Commander Operations (Royal Navy)

Commander Operations
Commander Operations
	Ensign of the Royal Navy
	Incumbent; Major-General Richard Cantrill ; since 26 April 2022
	Ministry of Defence
Abbreviation	COMOPS
Member of	Navy Command
Reports to	Fleet Commander
Seat	Northwood Headquarters, Hertfordshire, England
Nominator	Secretary of State for Defence
Appointer	Prime Minister ; Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council
Term length	Not fixed (typically 1–3 years)
Inaugural holder	Rear-Admiral Roger Lane-Nott
Formation	1993
Website	royalnavy.mod.uk

Last updated June 26, 2024

The Commander Operations (COMOPS)^[1] is a senior Royal Navy officer based at Northwood Headquarters who exercises operational command of all national maritime operations on behalf of the Fleet Commander.^[2] The post was established in 1993.

Commander Operations previously held the additional posts of Commander Task Force (CTF) 311 (UK attack submarines) and CTF 345 (UK nuclear missile submarines).^[3]^[4] In 2015, Rear Admiral John Weale was appointed Rear Admiral Submarines/Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Submarines, while Rear Admiral Robert Tarrant was made Commander Operations (Royal Navy), separating the two posts.^[5]^[6]

Post-holders

Post-holders have included:^[6]

1993–1996 Rear-Admiral Roger Lane-Nott
1996–1998 Rear-Admiral James Perowne
1998–2002 Rear-Admiral Robert Stevens
2002–2004 Rear-Admiral Niall Kilgour
2004–2006 Rear-Admiral Paul Lambert
2006–2009 Rear-Admiral David Cooke
2009–2011 Rear-Admiral Mark Anderson
2011–2013 Rear-Admiral Ian Corder
2013–2015 Rear-Admiral Matt Parr
2015–2017 Rear-Admiral Robert Tarrant
2017–2019 Rear-Admiral Paul Halton
2019–2022 Rear-Admiral Simon Asquith
2022–2024 Rear-Admiral Edward Ahlgren
2024–present Major-General Richard Cantrill

Subordinate formations 2016-2017

Included:^[7]^[8]

3 Commando Brigade
Surface Flotilla, Commodore Craig Wood, Commander, Surface Flotilla, in post April 2020^[9]
Submarine Flotilla ^[10]

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References

↑ "Commander Maritime Operations visits personnel in the Gulf" . Retrieved 28 January 2016.
↑ "Navy Command senior, as of September 2017". MOD. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
↑ Joining Britain's Royal Navy Archived 2013-12-26 at the Wayback Machine Undersea Warfare
↑ "SUEZ WAR OF 1956". Godfreydykes.info. 1956-11-05. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
↑ "Rear Admiral John Weale" (PDF). Retrieved 21 January 2016.
1 2 "Senior Royal Navy Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 6 September 2015.
↑ "Ministry of Defence Organogram". data.gov.uk. MOD, 31 March 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
↑ "Navy Command senior staff CSV". Ministry of Defence . Retrieved 20 December 2017.
↑ Mackie, Colin (1 October 2020). "Admirals October 2020" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
↑ Mackie, Colin (1 October 2020). "Admirals October 2020" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Retrieved 5 November 2020. Commodore James Le S. Perks: Commander, Submarine Flotilla, April 2020

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[1] "Commander Maritime Operations visits personnel in the Gulf" . Retrieved 28 January 2016.

[2] "Navy Command senior, as of September 2017". MOD. Retrieved 8 August 2018.

[3] Joining Britain's Royal Navy Archived 2013-12-26 at the Wayback Machine Undersea Warfare

[4] "SUEZ WAR OF 1956". Godfreydykes.info. 1956-11-05. Retrieved 2013-06-19.

[5] "Rear Admiral John Weale" (PDF). Retrieved 21 January 2016.

[appoints-6] 1 2 "Senior Royal Navy Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 6 September 2015.

[7] "Ministry of Defence Organogram". data.gov.uk. MOD, 31 March 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.

[8] "Navy Command senior staff CSV". Ministry of Defence . Retrieved 20 December 2017.

[9] Mackie, Colin (1 October 2020). "Admirals October 2020" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Retrieved 5 November 2020.

