Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet | |
---|---|
The battleships Bulwark, Renown and Ramillies at Malta in 1902 | |
Active | September 1654 – 5 June 1967 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Navy |
Type | Fleet |
Garrison/HQ | Malta |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Samuel Hood, Horatio Nelson, Andrew Cunningham |
The British Mediterranean Fleet, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was a formation of the Royal Navy.[1] The Fleet was one of the most prestigious commands in the navy for the majority of its history, defending the vital sea link between the United Kingdom and the majority of the British Empire in the Eastern Hemisphere. The first Commander-in-Chief for the Mediterranean Fleet was the appointment of General at Sea Robert Blake in September 1654 (styled as Commander of the Mediterranean Fleet).[2] The Fleet was in existence until 1967.
Pre-Second World War
The Royal Navy gained a foothold in the Mediterranean Sea when Gibraltar was captured by the British in 1704 during the War of Spanish Succession, and formally allocated to Britain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.[3] Though the British had maintained a naval presence in the Mediterranean before, the capture of Gibraltar allowed the British to establish their first naval base there. The British also used Port Mahon, on the island of Menorca, as a naval base. However, British control there was only temporary; Menorca changed hands numerous times, and was permanently ceded to Spain in 1802 under the Treaty of Amiens.[4] In 1800, the British took Malta, which was to be handed over to the Knights of Malta under the Treaty of Amiens. When the Napoleonic Wars resumed in 1803, the British kept Malta for use as a naval base. Following Napoleon's defeat, the British continued their presence in Malta, and turned it into the main base for the Mediterranean Fleet. Between the 1860s and 1900s, the British undertook a number of projects to improve the harbours and dockyard facilities, and Malta's harbours were sufficient to allow the entire fleet to be safely moored there.[5][6]
In the last decade of the nineteenth century, the Mediterranean Fleet was the largest single squadron of the Royal Navy, with ten first-class battleships—double the number in the Channel Fleet—and a large number of smaller warships.[7]
On 22 June 1893, the bulk of the fleet, eight battleships and three large cruisers, were conducting their annual summer exercises off Tripoli, Lebanon, when the fleet's flagship, the battleship HMS Victoria, collided with the battleship HMS Camperdown. Victoria sank within fifteen minutes, taking 358 crew with her. Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon, commander of the Mediterranean Fleet, was among the dead.[8]
Of the three original Invincible-class battlecruisers which entered service in the first half of 1908, two (Inflexible and Indomitable) joined the Mediterranean Fleet in 1914. They and Indefatigable formed the nucleus of the fleet at the start of the First World War when British forces pursued the German ships Goeben and Breslau.[9]
A recently modernised Warspite became the flagship of the Commander-in-Chief and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet in 1926.[10]
Second World War
Malta, as part of the British Empire from 1814, was a shipping station and was the headquarters for the Mediterranean Fleet until the mid-1930s. Due to the perceived threat of air-attack from the Italian mainland, the fleet was moved to Alexandria, Egypt, shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War.[11]
Sir Andrew Cunningham took command of the fleet from Warspite on 3 September 1939, and under him the major formations of the Fleet were the 1st Battle Squadron (Warspite, Barham, and Malaya) 1st Cruiser Squadron (Devonshire, Shropshire, and Sussex), 3rd Cruiser Squadron (Arethusa, Penelope, Galatea), Rear Admiral John Tovey, with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Destroyer Flotillas, and the aircraft carrier Glorious.[12]
In 1940, the Mediterranean Fleet carried out a successful aircraft carrier attack on the Italian Fleet at Taranto by air. Other major actions included the Battle of Cape Matapan and the Battle of Crete. The Fleet had to block Italian and later German reinforcements and supplies for the North African Campaign.[13]
Post war
In October 1946, Saumarez hit a mine in the Corfu Channel, starting a series of events known as the Corfu Channel Incident. The channel was cleared in "Operation Recoil" the next month, involving 11 minesweepers under the guidance of Ocean, two cruisers, three destroyers, and three frigates.[14]: 154
In May 1948, Sir Arthur Power took over as Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean, and in his first act arranged a show of force to discourage the crossing of Jewish refugees into Palestine. When later that year Britain pulled out of the British Mandate of Palestine, Ocean, four destroyers, and two frigates escorted the departing High Commissioner, aboard the cruiser Euryalus. The force stayed to cover the evacuation of British troops into the Haifa enclave and south via Gaza.[15]
From 1952 to 1967, the post of Commander in Chief Mediterranean Fleet was given a dual-hatted role as NATO Commander in Chief of Allied Forces Mediterranean in charge of all forces assigned to NATO in the Mediterranean Area. The British made strong representations within NATO in discussions regarding the development of the Mediterranean NATO command structure, wishing to retain their direction of NATO naval command in the Mediterranean to protect their sea lines of communication running through the Mediterranean to the Middle East and Far East.[16] When a NATO naval commander, Admiral Robert B. Carney, C-in-C Allied Forces Southern Europe, was appointed, relations with the incumbent British C-in-C, Admiral Sir John Edelsten, were frosty. Edlesten, on making an apparently friendly offer of the use of communications facilities to Carney, who initially lacked secure communications facilities, was met with "I'm not about to play Faust to your Mephistopheles through the medium of communications!"[16]: 261
In 1956, ships of the fleet, together with the French Navy, took part in the Suez War against Egypt.[17]
From 1957 to 1959, Rear Admiral Charles Madden held the post of Flag Officer, Malta, with responsibilities for three squadrons of minesweepers, an amphibious warfare squadron, and a flotilla of submarines stationed at the bases around Valletta Harbour. In this capacity, he had to employ considerable diplomatic skill to maintain good relations with Dom Mintoff, the nationalistic prime minister of Malta.[18]
