Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic
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The Commander-in-Chief South Atlantic was an operational commander of the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
from 1939. The South American area was added to his responsibilities in 1960, and the post disestablished in 1967. Immediately before the outbreak of the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the designation of Commander-in-Chief, Africa was changed to Commander-in-Chief South Atlantic, '..and the
Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...
transferred his flag from Simonstown to Freetown, Sierra Leone, and assumed general naval control over British movements in the whole of the
South Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
. At the same time the South Atlantic Division of the America and West Indies Squadron, comprising the cruisers Exeter and Ajax, was transferred to the new South Atlantic Station.' It was sometimes referred to as the South Atlantic Station.


History

The South Atlantic Station existed during and after the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
having been redesignated from the Commander-in-Chief, Africa. Its area of responsibility covered the
Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
south of a line drawn between the northern
French West Africa French West Africa (french: Afrique-Occidentale française, ) was a federation of eight French colonial territories in West Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan (now Mali), French Guinea (now Guinea), Ivory Coast, Upper Volta (now Burki ...
n (now
Mauritania Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french: Mauritanie; Berber: ''Agawej'' or ''Cengit''; Pulaar: ''Moritani''; Wolof: ''Gànnaar''; Soninke:), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ( ar, الجمهورية الإسلامية ...
n) border and
French Guiana French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic ...
and the
Southern Ocean The Southern Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60° S latitude and encircling Antarctica. With a size of , it is regarded as the second-small ...
and
Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...
east of a line drawn south from the western entrance to the
Magellan Strait The Strait of Magellan (), also called the Straits of Magellan, is a navigable sea route in southern Chile separating mainland South America to the north and Tierra del Fuego to the south. The strait is considered the most important natural pass ...
and west of a line drawn south from the South African/ Mozambican border. The South Atlantic Station had bases at
Freetown Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean and is located in the Western Area of the country. Freetown is Sierra Leone's major urban, economic, financial, cultural, educational and p ...
and Simonstown. On 3 September 1939, Leo Niehorster's site lists the force as comprising the South American Division under Commodore
Henry Harwood Admiral Sir Henry Harwood Harwood, KCB, OBE (19 January 1888 – 9 June 1950), was a British naval officer who won fame in the Battle of the River Plate. Early life Following education at Stubbington House School, Harwood entered the R ...
comprising , , and ; the
6th Cruiser Squadron The 6th Cruiser Squadron was a formation of cruisers of the British Royal Navy from 1909 to 1915 and again from 1925 to 1945. The Royal Navy's cruiser squadrons usually contained a maximum of five to six ships but down but sometimes as low as two ...
, comprising only , Vice Admiral George Lyon's flagship; the 9th Cruiser Squadron, with , , , and ; the seaplane carrier , en route to Freetown from
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; the
7th Submarine Flotilla 7 (seven) is the natural number following 6 and preceding 8. It is the only prime number preceding a cube (algebra), cube. As an early prime number in the series of positive integers, the number seven has greatly symbolic associations in religion ...
, of two boats on their way from Gibraltar to Freetown; four destroyers, all at Freetown; six miscellaneous craft and two harbour vessels, all at Freetown; and the Gambia and Gold Coast Naval Volunteer Forces. On 2 October 1939, , then operating with the liner ''Orduna'' north of
Callao Callao () is a Peruvian seaside city and Regions of Peru, region on the Pacific Ocean in the Lima metropolitan area. Callao is Peru's chief seaport and home to its main airport, Jorge Chávez International Airport. Callao municipality consists o ...
off the west coast of South America, was instructed that after fuelling from the fleet tanker , she was to proceed south about to the South Atlantic. "The ''Achilles'' was to show herself at Chilean ports as considered desirable and refuel at the Falkland Islands. The passage was to be made with moderate despatch and on arrival the cruiser was to come under the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Africa." Thus ''Achilles'' arrived in the South Atlantic and joined Commodore Harwood's force, later to take part in the