[10] Mackie, Colin (1 October 2020). "Admirals October 2020" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Retrieved 5 November 2020. Commodore James Le S. Perks: Commander, Submarine Flotilla, April 2020

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v t e Navy Command (Ministry of Defence)
oversight	Defence Board− Chief of the Defence Staff Group Permanent Under Secretary (PUS) Group
TLB holder	First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff (TLB Holder)
TLB group under TLB holder	Fleet Commander Second Sea Lord, (2SL) and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) Finance Director (Navy) Non-Executive Director, Navy Board
Fleet Command	Fleet Commander– Commander United Kingdom Strike Force Commander Maritime Operations Director Force Generation Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training Commandant General Royal Marines
maritime forces	Commander United Kingdom Strike Force– Commander UK Carrier Strike Group Commander Littoral Strike Group Assistant Chief of Staff Land and Littoral Manoeuvre and Deputy Commandant General Royal Marines
amphibious forces	Commander Littoral Strike Group
maritime operations	Commander Maritime Operations– Deputy Commander Operations Commander 3 Commando Brigade Commander Surface Flotilla Commander Submarine Flotilla
naval training	Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training– Deputy Director Future Training Commanding Officer Maritime Warfare School
regional forces	Commander Regional Forces and Naval Regional Commander Eastern England Naval Regional Commander Wales & Western England Naval Regional Commander Northern England Naval Regional Commander Scotland & Northern Ireland
navy personnel and capability	Second Sea Lord, (2SL) and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff– Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) Director People & Training and Naval Secretary Director Navy Acquisition Director Develop Director, Ships Support Transformation and Chief Naval Engineer Commodore Maritime Reserves Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers) Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation & Carriers) Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Submarines)/Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland Chaplain of the Fleet Chief of Staff Navy Command (HQ)
naval personnel	Director People & Training and Naval Secretary Commodore Maritime Reserves – Assistant Chief of Staff Medical/Head of the Royal Naval Medical Service/Medical Director General (Navy) Naval Assistant, ACNS (Personnel) (Naval Secretary) Deputy Director People Delivery Commodore Naval Legal Services Commander Regional Forces Head of Strategic Engagement, Naval Staff
naval capability	Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability)– Assistant Chief of Staff Warfare Assistant Chief of Staff Maritime Capability Chief Technology Officer
aviation and carriers	Deputy Director Naval Aviation – Deputy Director Naval Aviation and Commodore Fleet Air Arm Commanding Officer Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton
submarines	Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Submarines)/Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland– Assistant Chief of Staff, Submarines
surface ships	Commodore RFA and Deputy Director Royal Navy Afloat Support
support	Director Naval Support Assistant Chief of Staff Engineering Support Base Commander HM Naval Base Portsmouth Base Commander HM Naval Base Devonport Base Commander HM Naval Base Clyde
policy	Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy)– Commodore, Naval Staff
finance and resources	Finance Director (Navy)– Assistant Chief of Staff Resources and Plans Command Secretary (Command Secretariat) Navy Safety Director