In the 1960s, as the importance of maintaining the link between the United Kingdom and British territories and commitments East of Suez decreased as the Empire was dismantled, and the focus of Cold War naval responsibilities moved to the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean Fleet was gradually drawn down, finally disbanding in June 1967. Eric Grove, in Vanguard to Trident, details how by the mid-1960s the permanent strength of the Fleet was "reduced to a single small escort squadron [appears to have been 30th Escort Squadron with HMS Brighton, HMS Cassandra, HMS Aisne plus another ship] and a coastal minesweeper squadron."[14]: 297 Deployments to the Beira Patrol and elsewhere reduced the escort total in 1966 from four to two ships, and then to no frigates at all. The Fleet's assets and area of responsibility were absorbed into the new Western Fleet. As a result of this change, the UK relinquished the NATO post of Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Mediterranean, which was abolished.[19]
Principal officers
Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Sea
Note: This list is incomplete. The majority of officers listed were appointed as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Sea sometimes Commander-in-Chief, at the Mediterranean Sea earlier officers appointed to command either fleets/squadrons stationed in the Mediterranean for particular operations were styled differently see notes next to their listing
Commander-in-chief | From | To | Flagship | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
General at Sea Robert Blake[20][21] | September 1654 | August 1657 | Swiftsure Naseby George | Styled as Commander of the Fleet for the Mediterranean and Commander of the Mediterranean Fleet. Died on board George. |
Admiral Sir Thomas Allin[22] | August 1668 | September 1670 | Monmouth Resolution | |
Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Spragge | September 1670 | March 1672 | Revenge Rupert | |
Admiral Sir John Narborough | October 1674 | April 1679 | Henrietta Plymouth | |
Admiral Arthur Herbert | April 1679 | June 1683 | Rupert Bristol Tiger | |
Admiral Lord Dartmouth | August 1683 | February 1684 | Captain | |
Captain Cloudesley Shovell | February 1684 | 1686 | James Galley | |
Vice-Admiral Henry Killigrew | July 1686 | June 1690 | Dragon | |
Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Wheler | November 1693 | February 1694 | Sussex | Killed in a shipwreck in Gibraltar Bay |
Admiral of the Fleet Edward Russell | June 1694 | August 1695 | ||
Admiral Sir George Rooke[23] | August 1695 | April 1696 | Queen | |
Vice-Admiral John Nevell[24][25] | October 1696 | August 1697 | Cambridge | Died on board Cambridge. |
Vice-Admiral Matthew Aylmer | September 1698 | November 1699 | Boyne | |
Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell | March 1703 | September 1703 | Triumph | |
Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Rooke | February 1704 | September 1704 | Royal Katharine | |
Vice-Admiral Sir John Leake | September 1704 | May 1705 | Prince George | |
Admiral Lord Peterborough | May 1705 | March 1707 | Joint admiral with Sir Cloudesley Shovell. | |
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Cloudesley Shovell[26][27] | May 1705 | October 1707 | Joint admiral with Lord Peterborough. Killed in the Scilly naval disaster of 1707. | |
Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Dilkes | October 1707 | December 1707 | Died of a chill at Leghorn. | |
Admiral Sir John Leake[28][29] | January 1708 | September 1708 | Albemarle | |
Admiral George Byng[30] | December 1708 | Autumn 1709 | Styled as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Squadron. | |
Admiral Sir John Norris[24][31] | December 1709 | November 1710 | ||
Admiral Sir John Jennings[24][32] | November 1710 | December 1713 | Blenheim | |
Admiral Sir James Wishart[24][33] | December 1713 | 1715 | Rippon | |
Vice-Admiral John Baker[24][34] | May 1715 | October 1716 | Lion | |
Vice-Admiral Charles Cornwall[24][35] | October 1716 | March 1718 | ||
Admiral of the Fleet George Byng[36] | March 1718 | October 1720 | Barfleur | Styled as Commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet. |
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Wager | January 1727 | April 1728 | ||
Admiral Sir Charles Wager | August 1731 | December 1731 | Namur | |
Commodore George Clinton[24][37] | 1736 | 1738 | ||
Vice-Admiral Nicholas Haddock[24][38] | May 1738 | February 1742 | ||
Rear-Admiral Richard Lestock[24][39] | February 1742 | March 1742 | Neptune | |
Admiral Thomas Mathews[24][39] | March 1742 | June 1744 | ||
Vice-Admiral William Rowley[24][40] | August 1744 | July 1745 | Neptune | |
Vice-Admiral Henry Medley[24][41] | July 1745 | August 1747 | Russell | Died of fever at Vado. |
Vice-Admiral John Byng[42] | August 1747 | August 1748 | Princess | |
Rear-Admiral John Forbes[43] | August 1748 | October 1748 | As Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean. | |
Commodore Augustus Keppel | March 1749 | July 1751 | Centurion | |
Commodore George Edgcumbe | 1751 | April 1756 | Monmouth Deptford | |
Admiral John Byng | April 1756 | July 1756 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hawke | July 1756 | January 1757 | Ramillies | |
Rear-Admiral Charles Saunders[44] | January 1757 | May 1757 |
Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
The first Commander-in-Chief for the Mediterranean Fleet may have been named as early as 1665.[45] Commanders-in-chief have included:[46][47]
Commander-in-chief | From | To | Flagship | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
Admiral Henry Osborn[48] | May 1757 | March 1758 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Saunders | April 1760 | April 1763 | ||
Commodore Richard Spry | May 1766 | November 1769 | ||
Rear-Admiral Richard Howe[49] | November 1770 | June 1774 | ||
Vice-Admiral Robert Man[50] | June 1774 | September 1777 | ||
Vice-Admiral Robert Duff[50] | September 1777 | January 1780 | Panther | |
Commodore John Elliot | January 1780 | February 1780 | Edgar | |
No fleet present[50] | February 1780 | December 1783 | ||
Commodore Sir John Lindsay | December 1783 | July 1785 | Trusty | |
Commodore Phillips Cosby | July 1785 | January 1789 | Trusty | |
Rear-Admiral Joseph Peyton | 1789 | 1792 | ||
Rear-Admiral Samuel Granston Goodall | 1792 | 1793 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood | February 1793 | October 1794 | ||
Vice-Admiral Lord Hotham | October 1794 | November 1795 | ||
Vice-Admiral Lord Jervis | 1796 | 1799 | ||
