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Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships (FOCAS) was a senior Royal Navy post that existed from 1970 to 1979. However, its antecedents date to 1931.
| Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships | |
|---|---|
Ensign of the Royal Navy | |
| Admiralty, 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 Reginald G. H. Henderson |
| Formation | 1970-1979 |
A Flag Officer with specific responsibilities for command of aircraft carriers within the Royal Navy was first established in September 1931 with the appointment of Rear-Admiral Reginald Henderson as Rear-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers.[1] He was succeeded by Rear-Admiral the Hon. Sir Alexander R. M. Ramsay later Vice-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers. The post was held by successive flag officers under the titles listed below. In June 1968 the post Rear-Admiral, Carriers was renamed to Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships (FOCAS). The post was renamed Flag Officer, Third Flotilla in December 1979.[2]
The office holder reported to different senior flag officers during its existence including the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet,[3] the Commander-in-Chief, Western Fleet and finally the Commander-in-Chief Fleet.
Post holders included:[4]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-Admiral/Vice-Admiral (A), Aircraft Carriers | |||||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral |  | Reginald G. H. Henderson | September 1931-September.1933 | |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | | the Hon. Sir Alexander R. M. Ramsay | September 1933-March 1936 | (VAdm by 06/1936) |
| 3 | Vice-Admiral |  | Noel F. Laurence | March 1936-July 1937 | |
| 4 | Vice-Admiral | | Guy C. C. Royle | July 1937-July 1939 | |
| 5 | Vice-Admiral | | Lionel V. Wells | July 1939-July 1940 | |
| 6 | Rear-Admiral | | Lumley Lyster | July 1940 - August 1940 | Post renamed Flag Officer, Mediterranean Aircraft Carriers in September 1940.[5] |
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flag Officer, Mediterranean Aircraft Carriers | |||||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | | Lumley Lyster | September 1940 to 4 February 1941 | office renamed FO/MAC 09.1040[5] |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | | Denis Boyd | February 1941 to January 1942 | |
| Post is re-established within the Home Fleet July 1942 till December 1943. | |||||
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Title / Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vice-Admiral | | Lumley Lyster | July 1942 - 21 May 1943 | Rear-Admiral, then Vice-Admiral, Home Fleet Aircraft Carriers, aboard HMS Indomitable[6] |
| Rear-Admiral | | Reginald Henderson | 21 May 1943 – 1 December 1943 | Rear-Admiral, Home Fleet Aircraft Carriers |
On hauling down his flag as Vice-Admiral, Home Fleet Aircraft Carriers, about 27 April 1943, Admiral Lyster was appointed Flag Officer Carrier Training and Administration at HMS Monck (HQ Combined Training, Largs), which was transferred from 1 June 1944 to HMS Faraway, a training establishment & HQ of Flag Officer Carrier Training, at Greenock. He served in that post until 17.03.1945.[6]
Rear-Admiral Charles Woodhouse was listed as Rear-Admiral Aircraft Carriers, aboard HMS Implacable, March–April 1946.
Duties may have included (a) being responsible for the Fleet Air Arm afloat (b) ensuring the operational effectiveness of Carrier Task Groups.[3] Probably referring to pre-1967 when Home Fleet still existed.
Admirals flying this flag included:[7]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers | |||||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | | Walter T. Couchman | December 1953-December 1954 | (as first Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers)[8] |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | | Arthur R. Pedder | December 1954-May 1956 | |
| 3 | Vice-Admiral | | Manley L. Power | May 1956-October 1957 | |
| 4 | Rear-Admiral | | Hector C. D. MacLean | October 1957-January 1958 | |
| 5 | Vice-Admiral | | Sir Alexander N.C. Bingley | January 1958-January 1959 | |
| 6 | Vice-Admiral | | Charles L.G. Evans | January 1959-March 1960 | |
| 7 | Rear-Admiral | | Richard M. Smeeton | March 1960-January 1962 | |
| 8 | Vice-Admiral | | Frank H.E. Hopkins | January 1962-January 1963 | |
| 9 | Rear-Admiral | | Donald C.E.F. Gibson | January 1963-April 1964 | |
| 10 | Rear-Admiral | | H. Richard B. Janvrin | April 1964-February 1966 | Also Commander Carrier Striking Group Two, STRIKFLTLANT.[9] |
| 11 | Rear-Admiral | | William D. O’Brien | February 1966-April 1967 | |
| 12 | Rear-Admiral | | L. Derek Empson | April 1967-June 1970 | |
| 13 | Rear-Admiral | | Michael F. Fell | June 1968 - July 1970 | |
In July 1970 the post was renamed Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships.
Included:[7]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships | |||||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | | Michael F. Fell | July 1970 | |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | | John D. Treacher | July 1970-May 1972 | |
| 3 | Vice-Admiral | | Raymond D. Lygo | May 1972-January 1974 | |
| 4 | Rear-Admiral | | Desmond Cassidi | January 1974-May 1975 | Ordered to fly out to Cyprus 1974 to become Naval Deputy to Commander British Forces Near East, Air Marshal Aiken.[10] |
| 5 | Vice-Admiral | | James H.F. Eberle | May 1975-March 1977 | |
| 6 | Vice-Admiral | | William D.M. Staveley | March 1977-July 1978 | |
| 7 | Rear-Admiral | | Peter G.M. Herbert | July 1978 – July 1979 | |
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