Chief of Staff Fleet

Office of the Chief of Staff, Fleet

Ensign of the Royal Navy

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 1–3 years)
Inaugural holder| Vice-Admiral, John Ernle Pope
Formation| 1971-2012

The  Chief of Staff, Fleet  (COSFLEET) also formally known as Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet was a senior British Royal Navy appointment. The office holder was the Commander-in-Chief, Fleet's principal staff officer responsible for coordinating the supporting staff of Fleet Headquarters, Northwood, from November 1971 to February 2012.

## History

[edit]

Between 1954 and 1971 Royal Navy senior commands were either abolished or merged into fewer but larger commands.[1] In November 1971, the Western Fleet was merged with the Far East Fleet to form a single seagoing command, commonly known as Fleet Command or the FLEET. The Chief of Staff Fleet was the principal staff officer of the Commander-in-Chief, Fleet's who was responsible for coordinating the supporting senior staff of Fleet Headquarters until April 2012 when the post was abolished.

From February 1990 until April 2012 the office holder simultaneously held the joint title of Deputy Commander in Chief, the Fleet.[2][3]

## Chiefs of Staff, Fleet

[edit]

Post holders included:[4]

| Rank | Flag | Name | Term

|
|
|
|

Chief of Staff, Fleet
1 | Vice-Admiral |  | John Ernle Pope | November 1971- May 1974
2 | Rear-Admiral |  | John O Roberts | May 1974-April 1976
3 | Vice-Admiral |  | Peter E.C. Berger | April 1976-October 1978
4 | Vice-Admiral |  | William D.M. Staveley | October 1978-June 1980
5 | Vice-Admiral |  | Sir David J. Hallifax | June 1980-May 1982
6 | Vice-Admiral |  | Sir Edward R. Anson | May 1982-June 1984
7 | Vice-Admiral |  | Sir John M. Webster | June 1984-November 1986
8 | Rear-Admiral |  | Robin I.T. Hogg | November 1986-December 1987
9 | Rear-Admiral |  | Peter G.V. Dingemans | December 1987-February 1990
10 | Vice-Admiral |  | Sir Roy Newman | Feb 1990–June 1992
11 | Rear-Admiral |  | Sir Geoffrey Biggs | June 1992–June 1994
12 | Vice-Admiral |  | Sir Jonathan Tod | June 1994–June 1997
13 | Vice-Admiral |  | Sir Jeremy Blackham | June 1997–Jan 1999
14 | Vice-Admiral |  | Sir Fabian Malbon | Jan 1999–May 2001
15 | Vice-Admiral |  | Sir Jonathon Band | May 2001–July 2002
16 | Vice-Admiral |  | Sir Mark Stanhope | July 2002–June 2004
17 | Vice-Admiral |  | Sir Timothy McClement | June 2004–Oct 2006
18 | Vice-Admiral |  | Paul Boissier | Oct 2006–July 2009
19 | Vice-Admiral |  | Sir Richard Ibbotson | July 2009–Jan 2011
20 | Vice-Admiral |  | Sir George Zambellas | Jan 2011–Dec 2011
21 | Vice-Admiral |  | Philip Jones | Dec 2011–April 2012

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Smith, Gordon. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013: Summary of Fleet Organisation 1972-1981". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
2. ^ The Civil Service Yearbook 1998 p.164.
3. ^ The Civil Service Yearbook 2002 p.170.
4. ^ Mackie, Colin (August 2018). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin. C. Mackie. Retrieved 28 August 2018.

* v
* t
* e

Navy Department (Ministry of Defence)

political head
ministers|

* Office of the Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy (1964-1967)
* Office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (1967-1981)
* Deputy Under-Secretary of State (Navy) (1967-1981)
* Office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (1981-1990)
* Office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (1991-1997)

governance|

* Defence Council
* Defence Board
* Admiralty Board
* Navy Board

military head|

* First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff

office of the
first sea lord|

* Office of the Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff
* Office of the Deputy-Chief of the Naval Staff
* Office of the Naval Secretary-flag officer appointments -
* Naval Assistant to Naval Secretary-captains appointments
* Director of Naval Officer Appointments
* Director of Naval Officer Appointments (Engineer Officers)
* Director of Naval Officer Appointments (Seaman Officers)
* Director of Naval Officer Appointments (Supply and Secretariat and WRNS Officers)
* Director of Naval Security (1988-)
* Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord
* Secretary to the First Sea Lord

under
Vice & Deputy Chief of Naval Staff|

* Offices of the Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff
* Commandant General Royal Marines
* Chief of Staff
* Colonel General Staff (Assistant Chief of Staff)
* Military Secretary (Royal Marines)
* Assistant Adjutant-General (Royal Marines)
* Assistant Quartermaster- General (Royal Marines)
* Director Royal Marines Reserves
* Directorate of Naval Security
* Director of Naval Security
* Hydrographer of the Navy
* Assistant Hydrographer Officers appointments
* Director of Naval Oceanography and Meteorology
* Director of Hydrographic Plans and Surveys
* Director of Hydrographic Charting and Sciences
* Director of Hydrographic Administration and Supply

