The Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CINCFLEET) was the admiral responsible for the operations of the ships, submarines and aircraft of the BritishRoyal Navy from 1971 until April 2012. The command's most pressing challenge for most of its existence was the threat of a third Battle of the Atlantic; perhaps its most prominent war was in the Falklands in 1982. The post was subordinate to the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, the professional head of the Navy. In its last years, as the Navy shrank, more administrative responsibilities were added.
In April 2012, the post was abolished. Its responsibilities were taken over by a three-star vice admiral, the Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.
History
Prior to 1964 responsibility for British naval command lay with the Admiralty Naval Staff. Following the merger of the Admiralty in 1964 into the new Ministry of Defence the Admiralty became the Navy Department.[1][2]
In 1976, a Task Group was dispatched to the Middle East consisting of two destroyers and six frigates. The following year, four frigates – Mohawk, Zulu, HMS Cleopatra and Amazon – visited Salalah and Muscat in Oman and Basra in Iraq.[5]
In 1992 Fleet Headquarters moved to Portsmouth. 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.[10]
Responsibilities
Structure in 2010
Full 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.[11] 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). Both the CINCFLEET and CINCEASTLANT staffs were co-located there.[12]
Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces (previously known as Commander UK Task Group),[13] who oversaw the commander of the UK Task Group (COMUKTG), subsequently renamed as the commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG)[14][15][16] and the commander UK Carrier Strike Group (COMUKCSG).
Collectively, COMUKMARFOR, COMUKAMPHIBFOR, Commander UK Task Group (COMUKTG), and the 3 Commando Brigade Headquarters comprised the "Fleet Battle Staff".[17]
The Commander-in-Chief, Fleet's principal staff officer was the Chief of Staff, Fleet, responsible for coordinating the supporting staff of Fleet Headquarters from November 1971 to 2012.[21]
River-classminesweepers: HMS Waveney, HMS Carron, HMS Dovey, HMS Helford, HMS Humber, HMS Blackwater, HMS Itchen, HMS Helmsdale, HMS Orwell, HMS Ribble, HMS Spey, HMS Arun
The Commandant General Royal Marines, in 1989 Lieutenant General Sir Martin Garrod based at Whitehall, was the service head of the Royal Marines. In 1991 their structure was described as "very top heavy. They have nearly 8,000 men to put 2,400 in the field...they have three 'tied' generals, the Commandant General, a major general as his chief of staff, and a major general commando forces."[42]
Rear Admiral Colin Cooke‐Priest CB (1993). "The naval air command in the 1990s". The RUSI Journal. 138 (2): 53–58. doi:10.1080/03071849308445698. Cooke-Priest was Flag Officer, Naval Aviation.
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