Vice-Admiral Lord Keith | November 1799 | 1802 | ||
Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton | 1802 | 1803 | ||
Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson[46][51] | May 1803 | October 1805 | Victory | Killed at Battle of Trafalgar |
Vice-Admiral Lord Collingwood | 1805 | 1810 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Cotton[52] | 1810 | 1811 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew | 1811 | 1814 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Penrose | 1814 | 1815 | ||
Vice-Admiral Lord Exmouth | 1815 | 1816 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Penrose | 1816 | 1818 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Fremantle[53] | 1818 | 1820 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Graham Moore | 1820 | 1823 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Harry Burrard-Neale | 1823 | 1826 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Codrington | 1826 | 1828 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm | 1828 | 1831 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Hotham[46][51] | 30 March 1831 | 19 April 1833 | Died 19 April 1833 | |
Vice-Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm | 3 May 1833 | 18 December 1833 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Josias Rowley | 18 December 1833 | 9 February 1837 | ||
Admiral Sir Robert Stopford | 9 February 1837 | 14 October 1841 | ||
Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Mason | 31 October 1841 | April 1842 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Owen | April 1842 | 27 February 1845 | ||
Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker | 27 February 1845 | 13 July 1846 | Parker was briefly First Naval Lord in July 1846 but requested permission to return to the Mediterranean on ground of his health.[54] | |
Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker | 24 July 1846 | 17 January 1852 | ||
Rear-Admiral Sir James Dundas | 17 January 1852 | 1854 | Vice-Adm. 17 December 1852 | |
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons | 1854 | 22 February 1858 | Vice-Adm. 19 March 1857 | |
Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Fanshawe | 22 February 1858 | 19 April 1860 | Marlborough [55] | |
Vice-Admiral Sir William Martin | 19 April 1860 | 20 April 1863 | Marlborough [56] | |
Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Smart | 20 April 1863 | 28 April 1866 | Marlborough[57] then Victoria [58] | |
Vice-Admiral Lord Clarence Paget | 28 April 1866 | 28 April 1869 | Victoria then Caledonia[59] | |
Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Milne | 28 April 1869 | 25 October 1870 | Lord Warden [60] | Adm. 1 April 1870 |
Vice-Admiral Sir Hastings Yelverton | 25 October 1870 | 13 January 1874 | Lord Warden [61] | |
Vice-Admiral Sir James Drummond | 13 January 1874 | 15 January 1877 | Lord Warden then Hercules [62] | |
Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Hornby | 5 January 1877 | 5 February 1880 | Alexandra [63] | Adm. 15 June 1879 |
Vice-Admiral Sir Beauchamp Seymour | 5 February 1880 | 7 February 1883 | Inconstant and Alexandra[64] | Adm. 6 May 1882 |
Vice-Admiral Lord John Hay | 7 February 1883 | 5 February 1886 | Alexandra[65] | Adm. 8 July 1884 |
Vice-Admiral H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh | 5 February 1886 | 11 March 1889 | Alexandra[66]: 222 | Adm. 18 October 1887 |
Vice-Admiral Sir Anthony Hoskins | 11 March 1889 | 20 August 1891 | Alexandra Mar 89 – Dec 89 Camperdown Dec 89 – May 90 Victoria May 90 onwards[66]: 222, 320, 336 | Adm. 20 June 1891 |
Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon | 20 August 1891 | 22 June 1893 | Victoria[67] | Died in commission; lost in Victoria |
Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour | 29 June 1893 | 10 November 1896 | Ramillies[66]: 362 | |
Admiral Sir John Hopkins | 10 November 1896 | 1 July 1899 | Ramillies[68] | |
Admiral Sir John Fisher | 1 July 1899 | 4 June 1902[69] | Renown | |
Admiral Sir Compton Domvile[70] | 4 June 1902 | June 1905 | Bulwark[68] | |
Admiral Lord Charles Beresford[71][72][73] | appointed 1 May 1905 assumed command 6 June 1905 | February 1907 | Bulwark | |
Admiral Sir Charles Drury[74] | appointed 5 March 1907 assumed command 27 March 1907 | 1908 | Queen | |
Admiral Sir Assheton Curzon-Howe[75][76] | appointed 20 November 1908 assumed command 20 November 1908 | 1910 | Exmouth | |
Admiral Sir Edmund Poë[76][77] | appointed 30 April 1910 assumed command 30 April 1910 | November 1912 | Exmouth[68] | |
Admiral Sir Berkley Milne[78][79]: 287, 289, 422 [80] | appointed 1 June 1912 assumed command 12 June 1912 | 27 August 1914 | Inflexible | |
During World War I plans were put in place to separate the Mediterranean into specific areas of responsibility. The British were charged with responsibility for Gibraltar, Malta, Egyptian coast, and Aegean in August 1917 Vice Admiral Somerset Gough-Calthorpe became CinC, MF commanding all British forces in the Mediterranean. Overall allied command would remain under the control of the Allied Commander in Chief, who was the head of the French Navy. Vice-Admiral Somerset Gough-Calthorpe was also responsible for coordinating other allied forces in Mediterranean. British forces were divided into a number of sub-commands namely Gibraltar, Malta, the British Adriatic Squadron, the British Aegean Squadron, the Egypt Division and Red Sea and the Black Sea and Marmora Force.[81] Post titles have been put in bold in the notes column. | ||||
Admiral Sir Somerset Gough-Calthorpe[79]: 323 [82]: 80 [83][84] | 26 August 1917 | 25 July 1919 | Superb | Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean |
Vice Admiral Sir John de Robeck[82]: 85 & 94 [85] | 26 July 1919 | 14 May 1922 | Iron Duke | |
Vice Admiral Sir Osmond Brock[82]: 92 [86] | 15 May 1922 | 7 June 1925 | Iron Duke | Admiral 31 July 1924 |
Admiral Sir Roger Keyes[87] | 8 June 1925 | 7 June 1928 | Warspite | |
Admiral Sir Frederick Field | 8 June 1928 | 28 May 1930 | Queen Elizabeth[82]: 121 | |
Admiral Sir Ernle Chatfield[88] | 27 May 1930 | 31 October 1932 | Queen Elizabeth[82] | |
Admiral Sir William Fisher[89][82][90][91] | 31 October 1932 | 19 March 1936 | Resolution later Queen Elizabeth[82]: 121 & 123 | |
Admiral Sir Dudley Pound[82]: 140 [90][92] | 20 March 1936 | 31 May 1939 | Queen Elizabeth[68] | |
During World War II, the Fleet was split in two for a period. Post titles in the notes column. | ||||
Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham[92][93][94] | 1 June 1939 6 June 1939 assumed command | March 1942 | Warspite August 1939 HMS St Angelo (base, Malta) April 1940 Warspite February 1941 | Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet. Vice-Admiral Cunningham was given acting rank of Admiral on 1 June 1940, and promoted to Admiral on 3 January 1941. |
