Far East Fleet (United Kingdom)

Last updated

Far East Fleet
HMNZS Taranaki (F148) underway in May 1964.jpg
Taranaki and Victorious underway during exercises in May 1964
Active1952–1971
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg UK
Branch Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Navy
Type Fleet
Garrison/HQ Singapore Naval Base
Engagements Malayan Emergency
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation

The Far East Fleet (also called the Far East Station) was a fleet of the Royal Navy which existed between 1952 and 1971.

Contents

During the Second World War, the Eastern Fleet included many ships and personnel from other navies, including those of the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, France and the United States. On 22 November 1944 the Eastern Fleet was re-designated East Indies fleet and continued to be based in Trincomalee. Following its re-designation its remaining ships formed the British Pacific Fleet. [1] In December 1945 the British Pacific Fleet was disbanded and its forces were absorbed into the East Indies Fleet. In 1952 The East Indies Fleet was renamed the Far East Fleet. After the Second World War the East Indies Station continued as a separate command to the Far East until 1958. In 1971 the Far East Fleet was abolished and its remaining forces returned home, coming under the command of the new, unified, Commander-in-Chief Fleet.

Post-war

After the war, the East Indies Fleet was once again based at the Singapore Naval Base. The 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron (HMS Glory and HMS Theseus) arrived from the British Pacific Fleet in October 1945, and operated from Trincomalee, then Singapore, from October 1945 to October 1947. In 1952, the East Indies Fleet was redesignated the Far East Fleet. The Fleet then took part in the Malayan Emergency and the Confrontation with Indonesia in the 1960s. By 1964, the fleet on station included Victorious, Centaur, Bulwark, Kent, Hampshire, 17 destroyers and frigates, about ten minesweepers and five submarines. [2]

The Flag Officer Second-in-Command Far East Fleet, for most of the postwar period a rear admiral, was based afloat, and tasked with keeping the fleet "up to the mark operationally". Some also held the appointment of Flag Officer Commanding 5th Cruiser Squadron, probably including Rear Admiral E.G.A. Clifford CB, who was flying his flag in HMS Newcastle on 12 November 1953. Meanwhile, the fleet commander, a vice admiral, ran the fleet programme and major items of administration 'including all provision for docking and maintenance' from his base in Singapore. [3]

In the last days of the East Indies Fleet North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950, beginning the Korean War. William Andrewes was promoted to vice admiral on 1 December 1950, and on the 17th was made commander of the 5th Cruiser Squadron and Flag Officer Second in Command Far East Fleet, flying his flag in the light cruiser Belfast. After the outbreak of the Korean War he commanded British and Commonwealth Naval Forces, [4] with the carrier Theseus as his flagship. He had two aircraft carriers available at any one time which he worked in eighteen-day cycles. [5] At times he also led Task Force 91 (comprising all Blockade, Covering Force and Escort ships in Korean waters, affiliated with the United Nations Command) in 1951. [4]

From February 1963 the remaining destroyer and frigate squadrons in the Far East Fleet were gradually amalgamated into Escort Squadrons. All were disbanded by the end of December 1966. Those in the Far East Fleet became the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Far East Destroyer Squadrons. HMS Loch Fada (K390) returned to service in June 1962 assigned to the 3rd Frigate Squadron of the Far East Fleet. She arrived at Colombo in October and was deployed in the Indian Ocean, calling at Diego Garcia and Malé, Maldives. She served with the Far East Fleet until mid-1967 before returning home to be paid off.

In November 1967 fleet senior officers supervised the final departure from Britain's beleaguered State of Aden. Rear Admiral Edward Ashmore, Flag Officer, Second-in-Command, Far East Fleet, serving as Commander Task Force 318, commanded the British warships assembled to cover the withdrawal from Aden and receive the final Royal Marine Commandos heli-evacuated from the RAF Khormaksar airfield. [6]

The fleet was disbanded in 1971, and on 31 October 1971, the last day of the validity of the Anglo-Malayan Defence Agreement, the last Commander, Far East Fleet, Rear Admiral Anthony Troup, hauled down his flag. [7]

Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet

Post holders included: [8] [9]

