The Fleet Commander is a senior Royal Navy post, responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the Naval Service. The Vice-Admiral incumbent is required to provide ships, submarines and aircraft ready for operations, and is based at Navy Command Headquarters.
| Fleet Commander | |
|---|---|
 Ensign of the Royal Navy | |
 | |
| Ministry of Defence Royal Navy | |
| Member of | Admiralty Board, Navy Board, Navy Command |
| Reports to | First Sea Lord |
| Nominator | Secretary of State for Defence, on advice from the Defence Council |
| Appointer | Prime Minister Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council |
| Term length | Not fixed (typically 1–4 years) |
| Inaugural holder | Admiral George Zambellas |
| Formation | 2012 |
The post was created in April 2012 following a reorganisation of the Royal Navy and a re-designation of the former role of Commander-in-Chief Fleet.[1]
Responsibilities
editThe Fleet Commander's purpose is to provide ships, submarines and aircraft ready for any operations that the Government requires.[1]
The Fleet Commander's major subordinates included as of September 2020:[2]
- Commander Operations
- Commander United Kingdom Strike Force
- Director Force Generation - Commodore Steve Moorhouse was promoted to Rear Admiral and became Director 14 January 2022 on the promotion of Martin Connell to Vice Admiral and Connell's appointment as Second Sea Lord.[3]
- Commandant General Royal Marines[4]
The previous post of Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Training)/Flag Officer Sea Training[5] was disestablished in May-June 2020. It was superseded by Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training, and in the process the senior Sea Training officer was regraded downwards from a Rear Admiral to a Commodore.[6]
The British Army equivalent is Commander Field Army. The RAF's Deputy Commander (Operations) is the close equivalent of the two positions.[7]
List of Fleet Commanders
editFleet Commander
edit| Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff[8] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Rank | Name | Term began | Term ended |
.jpg) |
Admiral | Sir George Zambellas[9] | April 2012 | December 2012 |
.jpg) |
Vice Admiral | Sir Philip Jones | December 2012 | February 2016 |
| Fleet Commander and Chief Naval Warfare Officer[10] | ||||
 |
Vice Admiral | Ben Key[10] | February 2016 | March 2019 |
_(Jerry_Kyd_cropped).jpg) |
Vice Admiral | Jerry Kyd[11] | March 2019 | September 2021 |
.jpg) |
Vice Admiral | Andrew Burns[12] | September 2021 | |
Deputy Fleet Commander
edit- April–December 2012: Vice Admiral Sir Philip Jones[13]
- Position Vacant[14][15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Navy Board".
- ^ "How Defence Works Version 6.0 Sep2020" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. UK MOD. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
page 28
- ^ "A real privilege to assume the role of Director Force Generation for the Royal Navy. I have the telescope!!".
- ^ "Freedom of Information Response" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "Navy Command senior, as of April 2017 - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. MOD UK. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ "Who is the new Flag Officer Sea Training" (PDF). whatdotheyknow.com. Whatdotheyknow. 27 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
In response to your request, I can advise you that the title Flag Officer Sea Training will cease to exist on 1 May 2020 and is replaced by the 1* post of Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training
- ^ "Air Command senior, as of September 2012 - GOV.UK". assets.publishing.service.gov.uk.
- ^ "Navy Command senior, as of March 2014". Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ Ups and outs: October 2012 Defence Viewpoints
- ^ a b "Royal Navy appoints new Fleet Commander". Royal Navy. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ^ "Royal Navy Appoints New Senior Officers". Forces.net. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- ^ "Royal Navy appoints new Fleet Commander". Royal Navy. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ Royal Navy’s Deputy Fleet Commander Visits UK Hydrographic Office Subsea World News, 30 July 2012
- ^ "Navy senior staff, March 2013".
- ^ Peter, Jeff. "Fleet training". Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- "Ministry of Defence Organogram". data.gov.uk. MOD 31 March 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- "Royal Navy Directory 2017" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 8 August 2018.