Admiral Sir Henry Harwood[94] | 22 April 1942 | February 1943 | Warspite HMS Nile (base, Alexandria) Aug 1942 | Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet. Vice-Admiral Harwood was given acting rank of Admiral. |
Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham[92][93][94] | 1 November 1942 | 20 February 1943 | HMS Hannibal (base, Algiers) | Naval Commander Expeditionary Force (NCXF) North Africa and Mediterranean |
In February 1943 the Fleet was divided into a command of ships and a command of ports & naval bases: Mediterranean Fleet: Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Fleet, 15th Cruiser Squadron, Cdre. (D) Levant: Commander-in-Chief, Levant, Alexandria, Malta, Port Said, Haifa, Bizerta, Tripoli, Mersa Matruh, Benghazi, Aden, Bone, Bougie, Philippeville C-in-C Levant was renamed C-in-C Levant and Eastern Mediterranean in late December 1943.[95] In January 1944 the two separate commands were re-unified with the Flag Officer, Levant and East Mediterranean (FOLEM) reporting to the C-in-C Mediterranean.[96] | ||||
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham[92][93][94] | 20 February 1943 | 15 October 1943 | HMS Hannibal (base, Algiers/Taranto) | Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet. |
Admiral Sir John Cunningham[93][94] | 15 October 1943 | February 1946 | HMS Hannibal (base, Algiers/Taranto) | Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Station & Allied Naval Commander Mediterranean |
Admiral Sir Algernon Willis[97] | 1946 | 1948 | HMS St Angelo (base, Malta)[68] | |
Admiral Sir Arthur Power | 1948 | 1950 | HMS St Angelo (base, Malta)[68] | Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean |
Admiral Sir John Edelsten | 1950 | 1952 | HMS St Angelo (base, Malta)[68] | Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean |
Admiral Earl Mountbatten of Burma | 1952 | 1954 | HMS St Angelo (base, Malta)[68] | Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean |
Admiral Sir Guy Grantham[98] | 10 Dec 1954 | 10 Apr 57 | HMS St Angelo (base, Malta)[68] | |
Vice Admiral Sir Ralph Edwards | 10 Apr 57 | 11 Nov 58 | HMS St Angelo (base, Malta)[68] | |
Admiral Sir Charles Lambe | 11 Nov 58 | 2 Feb 59 | HMS Phoenicia (base, Malta)[68] | |
Admiral Sir Alexander Bingley | 2 Feb 59 | 30 Jun 61 | HMS Phoenicia (base, Malta)[68] | |
Admiral Sir Deric Holland-Martin | 30 Jun 61 | 1 Feb 64 | HMS Phoenicia (base, Malta)[68] | |
Admiral Sir John Hamilton[14]: 297 | 1 Feb 1964 | 5 June 1967 | HMS St Angelo (base, Malta)[68] |
Chief of Staff
The Chief of Staff was the principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief.
Name | Date/s | Notes/Ref |
---|---|---|
Chief of Staff Mediterranean Fleet | 1893 to 1967 | [a][94] |
Additional Chief of Staff, Mediterranean Fleet | 1943 to 1944 | [b][94] |
Fleet Headquarters
The Mediterranean Fleets shore headquarters was initially based at Port Mahon Dockyard, Minorca for most of the eighteenth century. It rotated between Gibraltar and Malta from 1791 to 1812. From 1813 to July 1939 it was permanently at Malta Dockyard. In August 1939 the C-in-C Mediterranean Fleet moved his HQ afloat on board HMS Warspite until April 1940. He was then back onshore at Malta until February 1941. He transferred it again to HMS Warspite until July 1942. In August 1942 headquarters were moved to Alexandria where they remained from June 1940 to February 1943. HQ was changed again but this time in rotation between Algiers and Taranto until June 1944.[94] It then moved back to Malta until it was abolished in 1967.
Senior Flag Officers with fleet responsibilities
In command unit or formation | Date/s | Notes/Ref |
---|---|---|
Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet | 1861–1939 | [99] |
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Light Forces and Second-in-Command Mediterranean Fleet | 1940–1942 | [94] |
Vice-Admiral (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers | 1922 to 1965 | [94] [c] |
Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet | 1947–1958 | [94] |
Flag Officer, Mediterranean Aircraft Carriers | 1940 to 1943 | [100] |
Rear-Admiral (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers | 1922 to 1965 | [94][d] |
Rear-Admiral, Mediterranean Fleet | 1903 to 1905 | [101] |
Commodore (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers | 1922 to 1965 | [94] [e] |
Subordinate formations
Note: At various times included the following.
Parts of the Admiral of Patrols' Auxiliary Patrol during World War One were within the Mediterranean. Several patrol zones were under British authority.
Major support sub-commands
Note: At various times included the following.
In command of unit or formation | Date/s | Notes and Ref |
---|---|---|
Principal Naval Transport Officer, Mudros | 31 August 1915 – 20 January 1916 | Commodore-in-Command[108] |
Principal Naval Transport Officer, Salonika | 20 January 1916 – June, 1916 | Commodore-in-Command[109] |
Minor shore sub-commands
Included:[l]
Location | In Command | Dates | Notes/Ref |
---|---|---|---|
Aden | Naval Officer-in-Charge, Aden | 1935 to 1938 | [94] |
Alexandria | Naval Officer-in-Charge, Cyprian Ports | 1941 to 1943 | [94] |
Bone | Naval Officer-in-Charge, Bone | January to February 1943 | [94] |
Bougie | Naval Officer-in-Charge, Bougie | January to February 1943 | [94] |
Brindisi | British Senior Naval Officer, Brindisi | 1916 to 1918 | [110] |
Genoa | Senior Naval Officer, Genoa | 1919 | |
Gibraltar | Senior Officer, Gibraltar | 1889 to 1902 | [111] |
Haifa | Naval Officer in Charge, Haifa | 1935 to 1939 | [94] |
Haifa | Naval Officer-in-Charge, Palestinian Ports | 1940 to 1943 | [94] |
Mersa Matruh | Naval Officer-in-Charge, Mersa Matruh | 1941 to 1943 | [94] |
Mudros | Captain of Base, Mudros | 1918 to 1920 | [112] |
Phillippeville | Naval Officer-in-Charge, Phillippeville | January to February 1943 | [94] |
Port Said | Naval Officer-in-Charge, Port Said | December, 1916 to February 1943 | [94] |
Salonika | Divisional Naval Transport Officer, Salonika | 26 January 1917 to 16 April 1919 | |
Taranto | Senior Naval Officer, Taranto | December, 1918 to March 1919 | [113] |
Trieste | Naval Transport Officer in Charge, Trieste | January 1916 to December 1918 | [114] |
Notes
- ^ The Chief of Staff was the principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief.
- ^ The Additional Chief of Staff was the staff officer responsible for providing administrative support to the principle staff officer (PSO).
