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Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships

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Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships
Ensign of the Royal Navy
Admiralty, Ministry of Defence
Reports toCommander-in-Chief Fleet
NominatorSecretary of State for Defence
AppointerPrime Minister
Subject to formal approval by the Queen-in-Council
Term lengthNot fixed (typically 1–4 years)
Inaugural holderRear-Admiral Reginald G. H. Henderson
Formation1970-1979

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.

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.

Rear-Admirals/Vice-Admirals Aircraft Carriers

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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]

Flag Officer, Mediterranean Aircraft Carriers

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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.

Admirals Commanding, Home Fleet Aircraft Carriers

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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.

Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers

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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.

Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships

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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

Notes

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  1. ^ Brown, David K. (2006). Nelson to Vanguard : warship development, 1923-1945 (Paperback ed.). London: Chatham. p. 201. ISBN 9781591146025.
  2. ^ Tailyour 1990, p. 113.
  3. ^ a b Beaver 1987, p. 38.
  4. ^ Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, p.84. February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  5. ^ a b Polmar 2006, p. 540.
  6. ^ a b Royal Navy Officers 1939-1945: L
  7. ^ a b Mackie.pp.84.
  8. ^ "The Fighting Services". Aeroplane and Commercial Aviation News. 99: 636. 11 November 1960.
  9. ^ Appendix K to
  10. ^ Henn, F., 2004. A Business of Some Heat: The United Nations Force in Cyprus Before and During the 1974 Turkish Invasion. Casemate Publishers, 2004.

References

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