracy, disaster relief, counter-narcotics, law enforcement and evacuation operations.
Following the Defence in a Competitive Age programme, three new Fleet Solid support units will be built. These ships will work with the Carrier Strike Group enabling it to act globally. In addition new Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS) will be brought into service in the early 2030s. [308] The new Littoral Strike Ship programme was also given the go ahead. [308] [309]
Below is a list of shore establishments which (for the time being) aren't known to report to an overall command.
All deployments are under the command of CJO and would be monitored day to day by PJHQ J3. [313]
The first part of the 2021 Carrier Strike Group will include a deployment the coast of Scotland, where 'Exercise Joint Warrior 2021' will take place. Once this exercise has culminated, operational command of the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group 21 will pass from the Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd, over to the Chief of Joint Operations (CJO), Vice Admiral Ben Key." [318] CTF 150 is under Commander Fifth Fleet in his hat as Commander Combined Maritime Forces and should only be listed as "British elements, CTF 150."
The following ships were deployed as part of the 2021 Queen Elizabeth II Carrier Strike Group: [319]
Littoral Strike Group (North) deployed on 7 May 2021 to the North Atlantic and Baltic. The Group will be one of two groups to deploy constantly and be at high readiness under the Defence in a Competitive Age programme. [331] [332] [333]
Operation Kipion is a long-standing maritime presence by the United Kingdom in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean to promote enduring peace and stability in the region, and ensure the safe flow of oil and trade. A permanent presence of 4 minesweepers forms the Mine Countermeasures Squadron along with a Frigate/Destroyer and Supply vessel. [340]
On 31 March 2021, HMS Trent left Portsmouth Harbour on its way to Gibraltar. On arrival, she became the first permanently deployed Patrol ship in the area since before the end of the Cold War. [346]
Joint Helicopter Command falls under command of the Field Army ( British Army command), and is therefore listed here separately under the army.
(skip echelons)
The Royal Navy holds a number of 'Administrative Flotillas', which oversee their specific type of ship. (need a ref to support some below claims, far from complete)
Commander United Kingdom Strike Force (COMUKSTRKFOR) and Rear Admiral Surface Ships (RASS) is the Royal Navy’s deployable 2* operational commander, and as RASS is the head of the Surface Flotilla Fighting Arm. [360] This is obsolete, Sunday Times said that all fighting arm heads will be reduced to 1 star. You need *2021* references showing each of these things exist, because I believe that *none* of them exist now. These are all gone
The Mine Countermeasures Flotilla oversees all mine countermeasures vessels. [203]
Loose references to a 'frigate flotilla' include: [361] oversees all current Type-23 class anti-submarine frigates. [362] [363] [364]
Lieutenant Commander Beth Griffiths, a marine engineer on a frigate, was awarded the MBE. [361] *NEVER* use anything in lower case 'frigate flotilla' doesn't mean anything!! And a lieutenant commander cannot, cannot, be a flotilla commander, would have to be captain or probably commodore. Take a close look at the 2012 bridge card and study the patterns!! You will note that the Commander of the Surface Flotilla, all upper case, was given an award in that very same listing!! Look for the FORMAL TITLES, man!!
The Type 26 Frigate Flotilla will consist all (Batch 1 and 2) of the Type 26-class anti-submarine frigates. [365]
The Royal Navy Hydrographic Surveying Flotilla oversees all surveying and hydrographic vessels. [366] [367] [368] [369]
The Small Boat Flotilla oversees the Royal Navy's Archer-class patrol vessels and Scimitar-class patrol vessels. [370]
@ Buckshot06: see here "The company will continue delivering ship asset management, repair and maintenance to the entire Portsmouth flotilla in a deal worth £900m.". Could the base flotillas continue to exist as 'establishments', but the surface flotilla oversees the vessels in an administrative role? Commander SUFLOT here (15 December 2020).
Proof of the submarine flotilla (29th March 2021) here.