- ^ Command of the Mediterranean Fleets destroyer flotillas rotated between flag officers different ranks such as Vice-Admiral (D)
- ^ Command of the Mediterranean Fleets destroyer flotillas rotated between flag officers different ranks such as Rear-Admiral (D)
- ^ Command of the Mediterranean Fleets destroyer flotillas rotated between flag officers different ranks such as Commodore (D)
- ^ Commodore, Algeria reported to the C-in-C, Med Fleet from December 1942 to February 1943 the officer then reports to C-in-C, Levant until December 1943
- ^ The Flag Officer, Gibraltar and North Atlantic was elevated to the rank of Admiral from November 1939 until 1943 and did not report to the C-in-C, Med Fleet during this period
- ^ The Senior Officer, Red Sea Force was established in 1939 who reported to the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station. On 21 October 1941 the title is changed to the Flag Officer Commanding, Red Sea and his command but now reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet until 17 May 1942. On 18 May 1942 the title is changed again to Flag Officer, Commanding Red Sea and Canal Area and his reporting line changed again to the Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet.
- ^ Rear-Admiral, Alexandria reported to the C-in-C, Med Fleet from November 1939 to February 1943 the officer then reports to C-in-C, Levant until December 1943
- ^ The British Adriatic Squadron was later renamed British Adriatic Force
- ^ Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Eastern Mediterranean Squadron reporting to VAdm, Commanding Eastern Mediterranean Squadron.
- ^ In February 1943 all existing shore based commands were transferred under the Commander-in-Chief, Levant until January 1944 they then came back under the control of the C-in-C Med Fleet.
References
- ^ "Admiralty and Ministry of Defence: Mediterranean Station: Correspondence and Papers". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. The National Archives, 1800–1964, ADM 121. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
- ^ Davies, J. D. (2008). "Strategy and Deployment". Pepys's Navy: Ships, Men and Warfare 1649–89. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. p. 236. ISBN 9781783830220.
- ^ "Gibraltar and other empire leftovers". BBC. 3 August 2004. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ "Minorca: Brief History". British Empire. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ "Indexes of men in the Mediterranean Fleet 1881". Malta Family History.
- ^ "Malta". Sea Your History.
- ^ "Commissioned ships of the Royal Navy". Sunlight Almanac. 1895.
- ^ "Terrible Naval Disaster". The Argus. Trove. 24 June 1893.
- ^ Roberts, John (1999). Battlecruisers. Annapolis, MD.: Naval Institute Press. p. 122. ISBN 1-55750-068-1.
- ^ Ballantyne, Iain (2013). Warspite, From Jutland Hero to Cold War Warrior. Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Maritime. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-84884-350-9.
- ^ "The Fleet at Alexandria". British Pathe. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ Niehorster, Leo. "Mediterranean Fleet, 3 September 1939". World War II Armed Forces.
- ^ "British Navy in the Mediterranean". Naval-History.net. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ a b c Grove, Eric J. (1987). Vanguard to Trident: British Naval Policy since World War II. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0870215520.
- ^ "Evacuation Of Troops From Haifa AKA Evacuation". British Pathe. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ a b Maloney, Sean (1991). To Secure Command of the Sea (Thesis). University of New Brunswick. pp. 258–261.
- ^ Coles, Michael H. (Autumn 2006). "Suez, 1956: A Successful Naval Operation Compromised by Inept Political Leadership". Naval War College Review. 59 (4). Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ van der Vat, Dan (4 May 2001). "Obituary: Admiral Sir Charles Madden". The Guardian.
- ^ "Royal Navy (Command System)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 5 June 1967. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ^ Davies, J. D. (2008). "Strategy and Deployment". Pepys's Navy: Ships, Men and Warfare 1649–89. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. p. 236. ISBN 9781783830220.
- ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Robert Blake (1598–1657)". threedecks.org. S. Harrison. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ Laughton, John Knox (1885). "Allin Thomas". Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 332–333. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Commander-in-Chief at The Mediterranean Sea". threedecks.org. S. Harrison. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Harrison
- ^ Laughton, John Knox (1894). "Nevell John". Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900. London: Smith, Elder & Co. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Sir Cloudisley Shovell (1650–1707)". threedecks.org. S. Harrison. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "The 1707 Isles of Scilly Disaster – Part 1". rmg.co.uk. Greenwich, London: Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ Laughton, John Knox (1892). "Leake John (1656–1720)". Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900. London: Smith, Elder & Co. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "Vice-Admiral Sir John Leake (1656–1720) – National Maritime Museum". collections.rmg.co.uk. London: Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ Owen, John Hely (2010). War at Sea Under Queen Anne 1702–1708. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. p. 100. ISBN 9781108013383.
- ^ Aldridge, David Denis (2009). Admiral Sir John Norris and the British Naval Expeditions to the Baltic Sea 1715–1727. Lund, Sweden: Nordic Academic Press. p. 74. ISBN 9789185509317.
- ^ Laughton, John Knox (1892). "Jennings John". Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900. London: Smith, Elder & Co. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "Sir James Wishart, c. 1659–1723 – National Maritime Museum". collections.rmg.co.uk. London: Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ British and Foreign State Papers. London: H.M. Stationery Office. 1841. p. 735.
- ^ Polsue, Joseph (1870). A Complete Parochial History of the County of Cornwall: Compiled from the Best Authorities & Corrected and Improved from Actual Survey; Illustrated. England: W. Lake. p. 165.
- ^ Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "George Byng (1663/64–1732/33)". threedecks.org. S. Harrison. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ Dietz, Theodore (2012). Dutch Esopus / Wiltwyck / Kingston Memories. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Dorrance Publishing. p. 54. ISBN 9781434915078.
- ^ Stewart, William (2014). Admirals of the World: A Biographical Dictionary, 1500 to the Present. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 152. ISBN 9780786482887.
- ^ Hawke, Baron Edward Hawke; Mackay, Ruddock F. (1990). The Hawke papers: a selection, 1743–1771. Riga, Latvia: Scolar Press for the Navy Records Society. p. 4. ISBN 9780859678308.
- ^ Richmond, Rear-Admiral H. W. (1930). "VI". the navy in the war of 1739–48. Cambridge, England: CUP Archive.
- ^ Stewart, William (2014). Admirals of the World: A Biographical Dictionary, 1500 to the Present. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 52. ISBN 9780786482887.
- ^ Laughton, John Knox (1889). "Forbes John (1714–1796)". Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ^ Clarke, (first name unknown) (1833). The Georgian Era: Military and naval commanders. Judges and barristers. Physicians and surgeons. London: Vizetelly, Branston and Company. p. 176.
- ^ "Other Data". Naval Biographical Database.
- ^ a b c Davis, Peter. "Principal Royal Navy Commanders-in-Chief 1830–1899". William Loney RN.
