Flag Officer First Flotilla

The First Flotilla was a naval formation of the British Royal Navy commanded by the Flag Officer, First Flotilla from 1971 to 1990.

First Flotilla
Active	1971 – 1990
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Size	Flotilla
Part of	Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Garrison/HQ	HMNB Portsmouth
Commanders
First	Rear-Admiral John Ernle Pope
Last	Vice-Admiral A. Peter Woodhead

The Western Fleet and Far East Fleet were merged into the single Commander-in-Chief Fleet in 1971. Within this new structure three rear-admirals' appointments were created, the Flag Officer First Flotilla, Flag Officer Second Flotilla and Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships.^[1] In 1990 the First, Second and Third Flotillas were unified to create a single formation called the Surface Flotilla.

Flag Officer First Flotilla

Flag Officer, First Flotilla (FOF1)
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	Rear-Admiral John Ernle Pope
Formation	1971-1990

The Flag Officer, First Flotilla (FOF1) ^[2] was a senior Royal Navy post that existed from 1971 to 1990.

Post holders included:^[3][4][5]

• Rear-Admiral John Ernle Pope: November 1969-July 1971
• Rear-Admiral Arthur M. Power: July 1971-January 1973
• Vice-Admiral Iwan G. Raikes: January 1973-March 1974
• Vice-Admiral Henry C. Leach: March 1974-November 1975
• Vice-Admiral Anthony S. Morton: November 1975-March 1977
• Rear-Admiral Robert R. Squires: March 1977-October 1978
• Rear-Admiral David J. Hallifax: October 1978-April 1980
• Rear-Admiral D. Conrad Jenkin: April 1980-July 1981
• Rear-Admiral Sir John F. Woodward: July 1981-April 1983
• Rear-Admiral J. Jeremy Black: April 1983-April 1984
• Rear-Admiral Robin I. T. Hogg: April 1984-October 1986
• Vice-Admiral John B. Kerr: October 1986-July 1988
• Vice-Admiral John F. Coward: July 1988-September 1989
• Vice-Admiral A. Peter Woodhead: September 1989 – 1990

Note: the office is re-designated Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla.

Structure

At various times included:^[7]

Unit	Date	Notes
1st Frigate Squadron	1972-1981
2nd Frigate Squadron	1972-1981
3rd Frigate Squadron	1972-1977
4th Frigate Squadron	1972-1976
5th Frigate Squadron	1976-1977
6th Frigate Squadron	1977-1981
3rd Destroyer Squadron	1980-1990

See also

• Royal Navy Surface Fleet

References

Footnotes

1. Roberts, John (2009). Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. p. 89. ISBN 9781848320437.
2. "Rear Admiral Jeremy Black (Hansard, 25 January 1984)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Hansard, vol 52 c585W. 25 January 1984. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
3. Smith, Gordon. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947–2013:FLEET ORGANISATION, 1981-2002". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
4. Mackie.pp.215-217.
5. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865". gulabin.com. pp.214-215, Colin Mackie, February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
6. Smith.2015.
7. 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.