Type 23 flotilla proof (27th March 2021) here. The words "Frigate Flotilla" are NOT THERE!! See they talk about the revamp of the [Type 23] class initially, then they switch to 'flotilla,' lower case, when if they were using good English they would continue to say just 'Type 23 class/' Illiterates. Buckshot06 (talk) 17:22, 5 May 2021 (UTC)
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In response to your request, I can advise you that the title Flag Officer Sea Training will cease to exist on 1 May 2020 and is replaced by the 1* post of Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training
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HMS AUDACIOUS was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 3 April 2020
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Below is the structure of the Royal Naval Service in 2020, which includes the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Fleet Air Arm. As the navy continues to expand and commission new ships following the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, this page will be updated. For further information regarding the future of the navy, see; Future of the Royal Navy. The below page will also include the Submarine Delivery Agency or SDA, which is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) responsible for the procurement, in-service support and disposal of all Royal Naval submarines. [1] [2]
The Royal Navy provides security at sea, prevents conflict, delivers humanitarian assistance and strengthens international partnerships in order to protect and develop the United Kingdom's economic interests. Its ships, submarines and aircraft are deployed every day around the world, together with the Royal Marines, who are the Royal Navy's amphibious troops and the UK's commando force. They are supported by the logistics and supply ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The Royal Navy also delivers the Continuous at Sea Deterrent on behalf of NATO and the nation. [1]
The Sunday Times reported that First Sea Lord Admiral Tony Radakin was considering reducing the number of Rear-Admirals at Navy Command by five. [3] The fighting arms excluding Commandant General Royal Marines would be reduced to 1-star or Commodore rank and the surface flotillas would be combined together. [4] Training would be concentrated under the Fleet Commander. [5]
Throughout 2020 and 2021, the Royal Navy has gone through what has been described as the 'Royal Navy Transformation Programme'. Under this programme, the Portmouth, Devonport, and Fasland Flotillas which came about after the "Fleet FIRST" reorganisation of c2002 were merged into: Surface (previously Portsmouth and Devonport Flotillas), and Submarine (Faslane).
COMUKAMPHIBFOR, previously an additional duty for Commandant General Royal Marines, was disestablished earlier, and merged into Commander United Kingdom Strike Force. The role of CGRM, titular head of the Royal Marines was then assumed by the Deputy Commander of Strategic Command, Lieutenant General Robert Magowan. [6]
As part of this program, a "United Kingdom forward shipbuilding plan" is to be implemented, focusing on United Kingdom shipbuilding. This follows the announcement regarding the new Type 83 destroyer and Type 26, Type 31 [7], and Type 32 frigates [8]. [9] [10]
The Headquarters of the Royal Navy is at HMS Excellent, Whale Island, Portsmouth [11], and the service is led by the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, a 4-star Admiral. The First Sea Lord is supported at 3-star level by the Second Sea Lord, who is responsible for people, training, capability, development, and acquisition; and the Fleet Commander, who is responsible for force generation and operations. [1]
Up until May 2020, the Flag Officer Sea Training led a training organisation responsible for ensuring that Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels were fit to join the operational fleet. [26] A Freedom of Information answer states that as of 1 May 2020, the position of Flag Officer Sea Training will no longer exist and the position taken up by a Commodore, in the appointment of Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training. [27] [24]
The Royal Navy Mine Clearance Branch, also known as the 'Diving Section/Diving Branch' is an unofficial branch of the Royal Naval Service. The Superintendent of Diving oversees all diving activities and units with the exception of the Reserve Diving Group which is overseen by Commodore, Maritime Reserves. [47] [48] [49]
The flag of the Admiral Commanding Reserves was struck for the last time on 1 January 1977, following the 1974 Defence White Paper, when the Naval Reserves came under the command of the Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command (CINCNAVHOME or CNH) assisted by a Chief Staff Officer (Reserves) with the rank of Captain. Since 1995, following the Options for Change, senior Royal Navy responsibility for the Naval Reserves has been vested in the Director Naval Reserves, a Captain. [60] Sometime following 2002 the post was expanded into a commodore's rank. [61] The current Maritime Reserves are made up of the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Marines Reserve, with the University Royal Naval Units coming under this command also. [62]
The Royal Navy Reserve (RNR) is a part-time force of civilians consisting of around 3,000 trained professionals. [65] Each Royal Naval Reserve Unit is commanded by a Commander.
Each Royal Marine Reserve (RMR) unit is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel thereby holding the equivalent of a battalion, with each detachment varying in size depending upon needs and the area. Each unit however has roughly 600 personnel each. [87]
A University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) is a Royal Navy training establishment connected to a university, or a number of universities concentrated in one area. There are 15 URNUs nationwide in the UK, and each URNU has land-based facilities near the university in question, up to four training officers (members of the Royal Naval Reserve) and, with the exception of Devon, a dedicated training vessel (an Archer-class P2000 fast patrol boat). [108] Since 2020, two more university units, Bristol and Glasgow & Strathclyde, lost their ships to Gibraltar Squadron. [109] [110]
Note: at this time it is unknown if there is a central headquarters. Below is a list of the current URNUs. [31]
Royal Naval Engineers as a branch of the Royal Navy, have existed since 1835. Naval engineers are in charge of the management and upkeep of ship-board machinery. Traditionally this included engines, motors, pumps and other mechanical devices, but modern engineers are now responsible for both mechanical systems and high-tech electronics such radar and sonar systems and nuclear-power plants. [120]
The Royal Naval Logistics Branch is the heartbeat of the Royal Navy. The current branch consists of around 30,000 people employed in some type of logistical work. [121]
The below ships are in the process of commissioning, sea trials, or under construction.