- ^ Whitaker's Almanacks 1900–1967
- ^ "Osborn, Henry". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/20878. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "Howe, Richard". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13963. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ a b c "Mediterranean Fleet". More than Nelson. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b Hotham family tree
- ^ "Cotton, Charles". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/6411. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "Fremantle, Thomas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/10159. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "Parker, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/21348. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Davis, Peter. "Biography of Arthur Fanshawe R.N." William Loney RN.
- ^ Davis, Peter. "Biography of William Fanshawe Martin R.N." William Loney RN.
- ^ Davis, Peter. "Mid-Victorian RN Vessel HMS Marlborough". William Loney RN.
- ^ Davis, Peter. "Biography of Robert Smart R. N." William Loney RN.
- ^ Davis, Peter. "Biography of Lord Clarence Edward Paget R. N." William Loney RN.
- ^ Davis, Peter. "Biography of Alexander Milne R. N." William Loney RN.
- ^ Davis, Peter. "Biography of Hastings Reginald Yelverton R. N." William Loney RN.
- ^ Davis, Peter. "Biography of James Robert Drummond R. N." William Loney RN.
- ^ Davis, Peter. "Biography of Geoffrey Thomas Phipps Hornby R. N." William Loney RN.
- ^ Davis, Peter. "Biography of Frederick Beachamp Paget Seymour R. N." William Loney RN.
- ^ Davis, Peter. "Biography of Lord John Hay R. N." William Loney RN.
- ^ a b c Parkes, Oscar (1990). British Battleships: "Warrior" to "Vanguard", 1860–1950. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-075-4.
- ^ Davis, Peter. "Biography of George Tryon R. N." William Loney RN.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Pack, S. W. C. (1971). Sea Power in the Mediterranean: A study from the struggle for sea power in the Mediterranean from the seventeenth century to the present day. London: Arthur Barker. p. 232. ISBN 0-213-00394-5.
- ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36781. London. 30 May 1902. p. 10.
- ^ Davis, Peter. "Biography of Compton Edward Domville [sic] R. N." William Loney RN.
- ^ Navy List July Dec 1906
- ^ Bennett, Geoffrey (1968). Charlie B, a Biography of Admiral Lord Beresford of Metemmeh and Curraghmore GCB GCVO LLD DCL. Peter Dawnay. pp. 267 & 282.
- ^ Beresford, Lord Charles (1914). The Memoirs of Admiral Lord Charles Beresford. Methuen. p. 508.
- ^ Navy List July 1908
- ^ Navy List Jan 1909
- ^ a b "The Papers of Reginald McKenna". Janus.
- ^ Navy List Jan 1911
- ^ Navy List Feb 1913
- ^ a b Miller, Geoffrey (1996). Superior Force: The conspiracy behind the escape of Goeben and Breslau. Hull. ISBN 0-85958-635-9.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Who's Who: Sir Berkeley Milne". First World War.com.
- ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914–1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 27 October 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h James, Admiral Sir William (1943). Admiral Sir William Fisher. Macmillan.
- ^ "Somerset Gough-Calthorpe career". Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904–1945. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
- ^ "RN World War I Flag Officers". gwpda.org.
- ^ "John de Robeck career". Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904–1945. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
- ^ "Osmond de Beauvoir Brock career". Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904–1945. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
- ^ "Roger Keyes career". Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904–1945. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
- ^ "Ernle Chatfield career". Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904–1945. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
- ^ "Papers of Admiral Fisher". Janus.
- ^ a b "Dudley Pound career history". Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904–1945. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
- ^ "Admiral Sir William Fisher career". Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904–1945. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
- ^ a b c d "Andrew Cunningham career". Royal Navy Flag Officers 1904–1945. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
- ^ a b c d "World War II RN Officers C". Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Houterman, Jerome N.; Koppes, Jeroen (2004–2006). "Royal Navy, Mediterranean Fleet 1939–1945". www.unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- ^ Stewart, Ninian (2013). The Royal Navy and the Palestine Patrol. Cambridge, England: Routledge. p. 27. ISBN 9781135283506.
- ^ "Papers of Admiral Sir Algernon U. Willis". Janus.
- ^ List from 1954 to 1964 from list at AFNORTH article
- ^ Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie, July 2018. p. 147. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Watson, Graham (19 September 2015). "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
- ^ Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie, July 2018. p. 148. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ Halpern, Paul G. (2004). The Battle of the Otranto Straits: Controlling the Gateway to the Adriatic in World War I. USA: Indiana University Press. p. 130. ISBN 025311019X.
- ^ "Flag Officers in Commission". The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. April 1920. p. 697.
- ^ "British Naval Forces – Hansard". hansard.parliament.uk. House of Commons, Hansard, UK. 23 July 1919. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Sondhaus, Lawrence (2014). The Great War at Sea: A Naval History of the First World War. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. p. 268. ISBN 9781107036901.
- ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (23 August 2018). "Suez – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (19 August 2018). "Mudros – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (19 August 2018). "Mudros – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
- ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (23 August 2018). "Mudros – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
- ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (19 July 2017). "Brindisi – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Gibraltar – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 26 November 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (19 August 2018). "Mudros – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (23 August 2018). "Taranto – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (21 August 2018). "Trieste – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
Further reading
- Corbett, Julian Stafford. England in the Mediterranean; a study of the rise and influence of British power within the Straits, 1603–1713 (1904) online
- D'Angelo, Michela. "In the 'English' Mediterranean (1511–1815)." Journal of Mediterranean Studies 12.2 (2002): 271–285.
- Dietz, Peter. The British in the Mediterranean (Potomac Books Inc, 1994).
- Haggie, Paul. "The royal navy and war planning in the Fisher era." Journal of Contemporary History 8.3 (1973): 113–131. online
- Halpern, Paul, ed. (2011). The Mediterranean Fleet, 1919–1929. Publications of the Navy Records Society. Vol. 158. Farnham, Surrey, UK: Ashgate for the Navy Records Society. ISBN 978-1-409427-56-8.
- Hattendorf, John B., ed. Naval Strategy and Power in the Mediterranean: Past, Present and Future (Routledge, 2013).
- Holland, Robert. Blue-water empire: the British in the Mediterranean since 1800 (Penguin UK, 2012). excerpt
- Holland, Robert. "Cyprus and Malta: two colonial experiences." Journal of Mediterranean Studies 23.1 (2014): 9–20.
- Pack, S.W.C Sea Power in the Mediterranean – has a complete list of fleet commanders
- Syrett, David. "A Study of Peacetime Operations: The Royal Navy in the Mediterranean, 1752–5." The Mariner's Mirror 90.1 (2004): 42–50.
