Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships
| Office of the 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 | 1931-1979 |
Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships (FOCAS) was a senior Royal Navy post and military command that existed from 1931 to 1979.
History
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, Carriers.[1] He was succeeded by Rear-Admiral the Hon. Sir Alexander R. M. Ramsay later Vice-Admiral, Carriers. The post was held by successive flag officers under the titles as stated. In June 1968 the post Rear-Admiral, Carriers was renamed to Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships, (FOCAS) which continued till December 1979 when the office was renamed Flag Officer, Third Flotilla [2] this command however was broadened to include units other than aircraft carriers and amphibious ships.
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
Duties
At various times included:[4]
- Ensuring the operational effectiveness of Carrier Task Groups.
- Responsible for the Fleet Air Arm afloat
Rear-Admirals/Vice-Admirals Aircraft Carriers
Post holders included:[5]
| 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 | office renamed FO/MAC 09.1040[6] |
| In September 1940 the post was renamed Flag Officer, Mediterranean Aircraft Carriers.[7] | |||||
Flag Officer, Mediterranean Aircraft Carriers
| 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[8] |
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | |
Denis Boyd | February 1941 to January 1942 | |
| 2 | Vice-Admiral | |
Clement Moody | January 1942 to December 1943 | (VAdm by 06/1936) |
| Post is re-established within the Home Fleet July 1942 till December 1943. | |||||
Rear-Admiral/Vice-Admiral Commanding, Home Fleet, Aircraft Carriers
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-Admiral/Vice-Admiral (Commanding, Home Fleet, Aircraft Carriers | |||||
| 7 | Vice-Admiral | |
Lumley Lyster | July 1942 - 21 May 1943 | office re-instated Vadm (A), HF |
| 8 | Rear-Admiral | |
Reginald G. H. Henderson | 21 May 1943 – 1 December 1943 | |
| Post is abolished in 1943 re-emerges later as Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers | |||||
Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers
Included:[9]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers | |||||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | |
Walter T. Couchman | December 1953-December 1954 | (as First Flag Officer Carriers) [10] |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
Note: The office holder was also known as Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers in July 1970 the post is renamed Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships
Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships
Included:[11]
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
See also
References
Footnotes
- ^ Brown, David K. (2006). Nelson to Vanguard : warship development, 1923-1945 (Paperback ed.). London: Chatham. p. 201. ISBN 9781591146025.
- ^ Tailyour, Ewen Southby (1990). Reasons in Writing A Commandos View of the Falklands War. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. p. 113. ISBN 9781844150144.
- ^ Beaver, Paul (1987). Encyclopaedia of the Fleet Air Arm since 1945. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: P. Stephens. p. 38. ISBN 9780850597608.
- ^ Beaver.p38.
- ^ Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, p.84. February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ Polmar, Norman (2006). Aircraft Carriers: A History of Carrier Aviation and Its Influence on World Events, Volume I: 1909-1945. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA: Potomac Books, Inc. p. 540. ISBN 9781574886634.
- ^ Polmar.p.540.
- ^ Polmar, Norman (2006). Aircraft Carriers: A History of Carrier Aviation and Its Influence on World Events, Volume I: 1909-1945. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA: Potomac Books, Inc. p. 540. ISBN 9781574886634.
- ^ Mackie.pp.84.
- ^ "The Fighting Services". Aeroplane and Commercial Aviation News. 99: 636. 11 November 1960.
- ^ Mackie.pp.84.
Sources
- Beaver, Paul (1987). Encyclopaedia of the Fleet Air Arm since 1945. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: P. Stephens. ISBN 9780850597608.
- Brown, David K. (2006). Nelson to Vanguard : warship development, 1923-1945 (Paperback ed. ed.). London: Chatham. ISBN 9781591146025.
- Drucker, G. (2005). "Fleet Air Arm Service Records: Flag Officer Index". Fleet Air Arm Archive.
- Mackie, Colin. (2018) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Scotland, UK.
- Tailyour, Ewen Southby (1990). Reasons in Writing A Commandos View of the Falklands War. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. ISBN 9781844150144.
- The Fighting Services". (1960). Aeroplane and Commercial Aviation News. Volume 99.