v t e Navy Department (Ministry of Defence)
political head ministers	Office of the Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy (1964-1967) Office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (1967-1981) Deputy Under-Secretary of State (Navy) (1967-1981) Office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (1981-1990) Office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (1991-1997)
governance	Defence Council Defence Board Admiralty Board Navy Board
military head	First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff
office of the first sea lord	Office of the Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff Office of the Deputy-Chief of the Naval Staff Office of the Naval Secretary-flag officer appointments - Naval Assistant to Naval Secretary-captains appointments Director of Naval Officer Appointments Director of Naval Officer Appointments (Engineer Officers) Director of Naval Officer Appointments (Seaman Officers) Director of Naval Officer Appointments (Supply and Secretariat and WRNS Officers) Director of Naval Security (1988-) Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord Secretary to the First Sea Lord
under Vice & Deputy Chief of Naval Staff	Offices of the Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff Commandant General Royal Marines Chief of Staff Colonel General Staff (Assistant Chief of Staff) Military Secretary (Royal Marines) Assistant Adjutant-General (Royal Marines) Assistant Quartermaster- General (Royal Marines) Director Royal Marines Reserves Directorate of Naval Security Director of Naval Security Hydrographer of the Navy Assistant Hydrographer Officers appointments Director of Naval Oceanography and Meteorology Director of Hydrographic Plans and Surveys Director of Hydrographic Charting and Sciences Director of Hydrographic Administration and Supply
Air, Operations, Plans, Policy requirements, warfare	Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) Assistant of Chief Defence Staff (Pol) Naval Staff Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations) Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations and Air) Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Ops) Naval Staff Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operational Requirements) Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Warfare)
naval staff directorates offices & branches	Directorate of Communications & Information Systems (Navy) Directorate of Defence Plans (Navy) Directorate of Defence Policy(Naval) Directorate of Fleet Management Services Directorate of Naval Air Warfare Operation Directorate of Naval Management and Organisation Directorate of Operational Analysis (RN) Directorate of Naval Operations and Trade Directorate of Naval Operational Requirements Directorate of Naval Plans Directorate of Naval Tactical and Weapons Policy Directorate of Naval Security Directorate of Naval Signals Directorate of Naval Staff Duties Directorate of Navigation and Tactical Control (Naval) Directorate of Surface Warfare (Naval) Directorate of Under-Sea Warfare (Naval) Hydrographic Department Naval Historical Branch Naval Historical Library Naval Staff Directorate Plans and Resources Division
naval personnel	Office of the Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
naval personnel department	Office of the Chief Naval Supply and Secretariat Officer Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet-became Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service Principal Chaplain Church of Scotland & Free Churches (Naval) Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain (Naval) Directorate General Training Directorate-General Naval Manpower and Training Director of Naval Manpower Planning Director of Naval Manpower Requirements Director of Naval Manning and Training (Seaman) Director of Naval Manning and Training (Engineering) Director of Naval Manning and Training (Supply and Secretariat) Director of Naval Training Support Naval Manpower Statistics Branch Director of Naval Foreign and Commonwealth Training Director of Naval Education Service Joint Warfare Establishment Directorate-General Naval Personnel Services Directorate of Naval Officer Appointments Directorate of Naval Physical Training and Sports Head of Naval Social Service Directorate of Naval Service Conditions Director of Naval Service Conditions Directorate of Fleet Supply Duties (1964-1973) General Manager Royal Navy Film Corporation Job Evaluation Judge Naval Recruitment Training Agency Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves Office of the Medical Director-General of the Navy Office of the Medical Director-General (Naval) Deputy Director-General (Naval) Director Naval Dental Services Director of Medical Personnel and Logistics Director of Naval Recruiting Women's Royal Naval Service Headquarters became- Office of the Matron-in-Chief Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service
controller	Controller of the Navy
controllers department navy controllerate	Assistant Controller of the Navy Office of the Chief Executive Polaris Deputy Controller Polaris Department of the Director of Naval Construction Weapons Department (Naval) Director-General Weapons (Naval) Director Weapons Coordination and Acceptance (Naval) Co-Ordination Directorate Compass Directorate Director Naval Ordnance Services Director Naval Weapons Contracts B Director Underwater Weapons Projects (Naval) Director Weapons Surface Projects (Naval) Director Surface Electronic Projects (Naval) Department of the Director-General Aircraft (Naval) Naval Ordnance Inspection Directorate Production Directorate Director Weapons Production (Naval) Surface Weapons Research and Development Directorate Under Water Weapons Research and Development Directorate Weapons Equipment Surface Directorate Ship Department Deputy Director-General Ships- Director of Contracts (Ships) Director Engineering (Ships) Director of Electrical Engineering Director of Naval Construction Director of Naval Equipment Director of Project Team Submarines/Polaris Director of Resources and Programmes (Ships) Director Warship Design Directorate of Naval Construction Marine Engineering Directorate Naval Equipment Division Naval Equipment Directorate Naval Electrical Engineering Directorate Naval Ship Production Directorate Principal Director of Navy Contracts
