Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla

Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla (FOSF)
Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla (FOSF)
	Ensign of the Royal Navy
	Navy Department, Ministry of Defence
Reports to	Commander-in-Chief, Fleet
Nominator	Secretary of State for Defence
Appointer	Prime Minister; Subject to formal approval by the Queen-in-Council
Term length	Not fixed (typically 1–4 years)
Inaugural holder	Vice-Admiral A. Peter Woodhead
Formation	1990–2002

Surface Flotilla
Surface Flotilla
Active	1990–2002
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Size	Flotilla
Part of	Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Garrison/HQ	HMNB Portsmouth
Commanders
First	Vice-Admiral A. Peter Woodhead
Last	Rear-Admiral Alexander K. Backus

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

When the post of Commander-in-Chief Fleet was created in 1971, three major subordinate appointments were also created: First Flotilla, Second Flotilla and Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships, each held by a rear-admiral.^[1] In 1990 the First Flotilla was re-designated Surface Flotilla. In April 1992, the system was changed when the Third Flotilla was abolished and the remaining two flotilla commanders became: Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla – responsible for operational readiness and training – and Flag Officer, UK Task Group – who would command any deployed task group.^[2]

Flag Officer Surface Flotilla[]

Flag officers commanding[]

Included:^[3]

Vice-Admiral A. Peter Woodhead: 1990 – September 1991
Rear-Admiral A. Bruce Richardson: September 1991 – April 1992
Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir Nicholas Hill-Norton: April–November 1992
Vice-Admiral Sir Michael C. Boyce: November 1992 – April 1995
Vice-Admiral Sir John Brigstocke: April 1995 – July 1997
Rear-Admiral Peter M. Franklyn: July 1997 – April 2000
Rear-Admiral Ian A. Forbes: April 2000 – November 2001
Rear-Admiral Alexander Backus: November 2001 – 2002

Subordinate squadrons[]

Main components[]

At various times included:

Unit	Date	Notes
3rd Destroyer Squadron	1990–2002	^[5]
5th Destroyer Squadron	1990–2002	^[6]
1st Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	^[7]
3rd Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	^[8]
4th Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	^[9]
5th Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	^[10]
6th Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	^[11]
7th Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	^[12]
8th Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	^[13]

References[]

Footnotes[]

^ Roberts, John (2009). Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. p. 89. ISBN 9781848320437.
^ Watson, Dr Graham; Smith, Gordon (12 July 2015). "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947–2013". www.naval-history.net. G. Smith. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
^ Mackie, Colin (August 2018). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865". gulabin.com. C. Mackie. p. 217. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
^ Smith.2015.
^ Smith.2015.
^ Smith.2015.
^ Smith.2015.
^ Smith.2015.
^ Smith.2015.
^ Smith.2015.
^ Smith.2015.
^ Smith.2015.
^ Smith.2015.

Sources[]

Mackie, Colin. (2018) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Scotland, UK.
Roberts, John (2009). Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 9781848320437.
Smith, Gordon. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947–2013:FLEET ORGANISATION, 1981–2002". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.

[1] Roberts, John (2009). Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. p. 89. ISBN 9781848320437.

[2] Watson, Dr Graham; Smith, Gordon (12 July 2015). "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947–2013". www.naval-history.net. G. Smith. Retrieved 6 August 2018.

[3] Mackie, Colin (August 2018). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865". gulabin.com. C. Mackie. p. 217. Retrieved 6 August 2018.

[4] Smith.2015.

[5] Smith.2015.

[6] Smith.2015.

[7] Smith.2015.

[8] Smith.2015.

[9] Smith.2015.

[10] Smith.2015.

[11] Smith.2015.

[12] Smith.2015.

