The professional head of the Royal Navy is known as the First Sea Lord (1SL) as well as the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS).
There are presently two senior sub-ordinates to the 1SL: the Second Sea Lord , who is also the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff; and the Fleet Commander.
Royal Navy, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff.
Royal Navy, Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
Royal Navy, Controller of the Navy
Royal Navy, Chief of Material (Fleet)
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy)
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation & Carriers)
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability)
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Personnel)
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Ships and Submarines)
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Support)
Royal Navy, First Naval Lord, 1828-1904
Royal Navy, Chief of the War Staff, 1912–1917
Royal Navy, Deputy First Sea Lord, 1917–1919, 1942–1946
Royal Navy, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, (1941–1985)
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff Home, 1940–1945
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff Foreign, 1940–1945
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff U Boat and Trade, 1940–1945
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff Weapons, 1941–1946
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff Air, 1943–1946
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff Warfare, 1953–1968
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff Operations and Air, 1968–1984
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff Operational Requirements, 1968–1985
Royal Navy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff Policy, 1966–1984
British Fleet - Fleet Commander (2012-present).
Atlantic Fleet - Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet (1909–1914, 1919–1932)
British Pacific Fleet - Commander-in-Chief British Pacific Fleet (1944–1945)
Channel Fleet - Commander-in-Chief Channel Fleet (c.1690-1914)
Eastern Fleet - Commander-in-Chief Eastern Fleet (formerly only C-in-Cs East Indies, Australia and China Stations), 1941-postwar.
First Fleet - (1912–14)
Far East Fleet - Commander, Far East Fleet c.1952-1971
Grand Fleet - Commander-in-Chief Grand Fleet (1914-1918)
Home Fleet - Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet (1902–1904 and 1932–1967)
Mediterranean Fleet - Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean (1690–1967)
Reserve Fleet - Vice Admiral Commanding, Reserve Fleet (interwar, at least since 1928 (1700 - 1960)
Second Fleet - (1912–14)
Third Fleet - (1912–14)
Western Fleet - Commander-in-Chief Western Fleet (1967–1971)
Current Commands
Commander Operations
Commander Maritime Reserves - COMUKMARRES
Commander UK Maritime Forces - COMUKMARFOR
Commander UK Amphibious Forces - COMUKAMPHIBFOR (and Commandant General Royal Marines)
Commodore Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Navy Command Headquarters
Rear-Admiral Fleet Air Arm
Historic commands
Admiral Commanding, Coastguard and Reserves, (1903-1941).
Admiral Commanding Reserves, 1942-1977
Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands,(1914–1945), Admiral commanding was in charge of the Northern Patrol Force.
Admiral of Patrols, (1912-1916)
Admiral Superintendent, Naval Reserves, (1875-1903)
Admiral, British Joint Services Mission, U.S.A, (1942-1997)
Commander-in-Chief, Africa Station, HQ Simonstown (1920–1939) (succeeded by South Atlantic from 1939)
Commander-in-Chief, Australia Station, HQ Admiralty House, Sydney (1859–1913)
Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland, HQ Queenstown, now called Cobh.
Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland (1919 to 1939, replaced Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth in 1919, and reverted to Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth in 1939)
Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station, (1795–1939)
Commander-in-Chief, China Station, HQ Singapore and Wei Hai Wei (1865–1941)
Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station, HQ Colombo Sri Lanka (Ceylon) (1865–1941)
Commander-in-Chief, Dover - (1914–1945)
Commander-in-Chief, East Indies and China Station, HQ Hong Kong (1831–1865)
Commander-in-Chief Fleet, (1971-2012)
Commander-in-Chief, Jamaica Station (1655-1823) merged with North America and West Indies Station.
Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands Station, (1743–1821),
Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command (CINCNAVHOME) (1969-2012)
Commander-in-Chief, Newfoundland Station, (1729-1825)
Commander-in-Chief, New Zealand, HQ Auckland (1921–1942)
Commander in Chief, North Atlantic (1939–1945)
Commander-in-Chief, The Nore (1752–1961)
Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies, HQ Bermuda (from southern Brazil to Greenland) (1745–1956)
Commander-in-Chief, Pacific HQ Valparaíso (1837–1865) Esquimalt (1865–1905)
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth (1697–1969) (merged with CinC Plymouth into CinCNAVHOME)
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth (1743–1969) (merged with CinC Portsmouth into CinCNAVHOME)
Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth (1913-1919 and 1939-1946; was renamed Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland from 1919 to 1939)
Commander-in-Chief, South America Station HQ Valparaíso (circa 1826–1837)
Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic HQ Freetown (1939–1967)
Commander-in-Chief, South East Coast of America Station HQ Falkland Islands (1838–1905)
Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches - the area from west of Portland to Clyde, HQ Liverpool (1939–1945)
Commander, Flying Squadron, (1869-1870)
Commander, Detached Squadron, (1870-1882)
Commander, Particular Service Squadron, (1882-1896)
Commander, Home Fleet Destroyers, (1908-1967)
Commander Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers. (1922-1965)
Commander, Pacific Fleet Destroyers, (1945-1946)
Commander, 3rd and 4th Divisions, Home Fleet, (1909-1912)
Commanding, 3rd Aircraft Carrier Squadron, (1948-1954)
Commanding, 1st Battle Squadron, (1912-1945)
Commanding, 2nd Battle Squadron, (1912-1944)
Commanding, 3rd Battle Squadron, (1913-1945)
Commanding, 4th Battle Squadron, (1912-1924)
Commanding, 5th Battle Squadron, (1914-1919)
Commanding, 6th Battle Squadron, (1914-1915)
Commanding, 7th Battle Squadron
Commanding, 8th Battle Squadron
Commanding, 9th Battle Squadron, (1914)
Commanding, 1st Battlecruiser Squadron, (1915-1919)
Commanding, 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron, (1915-1919)
Commanding, 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron, (1915-1916)
Commanding, Battlecruiser Squadron, , (1919-1941)
Commanding, Training Squadron, (1885-1899)
Commanding, Cruiser Squadron, (1900-1905)
Commanding, 1st Cruiser Squadron, (1905-1918)
Commanding, 2nd Cruiser Squadron, (1905-1919)
Commanding, 3rd Cruiser Squadron, (1902-1916)
Commanding, 4th Cruiser Squadron, (1905-1918)
Commanding, 5th Cruiser Squadron, (1907-1915)
Commanding, 6th Cruiser Squadron, (1909-1915)
Commanding, 7th Cruiser Squadron, (1914-1916)
Commanding, 9th Cruiser Squadron, (1914-1919)
Commanding, 10th Cruiser Squadron, (1914-1917)
Commanding, 11th Cruiser Squadron, (1914-1915)
Commanding, 12th Cruiser Squadron, (1914-1915)
Deputy Admiral Commanding Reserves, (1942-1946)
Rear-Admiral, 3rd and 4th Divisions, Home Fleet, (1909-1912)
Rear-Admiral, Second in Command, 1st Battle Squadron, (1912-1945)
Rear-Admiral, Second in Command, 2nd Battle Squadron, (1912-1944)
Rear-Admiral, Second in Command, 3rd Battle Squadron, (1913-1945)
Rear-Admiral, Second in Command, 4th Battle Squadron, (1912-1924)
Rear-Admiral, Second in Command, 5th Battle Squadron, (1914-1919)
Rear-Admiral, Second in Command, 6th Battle Squadron, (1914-1915)
Rear-Admiral, Second in Command, 7th Battle Squadron
Rear-Admiral, Second in Command, 8th Battle Squadron
Rear-Admiral, Second in Command, 9th Battle Squadron, (1914)
Flag Officer Reserves - FOR
Flag Officer Scotland & Northern Ireland - FOSNI
Flag Officer Sea Training - FOST
Flag Officer Training and Recruitment - FOTR
Rear Admiral Submarines - RADMSS
Included:
Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers – with variously up to 6–8 carriers in the 1950s/60s, was responsible for providing worked up carriers to the operational commands. Amalgamated with Flag Officer Amphibious Ships to become FOCAS towards the end of the 1960s, after the cancellation of CVA-01. H. R. B. Janvrin, DSC, ADC, was promoted to Rear Admiral and succeeded Rear Admiral D. C. E. F. Gibson, DSC, as FOAC.