- Williams, Kenneth. Britain And The Mediterranean (1940) online free
- v
- t
- e
of Admiralty and Naval affairs
the First Lord
- Board of Admiralty
- Navy Board
- Navy Office
- Navy Pay Office
- Office of the Naval Secretary
- Office of the First Naval Lord
- Office of the First Sea Lord
- Office of the Senior Naval Lord
- Office of the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty
- Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty
- Office of the Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty
Admirals
Naval/Sea Lords
War and Naval Staff
the First Sea Lord
strategy, tactical doctrine
requirements
under the War and
Naval Staff
- Administrative Planning Department
- Administrative Planning Division
- Air Division
- Anti-Submarine Division
- Anti-Submarine and Warfare Division
- Anti-U-boat Division
- Air Warfare Division
- Air Warfare and Fly Training Division
- Air Warfare and Training Division
- Combined Operations Division
- Communications Division
- Convoy Section
- Directorate of Defence Plans (Navy)
- Economic Warfare Division
- Gunnery and Anti-Aircraft Warfare Division
- Gunnery Division
- Gunnery and Torpedo Division
- Historical Section
- Local Defence Division Division
- Mercantile Movements Division
- Naval Air Division
- Naval Air Organisation and Training Division
- Naval Artillery and Torpedoes Division
- Navigation and Direction Division
- Navigation Division
- Minesweeping Division
- Mobilisation Division
- Naval Intelligence Division
- Operations Division
- Operations Division (Home)
- Operations Division (Foreign)
- Operations Division (Mining)
- Plans Division
- Plans Division (Q)
- Press Division
- Signal Division
- Signal Section
- Standardisation Division
- Tactical Division
- Tactical and Weapons Policy Division
- Torpedo Division
- Torpedo, Anti-Submarine and Minewarfare Division
- Trade Division
- Trade and Operations Division
- Training and Staff Duties Division
- Tactical and Staff Duties Division
- Undersurface Warfare Division
and organisations
under the Sea Lords
- Admiralty Area Cash Offices
- Admiralty Central Dockyard Laboratory
- Admiralty Central Metallurgical Laboratory
- Admiralty Civilian Shore Wireless Service
- Admiralty Compass Observatory
- Admiralty Constabulary
- Admiralty Constabulary Headquarters
- Admiralty Engineering Laboratory
- Admiralty Experimental Station
- Admiralty Experiment Works
- Admiralty Gunnery Establishment
- Admiralty Interview Board
- Admiralty Labour Department
- Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment
- Admiralty Materials Laboratory
- Admiralty Mine Design Department
- Admiralty Mining Establishment
- Admiralty Naval Aircraft Materials Laboratory
- Admiralty Record Office
- Admiralty Regional Offices
- Admiralty Research Laboratory
- Admiralty Signal Establishment
- Admiralty Signals and Radar Establishment
- Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment
- Admiralty Surveying Service
- Admiralty Torpedo Experimental Establishment
- Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment
- Admiralty Underwater Weapons Launching Establishment
- Architectural and Engineering Works Department
- Air Equipment and Naval Photography Department
- Air Department
- Air Materiel Department
- Air Personnel Department
- Amphibious Warfare Headquarters
- Armament Supply Department
- Board of Invention and Research
- Board of Longitude
- Boom Defence Department
- Boom Defence and Marine Salvage Department
- Britannia Royal Naval College
- Chemical Board
- Chemical Department
- Civil Catering Department
- Civil Engineer in Chiefs Department
- Coastguard and Reserves Branch
- Combined Operations Headquarters
- Commissioner for Property and Income-tax for the Naval Department
- Compass Department
- Contract and Purchase Department
- Council of Naval Education
- Dental Examining Board
- Department of Radio Equipment
- Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy
- Department of Aeronautical and Engineering Research
- Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development
- Department of Naval Assistant (Foreign) to Second Sea Lord
- Department of Naval Education
- Operational Research
- Department of Personal Services and Officer Appointments
- Department of Physical Research
- Department of Physical Training & Sports
- Department of Radio Equipment
- Department of Research Programmes and Planning
- Department of Superintendent of de-magnetisation
- Department of the Admiral of the Training Service
- Department of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance
- Department of the Chief of Naval Information
- Department of the Chief Scientist
- Department of the Civil Engineer-in-Chief
- Department of the Comptroller of Steam Machinery
- Department of the Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services
- Department of the Controller of the Navy
- Department of the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding
- Department of the Controller for Navy Pay
- Department of the Deputy Controller for Auxiliary Shipbuilding
- Department of the Deputy Controller for Dockyards and Shipbuilding
- Department of the Director Contract-Built Ships
- Department of the Director-General Aircraft
- Department of the Director-General of Manpower
- Department of the Director-General, Supply and Secretariat Branch
- Department of the Director of Aircraft Maintenance and Repair
- Department of the Director of Contract Labour
- Department of the Director of Dockyards
- Department of the Director of Electrical Engineering
- Department of the Director of Manning
- Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding
- Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs
- Department of the Director of Merchant Ship Repairs
- Department of the Director of Naval Construction
- Department of the Director of Naval Equipment
- Department of the Director of Naval Recruiting
- Department of the Director of Naval Weather Service
- Department of the Director of Personal Services
- Department of the Director of Physical Training and Sports
- Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining
- Department of the Director of Transports
- Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons
- Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Materials
- Department of the Director of Unexploded Bombs
- Department of the Director of Warship Production
- Department of the Director of Welfare and Service Conditions
- Department of the Director of Wreck Dispersal
- Department of the Flag Officer Sea Training
- Department of the Engineer in Chief
- Department of the Paymaster Director-General
- Department of the Inspector of Anti-Aircraft Weapons
- Department of the Inspector of Dockyard Expense Accounts
- Department of the Inspector-General of Naval Hospitals and Fleets
- Department of the Medical Director-General of the Navy
- Department of the Physician of the Navy
- Department of the Physician General of the Navy
- Department of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy
- Department of the Surveyor of Buildings
- Department of the Surveyor of Dockyards
- Directorate-General, (Naval Manpower and Training)
- Directorate General Training
- Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Department
- Dockyards Branch
- Dockyard Expense Accounts Department
- Dockyard Schools
- Electrical Engineering Department
- Engineer Branch
- Engineering Department
- Experimental Department
- Fire Control Group
- Greenwich Hospital Department
- Inspector of Telegraphs
- Inspector of Repairs
- Joint Warfare Establishment