RankNameTermNotes
Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet
1Vice-AdmiralSir Guy Russell January 1952 – March 1953
2Vice-AdmiralSir Charles Lambe March 1953 – April 1955
3Vice-AdmiralSir Alan Scott-Moncrieff April 1955 – October 1957
4Vice-AdmiralSir Gerald Gladstone October 1957 – April 1960
5Vice-AdmiralSir David Luce April 1960 – November 1962
6Vice-AdmiralSir Desmond Dreyer November 1962 – January 1965
7Vice-AdmiralSir Frank Twiss January 1965 – June 1967
8Vice-AdmiralSir William O'Brien June 1967 -September 1969
9Vice-AdmiralSir Derek Empson September 1969 – April 1971
10Rear-AdmiralSir Anthony Troup April – November 1971Rear-admiral as last commander. [7]

Flag Officer Second-in-Command Far East Fleet

Included: [ citation needed ]

RankNameTermNotes
Flag Officer Second-in-Command Far East Fleet
1Rear-Admiral Laurence Durlacher Appointed 1957. [10] Also Flag Officer Commanding Fifth Cruiser Squadron
2Rear-Admiral Varyl Begg 1958–1960 [11]
3Rear-Admiral Michael Le Fanu 1960–1961
4Rear-Admiral John Frewen 1961–1962
5Rear-Admiral Jack Scatchard 1962–1964
6Rear-Admiral Peter Hill-Norton 1964–1966
7Rear-Admiral Charles Mills 1966–1967
8Rear-Admiral Edward Ashmore 1967–1968
9Rear-Admiral Anthony Griffin 1968–1969
10Rear-Admiral Terence Lewin 1969–1970
11Rear-Admiral David Williams 1970–1971

Chief of Staff, Far East Fleet

Included: [12]

RankFlagNameTerm
Chief of Staff, Far East Fleet
1CaptainRalph L. FisherJanuary – October 1952
2Commodore UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg Laurence G. Durlacher October 1952 – September 1954
3Commodore UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg George A. F. NorfolkSeptember 1954 – October 1956
5Commodore UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg Christopher H. HutchinsonOctober 1956 – March 1959
6Rear-Admiral Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg Ronald E. PortlockMarch 1959 – April 1961
7Rear-Admiral Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg Bryan C. DurantApril 1961 – July 1963
8Rear-Admiral Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg Francis B. P. Brayne-NichollsJuly 1963 – July 1965
9Rear-Admiral Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg Dennis H. MasonJuly 1965 – December 1967
10Rear-Admiral Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg Ian D. McLaughlanDecember 1967 – February 1970
9Rear-Admiral Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg John A. Templeton-Cotill February 1970 – March 1971

Flag Officer, Malayan Area

As the Malayan Emergency developed, the Flag Officer, Malayan Area's title changed as his areas of responsibility increased. [13]

Commodore, Amphibious Forces, Far East Fleet

Commodore, Amphibious Forces, Far East (COMAFFEF) [14] was based at HMNB Singapore from May 1965 to March 1971.

The Amphibious Warfare Squadron was established in March 1961, which was responsible to the Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf until August 1962. It then was reassigned to Flag Officer, Middle East, until April 1965. The squadron was then transferred to the Far East where it was renamed Amphibious Forces under the new Commodore, Amphibious Forces, Far East Fleet in May 1965. [15] The post was discontinued in March 1971.

Incumbents included: [14]

RankFlagNameTerm
Commodore, Amphibious Forces, Far East Fleet
1Commodore UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg Hardress L. Lloyd May 1965 - May 1966
2Commodore UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg David A. Dunbar-Nasmith May 1966 - July 1967
3Commodore UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg E. Gerard N. Mansfield July 1967 - November 1968
4Commodore UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg Thomas W. Stocker November 1968 - September 1970
5Commodore UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg Derek W. Napper September 1970 - March 1971

Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong

This officer was based at HMS Tamar. He was responsible for administrating all naval establishments in Hong Kong including HMNB Hong Kong and, at times, exercised operational control over Royal Navy ships in that area. [16]

Subordinate naval formations

Units that served in the fleet included: [17] [18]

