Flag Officer, Third Flotilla Explained

Unit Name:Flag Officer, Third Flotilla
Dates:1979 – 1992
Country: United Kingdom
Size:Flotilla
Command Structure:Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Garrison:HMNB Portsmouth
Commander1:Rear-Admiral Peter G.M. Herbert
Commander1 Label:First
Commander2:Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir Nicholas J. Hill-Norton
Commander2 Label:Last

The Flag Officer, Third Flotilla was the senior Royal Navy appointment in command of the Third Flotilla from 1979 to 1992.

The Western Fleet and Far East Fleet were merged into the single Commander-in-Chief Fleet in 1971. He had three new seagoing subordinates: Flag Officer First Flotilla, Second Flotilla and Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships (FOCAS) each commanded by a rear admiral.[1] In December 1979 the post of FOCAS was re-named Flag Officer, Third Flotilla (FOF3).[2]

From 1981-1992 the Flag Officer Third Flotilla commanded the aircraft carriers; amphibious Ships; the Fleet Training Ship; and destroyers not allocated to First or Second Flotillas.[3]

In April 1992, the Third Flotilla was abolished, and the remaining two flotilla commanders became Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla[4] - responsible for operational readiness and training and Commander United Kingdom Task Group (COMUKTG), who would command any deployed task group.

Post:Flag Officer, Third Flotilla (FOF3)
Insignia:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg
Insigniasize:150px
Insigniacaption:Ensign of the Royal Navy
Department:Navy Department, Ministry of Defence
Reports To:Commander-in-Chief, Fleet
Appointer:Prime Minister
Appointer Qualified:Subject to formal approval by the Queen-in-Council
Termlength:Not fixed (typically 1–4 years)
Inaugural:Rear-Admiral Peter G.M. Herbert
Formation:1979-1992

Flag Officers commanding

Included:[5]

Flotilla structure[6]
Parent:Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Subordinate:

Third Flotilla (1979-1980)Units

  • Aircraft Carriers
  • Amphibious Ships
  • Fleet Training Ship
  • Unallocated destroyers

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Roberts. John. Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy. 2009. Seaforth Publishing. Barnsley, England. 9781848320437. 89. en.
  2. Book: Tailyour. Ewen Southby. Reasons in Writing A Commandos View of the Falklands War. 1990. Pen and Sword. Barnsley, England. 9781844150144. 113. en.
  3. Smith.2015.
  4. Web site: Watson . Graham . Smith . Gordon . Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013 . www.naval-history.net . G. Smith . 6 August 2018 . 12 July 2015.
  5. Web site: Mackie . Colin . Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865 . gulabin.com . C. Mackie . 6 August 2018 . 217 . August 2018.
  6. Smith.2015.