Flag Officer, Air, Far East – existing until 1945–47. In late 1946, HMS Theseus sailed out from the UK to Singapore as the flagship of Flag Officer Air, Far East. After her arrival, she became flagship of the 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron.
Flag Officer, Air, Home – Flew flag from RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) in 1930s, post extant until 1963. Responsible for shore-based air command working up squadrons to operational effectiveness, and after an Operational Readiness Inspection, delivering them to the Fleet. RA Sir Cloudesley Robinson KCB (1 Jan 1945 – June 1945), VA Sir Dennis Boyd KCB CBE DSC (1 June 1945 – April 1946). Admiral Walter Couchman 1957–60.
Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet, (1947-1958) – Admiral Ralph Edwards in the late 1940s. Vice Admiral William Davis, 1952–54.
Flag Officer, Air, Pacific Fleet, (1942-1948)
Flag Officer Admiralty Interview Board – FOAIB
Flag Officer Attached Middle East – FOAM – Rear Admiral H T Baillie-Grohman, 1941
Flag Officer Force A
Flag Officer Force B
Flag Officer Force C
Flag Officer Commanding HM's Australian Fleet – FOCAF – 1911–88
Flag Officer, Commanding, Royal Indian Navy, (1928-1950)
Flag Officer Carriers and Amphibious Ships – FOCAS, succeeded by Flag Officer Third Flotilla
Flag Officer Force D
Flag Officer Dover
Flag Officer Force E
Flag Officer Force F
Flag Officer First Flotilla – FOF1 – Cold War – (1971-1990). Rear Admiral David Halifax 1980–82. Rear Admiral Sandy Woodward, FOF 1, commanded the Carrier Group (CTG 317.8) of the Falklands War task force.
Flag Officer Flotillas, Home Fleet – deployed on the Spring cruise, 1955, under Rear Admiral J.W. Cuthbert. Vice Admiral Richard Onslow in 1955-56. Flew flag in HMS Tyne, July 1960–March 1961
Flag Officer Flotillas, Mediterranean Fleet – May 1952 Vice-Admiral F R Parham.
Flag Officer Flotillas, Western Fleet 1967-71
Flag Officer Force G
Flag Officer Gibraltar – FOGIB
Flag Officer Ground Training
Flag Officer Force H
Flag Officer Force I
Flag Officer Force J
Flag Officer Force K
Flag Officer Force L
Flag Officer Force M
Flag Officer Malaya (also Flag Officer, Malaya and Forward Areas, just after the end of the Second World War) Post known as Flag Officer, Malayan Area, by 1956 when occupied by Rear Admiral George Thring.
Flag Officer Maritime Aviation/AOC No. 3 Group RAF, 2000–2003
Flag Officer Malta – FO Malta. 1968
Flag Officer Medway – FO Medway
Flag Officer Middle East – Rear Admiral Patrick Brock 1954–56, responsible for Ismailia and Cyprus. Brock was appointed Flag Officer, Middle East in April 1954, initially with his HQ at Fayid, in the Suez Canal Zone. However, after Britain agreed to remove its forces from the Canal Zone, his HQ moved to Episcopi, in southern Cyprus, in December 1954. Hauled down flag March 1956. Rear Admiral Peter Howes 1964–66. Directed the Beira Patrol. 1968 withdrew from HMS Sheba in Aden.
Flag Officer Force N
Flag Officer Naval Air Command – FONAC (superseded by FONA) Created 30 September 1963 as renaming of Flag Officer Air, Home, which was at the time a Vice-Admiral's command.
Flag Officer Naval Aviation– FONA Fleet Air Arm (superseded by Rear Admiral, Fleet Air Arm, who is not a Flag Officer)
Flag Officer Naval Flying Training – FONFT. Created 30 September 1963 as renaming of Flag Officer Flying Training.
Flag Officer Commanding North Atlantic, at Gibraltar (northern Portugal – northern Morocco – Atlantic Mid-range) Admiral Dudley North commanded the station during the Attack on Mers-el-Kébir, the destruction of the French fleet in 1940.