The Royal Navy Medical Service headed by the Medical Director General (Naval) was responsible for the medical care aboard ships and in shore establishment of the Royal Navy. It works closely with the Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service, which however not part of the Royal Navy. [136]
The Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service provides chaplains to the Royal Navy. The chaplains are commissioned by the Sovereign but do not hold military rank other than that of "Chaplain Royal Navy". They are usually addressed as Padre, Reverend or more informally Bish. Chaplains are recruited from a number of Christian denominations.
The Royal Navy Police was known as the Royal Navy Regulating Branch until 2007, when the service was renamed the Royal Navy Police in a change brought about by the Armed Forces Act 2006. [140] Members are, however, still known as "Regulators". [141] The RNP subsumed the Royal Marines Police in 2009, although for operational purposes the majority of the two cadres of personnel are employed within their respective areas of the service. The RNP provide a Troop strength unit of Royal Marines to 3 Commando Brigade to provide policing services as part of the UK Landing force. The RNP is the smallest of all police branches in the three services, with its provost marshal holding the rank of commander. [142] [143] [144]
Each RNP Regional Headquarters is lead by a Naval Provost Marshal at Commander rank. [144] [139] Below is the current (rough) organisation of the RNP: [145]
The Fleet Commander is the effective commander of almost all sea-going ships and operational groups of the Royal Navy. Under the 2019-2021 Royal Navy Transformation Program, many former 'Flag Officer' positions were de-enriched (lowered) to status of commodores and captains. This left the old style flotillas reorganised into 'type flotillas' which fall under the Fleet Commander's guise. [148]
On 1 April 2020, the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron was renamed as the 'Coastal Forces Squadron' to oversee all Archer-class patrol boats. [118] [179] The squadron's focus "is to provide training and support to front line units and the training platform for navigation and other sea serials that can be consolidated on an Archer-class patrol vessel being used within the wider fleet ships and submarines". [118]
On 1 April 2020, the Fishery Protection Squadron was redesignated as the 'Overseas Patrol Squadron'. They control the fishery protection Offshore Patrol Vessels (Batch 1), they also control the Forward Deployed units around the world. [118] All vessels in the squadron are part of the River offshore patrol vessel class.
Note for August addition: Both Tamar and Spey will deploy to the Far East. Initially only one was to do this (Tamar), but now it's been reported by the MoD that both will in-fact go. Furthermore, one will be based out of Diego Garcia and one out of Singapore. Even further information: these will remain in their respective areas (with crew rotations of course), until being replaced by the Type 31-class general purpose frigates. [195]
1st Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCM1) consists of all Sandown-class mine countermeasures vessels.
2nd Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCM2) consists of all Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels.
The Commander of the submarine flotilla is also Commodore, Submarine Service. [246] [247] [248] [249]
The 1st Submarine Squadron oversees all Vanguard-class submarines, and eventually the new Dreadnought Class. [256]
Until 2020, the 2nd Submarine Squadron was based in Devonport, and oversees all Trafalgar and Astute-class submarines. [256] [266] [267] [249]
The Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron ensures all traffic inside, through, and around HMNB Faslane is clear and safe. The boats also provide (along side the Ministry of Defence Police and 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group, Royal Marines) security for the base from mines and surface vessels.
3rd Commando Brigade is a Royal Marines command, headed by a Royal Marines Brigadier, currently Brigadier Richard J. Cantrill since September 2020. If mobilised, the brigade is able to deploy as a full group, but typically deploys its commandos (most equivalent to that of a battalion) in detachments where needed.
Commandant General Royal Marines (CGMR) reports to the Fleet Commander. [15] CGRM supervises training, and institutional support arrangements, administered day to day by the Director Royal Marines. However, CGRM does not oversee 3 Commando Brigade (operationally), which reports to Commander Naval Operations, and the Royal Marines Reserve which reports to Commandant Royal Naval Reserve.
The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) operates all the Royal Navy's aircraft. A vital element for many of the wide and varied roles undertaken by the Royal Navy, FAA roles range from humanitarian operations, through to securing the seas, fighting terrorism and landing troops onto hostile shores. [299] Since the commissioning of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the FAA's role has switched from a mostly ship-based support role to that of a carrier operations and anti-submarine warfare role. This is indicated by the commissioning of 744 Naval Air Squadron which will oversee the operational conversion of the new 'crowsnest' variant of the Merlin, something which will become very pivotal in supporting the carrier strike group.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) delivers worldwide logistic and operational support to Royal Navy military operations. They are the uniformed civilian branch of the Naval Service, staffed by UK merchant sailors.
