Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf

The Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf, was a Royal Navy command appointment who was responsible for administering the Persian Gulf Station military formation including its establishments and naval forces known as the Persian Gulf Squadron later called the Persian Gulf Division. Initially located at Basidu, Qishm Island, in Persia (c. 1823–1850–1935), then Henjam Island in Persia (1911–1935), and finally Ras Al-Jufair, Bahrain (1935–1972).

The Persian Gulf Station encompassed the Persian Gulf and Straits of Hormuz.

History British naval presence in the Persian Gulf began in the early nineteenth century with temporary naval forces assembled for specific operations until the establishment of a more constant naval force presence called the Persian Gulf Squadron later the Persian Gulf Division. The Senior Naval Office Persian Gulf gradually became an important position throughout the twentieth century by supporting Britain's strategic interests in the region, he reported to the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station. The Persian Gulf was one of the areas of naval operations during First World War in which it assumed a level of importance during the Mesopotamian campaign, its operations consisted of patrolling, keeping the peace and ensuring the continued supply of oil from the region. In May 1942 it then became part of the Eastern Fleet command until May 1944 when it became part of the East Indies Fleet command until July 1945 when it was abolished. The station was re-established in April 1949 reporting to the C-in-C, East Indies Station until 1958. In 1959 the station was merged with the Red Sea Station under the new appointment of Commodore, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf. In 1962 the station was re-established under the Flag Officer, Middle East, until it was abolished in 1972.

In 2003 the Royal Navy reestablished a post in the Persian Gulf, with a new title, the UK Maritime Component Command. On 1 November 2015, it was announced that HMS Jufair would be re-established as a permanent Royal Navy base. On 5 April 2018, the UK Naval Support Facility was officially opened.

Headquarters The British established a Persian Gulf Squadron in the mid-nineteenth century to support the Political Resident Persian Gulf (PRPG), who was responsible for all of Britains relationships in the region. The SNOPG was originally headquartered at Basidu on-board his ship from 1823 onward. A permanent depot and headquarters was first established at Basidu, Qishm Island, in Persia, around 1850. In 1911 his headquarters moved to Henjam Island in the Straits of Hormuz until 12 April 1935. On 13 April 1935 a naval base and shore establishment called was established at Ras Al-Jufair, Bahrain, which served as headquarters for the SNO Persian Gulf until 1972.

SNOPG, Ships From 1885 to 1946 the SNO Persian Gulf was usually aboard an operational ship beginning with , (1885–1890). Followed by from 1909 to 21 April 1933 and by from 21 April 1933 to 1946.

Four Loch-class frigates were stationed in the Persian Gulf circa 1957: HMS Loch Fada, HMS Loch Fyne, HMS Loch Killisport and HMS Loch Ruthven.Roberts, Safeguarding the Nation, 2009.

Senior Naval Officers, Persian Gulf Incomplete list of post holders included:

Rank Insig/Flag Name Term Notes/Ref Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf 1 Captain Francis Erskine Loch 16 October 1818 - September 1837 SNO Persian Gulf 2 Commodore George PepperOctober -1837 - 1 April 1838(SNO Persian Gulf)3 Commander John Croft Hawkins 1 April - 12 June 1838 SNO Persian Gulf 4 Commodore Captain Brucks12 June 1838-?Acting-SO Persian Gulf 5 Commodore George RobinsonJune 1852(as Commander, Persian Gulf Squadron)6 Commander C. M. Cruttenden 1855 - 12 January 1861 SNO Persian Gulf 7 Commander H.W. Dowding October, 1885 SNO Persian Gulf Division 8 Captain J. H. Pelly14 August 1895 - May 1896 SNO Persian Gulf 9 Captain Thomas W. Kemp1901 – 25 November 1904 Commander and SNO Persian Gulf 10 Commodore Drury St. A. Wake18 October 1915 – November, 1918(as Commodore, Persian Gulf) 11 Commodore David T. Norris December 1918-February 1920 (as Commodore, Persian Gulf) 12 Captain George Parker Bevan November, 1919 – 14 January 192013 CaptainJohn L. Pearson 6 February 1920 – February, 1922 later V.Adm 14 Captain Alexander R. PalmerFebruary 1922-March 1924 later V.Adm 15 Captain Ernest W. LeirMarch 1924-February 1926 later R.Adm 16 Captain Reginald St. P. Parry February 1926-January 1928 17 Captain Hector Boyes January 1928-May 1930 18 Captain Lewis G. E. CrabbeMay 1930-March 1933 later V.Adm 19 Captain James V. Creagh March 1933-March 1935 later R.Adm 20 Captain Vernon S. Butler March 1935-March 1937 later R.Adm.21 Captain George H. Faulkner 20 February 1937 – 17 April 193822 Commodore Allan Poland March 1937-April 1939 as Captain then later Cmdre.23 Commodore Cosmo M. Graham April 1939-February 1942 From May 1942 the station is reporting to the C-in-C, Eastern, Fleet until May 194424 Rear-Admiral Charles Hamill 2 February 1942-January 1944 From May 1944 the station is reporting to the C-in-C, East Indies, Fleet until July 1945 when its abolished25 Commodore John M. Howson January–September 1944 26 Commodore Ivan W. WhitehornSeptember 1944 - July, 1945 The station is re-established in April 1949 reporting to the C-in-C, East Indies Station until 195927 Captain Peter Skelton April 1949-August 1950 28 Captain Arthur H. Wallis August 1950-April 1952 29 Captain Hugh G. Waters April 1952-October 1953 30 Captain Alan S. Webb October 1953-October 1954 31 Captain Vere A. Wight-BoycottOctober 1954-April 1956 32 Captain Stephen H. Beattie 17 April 1956-April 1958 33 Captain George F.M. BestApril 1958 – 1959 Promoted to Cmdre. as Flag Officer, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf In 1959 this appointment was merged with that of the Red Sea to form the Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf Station. In 1962 the station re-established under the Flag Officer, Middle East until it was abolished in 1972.34 Rear-Admiral Fitzroy TalbotAugust 1960 - August 1962 Title changed to Flag Officer Middle East by May 1, 1962, the date his HQ moved from Bahrain to Aden.35 Commodore Michael D. Kyrle-Pope April 1962-April 1964 reporting to the Flag Officer, Middle East.36Commodore Edmund S. Carver April 1964-October 1966 reporting to the FOME. 37 Commodore Thomas E. Fanshawe October 1966-December 1968 reporting to the FOME.38 Commodore Kenneth Lee-White, MBEDecember 1968-September 1970 reporting to the FOME39 Commodore Sir Peter Anson September 1970 – 1972 Commander Naval Forces Gulf

Naval formations and units that served in this command Included:

Naval Units Based at Date NotesPersian Gulf Division Manama, Bahrain 1914 - 1958 2 cruisers, 1 minelayer cruiser, 1 scout cruiser 10 destroyersPersian Gulf Division Manama, Bahrain 1936 - 1939 Escort sloops – , (17 Nov 1936) 21st Destroyer Flotilla Shatt al-Arab, Basra 1939- 1942 Minesweeping Group 156 Shatt al-Arab, Basra 19423 ships Minesweeping Group 157 Shatt al-Arab, Basra 119423 ships 9th Mine-Countermeasures Squadron Manama, Bahrain 1950-197118 ships Sloops Basra/ 1922 - 1939 13 ships

References

Sources Bankoff, Greg; Christensen, Joseph (2016). Natural Hazards and Peoples in the Indian Ocean World: Bordering on Danger. Berlin, Germany: Springer. . Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2017) "Persian Gulf – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Kindell, Don. (2012) "North Atlantic Command, Force H, South Atlantic Command, America & West Indies Command, Eastern Fleet, January 1942". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Macris, Jeffrey R. (2010). The Politics and Security of the Gulf: Anglo-American Hegemony and the Shaping of a Region. Cambridge, England: Routledge. . Naval Review. (1959) "OP SHIPS" Volume 47: 105. Onley, James. "Britain's Native Agents in Arabia and Persia in the Nineteenth Century1" (PDF). socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk. University of Exeter, England. Pollock, Arthur William Alsager (1861). "List of the Indian Navy in Commission". The United Service Magazine. London. H. Colburn. Residency, Persian Gulf Political; Agency, Muscat Political; (Kuwait), British Political Agency; Agency, Qatar Political; Agency, Trucial States Political; Agency, Bahrain Political; Residency, Bushire Political (1990). Political Diaries of the Persian Gulf: 1935–35. London, England: Archive Editions. . The Navy List. (1915) "Flag Officers in Commission". London England: HM Stationery Office. The Navy List. (1944) "Flag Officers in Commission". London, England: H. M. Stationery Office.

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