West Africa Station

Last updated
West Africa Station
Active1942–1945
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Branch Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Navy
Type Fleet
Part of Admiralty
Garrison/HQ Freetown, Sierra Leone

The West Africa Station was a formation and command of the British Royal Navy during the Second World War, it was defined so by the Admiralty to identify the geographical area jurisdiction of the Flag Officer, West Africa. It existed from 1942 to 1945.

Contents

For both strategic reasons and identifying areas of jurisdiction the Royal Navy was distributed around the world, separated into various fleets or squadrons operating from a number of regional stations, also known as commands. [1] [2]

History

In 1941, escort forces began to be built up at Freetown. [3] Initially consisting of two corvettes and a few Free French ships. [3] The West Africa station was created in August 1942 as part of the Admiralty's re-organisation of commands. [3] This was due to the growing importance of Freetown as a major base for convoy escorts. [3] . The senior officer on the West Africa Station was the Flag Officer, West Africa. The area command existed until 1945.

In Command

Flag Officer, West Africa

Post holders included: [4]

RankFlagNameTermNotes
Flag Officer, West Africa
1Vice-Admiral Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg Frank Pegram August, 1942 - May,1943 [4]
2Vice-Admiral Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg Bernard Rawlings May - November, 1943 [4]
3Vice-Admiral Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg Arthur Peters November, 1943 - 1945 [4]

Components

Distribution of units attached to station included: [3]
UnitDateNotes
118th Destroyer FlotillaJuly 1941- January 19422 sloops, 18 corvettes [3]
218th Destroyer FlotillaJanuary 1942 - August 19422 sloops, 24 corvettes [3]
318th Destroyer FlotillaAugust 1942 - July 19432 sloops, 23 corvettes [3]
418th Destroyer FlotillaJuly 1943 - February 194415 destroyers, 2 sloops, 15 corvettes [3]
518th Destroyer FlotillaFebruary 1944 - September 19446 destroyers, 7 sloops & frigates, 7 corvettes [3]
655th Escort GroupSeptember 1944 - May 19454/5 escort destroyers [3]
756th Escort GroupSeptember 1944 - May 19454/5 escort destroyers [3]
857th Escort GroupSeptember 1944 - May 19454/5 escort destroyers [3]
958th Escort GroupSeptember 1944 - May 19454/5 escort destroyers, 15 corvettes [3]
1059th Escort GroupSeptember 1944 - May 19454/5 escort destroyers [3]
1160th Escort GroupSeptember 1944 - May 19454/5 escort destroyers [3]

Earlier West Africa stations

This command should not be confused with the West Africa Squadron later known as the "West Coast of Africa Station." That unit was primarily a patrol squadron operating off the Western Africa during the 19th century. Also should not be confused with the Cape of Good Hope Station that merged with the West Coast of Africa Station to create the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station for the periods (1857-1865, 1867-1920) that command was based at Simonstown, South Africa.

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References

  1. Archives, The National. "Royal Navy operations in the Second World War - The National Archives". The National Archives. London, England: The National Archives. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  2. Buchet, C., Higgie, A., & Duffy, M. (2013). APPENDIX 3: The Structure of British Naval Administration. In The British Navy, Economy and Society in the Seven Years War (p. 269). Boydell and Brewer. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7722/j.ctt24hfwq.19
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945:West Africa Command". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, p.84. February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.