Flag Officer Plymouth
Flag Officer Portsmouth – FOP, 1975-1993
Flag Officer, Portsmouth Area, 1969-1975
Flag Officer Force Q
Flag Officer Force R
Flag Officer Rosyth – FOR
Flag Officer Royal Yachts – FORY
Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland - FOSNNI
Flag Officer Second Flotilla – FOF2 (1971-1992) Admiral William Staveley had this command in the 1970s.
Flag Officer Second in Command Far East Fleet – FO2FEF, to 1971
Flag Officer Second-in-Command Mediterranean – F.O.2 i/c MED. In 1951 Rear Admiral G. Grantham, CB, CBE, DSO. Responsible for Mediterranean Fleet aircraft carriers, and, under Captain, Air, Mediterranean, the naval air stations in Malta. Vice-Admiral R A B Edwards (Flag Officer, Second-in-Command Mediterranean), May 1952.
Flag Officer Spithead and Admiral Superintendent, Portsmouth, 1969-1971
Flag Officer Spithead and Port Admiral, Portsmouth, 1971-1975
Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM). Succeeded by Rear-Admiral, Submarines.
Flag Officer Surface Flotilla – FOSF – 1992–2000s
Flag Officer Third Flotilla – FOF3 Cold War – (1979-1992) Vice Admiral Derek Reffell in 1982. Vice Admiral Richard Fitch was Flag Officer, Third Flotilla and Commander, Anti-Submarine Group Two (NATO SACLANT Striking Fleet Atlantic) 1983-85; Vice Admiral Julian Oswald held this position from 1987.
Flag Officer, Training Squadron.
Vice-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers/Rear Admiral, Aircraft Carriers. Pre World War II. Became Flag Officer Mediterranean Aircraft Carriers.
Flag Officer Force X
Flag Officer Force Y
Flag Officer Force Z
Commodores flying Broad Pennants in command appointments
Included:
Current Commodore, Commands
Commander Amphibious Task Group - COMUKATG
Commander, British Forces, Gibraltar
Commander Carrier Strike Group -COMUKCSG
Commander Maritime Reserves - COMMARRES
Commodore, Assistant Chief of Staff(Aviation), The Fleet
Commodore, Chief of the Defence Staff’s Liaison Officer to the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
Commodore, Head Defence Maritime Regulator, Defence Safety Agency
Commodore, Head of Futures and Strategy, Development, Doctrine and Concepts Centre
Commodore, Head of Information Warfare and Chief Information Officer
Commodore, Operational Training
Commodore of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary - Cdre RFA
Commodore, Fleet Air Arm (uncertain whether flies a Broad Pennant)
Commodore, Northern England and Isle of Man (uncertain whether flies a Broad Pennant)
Included:
Commander UK Maritime Component - COMUKMARCOMP
Commodore (Amphibious Warfare) - COMAW or COM(AW) or Cdre (AW)
Commodore-in-Charge, Naval Air Stations, Eastern Stations
Commodore-in-Charge, Hamburg
Commodore in Charge, Hong Kong
Commodore-in-Charge, Naval Air Stations, Ceylon
Commodore, Naval Air Stations, East Africa
Commodore, Naval Air Stations, North
Commodore, Naval Aviation
Commodore Commanding New Zealand Squadron, March 1921 - October 1940. HQ Auckland, commanding naval forces in New Zealand. Commodore's appointment abolished and forces brought directly under CNS from October 1940. The operational authority was the Commodore, Auckland, from 1961 which changed to the Maritime Commander in March 1993. Alternately rendered as Commodore Commanding, New Zealand Station, HQ Auckland, (1919–1941).
Commodore of Convoys
Commodore Royal Naval Reserve - Cdre RNR
Commodore Royal Yachts
Senior Naval Officer West Indies - SNOWI
Commodore Air Train, British Pacific Fleet (COMAT/BPF) - 1945
Commodore Fleet Train, British Pacific Fleet (COFT/BPF) - 1945
Commodore in Charge, HM Australian Naval Establishments, Sydney
Commodore Superintendent, Taranto RN Base (1945)
The Royal Marines are part of the Naval Service
Commandant General Royal Marines (and Commander UK Amphibious Forces) - CGRM
Commander 3 Commando Brigade
Major General Royal Marines Commando Forces - MGRM Cdo Forces
Major General Royal Marines Training - MGRM Trng
