West Africa Station | |
---|---|
Active | 1942–1945 |
Country | |
Branch | |
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.
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]
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.
Post holders included: [4]
Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flag Officer, West Africa | |||||
1 | Vice-Admiral | Frank Pegram | August, 1942 - May,1943 [4] | ||
2 | Vice-Admiral | Bernard Rawlings | May - November, 1943 [4] | ||
3 | Vice-Admiral | Arthur Peters | November, 1943 - 1945 [4] | ||
Unit | Date | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 18th Destroyer Flotilla | July 1941- January 1942 | 2 sloops, 18 corvettes [3] |
2 | 18th Destroyer Flotilla | January 1942 - August 1942 | 2 sloops, 24 corvettes [3] |
3 | 18th Destroyer Flotilla | August 1942 - July 1943 | 2 sloops, 23 corvettes [3] |
4 | 18th Destroyer Flotilla | July 1943 - February 1944 | 15 destroyers, 2 sloops, 15 corvettes [3] |
5 | 18th Destroyer Flotilla | February 1944 - September 1944 | 6 destroyers, 7 sloops & frigates, 7 corvettes [3] |
6 | 55th Escort Group | September 1944 - May 1945 | 4/5 escort destroyers [3] |
7 | 56th Escort Group | September 1944 - May 1945 | 4/5 escort destroyers [3] |
8 | 57th Escort Group | September 1944 - May 1945 | 4/5 escort destroyers [3] |
9 | 58th Escort Group | September 1944 - May 1945 | 4/5 escort destroyers, 15 corvettes [3] |
10 | 59th Escort Group | September 1944 - May 1945 | 4/5 escort destroyers [3] |
11 | 60th Escort Group | September 1944 - May 1945 | 4/5 escort destroyers [3] |
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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