User:St BC/Navy Command (United Kingdom)

Navy Command
Active	2008 - present
Country	United Kingdom
Allegiance	Queen Elizabeth II
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Fleet Command
Part of	Naval Service
Garrison/HQ	HQ HMS Excellent
Commanders
Current commander	Admiral Sir Trevor Soar
Ceremonial chief	Queen Elizabeth II

Navy Command is a military formation and only active command in the modern Royal Navy. It was known as Fleet Command between 2005 and 2008. Prior to this the responsibilities of the command had been undertaken by different commands.

The entire active Royal Navy is controlled by Navy Command which overseas all aspects of maritime activities including operations, administration, personnel and logistics. The Royal Navys surface fleet and submarine service, the Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Marines and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary all come under this command.

History

The Royal Navy was historically divided into a number of fleets and ashore commands, prominent examples being the Home Fleet and Portsmouth Command. By the 1960s this system had begun to change and the previous, globally dispersed, fleet system was replaced at first by a Western Fleet and Eastern Fleet and finally by a single Fleet Command, now known as Navy Command. At the same time, the commands established to manage individuals naval bases were replaced by the Naval Home Command. As overseas bases were also being reduced, the Navys shore estaslihments became concreated in the UK, under Naval Home Command.

In the early 2000s the staffs of Fleet Command and Naval Home Command merged to create the single Navy Command, making the Royal Navy the first amongst the three British Armed Forces to merge its operational command with that of personnel and training.

Role

Unlike many other military commands, Navy Command does not simply conduct operations; it is responsible for the bulk of the naval service and every matter relating to it.

Command Structure

CINCFLEET

CINCFLEET Admiral Sir Trevor Soar (right)

Navy Command is overseen by the Commander-in-Chief Fleet, a 4-Star Admiral who is dual hatted as Commander of the Navy Allied Maritime Component Command Northwood, a NATO command. The Commander-in-Chief Fleet is, as of early 2011, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar. CINCFLEET reports directly to the First Sea Lord, the head of the Royal Navy and the only other 4-star admiral in the Royal Navy.

Navy Command Headquarters

Structure of Navy Command

Navy Command Headquarters is the organisation responsible for overseeing Navy Command and is based in its own purpose built HQ at HMS Excellent as well as at Northwood Command Centre and HMNB Portsmouth.

The Purpose built Headquarters at Whale Island was opened in 2002 was named after Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Leach, the First Sea Lord during the Falklands War.

The purpose of the NCHQ, as the higher echelon of Navy Command, is the carry out three main tasks: Force Generation, Planning for the future and Advice, Assurance and Accountability.

Fleet Battle Staff

Structure of the Fleet Battle Staff

The Fleet Battle Staff is the UK's globally oriented operational planning group and consists of shore based officers and sea going commanders.

Force Structure

Whilst all maritime forces are formally assigned to CINCFLEET/Navy Command, a number of units fall under the operational control of over formations such as PJHQ and Joint Helicopter Command. A number units are also assigned to international operations and thus do not fall under the auspices of Navy Command. The following is a list of units nominally controlled by Navy Command which may change at any time:

Fleet Battle Staff units:

• United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group *
• United Kingdom Amphibious Task Group
• United Kingdom Task Group

Other units:

• 1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron
• 2nd Mine Countermeasures Squadron
• Fishery Protection Squadron

(Note: With the withdrawal of HMS Ark Royal and the Harrier GR.7/9, this command fell into abeyance)