Battle of the River Plate The Battle of the River Plate was fought in the South Atlantic on 13 December 1939 as the first naval battle of the Second World War. The Kriegsmarine heavy cruiser , commanded by Captain Hans Langsdorff, engaged a Royal Navy squadron, command ...
against the ''Graf Spee''. In 1955 the new
Simonstown Agreement The Simonstown Agreement (sic) was a naval cooperation agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the (then-officially) Union of South Africa signed . Under the agreement, the Royal Navy (RN) gave up its na ...
on naval cooperation between the UK and the
Union of South Africa The Union of South Africa ( nl, Unie van Zuid-Afrika; af, Unie van Suid-Afrika; ) was the historical predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into existence on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the Cape, Natal, Trans ...
was agreed after much discussion. It was planned to include: * the combined use of Simonstown by the Royal Navy and South African Navy in peace and in war (even if South Africa were neutral in some non-Communist war, a most remote contingency), on the understanding that the base would also be available in war to the allies of the United Kingdom; * the gradual assumption of responsibility by the South African Navy for the operation and administration of the base for combined use; * the assumption by South Africa of responsibility in war for the operational and administrative control of a local sub-area of a South Atlantic Strategic Zone; and * that a Royal Navy officer would continue as Commander-in-Chief South Atlantic in peace, with headquarters and communications at the Cape, and that his designation in war would be Commander of the South Atlantic Strategic Zone. arrived at Simon's Town on 19 November 1956. After a series of visits to East African ports, the ship was nominated for transfer to the Reserve. On 19 January 1957 she sailed for the UK, calling at
Lobito Lobito is a Municipalities of Angola, municipality in Angola. It is located in Benguela Province, on the Atlantic Coast north of the Catumbela Estuary. The Lobito municipality had a population of 393,079 in 2014. History The city was founded in ...
in
Portuguese West Africa Portuguese Angola refers to Angola during the historic period when it was a territory under Portuguese rule in southwestern Africa. In the same context, it was known until 1951 as Portuguese West Africa (officially the State of West Africa). I ...
, Boma in the
Belgian Congo The Belgian Congo (french: Congo belge, ; nl, Belgisch-Congo) was a Belgian colony in Central Africa from 1908 until independence in 1960. The former colony adopted its present name, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in 1964. Colo ...
, and sailed up the
Congo River The Congo River ( kg, Nzâdi Kôngo, french: Fleuve Congo, pt, Rio Congo), formerly also known as the Zaire River, is the second longest river in Africa, shorter only than the Nile, as well as the second largest river in the world by discharge ...
to
Matadi Matadi is the chief sea port of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the capital of the Kongo Central province, adjacent to the border with Angola. It had a population of 245,862 (2004). Matadi is situated on the left bank of the Congo River, ...
. She then called at
Libreville Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon. Occupying in the northwestern province of Estuaire, Libreville is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea. As of the 2013 census, its population was 703,904. The area has been inh ...
in
French Equatorial Africa French Equatorial Africa (french: link=no, Afrique-Équatoriale française), or the AEF, was the federation of French colonial possessions in Equatorial Africa, extending northwards from the Congo River into the Sahel, and comprising what are ...
,
São Tomé Island São Tomé Island, at , is the largest island of São Tomé and Príncipe and is home in May 2018 to about 193,380 or 96% of the nation's population. The island is divided into six districts. It is located 2 km (1¼ miles) north of the ...
in the
Gulf of Guinea The Gulf of Guinea is the northeasternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean from Cape Lopez in Gabon, north and west to Cape Palmas in Liberia. The intersection of the Equator and Prime Meridian (zero degrees latitude and longitude) is in the ...
,
Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...
, Nigeria,
Monrovia Monrovia () is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia. Founded in 1822, it is located on Cape Mesurado on the Atlantic coast and as of the 2008 census had 1,010,970 residents, home to 29% of Liberia’s total population. As the ...
, Liberia, and
Freetown Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean and is located in the Western Area of the country. Freetown is Sierra Leone's major urban, economic, financial, cultural, educational and p ...
, Sierra Leone. At Freetown she wore the flag of the Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic, Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Robson. ''Veryan Bay'' arrived at Plymouth on 11 March and was then paid-off. In April 1957 the Simonstown base was handed over to the
