The Flag Officer Commanding, North Atlantic was an operational commander of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

between 1939 and 1943. His subordinate units, establishments, and staff were charged with the administration of the RN Naval Base, Gibraltar and

North Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for ...

geographic area. The admiral commanding's post later became the

Flag Officer Gibraltar British Forces Gibraltar constitute those elements of the British Armed Forces stationed in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Gibraltar is used primarily as a training area, thanks to its good climate and rocky terrain, and as a stopov ...

History

became a

receiving ship A hulk is a ship that is afloat, but incapable of going to sea. 'Hulk' may be used to describe a ship that has been launched but not completed, an abandoned wreck or shell, or a ship whose propulsion system is no longer maintained or has been r ...

Gibraltar Gibraltar ( , ) is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory and British overseas cities, city located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Bay of Gibraltar, near the exit of the Mediterranean Sea into the A ...

in 1889. She became a

flag ship A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the fi ...

when Rear-Admiral Sir William Acland hoisted his flag on board the ''Cormorant'' when he was appointed Admiral Superintendent of the HM Dockyard Gibraltar in October 1902. ''Cormorant'' remained the ship to which personnel serving not in other capacities in Gibraltar during the Second World War were attached to. In December 1940 Admiral Sir

Dudley North Dudley North may refer to: *Dudley North, 3rd Baron North (1581–1666), English nobleman and politician *Dudley North, 4th Baron North (1602–1677), English nobleman and politician, son of the above *Sir Dudley North (economist) (1641&ndas ...

became Rear Admiral-in-Charge, Gibraltar ater: Flag Officer Commanding North Atlantic& Admiral Superintendent HM Dockyard, Gibraltar. The renamed Flag Officer Commanding North Atlantic had responsibility for the sea lanes on either side of the

Straits of Gibraltar The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Europe from Africa. The two continents are separated by 7.7 nautical miles (14.2 kilometers, 8.9 miles) at its narrowest point. Fe ...

. The flag officer's mission was often unclear due to the operations of both

Force H Force H was a British naval formation during the Second World War. It was formed in late-June 1940, to replace French naval power in the western Mediterranean removed by the French armistice with Nazi Germany. The force occupied an odd place ...

and the

Western Approaches Command Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches was the commander of a major operational command of the Royal Navy during World War II. The admiral commanding, and his forces, sometimes informally known as 'Western Approaches Command,' were responsibl ...

. Ambiguity of responsibility between Gibraltar and Force H led to confusion in the conduct of operations. On 1 January 1941 Vice-Admiral

Frederick Edward-Collins Admiral Sir George Frederick Basset Edward-Collins (26 December 1883 – 17 February 1958) was a British senior officer in the Royal Navy during the first half of the twentieth century. Early life Edward-Collins was born in Bodmin, Cornwa ...

became Flag Officer Commanding North Atlantic. The division of responsibility between Vice-Admiral Edward-Collins as Flag Officer Commanding North Atlantic "..and the Flag Officer Force H and the Commander in Chief Mediterranean was defined as follows: ''..F.O.C.N.A. was responsible for preventing the passage of Gibraltar Strait by all enemy vessels and by vessels of other nations as may be ordered by the Admiralty from time to time.'' ''While Force H was based on Gibraltar, F.O.C.N.A. was to call on, Flag Officer, Force H for such assistance as be necessary. Except when directed to carry out specific tasks by the Admiralty''. Edward-Collins was promoted to

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many 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. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

on 21 January 1943, reappointed as Admiral, Gibraltar in continuation, and retired on 7 February 1944. Forces based at Gibraltar during the war included: *

11th Cruiser Squadron The 11th Cruiser Squadron and also known as Cruiser Force E was a formation of cruisers of the British Royal Navy from 1914 to 1917 and again from 1939 to 1940. First World War The squadron was first formed in July 1914 and was attached to the ...

, with and , in September and October 1939. *

13th Destroyer Flotilla The British 13th Destroyer Flotilla, or Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from November 1915 – November 1918 and again from September 1939 to January 1944. History World War One The flotilla was first form ...

September 1939–May 1945 *

8th Submarine Flotilla The 8th Submarine Flotilla was a flotilla of the British Royal Navy consisting of submarines and their supporting depot ships and destroyers. It was established as part of the Home Fleet in 1912. The flotilla brought together the newer, longer ran ...

December 1940–December 1942 (flotilla then moved to

Algiers Algiers is the capital city of Algeria as well as the capital of the Algiers Province; it extends over many Communes of Algeria, communes without having its own separate governing body. With 2,988,145 residents in 2008Census 14 April 2008: Offi ...

) *28, 36, 37, 38 Escort Groups were based at Gibraltar whilst forming part of

Admirals commanding

Included:

References

* Also published by Whitehall History Pub. in association with Frank Cass. * {{Royal Navy fleets No Military units and formations established in 1939 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War II

History

Admirals commanding

See also

References