Naval UnitsBased atDateNotes
5th Cruiser Squadron Trincomalee then Singapore Naval Base January 1942 – May 1960
8th Destroyer Flotilla Singapore1947 to July 1951re-designated 8th DSQ
1st Destroyer Squadron Singapore1950 to April 1960
8th Destroyer Squadron SingaporeJuly 1951 – May 1963renamed 24th ESQ
1st Far East Destroyer Squadron SingaporeDecember 1966 to 1 November 1971
2nd Far East Destroyer Squadron SingaporeDecember 1966 to 1 November 1971
3rd Far East Destroyer Squadron SingaporeDecember 1966 to December 1970
1st Escort Flotilla Singapore1946 to 1954
21st Escort Squadron SingaporeMay 1964 to December 1966
22nd Escort Squadron SingaporeMay 1963 to June 1964became 29th Escort Squadron
24th Escort Squadron SingaporeMay 1963 to December 1966renamed from 8th DSQ
25th Escort Squadron SingaporeJanuary 1963 to May 1964renamed from 6th FSQ
26th Escort Squadron SingaporeMay 1963 to December 1966renamed from 3FSQ
29th Escort Squadron SingaporeJune 1964 to December 1966
30th Escort Squadron SingaporeSeptember 1964 to December 1965
3rd Frigate Squadron SingaporeMay 1949– 1954, January 1958 to May 1963renamed 26th ESQ
4th Frigate Squadron SingaporeJanuary 1949 to August 1954
4th Frigate Squadron SingaporeJanuary 1956 – December 1960
4th Frigate Squadron SingaporeSeptember 1961 to September 1962
5th Frigate Squadron SingaporeDecember 1959 to December 1962
6th Frigate Squadron SingaporeDecember 1960 to September 1961; September 1962 to January 1963Renamed 25th Escort Squadron
6th Mine Counter-Measures Squadron Singapore1962 to 1971
8th Mine Counter-Measures Squadron Hong Kong1962 to 1967
6th Minesweeper Flotilla SingaporeAugust 1947 to 1951placed in reserve
6th Minesweeper Squadron Singapore1951 to June 1954new formation
104th Minesweeper Squadron Singapore1960 to 1962
120th Minesweeper Squadron Hong Kong Naval Base 1952 to 1962
7th Submarine Division Singapore1959
7th Submarine Squadron Singapore1966 to 1971
Persian Gulf Division Juffair Naval Base January 1942 to January 1954
Red Sea Division Aden Naval Base February 1942 to January 1954

See also

Notes

  1. Hobbs, David. "THE BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET IN 1945 A Commonwealth effort and a remarkable achievement" (PDF). navy.gov.au. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  2. Grove 1987, p. 266.
  3. Hill, p. 219
  4. 1 2 "Royal Navy Officers 1939-1945 (An-Ap)". unithistories.com. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  5. "HMS Theseus". britains-smallwars.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  6. Colin D. Robinson (2021). "The Somali Navy from 1965 to the 1980s: A research note". Journal of Central and Eastern European African Studies. 1 (1–2): 128. ISSN   2786-1902.
  7. 1 2 Grove 1987, p. 307.
  8. Whitaker's Almanacks 1941 – 1971
  9. Mackie 2018, pp. 151–152.
  10. "Navy Notes Great Britain". RUSI Journal. 102 (106). 1957.
  11. Heathcote, Tony (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995. Pen & Sword Ltd. p. 27. ISBN   0-85052-835-6.
  12. Mackie 2018, p. 153.
  13. Benbow, Tim; Thornton, Rod (2013). Dimensions of Counter-insurgency: Applying Experience to Practice. Cambridge, England: Routledge. p. 88. ISBN   9781136790034.
  14. 1 2 Mackie 2018, pp. 222.
  15. Watson, Graham (12 July 2015). "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  16. Office, The Colonial (1970). Hong Kong: Report. Hong Kong: Government Press. p. 187.
  17. Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945: 3.3 INDIAN and PACIFIC OCEANS". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  18. Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947–2013:1. ROYAL NAVY ORGANISATION AND DEPLOYMENT FROM 1947". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2018.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Navy</span> Naval warfare force of the United Kingdom

The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, and a component of His Majesty's Naval Service. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. The modern Royal Navy traces its origins to the early 16th century; the oldest of the UK's armed services, it is consequently known as the Senior Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Home Fleet</span> Former naval fleet of the Royal Navy

The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy that operated from the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967. In 1967, it was merged with the Mediterranean Fleet creating the new Western Fleet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mediterranean Fleet</span> Formation of the Royal Navy, active from 1654 to 1967

The British Mediterranean Fleet, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was a formation of the Royal Navy. The Fleet was one of the most prestigious commands in the navy for the majority of its history, defending the vital sea link between the United Kingdom and the majority of the British Empire in the Eastern Hemisphere. The first Commander-in-Chief for the Mediterranean Fleet was the appointment of General at Sea Robert Blake in September 1654. The Fleet was in existence until 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander-in-Chief Fleet</span>

