Commander United Kingdom Strike Force

Last updated

Commander United Kingdom Strike Force
COMUKSTRKFOR Crest.png
Official Badge of COMUKSTRKFOR
Robert G. Pedre (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Rear Admiral Robert Pedre
since September 2022
Ministry of Defence
Royal Navy
Member of Navy Command
Reports to Fleet Commander
Appointer Naval Secretary
Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council
Term length Not fixed; typically, 2–3 years
Inaugural holderRear-Admiral James Burnell-Nugent
Formation2001
Website www.royalnavy.mod.uk

The Commander United Kingdom Strike Force (COMUKSTRKFOR or CSF) is a senior post in the Royal Navy.

Contents

The post is the highest seagoing command in the Royal Navy. Its role is to direct UK, Allied or Coalition maritime forces anywhere in the world. [1] Personnel within the command are always at short notice to deploy either at sea or on land, providing forces necessary for the task in hand. The Commander United Kingdom Strike Force may also be in command at sea of UK or NATO naval task forces and task groups formed for specific operations.

Previously the admiral also held the appointment of Rear Admiral Surface Ships, but this has now been dropped.

Organisation within the Royal Navy

The position reports to the fleet commander and is based at HMS Excellent in Fieldhouse Building. Commander UK Strike Force has the rank of rear admiral. [2]

COMUKSTRKFOR directs the two Very High Readiness Strike Groups in the Royal Navy: Commander Littoral Strike Group (COMLSG), formerly Commander Amphibious Task Group, (COMATG), and Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group (COMUKCSG). [3] He also has responsibility for the Commander UK Minecountermeasures Force, [4] Previously until at least 2019 the admiral also had the post of Rear Admiral Surface Ships, the titular head of all the Royal Navy surface ships. [5]

As part of the NATO Long Term Commitments Plot of Command responsibilities across the Alliance, COMUKSTRKFOR is one of six national/NATO deployable HQs accredited to act as the High Readiness Force (Maritime) [6] and as such has held the duty of NATO Response Force Maritime Component Commander on several occasions, including 2004, 2010, and 2016. [7]

History

The position was first established on 1 December 1997, under the name of Commander United Kingdom Task Group (COMUKTG), [8] but was renamed to Commander UK Maritime Forces (COMUKMARFOR) in 2001. [9]

Task Groups dispatched to the Far East since 2003 have included deployments in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, and 2018. In 2003, Naval Task Group 03, led by HMS Ark Royal (R07) had been intended to take part in FPDA exercises [10] in the Asia-Pacific region but was diverted for involvement in the 2003 Iraq War. Eventually part of the naval task group including Liverpool, Marlborough and RFA Grey Rover departed Gulf waters, after the first part of the Iraq War (2003), en route for Exercise Flying Fish, with Commonwealth partner members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements. In 2004, Exeter, Echo, RFA Diligence and RFA Grey Rover visited the Asia-Pacific region. [11]

Until 2011, COMUKMARFOR had three subordinates – the Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG), the Commander of the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group (COMCSG) and his one-star deployable deputy, Commander United Kingdom Task Group (COMUKTG). [12] However, following the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, COMCSG and COMUKTG were abolished as separate commands (although the one-star post that was previously named COMUKTG was retained, albeit with no staff, to become Deputy Commander of COMUKMARFOR), and COMATG (remaining based in Plymouth) assumed the title of COMUKTG. [13]

In March 2015, this reorganisation was partially reversed when the post of COMUKTG reverted to its previous title of COMATG. [14]

In 2016, with the commissioning of the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, the Deputy COMUKMARFOR position transitioned to the re-established role of COMUKCSG in preparation for the arrival of the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. [15] [16] [17]