- Medical Consultative Board
- Medical Examining Board
- Historical Section
- Hydrographic Department
- Marine Department
- Marine Pay Department
- Materials and Priority Department
- Medical Consultative Board
- Medical Department
- Medical Examining Board
- Movements Department
- Nautical Almanac Office
- Naval Artillery and Torpedo Department
- Naval Engineering College
- Naval Equipment Department
- Naval Historical Branch
- Naval Construction Department
- Naval Intelligence Department
- Naval Medical Service
- Naval Law Division
- Naval Manpower Department
- Naval Mobilisation Department
- Naval Ordnance Department
- Naval Ordnance Inspection Department
- Naval Ordnance Stores Department
- Naval Personnel Services and Officer Appointments Department
- Naval Publicity Department
- Naval Regional Offices
- Naval Reserve Department
- Naval Security Department
- Naval Stores Department
- Naval Training Department
- Naval Works Department
- Navy, Army and Air Force Institute
- Navy and Army Canteen Board
- Navy Works Department
- Navigation Department
- Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope
- Office of the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves
- Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves
- Office of the Admiralty Chemist
- Office of the Adviser on the Naval Construction to the Board of Admiralty
- Office of the Assistant Controller
- Office of the Assistant Controller Research and Development
- Office of the Clerk of the Journals
- Office of the Chief Polaris Executive
- Office of the Deputy Controller of Navy
- Office of the Deputy Controller Production
- Office of Extra Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord
- Office of the Inspector Gun Mountings
- Office of the Keeper of Records
- Office of the Senior Psychologist (Naval)
- Office of the Senior Psychologist of the Navy
- Office of the Translator of French and Spanish Languages
- Office of the Vice Controller Air
- Office of the Vice Controller of the Navy
- Organisation and Methods Department
- Packet Service
- Regional Organisation for Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs
- Royal Corps of Naval Constructors
- Royal Flying Corps
- Royal Marine Police
- Royal Marines Office
- Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet
- Royal Naval Academy
- Royal Naval Aircraft Workshops
- Royal Naval Air Service
- Royal Naval Air Stations
- Royal Naval Armaments Depot
- Royal Naval Auxiliary Service
- Royal Naval Cordite Factories
- Royal Naval Propellant Factory
- Royal Naval College
- Royal Naval College and the School for Naval Architecture
- Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
- Royal Naval College, Greenwich
- Royal Naval College, Keyham
- Royal Naval College, Osborne
- Royal Naval Engineering College
- Royal Naval Film Corporation
- Royal Naval Hospital
- Royal Naval Medical Depot
- Royal Naval Minewatching Service
- Royal Naval Mine Depot
- Royal Naval Patrol Service
- Royal Naval Scientific Service
- Royal Naval Sick Quarters
- Royal Naval Torpedo Depot
- Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
- Royal Naval War College
- Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth
- Royal Navy Dockyard
- Royal Navy Medical Service
- Royal Navy Shore Signal Service
- Royal Observatory, Greenwich
- Royal School of Naval Architecture
- Salvage Department
- School of Mathematics and Naval Construction
- Scientific Research and Experiment Department
- Sea Transport Branch
- Sea Transport Department
- Sea Transport Division
- Ship Department
- Ship Design Department
- Signal Department
- Signal School
- Sixpenny Office
- Statistics Department
- Steam Department
- Superintendent of De-magnetisation
- Torpedo Experimental Establishment
- Transport Department
- Undersurface Warfare Department
- Victualling Department
- Volunteer Boys and Cadet Corps
- Weapons Department
- Weapons Department (Naval)
- Women's Royal Naval Service
- Wireless Telegraphy Board
- 1st Fleet
- 2nd Fleet
- 3rd Fleet
- Commander-in-Chief, Africa
- Atlantic Fleet
- Commodore, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf
- Australia Station
- Cape of Good Hope Station
- Cape and West Africa Station
- Battle Cruiser Fleet
- Battle Cruiser Force
- Caspian Flotilla
- Channel Fleet
- Channel Squadron
- Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland
- Cork Station
- Coast of Scotland
- Commander-in-Chief, China
- Commander-in-Chief, Dover
- Flag Officer, East Africa
- East Indies Station
- East Indies and China Station
- Eastern Fleet
- Far East Fleet
- English Channel
- Grand Fleet
- Flag Officer Gibraltar
- Harwich Force
- Home Fleet
- Jamaica Station
- Leith Station
- Commander-in-Chief, Levant
- Levant and East Mediterranean
- Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands
- Mediterranean Fleet
- Medway
- Newfoundland Station
- New Zealand Division
- New Zealand Naval Forces
- Nore
- North America and West Indies Station
- Commander-in-Chief, North Sea
- Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands
- Pacific Fleet
- Pacific Station
- Admiral of Patrols
- Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
- Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
- Queenstown Station
- Royal East African Navy
- Royal Indian Navy
- Flag Officer Submarines
- Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth
- Reserve Fleet
- Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic
- South East Coast of America Station
- Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway
- West Africa Squadron
- Flag Officer, West Africa
- Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary
- Department of the Civil Lord of the Admiralty
- Accountant-General's Department
- Comptroller of the Navy
- Department of the Surveyor of the Navy
and the Admiralty Secretariat
- Department of the Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
- Admiralty Central Copying Branch
- Admiralty Central Registry Branch
- Admiralty Record Office
- Admiralty Library
- Admiralty Secretariat
- Air Branch
- Civil Branch
- Legal Branch
- Military Branch
- Naval Branch
- Ship Branch
- Department of the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, Department of the Additional Civil Lord of the Admiralty
Civil Lords
- Accountant-General's Department
- Contract and Purchase Department
- Department of the Director of Contract Labour
- Department of the Surveyor of Buildings
- Department of the Director of Works
- Greenwich Hospital Department
- Works Loan Department
- Admiralty Judicial Department
- Admiralty court
- High Court of Admiralty
- Office of the Judge of the High Court of Admiralty
- High Court of Justice
- Office of the Judge Advocate of the Fleet
- Office of the Marshall High Court of the Admiralty
- Office of the Admiralty Advocate
- Office of the Admiralty Proctor
- Office of the Chief Naval Judge Advocate
- Office of the Counsel for the Affairs of the Admiralty and Navy
- Office of the Counsel to the Admiralty
- Office of the Deputy Judge Advocate of the Fleet
- Office of the Receiver of Droits High Court of Admiralty
- Office of the Registrar High Court of the Admiralty
- Office of the Solicitor for the Affairs of the Admiralty
- Office of the Solicitor to the Admiralty and Navy
- Office of the Solicitor to the Admiralty
- Office of the Counsel to the Admiralty
- Court of Admiralty for the Cinque Ports
- King's Bench Division (Admiralty)
- Queens's Bench Division (Admiralty)
- Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division
- Vice Admiralty courts
- Colonial Courts of Admiralty