The Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla was a senior British Royal Navy appointment from 1990 to 2002.
When the post of Commander-in-Chief Fleet was created in 1971, three major subordinate appointments were also created: First Flotilla, Second Flotilla and Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships, each held by a rear-admiral. In 1990 the First Flotilla was re-designated Surface Flotilla. In April 1992, the system was changed when the Third Flotilla was abolished and the remaining two flotilla commanders became: Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla – responsible for operational readiness and training – and Flag Officer, UK Task Group – who would command any deployed task group.
Exercise Teamwork was a major NATO biennial exercise in defense of Norway against a Soviet land and maritime threat. Teamwork '92 was the largest NATO exercise for more than a decade. Held in the northern spring of 1992, it included a total of over 200 ships and 300 aircraft, held in the North Atlantic. Vice Admiral Nicholas Hill-Norton, Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla, led the RN contingent as Commander, Anti-Submarine Warfare Striking Force (CASWF), with Commodore Amphibious Warfare (COMAW) embarked in .
Subordinate squadrons Unit Date Notes 3rd Destroyer Squadron 1990–2002 Smith.2015. 5th Destroyer Squadron 1990–2002 1st Frigate Squadron 1990–2002 3rd Frigate Squadron1990–2002 4th Frigate Squadron1990–2002 5th Frigate Squadron1990–2002 6th Frigate Squadron 1990–2002 7th Frigate Squadron 1990–2002 8th Frigate Squadron1990–2002
Flag Officer Surface Flotilla
Flag officers commanding
Included: Vice-Admiral A. Peter Woodhead: 1990 – September 1991 Rear-Admiral A. Bruce Richardson: September 1991 – April 1992 Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir Nicholas Hill-Norton: April–November 1992 Vice-Admiral Sir Michael C. Boyce: November 1992 – April 1995 Vice-Admiral Sir John Brigstocke: April 1995 – July 1997 Rear-Admiral Peter M. Franklyn: July 1997 – April 2000 Rear-Admiral Ian A. Forbes: April 2000 – November 2001 Rear-Admiral Alexander Backus: November 2001 – 2002
Notes
References
Mackie, Colin. (2018) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Scotland, UK. Roberts, John (2009). Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. . Smith, Gordon. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947–2013:FLEET ORGANISATION, 1981–2002". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.