In April 2018 it was announced that the two separate deployable two-star maritime operational commanders (COMUKMARFOR and COMUKAMPHIBFOR) would be merged into a single, larger, organisation. [18] This took place on 1 July 2019, whereupon the incumbent COMUKMARFOR took the title of COMUKSTRKFOR, and responsibility for all the deployable elements of COMUKAMPHIBFOR. The Role of Commandant General Royal Marines, previously (but not exclusively) tied to COMUKAMPHIBFOR position, remains in existence as the (non-deployable) head of the Royal Marines and the Senior Responsible Owner for the future of amphibious warfare and littoral strike capability, or Future Commando Force. [19]

On 1 October 2019, COMATG was re-titled as Commander Littoral Strike Group (COMLSG). [20]

Past operational deployments directed by COMUKSTRKFOR (and predecessor organisations)

COMUKMARFOR took on the duty of NATO Response Force Maritime Component Commander from 1 July 2004 for one year. Rear Admiral David Snelson told Jane's Defence Weekly correspondent Richard Scott in May 2004 that in the lead up to assumption of duties as NATO Response Force Maritime Component Commander, there was to be a major exercise, Allied Action, in Italy. Allied Action was a command post exercise in which all three of the component commanders for NRF were to be located ashore so that the staffs could work together and the commanders could get to know one another. [7]

Commodore Thomas Cunningham, the previous COMUKCSG, flew his flag throughout the January to May Orion '08 deployment, as Commander Task Group 328.01, [21] which included exercises with the Indian Navy, aboard HMS Illustrious. [22]

The Naval Task Group for Operation VELA, a three-month deployment to West Africa in 2006, was under the command of Commander UK Amphibious Group, Commodore Phil Jones. The VELA deployment involved a significant number of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships, the Royal Marine Commandos and helicopters. [23] The Task Group included HMS Albion, HMS Ocean, HMS Southampton, HMS Argyll, RFA Wave Knight, RFA Mounts Bay, RFA Sir Bedivere, RFA Fort Austin, HMS Enterprise, RFA Diligence, RFA Oakleaf, Mine Counter Measure Squadron 1 and a Fleet submarine [24] together with the Fleet Lead Commando Group, consisting of 40 Commando Royal Marines, 59 Commando Independent Engineering Squadron, 29 Commando Royal Artillery and 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines. Also involved were elements of Fleet Diving Unit 2 and 849 (B) Flight from RNAS Culdrose. Embarked in HMS Ocean for the deployment a Tailored Air Group (TAG) was formed, consisting of Sea King helicopters of 845 Naval Air Squadron, 846 Naval Air Squadron, Merlin Mk 1 aircraft from 820 Naval Air Squadron and Lynx helicopters of 847 Naval Air Squadron. The Vela task group conducted an amphibious exercise, Exercise Green Eagle, in Sierra Leone. [23]

List of commanders

Commanders have been as follows: [25]

Deputy Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Fleet Forces Command</span> Service component command of the United States Navy

The United States Fleet Forces Command (USFF) is a service component command of the United States Navy that provides naval forces to a wide variety of U.S. forces. The naval resources may be allocated to Combatant Commanders such as United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) under the authority of the Secretary of Defense. Originally formed as United States Atlantic Fleet (USLANTFLT) in 1906, it has been an integral part of the defense of the United States of America since the early 20th century. In 2002, the Fleet comprised over 118,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel serving on 186 ships and in 1,300 aircraft, with an area of responsibility ranging over most of the Atlantic Ocean from the North Pole to the South Pole, the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the waters of the Pacific Ocean along the coasts of Central and South America.