Air, Operations, Plans, Policy
requirements, warfare|

* Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy)
* Assistant of Chief Defence Staff (Pol) Naval Staff
* Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff
* Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations)
* Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations and Air)
* Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Ops) Naval Staff
* Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operational Requirements)
* Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Warfare)

naval staff
directorates
offices & branches|

* Directorate of Communications & Information Systems (Navy)
* Directorate of Defence Plans (Navy)
* Directorate of Defence Policy(Naval)
* Directorate of Fleet Management Services
* Directorate of Naval Air Warfare Operation
* Directorate of Naval Management and Organisation
* Directorate of Operational Analysis (RN)
* Directorate of Naval Operations and Trade
* Directorate of Naval Operational Requirements
* Directorate of Naval Plans
* Directorate of Naval Tactical and Weapons Policy
* Directorate of Naval Security
* Directorate of Naval Signals
* Directorate of Naval Staff Duties
* Directorate of Navigation and Tactical Control (Naval)
* Directorate of Surface Warfare (Naval)
* Directorate of Under-Sea Warfare (Naval)
* Hydrographic Department
* Naval Historical Branch
* Naval Historical Library
* Naval Staff Directorate
* Plans and Resources Division

naval personnel|

* Office of the Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel

naval personnel
department|

* Office of the Chief Naval Supply and Secretariat Officer
* Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet-became
* Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service
* Principal Chaplain Church of Scotland & Free Churches (Naval)
* Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain (Naval)
* Directorate General Training
* Directorate-General Naval Manpower and Training
* Director of Naval Manpower Planning
* Director of Naval Manpower Requirements
* Director of Naval Manning and Training (Seaman)
* Director of Naval Manning and Training (Engineering)
* Director of Naval Manning and Training (Supply and Secretariat)
* Director of Naval Training Support
* Naval Manpower Statistics Branch
* Director of Naval Foreign and Commonwealth Training
* Director of Naval Education Service
* Joint Warfare Establishment
* Directorate-General Naval Personnel Services
* Directorate of Naval Officer Appointments
* Directorate of Naval Physical Training and Sports
* Head of Naval Social Service
* Directorate of Naval Service Conditions
* Director of Naval Service Conditions
* Directorate of Fleet Supply Duties (1964-1973)
* General Manager Royal Navy Film Corporation
* Job Evaluation Judge
* Naval Recruitment Training Agency
* Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves
* Office of the Medical Director-General of the Navy
* Office of the Medical Director-General (Naval)
* Deputy Director-General (Naval)
* Director Naval Dental Services
* Director of Medical Personnel and Logistics
* Director of Naval Recruiting
* Women's Royal Naval Service Headquarters became-
* Office of the Matron-in-Chief Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service

controller|

* Controller of the Navy

controllers department
navy controllerate|

* Assistant Controller of the Navy
* Office of the Chief Executive Polaris
* Deputy Controller Polaris
* Department of the Director of Naval Construction
* Weapons Department (Naval)
* Director-General Weapons (Naval)
* Director Weapons Coordination and Acceptance (Naval)
* Co-Ordination Directorate
* Compass Directorate
* Director Naval Ordnance Services
* Director Naval Weapons Contracts B
* Director Underwater Weapons Projects (Naval)
* Director Weapons Surface Projects (Naval)
* Director Surface Electronic Projects (Naval)
* Department of the Director-General Aircraft (Naval)
* Naval Ordnance Inspection Directorate
* Production Directorate
* Director Weapons Production (Naval)
* Surface Weapons Research and Development Directorate
* Under Water Weapons Research and Development Directorate
* Weapons Equipment Surface Directorate
* Ship Department
* Deputy Director-General Ships\-
* Director of Contracts (Ships)
* Director Engineering (Ships)
* Director of Electrical Engineering
* Director of Naval Construction
* Director of Naval Equipment
* Director of Project Team Submarines/Polaris
* Director of Resources and Programmes (Ships)
* Director Warship Design
* Directorate of Naval Construction
* Marine Engineering Directorate
* Naval Equipment Division
* Naval Equipment Directorate
* Naval Electrical Engineering Directorate
* Naval Ship Production Directorate
* Principal Director of Navy Contracts

