Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Encyclopedia
Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CINCFLEET) is the admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...

 responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

. CINC is subordinate to the First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...

, the professional head of the Naval Service.

Responsibilities

Full command of the Fleet and responsibility for the Fleet element of military operational capability including the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...

 and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a civilian-manned fleet owned by the British Ministry of Defence. The RFA enables ships of the United Kingdom Royal Navy to maintain operations around the world. Its primary role is to supply the Royal Navy with fuel, ammunition and supplies, normally by replenishment...

, is delegated to Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...

 Fleet, with his Command Headquarters in the Navy Command Headquarters
Navy Command Headquarters
Navy Command Headquarters is the organisation responsible for the direction and management of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. The organisation provides support to Commander in Chief Fleet, the admiral responsible to the First Sea Lord for the provision of ships, personnel, aircraft and...

 Building at HMS Excellent in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...

 and his Operational Headquarters at Northwood, in the London Borough of Hillingdon
London Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...

, co-located with the Permanent Joint Headquarters
Permanent Joint Headquarters
The Permanent Joint Headquarters is the British tri-service headquarters from where all overseas military operations are planned and controlled. It is situated at Northwood Headquarters in Northwood, London....

 and a NATO Regional Command, Allied Maritime Component Command Northwood ('AMCCN'); CINCFLEET is dual-hatted as Commander AMCCN.

CINCFLEET is supported by:
  • Second Sea Lord
    Second Sea Lord
    The Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command , commonly just known as the Second Sea Lord , is one of the most senior admirals of the British Royal Navy , and is responsible for personnel and naval shore establishments.-History:In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were...

    , based in HMS Excellent, who is the Principal Personnel Officer for the Royal Navy
  • Deputy CINCFLEET, based in HMS Excellent, who directs the work of the Fleet Headquarters
  • Commander Maritime Operations, based at Northwood, who is responsible for the conduct of Fleet operations
  • Commander UK Amphibious Force, who is Commandant General Royal Marines
    Commandant General Royal Marines
    The Commandant General Royal Marines is the professional head of the Royal Marines. The title has existed since 1945...

  • Commander UK Maritime Forces
    Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces
    Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces or COMUKMARFOR is a senior post in the Royal Navy. The post is the highest sea-going command in the Royal Navy and is part of the Fleet Battle Staff based in Portsmouth, part of Commander-in-Chief Fleet's staff...

     (previously known as Commander UK Task Group), who is commander of the UK Task Group (COMUKTG)(including the newly formed UK Response Force Task Group)


Collectively, COMUKMARFOR, COMUKAMPHIBFOR, Commander UK Task Group (COMUKTG) and 3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces and the main manoeuvre formation of the Royal Marines. Its personnel are predominantly Royal Marines, supported by units of Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, The Rifles, and the Fleet Air Arm, together with other Commando...

, Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...

 comprise the "Fleet Battle Staff".

History of the Commanders-in-Chief

Historically, the Royal Navy was usually split into several commands, each with a Commander-in-Chief (e.g. Commander-in-Chief Plymouth, Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...

, etc.). There now remain only two Commanders-in-Chief, the various fleet commands being unified under Commander-in-Chief Fleet and the various home commands being unified under Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command
Second Sea Lord
The Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command , commonly just known as the Second Sea Lord , is one of the most senior admirals of the British Royal Navy , and is responsible for personnel and naval shore establishments.-History:In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were...

 ("CINCNAVHOME").

In 1971, with the withdrawal from of British forces from East of Suez, the Far East and Western fleets of the Royal Navy were unified under a single Commander-in-Chief Fleet, initially based at HMS Warrior
Northwood Headquarters
Northwood Headquarters is a military headquarters facility of the British Armed Forces in Eastbury, Hertfordshire, England, adjacent to the London suburb of Northwood...

, a land base at Northwood in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...

 and, from 2004, based at HMS Excellent at Portsmouth.

NATO commitment

The post has also come with various NATO appointments since its creation, including:
  • Commander in Chief Channel (CINCHAN) (until 1994)

The NATO Handbook, accessible in 1993, described the Channel Command in the following words:

CINCHAN's subordinate commanders include Commander Allied Maritime Air Force, Channel; Commander
Nore Sub-Area Channel; Commander Plymouth Sub-Area, Channel; and Commander Benelux Sub-Area,
Channel. CINCHAN also has under his command the NATO Standing Naval Force Channel (STANAVFOR-
CHAN), a permanent force mainly comprising mine countermeasure vessels.