HMS <i>Ocean</i> (L12) 1998 unique amphibious assault ship of the Royal Navy

HMS Ocean was a Landing Platform Helicopter, formerly the UK's helicopter carrier and the fleet flagship of the Royal Navy. She was designed to support amphibious landing operations and to support the staff of Commander UK Amphibious Force and Commander UK Landing Force. She was constructed in the mid-1990s by Kvaerner Govan on the River Clyde and fitted out by VSEL at Barrow-in-Furness prior to trials and subsequent acceptance in service. Ocean was commissioned in September 1998 at her home port HMNB Devonport, Plymouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Fifth Fleet</span> Numbered fleet of the United States Navy

The Fifth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy. Its area of responsibility encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles, and includes the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. It shares a commander and headquarters with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) in Bahrain. Fifth Fleet/NAVCENT is a component command of, and reports to, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

HMS <i>Albion</i> (L14) 2003 Albion-class landing platform dock of the Royal Navy

HMS Albion is a landing platform dock of the Royal Navy, the first of the two-ship Albion class. Built by BAE Systems Marine in Barrow-in-Furness, Albion was launched in March 2001 by the Princess Royal. Her sister ship, Bulwark, was launched in November 2001, also from Barrow. Affiliated to the city of Chester and based in Plymouth, she is the ninth ship to carry the name Albion, stretching back to the 74-gun 1763 warship, and last carried by an aircraft carrier decommissioned in 1973 after 19 years service. Designed as an amphibious warfare ship, Albion carries troops, normally Royal Marines, and vehicles up to the size of the Challenger 2 main battle tank. She can deploy these forces using four Landing Craft Utility (LCUs) and four Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVPs). A flight deck supports helicopter operations.

HMS <i>Bulwark</i> (L15) 2005 Albion-class landing platform dock of the Royal Navy

HMS Bulwark is the second ship of the Royal Navy's Albion-class assault ships. She is one of the United Kingdom's two landing platform docks designed to put Royal Marines ashore by air and by sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Far East Fleet (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

The Far East Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy which existed between 1952 and 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Standing Royal Navy deployments</span>

Standing Royal Navy deployments is a list of operations and commitments undertaken by the United Kingdom's Royal Navy on a worldwide basis. The following list details these commitments and deployments sorted by region and in alphabetical order. Routine deployments made by the Navy's nuclear-powered submarines and their location of operations is classified.

<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">His Majesty's Naval Service</span> Maritime service of the British Armed Forces

His Majesty's Naval Service is the United Kingdom's naval warfare and maritime service. It consists of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve and Naval Careers Service. The Naval Service as a whole falls under the command of the Navy Board, which is headed by the First Sea Lord. This position is currently held by Admiral Sir Ben Key. The Defence Council delegates administration of the Naval Service to the Admiralty Board, chaired by the Secretary of State for Defence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">845 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

845 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Part of the Commando Helicopter Force, it is a specialist amphibious unit operating the AgustaWestland Commando Merlin HC4 helicopter and provides troop transport and load lifting support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. In 2012, the squadron celebrated 50 years since it was awarded "commando" status.

Fleet Command is responsible for the command, operations, readiness, training and force generation of all ships, submarines, aircraft squadrons, diving teams, and shore establishments of the Royal Australian Navy. Fleet Command is headquartered at HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney, and is led by the Commander Australian Fleet (COMAUSFLT), also referred to as Fleet Commander Australia (FCAUST), which is a rear admiral (two-star) appointment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navy Command (Royal Navy)</span> Headquarters of the Royal Navy

The Navy Command is the current headquarters body of the Royal Navy, and as of 2012 its major organisational grouping. It is a hybrid, neither a command, nor simply an installation. Royal Navy official writings describe Navy Command Headquarters both as a physical site, on Whale Island, Hampshire, a collective formed of the most senior RN officers, and as a budgetary grouping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander Strike Force Training Atlantic</span> Military unit

Commander, Carrier Strike Group FOUR is the U.S. Fleet Forces Command formation charged with training and certifying Atlantic Fleet Carrier Strike Groups, Amphibious Ready Groups, and independently deploying surface ships. Its mission is to "Conduct safe and effective Strike Force Training of the Atlantic Fleet."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime)</span> Royal Navys contribution to the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force

The Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) (or JEF(M)) (formerly the Response Force Task Group (RFTG), and prior to that the Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF)), is the Royal Navy's contribution to the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) maintained at very high-readiness and available at short notice to respond to unexpected global events. In addition to the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, the JEF(M) also includes elements of the British Army and the Royal Air Force. While it is primarily poised to conduct war-fighting or strike operations, the JEF(M) is capable of undertaking a diverse range of activities such as evacuation operations, disaster relief or humanitarian aid.