naval supplies and transport fleet support hq naval support command	Office of the Chief of Naval Supplies and Transport Office of the Chief of Fleet Support
under naval supplies and transport fleet support hq naval support command	Assistant Chief of Fleet Support Director of Naval Administrative Planning Director of Fleet Supply Duties Director of Fleet Maintenance Director of Marine Services Head of Aircraft Department (Naval) HQ Director of Quartering (Navy) Civil Catering Department Contract and Purchase Department (Naval) Department of Fuel Movements and Transport (Naval) Department of Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Dockyard Division Fleet Maintenance Division Marine Services Division Office of the Chief Executive Royal Dockyards- Director of Dockyard Manpower and Productivity Director of Dockyard Production and Support Director of Finance and Administration Directorate-General of Supplies and Transport Director of Supplies and Transport (Management and Administration) Director of Supplies and Transport (General and Victualling) Victualling Division Director of Supplies and Transport (Fuel and Movements) Director of Supplies and Transport (Armament and Specialist) Director of Supplies and Transport (Finance) Naval Stores Department Royal Naval Supply and Transport Service Victualling Department (1832-1971)
chief scientists department	Office of the Chief Scientist (Royal Navy) also Deputy Controller Research and Development Establishments, and Research A Director Research Ships Director Research Underwater
under chief scientists department	Royal Naval Scientific Service Headquarters Deputy Chief Scientist (Navy) Directorate Naval Operational Studies Director of Naval Operational Studies Office of the Senior Psychologist (Naval) Admiralty Compass Observatory Department of Naval Physical Research Department of Research and Development Services (Naval) Department of Material Research (Naval) Director-General Establishments, Resources and Programmes A Admiralty Engineering Laboratory Admiralty Experiment Works Admiralty Marine Engineering Establishment Admiralty Oil Laboratory Admiralty Research Laboratory Admiralty Research Establishment Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment Naval Construction Research Establishment Royal Naval Physiological Laboratory Royal Radar Establishment Signals Research and Development Establishment Director-General Research Electronics Services Electronics Research Laboratory
naval home command	Naval Home Command
Shore units under Naval Home Command	Admiral-Superintendent, Devonport Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth Admiral Commanding, Reserves Commodore, Clyde Submarine Base Chief Executive Officer Marine Services Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Yachts Flag Officer, Medway Flag Officer, Plymouth Port Admiral, Devonport Flag Officer, Portsmouth and Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth Flag Officer Spithead and Port Admiral Portsmouth Flag Officer, Training and Recruitment Senior Naval Officer, Northern Ireland
Fleets	Home Fleet Far East Fleet Mediterranean Fleet Western Fleet Commander-in-Chief Fleet
under c-in-c, fleet	Chief of Staff Fleet Chief of Staff, (Warfare) Fleet Chief of Staff (Capability) Fleet Chief of Staff (Personnel) Fleet Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans Assistant Chief of Staff, Warfare Command Secretary, Fleet Commandant General Royal Marines Commander British Forces Gibraltar Commander Operations Commander UK Amphibious Forces Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships Flag Officer First Flotilla Flag Officer, Second Flotilla Flag Officer, Third Flotilla Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla Flag Officer Gibraltar and Gibraltar Naval Base Commander Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland Flag Officer Plymouth Flag Officer Sea Training Flag Officer Submarines Flag Officer Naval Air Command Flag Officer, Flying Training Flag Officer, Naval Flying Training
under c-in-c home fleet, far east fleet mediterranean fleet, western fleet	Flag Officer Second-in-Command Far East Fleet Chief of Staff, Far East Fleet Commodore, Amphibious Forces, Far East Fleet Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong Mediterranean Fleet Chief of Staff Mediterranean Fleet Flag Officer, Gibraltar Commodore (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers Rear-Admiral (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers Vice-Admiral (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers Western Fleet Chief of Staff, Western Fleet
civil administration navy department	Office of the Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Royal Navy) Office of the Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Administration)
under civil administration	Department of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Royal Navy) Department of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Administration) Greenwich Hospital Department
Naval Legal	Office of the Counsel to the Navy Department, Ministry of Defence Office of the Judge Advocate of the Fleet Office of the Chief Naval Judge Advocate

Commander Operations
Ensign of the Royal Navy
Incumbent Major-General Richard Cantrill since 26 April 2022
Ministry of Defence
Abbreviation	COMOPS
Member of	Navy Command
Reports to	Fleet Commander
Seat	Northwood Headquarters, Hertfordshire, England
Nominator	Secretary of State for Defence
Appointer	Prime Minister Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council
Term length	Not fixed (typically 1–3 years)
Inaugural holder	Rear-Admiral Roger Lane-Nott
Formation	1993
Website	royalnavy.mod.uk

Commander Operations (Royal Navy)

Contents

Post-holders

Subordinate formations 2016-2017

Related Research Articles

References