Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla

The Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla was a senior British Royal Navy appointment from 1990 to 2002.

Surface Flotilla
Active	1990–2002
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Size	Flotilla
Part of	Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Garrison/HQ	HMNB Portsmouth
Commanders
First	Vice-Admiral A. Peter Woodhead
Last	Rear-Admiral Alexander K. Backus

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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3] 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 HMS Fearless.^[4]

Subordinate squadrons

Unit	Date	Notes
3rd Destroyer Squadron	1990–2002	[5]
5th Destroyer Squadron	1990–2002	[5]
1st Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	[5]
3rd Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	[5]
4th Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	[5]
5th Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	[5]
6th Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	[5]
7th Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	[5]
8th Frigate Squadron	1990–2002	[5]

Flag Officer Surface Flotilla

Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla (FOSF)
Ensign of the Royal Navy
Navy Department, 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	Vice-Admiral A. Peter Woodhead
Formation	1990–2002

Flag officers commanding

Included:^[6]

• 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