In 1989 the Royal Navy was under the direction of the Navy Department in the UK Ministry of Defence. It had two main commands, CINCFLEET and Naval Home Command.

The Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla was a senior British Royal Navy appointment from 1990 to 2002.

<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.

A Littoral Response Group (LRG) is a Royal Navy task group usually consisting of one or two amphibious warfare ships, a company of Royal Marines and supporting elements primarily tasked with amphibious warfare from the littoral areas. They were first deployed in 2020 and have been described by the Royal Navy as being more flexible and agile compared to previous amphibious task groups with an emphasis on forward-basing, precision strike capabilities, high mobility, modern command and control technology, networked autonomous systems and deception capabilities. Multiple LRGs can combine to form a more substantial Littoral Strike Group (LSG) and they can also join a UK Carrier Strike Group to form an Expeditionary Strike Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UK Carrier Strike Group</span> Formation of the Royal Navy (created 2006)

The UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) is a carrier battle group of the Royal Navy. It has existed in various forms since the mid-2000s. Between 2006 and 2011, the formation centred around the Royal Navy's Invincible-class aircraft carriers until the retirement of their Harrier GR9 strike aircraft in 2011 as a result of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. The UKCSG subsequently returned in February 2015 ahead of the entry into service of the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The aim of the CSG is to facilitate carrier-enabled power projection.

References

  1. ↑ Commander UK Maritime Forces Archived 9 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "Senior Royal Navy Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  3. ↑ "The Navy Directory 2016" (PDF). Royal Navy. 8 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "Commander UK Minecountermeasures Force" (PDF). Janes. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  5. ↑ "Surface Fleet". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019. ...was appointed Commander United Kingdom Strike Force COMUKSTRKFOR (CSF) and Rear Admiral Surface Ships (RASS)
  6. ↑ NATO: Command Structure
  7. 1 2 Jane's Defence Weekly 19 May 2004, p.28
  8. ↑ Navy News: Dec 97 Edition
  9. ↑ Fleet Battle Staff: History Archived 13 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ "Ark Royal to lead UK taskforce". 11 January 2003.
  11. ↑ "RFA Grey Rover". Historical RFA. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  12. ↑ Royal Navy: Bridge Card Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ Royal Navy: Commander United Kingdom Task Group Archived 11 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ Royal Navy: New CO for Amphibious Task Group
  15. ↑ Royal Navy: New CO for Carrier Strike Group
  16. ↑ "UK Carrier Strike Group takes shape for HMS Queen Elizabeth" . Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  17. ↑ "Letter from Ministry of Defence" (PDF). 27 October 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  18. ↑ "Jane's – UK Amphibious Headquarters to Disappear in Merger". 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  19. ↑ "Future Amphibious Force". BMT. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  20. ↑ Rosamond, Jon (11 September 2019). "DSEI: Royal Marines Embrace Littoral Strike and Prepare to Forward Deploy". USNI News. London. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  21. ↑ Richard Scott, 'ASW Resurfaces,' Jane's Defence Weekly, Volume 45, Issue 24, 11 June 2008, p.25
  22. ↑ "Illustrious Leaves UK for Indian Ocean Deployment". Royal Navy. 21 January 2008. Archived from the original on 24 October 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  23. 1 2 "Exercise Green Eagle – Sierra Leone". afdevinfo.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  24. ↑ "Exercise Green Eagle – Sierra Leone". afdevinfo.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  25. ↑ "Royal Navy Senior Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  26. ↑ "Surface fleet awarded for outstanding performance". Royal Navy. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  27. ↑ Promotions Defence View Points
  28. ↑ Indian Warship Arrives In Portsmouth Archived 19 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.