Flag Officer, Third Flotilla
The Flag Officer, Third Flotilla was the senior Royal Navy appointment in command of the Third Flotilla from 1979 to 1992.
| Flag Officer, Third Flotilla | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1979 – 1992 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Size | Flotilla |
| Part of | Commander-in-Chief Fleet |
| Garrison/HQ | HMNB Portsmouth |
| Commanders | |
| First | Rear-Admiral Peter G.M. Herbert |
| Last | Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir Nicholas J. Hill-Norton |
The Western Fleet and Far East Fleet were merged into the single Commander-in-Chief Fleet in 1971. He had three new seagoing subordinates: Flag Officer First Flotilla, Second Flotilla and Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships (FOCAS) each commanded by a rear admiral. In December 1979 the post of FOCAS was re-named Flag Officer, Third Flotilla (FOF3).
From 1981-1992 the Flag Officer Third Flotilla commanded the aircraft carriers; amphibious Ships; the Fleet Training Ship; and destroyers not allocated to First or Second Flotillas.
In April 1992, the Third Flotilla was abolished, and the remaining two flotilla commanders became Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla - responsible for operational readiness and training and Commander United Kingdom Task Group (COMUKTG), who would command any deployed task group.
| Flag Officer, Third Flotilla (FOF3) | |
|---|---|
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 | Rear-Admiral Peter G.M. Herbert |
| Formation | 1979-1992 |