[13] Smith.2015.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

Flotilla structure^[4]
Parent unit	Fleet Command UK Maritime Forces Command
Components	Surface Flotilla Units 3rd Destroyer Squadron (1990–2002) 5th Destroyer Squadron (1990–2002) 1st Frigate Squadron (1990–2002) 2nd Frigate Squadron (1990–2002) (1990–2002) 4th Frigate Squadron (1990–2002) 5th Frigate Squadron (1990–2002) 6th Frigate Squadron (1990–2002) 7th Frigate Squadron (1990–2002) 8th Frigate Squadron (1990–2002)

v t Navy Department (Ministry of Defence)
political head ministers	Office of the Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy (1964-1967) Office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (1967-1981) Deputy Under-Secretary of State (Navy) (1967-1981) Office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (1981-1990) Office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (1991-1997)
governance	Defence Council Defence Board Admiralty Board Navy Board
military head	First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff
office of the first sea lord	Office of the Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff Office of the Deputy-Chief of the Naval Staff Office of the Naval Secretary-flag officer appointments - Naval Assistant to Naval Secretary-captains appointments Director of Naval Officer Appointments Director of Naval Officer Appointments (Engineer Officers) Director of Naval Officer Appointments (Seaman Officers) Director of Naval Officer Appointments (Supply and Secretariat and WRNS Officers) (1988-) Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord Secretary to the First Sea Lord
under Vice & Deputy Chief of Naval Staff	Offices of the Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff Commandant General Royal Marines Chief of Staff Colonel General Staff (Assistant Chief of Staff) Military Secretary (Royal Marines) Assistant Adjutant-General (Royal Marines) Assistant Quartermaster- General (Royal Marines) Director Royal Marines Reserves Director of Naval Security Hydrographer of the Navy Assistant Hydrographer Officers appointments Director of Naval Oceanography and Meteorology Director of Hydrographic Plans and Surveys Director of Hydrographic Charting and Sciences Director of Hydrographic Administration and Supply
Air, Operations, Plans, Policy requirements, warfare	Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) Assistant of Chief Defence Staff (Pol) Naval Staff Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations) Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations and Air) Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Ops) Naval Staff Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operational Requirements) Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Warfare)
naval staff directorates offices & branches	Directorate of Naval Operations and Trade Directorate of Naval Tactical and Weapons Policy Directorate of Naval Signals Directorate of Naval Staff Duties Directorate of Navigation and Tactical Control (Naval) Hydrographic Department Naval Historical Branch Naval Staff Directorate Plans and Resources Division
naval personnel	Office of the Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
naval personnel department	Office of the Chief Naval Supply and Secretariat Officer Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet-became Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service Principal Chaplain Church of Scotland & Free Churches (Naval) Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain (Naval) Directorate General Training Directorate-General Naval Manpower and Training Director of Naval Manpower Planning Director of Naval Manpower Requirements Director of Naval Manning and Training (Seaman) Director of Naval Manning and Training (Engineering) Director of Naval Manning and Training (Supply and Secretariat) Director of Naval Training Support Naval Manpower Statistics Branch Director of Naval Foreign and Commonwealth Training Director of Naval Education Service Joint Warfare Establishment Directorate of Naval Officer Appointments Directorate of Naval Physical Training and Sports Head of Naval Social Service Directorate of Naval Service Conditions Director of Naval Service Conditions Directorate of Fleet Supply Duties (1964-1973) General Manager Royal Navy Film Corporation Job Evaluation Judge Naval Recruitment Training Agency Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves Office of the Medical Director-General of the Navy Office of the Medical Director-General (Naval) Deputy Director-General (Naval) Director Naval Dental Services Director of Medical Personnel and Logistics Director of Naval Recruiting Women's Royal Naval Service Headquarters became- Office of the Matron-in-Chief Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service
controller	Controller of the Navy