A Channel Committee consisting of the naval Chiefs-of-Staff of Belgium, the Netherlands and the United
Kingdom serves as an advisory and consultative body to the Commander-in-Chief, Channel.
  • Commander in Chief East Atlantic as part of Allied Command Atlantic
    Allied Command Transformation
    Allied Command Transformation is a NATO military command, which was formed in 2003 after North Atlantic Treaty Organisation restructuring....

     (until 2004)
  • Commander Allied Maritime Component Command, Northwood (current)

List of Commanders-in-Chief Fleet

Commanders-in-Chief have included:
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Ashmore
    Edward Ashmore
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Beckwith Ashmore GCB, DSC is a former senior Royal Navy officer. He served as the Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom and thus the professional head of the British Armed Forces....

    , 1971–Dec 1973
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Terence Lewin
    Terence Lewin, Baron Lewin
    Admiral of the Fleet Terence Thornton Lewin, Baron Lewin, KG, GCB, LVO, DSC was a former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, and Chief of the Defence Staff.-Naval career:...

    , Dec 1973–Oct 1975
  • Admiral Sir John Treacher, Oct 1975–Mar 1977
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Leach
    Henry Leach
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Conyers Leach, GCB, DL was a former First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Royal Navy. Leach was the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff between 1979 and 1982, being the professional head of the Navy at the time of the Falklands War...

    , Mar 1977–May 1979
  • Admiral Sir James Eberle
    James Eberle
    Admiral Sir James Henry Fuller Eberle GCB was Commander-in-Chief Fleet.-Naval career:Educated at Clifton College and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Eberle was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1941. He served in World War II....

    , Mar 1979–Apr 1981
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Fieldhouse
    John Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse
    Admiral of the Fleet John David Elliott Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse GCB, GBE was a high ranking officer in the Royal Navy...

    , Apr 1981–Oct 1982
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir William Staveley, Oct 1982–Jun 1985
  • Admiral Sir Nicholas Hunt
    Nicholas Hunt
    Admiral Sir Nicholas John Streynsham Hunt GCB LVO was Commander-in-Chief Fleet.-Naval career:Educated at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Hunt was commissioned into the Royal Navy and then became Assistant Private Secretary to Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent.He was appointed an Executive...

    , Jun 1985–May 1987
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Julian Oswald
    Julian Oswald
    Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Julian Robertson Oswald GCB was a British naval officer who served as Chief of the Naval Staff and First Sea Lord.-Naval career:...

    , May 1987–Apr 1989
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Benjamin Bathurst, Apr 1989–Jan 1991
  • Admiral Sir Jock Slater, Jan 1991–Dec 1992
  • Admiral Sir Hugo White
    Hugo White
    Admiral Sir Hugo Moresby White GCB CBE is a former Governor of Gibraltar.-Naval career:Educated at the Dragon School in Oxford, the Nautical College, Pangbourne and the Britannia Royal Naval College, White was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1960.He was appointed Commanding Officer of the...

    , Dec 1992–Jun 1995
  • Admiral Sir Peter Abbott
    Peter Abbott
    Admiral Sir Peter Charles Abbott GBE KCB is a former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.-Naval career:Educated at Queens' College, Cambridge, Abbott was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1964...

    , Oct 1995–Sept 1997
  • Admiral Sir Michael Boyce
    Michael Boyce, Baron Boyce
    Admiral Michael Cecil Boyce, Baron Boyce, KG, GCB, OBE, DL , is a cross bench member of the British House of Lords. Lord Boyce is a former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy and Chief of the Defence Staff. He was born in Cape Town, South Africa.-Naval career:Educated at Hurstpierpoint College, Boyce...

    , Sept 1997–Sept 1998
  • Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh, Sept 1998–Nov 2000
  • Admiral Sir Alan West
    Alan West, Baron West of Spithead
    Admiral Alan William John West, Baron West of Spithead GCB DSC PC was, from June 2007 to May 2010, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the British Home Office with responsibility for Security and a Security Advisor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown...

    , Nov 2000–Sept 2002
  • Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
    Jonathon Band
    Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, GCB, DL, ADC , from 2006 to 2009, was the First Sea Lord of the United Kingdom, the most senior serving officer in the Royal Navy. Before serving as First Sea Lord he was Commander-in-Chief Fleet...

    , Sept 2002–Nov 2005
  • Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent
    James Burnell-Nugent
    Admiral Sir James Michael Burnell-Nugent KCB, CBE, ADC was the Commander-in-Chief Fleet of the Royal Navy.-Early life:He attended Stowe School in Buckinghamshire then went to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.-Naval career:...