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. The post was subordinate to the First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Naval Service. In its last years, as the Navy shrank, more administrative responsibilities were added.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffrey Layton</span>

Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton, was a Royal Navy officer. He was in command of the submarine HMS E13 when, under attack from German vessels, it ran aground off the Danish coast during the First World War. Despite this incident, he rose to senior command in the Second World War and retired in 1947. His final appointment had been as Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singapore Naval Base</span> Military unit

His Majesty's Naval Base, Singapore, also Her Majesty's Naval Base, Singapore, alternatively known as the Singapore Naval Base, Sembawang Naval Base and HMS Sembawang, was situated in Sembawang at the northern tip of Singapore and was both a Royal Navy shore establishment and a cornerstone of British defence policy in the Far East between the World Wars. From 1921 to 1941 it was a China Station base, from 1941 to 1945 a repair facility for the Imperial Japanese Navy and from 1945 to 1958 a Far East Fleet base. Today, it is a commercial dockyard but British military activity still exists at the British Defence Singapore Support Unit (BDSSU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Pollock (Royal Navy officer)</span>

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Michael Patrick Pollock, was a senior officer in the Royal Navy who rose to become First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in the early 1970s. In the Second World War, he was an officer on ships tasked with protecting convoys in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and was gunnery officer on the cruiser HMS Norfolk when she fought the German battleship Scharnhorst during the Battle of North Cape. He later commanded the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, and hosted Ian Smith on HMS Tiger. In retirement, he held the position of King of Arms of the Order of the Bath and Gloucester King of Arms, with responsibility for heraldry in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Indies Station</span> Military unit

The East Indies Station was a formation and command of the British Royal Navy. Created in 1744 by the Admiralty, it was under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Power</span> Royal Navy admiral of the fleet

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur John Power, was a Royal Navy officer. He took part in the First World War as a gunnery officer and saw action in the Dardanelles campaign. During the inter-war years he commanded the gunnery school at HMS Excellent and then the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. During the Second World War he played a leading role in the planning for the Allied invasion of Sicily and for the Allied invasion of Italy and then commanded the naval forces for the actual landing of V Corps at Taranto in Italy in September 1943. He went on to be Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Fleet in the closing stages of the war and conducted naval strikes on the Imperial Japanese Army in Borneo and Malaya. After the War he became Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet and then Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic</span> Former British Royal Navy Station

The Commander-in-Chief South Atlantic was an operational commander of the Royal Navy from 1939. The South American area was added to his responsibilities in 1960, and the post disestablished in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron (Royal Navy)</span> Aircraft carrier formation of the Royal Navy

The 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron was a formation of Royal Navy aircraft carriers assigned to the British Pacific Fleet in November 1943. They were: HMS Formidable, HMS Indomitable, HMS Victorious, HMS Illustrious and HMS Indefatigable. It was disbanded in 1947.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Andrewes</span>

Admiral Sir William Gerrard Andrewes was a Royal Navy officer who served in World War I and World War II, commanded the British and Commonwealth Naval Forces and Task Force 91 for the Inchon Landing during the Korean War, and went on to command of the America and West Indies Squadron and served as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Indies Fleet</span> Former naval fleet of the Royal Navy

The Eastern Fleet, later called the East Indies Fleet, was a fleet of the Royal Navy which existed between 1941 and 1952.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Destroyer Squadron (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

The Royal Navy 5th Destroyer Squadron was a naval unit of the Royal Navy (RN) from 1952 to 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Cruiser Squadron</span> Military unit

The 5th Cruiser Squadron and also known as Cruiser Force D was a formation of cruisers of the British Royal Navy from 1907 to 1915 and then again from 1939 to 1946.

The British 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, also styled as Third Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from 1909 to 1939 and again from 1945 to 1951.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag Officer, Second Flotilla</span> Military unit

The Flag Officer, Second Flotilla was a senior British Royal Navy appointment from 1971 to 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander Littoral Strike Group</span> Position in the British Navy

The Commander Littoral Strike Group (COMLSG) is a senior British Royal Navy Amphibious warfare appointment. COMLSG, who is based in Stonehouse Barracks, Stonehouse, Plymouth, reports to Commander United Kingdom Strike Force. It was first established in 1971 as Commodore Amphibious Warfare.

References