South Atlantic Station
Encyclopedia
The South Atlantic Station was one of the geographical divisions into which the British Royal Navy
divided its worldwide responsibilities. It was formed from the former Cape of Good Hope Station
.
, the South Atlantic Station had a more substantial existence during and after World War II
having been created from the Africa Station
. It covered the Atlantic Ocean
south of a line drawn between the northern French West Africa
n (now Mauritania
n) border and French Guiana
and the Southern Ocean
and Indian Ocean
east of a line drawn south from the western entrance to the Magellan Strait and west of a line drawn south from the South African/ Mozambican border. These responsibilities did not imply territorial claims but the navy would actively protect Britain's trading interests. The South Atlantic Station had bases at Freetown
, Simonstown, and Port Stanley. It was absorbed into the Western Fleet in 1967 when that Command assumed responsibility for all ships "West of Suez".
Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and Pacific
Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic
Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and South America
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...
divided its worldwide responsibilities. It was formed from the former Cape of Good Hope Station
Cape of Good Hope Station
The Cape of Good Hope Station was one of the geographical divisions into which the British Royal Navy divided its worldwide responsibilities. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope....
.
History
Although the South Atlantic and Pacific Station briefly existed in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the South Atlantic Station had a more substantial existence during and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
having been created from the Africa Station
Cape of Good Hope Station
The Cape of Good Hope Station was one of the geographical divisions into which the British Royal Navy divided its worldwide responsibilities. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope....
. It covered the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
south of a line drawn between the northern French West Africa
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
n (now Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
n) border and French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
and the Southern Ocean
Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60°S latitude and encircling Antarctica. It is usually regarded as the fourth-largest of the five principal oceanic divisions...
and Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
east of a line drawn south from the western entrance to the Magellan Strait and west of a line drawn south from the South African/ Mozambican border. These responsibilities did not imply territorial claims but the navy would actively protect Britain's trading interests. The South Atlantic Station had bases at Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
, Simonstown, and Port Stanley. It was absorbed into the Western Fleet in 1967 when that Command assumed responsibility for all ships "West of Suez".
Commanders-in-Chief
Commanders-in-Chief have included:Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and Pacific
- Admiral Sir Doveton SturdeeDoveton SturdeeAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee, 1st Baronet, GCB, KCMG, CVO was a British admiral.-Naval career:...
(1914)
Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic
- Vice Admiral Sir George Lyon (1939-1940)
- Vice Admiral Sir Robert RaikesRobert Raikes (Royal Navy officer)Admiral Sir Robert Henry Taunton Raikes KCB CVO DSO was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic Station.-Naval career:Raikes joined the Royal Navy in 1900...
(1940-1941) - Vice Admiral Sir Algernon WillisAlgernon WillisAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Algernon Usborne Willis KCB DSO was a British Royal Navy officer.-Naval career:Willis joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1904 and went on to serve in World War I and then actions against the Bolsheviks in the Baltic from 1918 to 1919.In the Second World War he was...
(1941-1942) - Vice Admiral Sir Campbell TaitCampbell TaitAdmiral Sir William Eric Campbell Tait KCB MVO OON was a senior British naval officer and the fifth Governor of Southern Rhodesia, serving from 1945-46.-Naval career:...
(1942-1944) - Vice Admiral Sir Robert BurnettRobert BurnettAdmiral Sir Robert Lindsay Burnett, GBE, KCB, CStJ, DSO was an officer in the Royal Navy.-Naval career:Educated at Bedford School, Burnett joined the Royal Navy in 1902. He served on the China Station from 1904 and then with the Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets from 1908...
(1944-1946) - Vice Admiral Sir Clement MoodyClement MoodyAdmiral Sir Clement Moody KCB was a Royal Navy who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station.-Naval career:Moody was appointed a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1911. He served in World War I and in 1935 was given command of HMS Curacoa...
(1946-1948) - Vice Admiral Sir Desmond McCarthyDesmond McCarthyAdmiral Sir Desmond McCarthy KCB DSO was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic Station.-Naval career:...
(1948-1950) - Vice Admiral Sir Herbert PackerHerbert Annesley PackerAdmiral Sir Herbert Annesley Packer KCB, CBE was an officer in the British Royal Navy and ended his career as an Admiral and Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic.-Family background:The only son of Dr...
(1950-1952) - Vice Admiral Sir Peveril William-PowlettPeveril William-PowlettVice Admiral Sir Peveril Barton Reiby Wallop William-Powlett KCB KCMG CBE DSO was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic Station.-Naval career:...
(1952-1954) - Vice Admiral Sir Ian CampbellIan Campbell (Royal Navy officer)Vice Admiral Sir Ian Murray Robertson Campbell KBE CB DSO & Bar was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic Station.-Naval career:...
(1954-1956) - Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Robson (1956-1958)
Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and South America
- Vice Admiral Sir Dymock WatsonDymock WatsonVice Admiral Sir Dymock Watson KCB CBE was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and South America Station.-Naval career:...
(1958-1960) - Vice Admiral Sir Nicholas CopemanNicholas CopemanVice Admiral Sir Nicholas Alfred Copeman KBE CB DSC was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and South America Station.-Naval career:...
(1960-1963) - Vice Admiral Sir Fitzroy TalbotFitzroy Talbot|-...
(1963-1965) - Vice Admiral Sir John GrayJohn Gray (Royal Navy officer)Vice Admiral Sir John Michael Dudgeon Gray KBE CB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and South America Station.-Naval career:...
(1965-1967)