controllers department navy controllerate	Deputy Controller Polaris Department of the Director of Naval Construction Director Weapons Coordination and Acceptance (Naval) Co-Ordination Directorate Compass Directorate Director Naval Ordnance Services Director Naval Weapons Contracts B Director Underwater Weapons Projects (Naval) Director Weapons Surface Projects (Naval) Director Surface Electronic Projects (Naval) Naval Ordnance Inspection Directorate Production Directorate Director Weapons Production (Naval) Surface Weapons Research and Development Directorate Under Water Weapons Research and Development Directorate Weapons Equipment Surface Directorate - Director of Contracts (Ships) Director Engineering (Ships) Director of Electrical Engineering Director of Naval Construction Director of Naval Equipment Director of Project Team Submarines/Polaris Director of Resources and Programmes (Ships) Director Warship Design Directorate of Naval Construction Marine Engineering Directorate Naval Equipment Division Naval Equipment Directorate Naval Electrical Engineering Directorate Naval Ship Production Directorate
naval supplies and transport fleet support hq naval support command	Office of the Chief of Naval Supplies and Transport Office of the Chief of Fleet Support
under naval supplies and transport fleet support hq naval support command	Director of Naval Administrative Planning Director of Fleet Supply Duties Director of Fleet Maintenance Director of Marine Services Head of Aircraft Department (Naval) HQ Director of Quartering (Navy) Department of Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Dockyard Division Fleet Maintenance Division Marine Services Division - Director of Dockyard Manpower and Productivity Director of Dockyard Production and Support Director of Finance and Administration Director of Supplies and Transport (Management and Administration) Director of Supplies and Transport (General and Victualling) Victualling Division Director of Supplies and Transport (Fuel and Movements) Director of Supplies and Transport (Armament and Specialist) Director of Supplies and Transport (Finance) Naval Stores Department Royal Naval Supply and Transport Service Victualling Department (1832-1971)
chief scientists department	also Deputy Controller Research and Development Establishments, and Research A Director Research Ships Director Research Underwater
under chief scientists department	Director of Naval Operational Studies Admiralty Compass Observatory Department of Naval Physical Research Department of Research and Development Services (Naval) Department of Material Research (Naval) Director-General Establishments, Resources and Programmes A Admiralty Engineering Laboratory Admiralty Experiment Works Admiralty Research Laboratory Admiralty Research Establishment Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment Royal Radar Establishment Signals Research and Development Establishment Director-General Research Electronics Services Electronics Research Laboratory
naval home command	Naval Home Command
Shore units under Naval Home Command	Admiral-Superintendent, Devonport Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth Admiral Commanding, Reserves Commodore, Clyde Submarine Base Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Yachts Flag Officer, Medway Flag Officer, Plymouth Port Admiral, Devonport Flag Officer, Portsmouth and Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth Flag Officer Spithead and Port Admiral Portsmouth Flag Officer, Training and Recruitment
Fleets	Home Fleet Far East Fleet Mediterranean Fleet Western Fleet Commander-in-Chief Fleet
under c-in-c, fleet	Chief of Staff Fleet Chief of Staff, (Warfare) Fleet Chief of Staff (Capability) Fleet Chief of Staff (Personnel) Fleet Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans Assistant Chief of Staff, Warfare Command Secretary, Fleet Commandant General Royal Marines Commander British Forces Gibraltar Commander Operations Commander UK Amphibious Forces Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships Flag Officer First Flotilla Flag Officer, Second Flotilla Flag Officer, Third Flotilla Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla Flag Officer Gibraltar and Gibraltar Naval Base Commander Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland Flag Officer Plymouth Flag Officer Sea Training Flag Officer Submarines Flag Officer Naval Air Command Flag Officer, Flying Training Flag Officer, Naval Flying Training
under c-in-c home fleet, far east fleet mediterranean fleet, western fleet	Flag Officer Second-in-Command Far East Fleet Chief of Staff, Far East Fleet Commodore, Amphibious Forces, Far East Fleet Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong Mediterranean Fleet Chief of Staff Mediterranean Fleet Flag Officer, Gibraltar Commodore (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers Rear-Admiral (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers Vice-Admiral (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers Western Fleet Chief of Staff, Western Fleet
civil administration navy department	Office of the Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Royal Navy) Office of the Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Administration)
under civil administration	Department of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Royal Navy) Department of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Administration) Greenwich Hospital Department
Naval Legal	Office of the Counsel to the Navy Department, Ministry of Defence Office of the Judge Advocate of the Fleet Office of the Chief Naval Judge Advocate