naval supplies and transport
fleet support hq
naval support command|

* Office of the Chief of Naval Supplies and Transport
* Office of the Chief of Fleet Support

under
naval supplies and transport
fleet support hq
naval support command|

* Assistant Chief of Fleet Support
* Director of Naval Administrative Planning
* Director of Fleet Supply Duties
* Director of Fleet Maintenance
* Director of Marine Services
* Head of Aircraft Department (Naval)
* HQ Director of Quartering (Navy)
* Civil Catering Department
* Contract and Purchase Department (Naval)
* Department of Fuel Movements and Transport (Naval)
* Department of Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance
* Dockyard Division
* Fleet Maintenance Division
* Marine Services Division
* Office of the Chief Executive Royal Dockyards\-
* Director of Dockyard Manpower and Productivity
* Director of Dockyard Production and Support
* Director of Finance and Administration
* Directorate-General of Supplies and Transport
* Director of Supplies and Transport (Management and Administration)
* Director of Supplies and Transport (General and Victualling)
* Victualling Division
* Director of Supplies and Transport (Fuel and Movements)
* Director of Supplies and Transport (Armament and Specialist)
* Director of Supplies and Transport (Finance)
* Naval Stores Department
* Royal Naval Supply and Transport Service
* Victualling Department (1832-1971)

chief scientists
department|

* Office of the Chief Scientist (Royal Navy) also Deputy Controller Research and Development Establishments, and Research A
* Director Research Ships
* Director Research Underwater

under
chief scientists department|

* Royal Naval Scientific Service Headquarters
* Deputy Chief Scientist (Navy)
* Directorate Naval Operational Studies
* Director of Naval Operational Studies
* Office of the Senior Psychologist (Naval)
* Admiralty Compass Observatory
* Department of Naval Physical Research
* Department of Research and Development Services (Naval)
* Department of Material Research (Naval)
* Director-General Establishments, Resources and Programmes A
* Admiralty Engineering Laboratory
* Admiralty Experiment Works
* Admiralty Marine Engineering Establishment
* Admiralty Oil Laboratory
* Admiralty Research Laboratory
* Admiralty Research Establishment
* Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment
* Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment
* Naval Construction Research Establishment
* Royal Naval Physiological Laboratory
* Royal Radar Establishment
* Signals Research and Development Establishment
* Director-General Research Electronics
* Services Electronics Research Laboratory

naval home command|

* Naval Home Command

Shore units
under Naval Home Command|

* Admiral-Superintendent, Devonport
* Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth
* Admiral Commanding, Reserves
* Commodore, Clyde Submarine Base
* Chief Executive Officer Marine Services
* Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Yachts
* Flag Officer, Medway
* Flag Officer, Plymouth
* Port Admiral, Devonport
* Flag Officer, Portsmouth and Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth
* Flag Officer Spithead and Port Admiral Portsmouth
* Flag Officer, Training and Recruitment
* Senior Naval Officer, Northern Ireland

Fleets|

* Home Fleet
* Far East Fleet
* Mediterranean Fleet
* Western Fleet
* Commander-in-Chief Fleet

under
c-in-c, fleet|

* Chief of Staff Fleet
* Chief of Staff, (Warfare) Fleet
* Chief of Staff (Capability) Fleet
* Chief of Staff (Personnel) Fleet
* Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations
* Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans
* Assistant Chief of Staff, Warfare
* Command Secretary, Fleet
* Commandant General Royal Marines
* Commander British Forces Gibraltar
* Commander Operations
* Commander UK Amphibious Forces
* Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces
* Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships
* Flag Officer First Flotilla
* Flag Officer, Second Flotilla
* Flag Officer, Third Flotilla
* Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla
* Flag Officer Gibraltar and Gibraltar Naval Base Commander
* Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland
* Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland
* Flag Officer Plymouth
* Flag Officer Sea Training
* Flag Officer Submarines
* Flag Officer Naval Air Command
* Flag Officer, Flying Training
* Flag Officer, Naval Flying Training

under
c-in-c home fleet, far east fleet
mediterranean fleet, western fleet|

* Flag Officer Second-in-Command Far East Fleet
* Chief of Staff, Far East Fleet
* Commodore, Amphibious Forces, Far East Fleet
* Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong
* Mediterranean Fleet
* Chief of Staff Mediterranean Fleet
* Flag Officer, Gibraltar
* Commodore (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers
* Rear-Admiral (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers
* Vice-Admiral (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers
* Western Fleet
* Chief of Staff, Western Fleet

civil administration
navy department|

* Office of the Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Royal Navy)
* Office of the Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Administration)

under
civil administration|

* Department of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Royal Navy)
* Department of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Administration)
* Greenwich Hospital Department