Union of South Africa The Union of South Africa ( nl, Unie van Zuid-Afrika; af, Unie van Suid-Afrika; ) was the historical predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into existence on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the Cape, Natal, Trans ...
in accordance with the 1955 agreement. On 24 May 1957 was recommissioned for service in the 7th Frigate Squadron in the South Atlantic, sailing for
Simon's Town Simon's Town ( af, Simonstad), sometimes spelled Simonstown, is a town in the Western Cape, South Africa and is home to  Naval Base Simon's Town, the South African Navy's largest base. It is located on the shores of False Bay, on the eastern ...
in August. She made calls in Brazil and Argentina, took part in squadron exercises in South Atlantic, and was also deployed in South African waters for joint exercises with the
South African Navy The South African Navy (SA Navy) is the naval warfare branch of the South African National Defence Force. The Navy is primarily engaged in maintaining a conventional military deterrent, participating in counter-piracy operations, fishery prot ...
. In early 1958 she visited ports in East Africa. In May she sailed for the Falklands for her third and final tour of duty as guard ship, departing in June and sailing to the UK via ports on west coast of South America, making calls in Chile and Peru before transiting the
Panama Canal The Panama Canal ( es, Canal de Panamá, link=no) is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and divides North and South America. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a conduit ...
, and finally arriving at Devonport in August where she was decommissioned, put into Reserve, and on the Disposal List. During this commission she was commanded by Commander
Stanley McArdle Rear admiral (Royal Navy), Rear-Admiral Stanley Lawrence McArdle, (27 September 1922 – 4 December 2007) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy, and a recipient of the George Medal for his efforts in the rescue of survivors from the ferry in ...
. In 1960, the post of Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies, was abolished, with the incumbent, Vice-Admiral Sir
John Eaton John Eaton may refer to: * John Eaton (divine) (born 1575), English divine * John Eaton (pirate) (fl. 1683–1686), English buccaneer *Sir John Craig Eaton (1876–1922), Canadian businessman * John Craig Eaton II (born 1937), Canadian businessman ...
, becoming the NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT). The southern part of the former America & West Indies area was transferred to the South Atlantic, and that flag officer becoming Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and South America (CINCSASA). At about that time, CINCSASA, "flying his flag ashore at Wynberg in
Cape Province The Province of the Cape of Good Hope ( af, Provinsie Kaap die Goeie Hoop), commonly referred to as the Cape Province ( af, Kaapprovinsie) and colloquially as The Cape ( af, Die Kaap), was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequen ...
, had only two frigates and .. HMS ''Protector'' under his command, one of the frigates being permanently stationed in the West Indies." The
Leopard-class frigate The Type 41 or ''Leopard'' class were a class of anti-aircraft defence frigates built for the Royal Navy (4 ships) and Indian Navy (3 ships) in the 1950s.Purvis, M.K., 'Post War RN Frigate and Guided Missile Destroyer Design 1944-1969', Transact ...
served as Vice Admiral Talbot's flagship in the 1960s. She was the last ship remaining on the station and returned home after April 1967 and the abolishing of the CINCSASA post. It was planned that the Commander-in-Chief was to haul down his flag on 11 April 1967 and to leave Cape Town the following day. The station was abolished/absorbed into the
Western Fleet The Red Sea Fleet Command or officially Western Fleet (WF), also called ''" West Coast Fleet ",'' is a regional naval fleet and one of the two main formations of the Saudi Arabian Navy, with headquarters at Royal Naval Base at Jeddah, Western Pr ...
that year, when Western Fleet assumed responsibility for all ships "West of Suez". After 11 April 1967, a Senior British Naval Officer South Africa with the rank of Commodore remained at ''Afrikander'' (at Youngsfield, a suburb just south of
Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...
), who quickly became responsible to Commander-in-Chief
Western Fleet The Red Sea Fleet Command or officially Western Fleet (WF), also called ''" West Coast Fleet ",'' is a regional naval fleet and one of the two main formations of the Saudi Arabian Navy, with headquarters at Royal Naval Base at Jeddah, Western Pr ...
. (Home Fleet was succeeded by Western Fleet on 5 June 1967.) By 1971, the post was at times filled by rear-admirals; Rear Admiral Nigel Cecil filled the post from 1971 to 1973. Officers continued to be posted there until February 1976 when the post was disestablished and closed. Commodore A F C Wemyss OBE was the last incumbent.