Fully integrated into front-line warships, the RFA is an essential element of how the Royal Navy operates with freedom around the globe. The RFA supports a wide spectrum of operations from high-tempo upthreat war-fighting to counter-piracy, disaster relief, counter-narcotics, law enforcement and evacuation operations.
Following the Defence in a Competitive Age programme, three new Fleet Solid support units will be built. These ships will work with the Carrier Strike Group enabling it to act globally. In addition new Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS) will be brought into service in the early 2030s. [308] The new Littoral Strike Ship programme was also given the go ahead. [308] [309]
Below is a list of shore establishments which (for the time being) aren't known to report to an overall command.
All deployments are under the command of CJO and would be monitored day to day by PJHQ J3. [313]
The first part of the 2021 Carrier Strike Group will include a deployment the coast of Scotland, where 'Exercise Joint Warrior 2021' will take place. Once this exercise has culminated, operational command of the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group 21 will pass from the Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd, over to the Chief of Joint Operations (CJO), Vice Admiral Ben Key." [318] CTF 150 is under Commander Fifth Fleet in his hat as Commander Combined Maritime Forces and should only be listed as "British elements, CTF 150."
The following ships were deployed as part of the 2021 Queen Elizabeth II Carrier Strike Group: [319]
Littoral Strike Group (North) deployed on 7 May 2021 to the North Atlantic and Baltic. The Group will be one of two groups to deploy constantly and be at high readiness under the Defence in a Competitive Age programme. [331] [332] [333]
Operation Kipion is a long-standing maritime presence by the United Kingdom in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean to promote enduring peace and stability in the region, and ensure the safe flow of oil and trade. A permanent presence of 4 minesweepers forms the Mine Countermeasures Squadron along with a Frigate/Destroyer and Supply vessel. [340]
On 31 March 2021, HMS Trent left Portsmouth Harbour on its way to Gibraltar. On arrival, she became the first permanently deployed Patrol ship in the area since before the end of the Cold War. [346]
Joint Helicopter Command falls under command of the Field Army ( British Army command), and is therefore listed here separately under the army.
(skip echelons)
The Royal Navy holds a number of 'Administrative Flotillas', which oversee their specific type of ship. (need a ref to support some below claims, far from complete)
Commander United Kingdom Strike Force (COMUKSTRKFOR) and Rear Admiral Surface Ships (RASS) is the Royal Navy’s deployable 2* operational commander, and as RASS is the head of the Surface Flotilla Fighting Arm. [360] This is obsolete, Sunday Times said that all fighting arm heads will be reduced to 1 star. You need *2021* references showing each of these things exist, because I believe that *none* of them exist now. These are all gone
The Mine Countermeasures Flotilla oversees all mine countermeasures vessels. [203]
Loose references to a 'frigate flotilla' include: [361] oversees all current Type-23 class anti-submarine frigates. [362] [363] [364]
Lieutenant Commander Beth Griffiths, a marine engineer on a frigate, was awarded the MBE. [361] *NEVER* use anything in lower case 'frigate flotilla' doesn't mean anything!! And a lieutenant commander cannot, cannot, be a flotilla commander, would have to be captain or probably commodore. Take a close look at the 2012 bridge card and study the patterns!! You will note that the Commander of the Surface Flotilla, all upper case, was given an award in that very same listing!! Look for the FORMAL TITLES, man!!
The Type 26 Frigate Flotilla will consist all (Batch 1 and 2) of the Type 26-class anti-submarine frigates. [365]
The Royal Navy Hydrographic Surveying Flotilla oversees all surveying and hydrographic vessels. [366] [367] [368] [369]
The Small Boat Flotilla oversees the Royal Navy's Archer-class patrol vessels and Scimitar-class patrol vessels. [370]
@ Buckshot06: see here "The company will continue delivering ship asset management, repair and maintenance to the entire Portsmouth flotilla in a deal worth £900m.". Could the base flotillas continue to exist as 'establishments', but the surface flotilla oversees the vessels in an administrative role? Commander SUFLOT here (15 December 2020).
Proof of the submarine flotilla (29th March 2021) here.
Type 23 flotilla proof (27th March 2021) here. The words "Frigate Flotilla" are NOT THERE!! See they talk about the revamp of the [Type 23] class initially, then they switch to 'flotilla,' lower case, when if they were using good English they would continue to say just 'Type 23 class/' Illiterates. Buckshot06 (talk) 17:22, 5 May 2021 (UTC)
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In response to your request, I can advise you that the title Flag Officer Sea Training will cease to exist on 1 May 2020 and is replaced by the 1* post of Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training
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HMS AUDACIOUS was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 3 April 2020
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