    , Nov 2005–Nov 2007
  • Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope
    Mark Stanhope
    Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, GCB, OBE is the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff of the United Kingdom, thus the professional head of the Royal Navy.-Early life:...

    , Nov 2007–June 2009
  • Admiral Sir Trevor Soar
    Trevor Soar
    Admiral Sir Trevor Alan Soar KCB OBE is currently the Commander-in-Chief Fleet of the Royal Navy.-Early life:Soar was born in Belper, and was educated at Loughborough Grammar School. He joined the Royal Navy in 1975, attending BRNC Dartmouth.-Naval career:He commanded the submarines from 1987 to...

    , June 2009–


Vice Admiral George Zambellas
George Zambellas
Vice Admiral George Michael Zambellas DSC, was Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces from June 2007 until September 2008 and is currently Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Chief of Staff to Navy Command Headquarters, and Chief Naval Warfare Officer.-Life:...

 will be Commander-in-Chief Fleet from January 2012.

List of Deputy Commanders

Deputy Commanders have included:
  • Vice Admiral Sir Roy Newman
    Roy Newman
    Vice Admiral Sir Roy Thomas Newman KCB DL is a former Royal Navy officer who became Flag Officer, Plymouth.-Naval career:...

    , Feb 1990–June 1992
  • Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Biggs
    Geoffrey Biggs
    Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey William Roger Biggs KCB is a former Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet.-Naval career:...

    , June 1992–June 1994
  • Vice Admiral Sir Jonathan Tod
    Jonathan Tod
    Vice Admiral Sir Jonathan James Richard Tod KCB CBE is a former Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet.-Naval career:...

    , June 1994–June 1997
  • Vice Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackham
    Jeremy Blackham
    Vice Admiral Sir Jeremy Joe Blackham KCB is a former Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet.-Naval career:Blackham joined the Royal Navy in 1961. He became Commanding Officer successively of the minesweeper HMS Beachampton, the frigate HMS Ashanti and then the destroyer HMS...

    , June 1997–Jan 1999
  • Vice Admiral Sir Fabian Malbon
    Fabian Malbon
    Vice Admiral Sir Fabian Malbon KBE was the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey from 2005 to 2011.-Naval career:Educated at Brighton Hove and Sussex Grammar School, Malbon joined the Royal Navy in 1965. He went on to command the frigates HMS Torquay and HMS Brave. He was made Commander of the 9th...

    , Jan 1999–May 2001
  • Vice Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
    Jonathon Band
    Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, GCB, DL, ADC , from 2006 to 2009, was the First Sea Lord of the United Kingdom, the most senior serving officer in the Royal Navy. Before serving as First Sea Lord he was Commander-in-Chief Fleet...

    , May 2001–July 2002
  • Vice Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope
    Mark Stanhope
    Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, GCB, OBE is the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff of the United Kingdom, thus the professional head of the Royal Navy.-Early life:...

    , July 2002–June 2004
  • Vice Admiral Sir Timothy McClement
    Timothy McClement
    Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Pentreath McClement KCB OBE is a former Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet.-Naval career:Educated at Douai School and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, McClement joined the Royal Navy in 1971...

    , June 2004–Oct 2006
  • Vice Admiral Paul Boissier
    Paul Boissier (Royal Navy officer)
    Vice Admiral Paul Boissier CB is a former Royal Navy officer who became Chief of Fleet Support.-Naval career:Born the son of Peter Boissier and his wife Jo, Boissier joined the Royal Navy in 1974...

    , Oct 2006–July 2009
  • Vice Admiral Sir Richard Ibbotson
    Richard Ibbotson
    Vice Admiral Sir Richard Jeffrey Ibbotson KBE CB DSC is a former Royal Navy officer who served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet.Educated at Durham University, Ibbotson joined the Royal Navy in 1975 and specialized in underwater warfare...

    , July 2009–Jan 2011
  • Vice Admiral George Zambellas
    George Zambellas
    Vice Admiral George Michael Zambellas DSC, was Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces from June 2007 until September 2008 and is currently Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Chief of Staff to Navy Command Headquarters, and Chief Naval Warfare Officer.-Life:...

    , Jan 2011–


Vice Admiral Philip Jones
Philip Jones (Royal Navy officer)
Rear Admiral Philip A. Jones is a Royal Navy officer who became Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland.-Naval career:Educated at Mansfield College, Oxford and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Jones joined the Royal Navy in 1980...

will be Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet from December 2011.

External links

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