Commanders-in-Chief

Commanders-in-Chief have included:


Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic

* Vice Admiral Sir George Lyon (1939–1940) * Vice Admiral Sir
Robert Raikes Robert Raikes ("the Younger") (14 September 1736 – 5 April 1811) was an English philanthropist and Anglican layman. He was educated at The Crypt School Gloucester. He was noted for his promotion of Sunday schools. Family Raikes was born at ...
(1940–1941) * Vice Admiral Sir Algernon Willis (1941–1942) * Vice Admiral Sir
Campbell Tait Admiral Sir William Eric Campbell Tait (12 August 1886 – 17 July 1946) was a senior British naval officer, courtier and the fifth Governor of Southern Rhodesia after his naval retirement in 1944, serving from 1945 to 1946. He commanded var ...
(1942–1944) * Vice Admiral Sir
Robert Burnett Admiral Sir Robert Lindsay Burnett, (22 July 1887 – 2 July 1959) was an officer in the Royal Navy. Naval career Educated at Eastman's Royal Naval Academy and Bedford School, Burnett joined the Royal Navy in 1902. He served on the China St ...
(1944–1946) * Vice Admiral Sir
Clement Moody Admiral Sir Clement Moody, (31 May 1891 – 6 July 1960) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Fleet, from 1945 to 1946 and Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic, from 1946 to 1948. Naval career Moody was appoin ...
(1946–1948) * Vice Admiral Sir Desmond McCarthy (1948–1950) * Vice Admiral Sir Herbert Packer (1950–1952) * Vice Admiral Sir
Peveril William-Powlett Vice Admiral Sir Peveril Barton Reiby Wallop William-Powlett, (5 March 1898 – 10 November 1985) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic Station from 1952 to 1954. Naval career William-Powlett attended Co ...
(1952–1954) * Vice Admiral Sir Ian Campbell (1954–1956)Whitaker's Almanack 1956 * Vice Admiral Sir
Geoffrey Robson Vice Admiral Sir William Geoffrey Arthur Robson, (10 March 1902 – 25 December 1989) was a Royal Navy officer whose last Service appointment was Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic. Naval career Educated at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, and ...
(1956–1958)


Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and South America

* Vice Admiral Sir
Dymock Watson Vice Admiral Sir Robert Dymock Watson (5 April 1904 – 3 February 1988) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and South America Station. Naval career Watson joined the Royal Navy in 1918. ...
(1958–1960) * Vice Admiral Sir
Nicholas Copeman Vice Admiral Sir Nicholas Alfred Copeman, (28 February 1906 – 21 November 1969) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and South America Station from 1960 to 1963. Naval career Copeman served in the Second ...
(1960–1963) * Vice Admiral Sir
Fitzroy Talbot Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Allison Fitzroy Talbot KBE CB DSO & Bar DL (22 October 1909 – 16 June 1998) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth. Naval career Educated at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Fitz ...
(1963–1965) * Vice Admiral Sir John Gray (1965–1967)


See also

*
List of fleets and major commands of the Royal Navy The professional head of the Royal Navy is known as the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1SL/CNS). There are presently two senior subordinates to the 1SL: the Second Sea Lord, who is also the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff; and ...


Notes


References

* * Rear Admiral Allan du Toit, RAN, 'Simon's Town and the Cape Sea Route,' in Captain Peter Hore, RN (ed), 'Dreadnought to Daring: 100 Years of Comment, Controversy, and Debate in the Naval Review,' Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, 2012. {{Royal Navy fleets S Military units and formations established in 1939 Military units and formations disestablished in 1967