Naval Legal|

* Office of the Counsel to the Navy Department, Ministry of Defence
* Office of the Judge Advocate of the Fleet
* Office of the Chief Naval Judge Advocate

* v
* t
* e

His Majesty's Naval Service

Leadership|

* Secretary of State for Defence
* Minister of State for the Armed Forces
* First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff
* Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
* Fleet Commander
* Commander, Allied Maritime Command
* Commandant General Royal Marines
* Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces
* Warrant Officer to the Royal Navy
* Corps Regimental Sergeant Major

Components|

| Royal Navy|

* Surface fleet
* Fleet Air Arm
* Submarine Service
* Royal Navy Medical Service
* Nursing Service (QARNNS)
* Chaplaincy Service
* Navy Police
* Naval Careers Service

|

Royal Marines|

* UK Commando Force
* Royal Marines Band Service
* Royal Marines Reserve
* Royal Marines Police

Royal Naval Reserve|

* HMS Calliope
* HMS Cambria
* HMS Ceres
* HMS Dalriada
* HMS Eaglet
* HMS Ferret
* HMS Flying Fox
* HMS Forward
* HMS Hibernia
* HMS King Alfred
* HMS President
* HMS Scotia
* HMS Sherwood
* HMS Vivid
* HMS Wildfire

Special forces|

* Special Boat Service

History
and future|

* Admiralty in the 16th century
* Admiralty in the 17th century
* Admiralty in the 18th century
* Customs and traditions
* Historic forces and commands
* Future of the Royal Navy
* History of the Royal Navy (before 1707) (after 1707)
* History of the Royal Marines
* National Maritime Museum
* National Museum of the Royal Navy
* Naval Historical Branch

Operating forces|

* Fleet Commander
* Commander United Kingdom Strike Force
* Commander Operations
* Surface Flotilla
* Submarine Flotilla
* UK Commando Force

Fleet|

* List of active Royal Navy ships
* Royal Fleet Auxiliary
* Standing Royal Navy deployments
* List of fleets and major commands of the Royal Navy

Ships|

* Aircraft carriers
* Escort carriers
* Seaplane carriers
* Amphibious warfare ships
* Battlecruisers
* Battleships
* Pre-dreadnought battleships
* Bomb vessels
* Corvette and sloop
* Cruisers
* Destroyers
* Fireships
* Frigates
* Gun-brigs
* Gunboat and gunvessels
* Hospital ships
* Ironclads
* Mine countermeasure vessels
* Monitors
* Ironclads
* Patrol vessels
* Royal yachts
* Ships of the line
* Submarines
* Support ships
* Survey vessels
* Royal Marines Boats
* Historic ships names

Administration|

* Defence Council
* Admiralty Board
* Navy Board
* Navy Command

Senior officers|

* Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers)
* Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Capability)
* Director People & Training
* Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy)
* Director Naval Support
* Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training
* Chaplain of the Fleet
* Director General Ships
* Commandant General Royal Marines
* Commander Operations
* Commander United Kingdom Strike Force
* Commander Littoral Strike Group
* Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group
* Commodore, Naval Staff
* Commodore RFA and Deputy Director Royal Navy Afloat Support
* Commander Maritime Reserves
* Naval Secretary
* Rear-Admiral, Fleet Air Arm
* Commodore Submarine Flotilla
* Commodore Surface Flotilla
* Serving senior officers
* Serving senior Royal Marines officers

Personnel
and training|

* Admiralty Interview Board
* Britannia Royal Naval College
* Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
* Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
* HMS Raleigh
* HMS Sultan
* Royal Corps of Naval Constructors
* University Royal Naval Unit

Equipment|

* Uniforms of the Royal Navy
* Uniforms of the Royal Marines
* Officer rank insignia
* Ratings rank insignia
* Cutlasses

Former
leadership|

* First Lord of the Admiralty
* Chief of the Admiralty War Staff
* Admirals of the Fleet
* Commander-in-Chief Fleet
* Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command
* Deputy First Sea Lord
* Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
* Third Sea Lord
* Fourth Sea Lord
* Fifth Sea Lord
* Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
* Judge Advocate of the Fleet

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