Flag Officer First Flotilla
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 | |