Commander Littoral Strike Group

Commander Littoral Strike Group, (COMLSG)
	Official badge of COMLSG
	Incumbent; Commodore Rob Pedre; since May 2020
	Navy Command, Ministry of Defence
Reports to	Commander United Kingdom Strike Force
Appointer	Naval Secretary
Term length	Not fixed (typically 2 years)
Inaugural holder	Commodore Hardress Lloyd
Formation	1965-current

The Commander Littoral Strike Group, (COMLSG), until 2019 termed Commander Amphibious Task Group, (COMATG), is a senior British Royal Navy appointment. It was first established in May 1965 as Commodore Amphibious Warfare, a title originally held by Commodore, Amphibious Forces, Far East Fleet until 1971, whereupon it transferred back to the UK. The office holder today commands the Littoral Strike Group, which makes up the majority of the Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime), including at least one of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

History

First created in May 1965 as Commodore Amphibious Warfare (COMAW), upon establishment the role was tied to the separate post of Commodore, Amphibious Forces, Far East Fleet (COMAFFEF), which was based at Singapore Naval Base after the Royal Navy’s Amphibious Warfare Squadron was transferred from Middle East Command to the Far East Fleet. In March 1971, following the withdrawal from Singapore, and the return of 3 Commando Brigade to the UK, COMMAFFEF was abolished and COMAW and his staff moved to Fort Southwick, just outside Portsmouth.[1]

In 1981, Commodore Michael Clapp moved COMAW to Stonehouse Barracks in order to be based alongside HQ 3 Commando Brigade again. Following the pivotal role of the Royal Navy’s amphibious forces during the Falklands War, when Cdre Clapp directed the Amphibious Group of the British task force, alongside Brigadier Julian Thompson, this co-location of the two Headquarters has endured ever since.[2]

The position was renamed from COMAW to Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG) on 1 December 1997,[3] following the establishment of the Amphibious Warfare Squadron in March 1997.[4] From 1965 to 1971, the post reported to Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet, and after return to the UK, from 1971 to 1979 the post holder reported to Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships. From 1979 to 1992 he reported to the Flag Officer, Third Flotilla,[5] and from 1992 has reported to the two-star deployable battlestaff commander, currently titled Commander UK Strike Force.[6]

Until 2011, COMATG was one of the three deployable maritime headquarters who reported to the battlestaff, along with the Commander of the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group (COMCSG) and the Commander of the UK Task Group (COMUKTG). However, following the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010, COMCSG and COMUKTG were abolished as separate commands and COMATG became the sole deployable HQ, under the new title of COMUKTG, responsible for command of the Response Force Task Group (RFTG). At this point, the former Commander UK Task Group became Deputy Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces.[7]

In March 2015, this reorganisation was partially reversed when the post of COMUKTG reverted to its previous title of COMATG,[8] and the RFTG became the Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime).[9]

COMATG was re-titled as COMLSG on 1 October 2019, to reflect the expanded role of the post to incorporate Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers at the heart of a new Littoral Strike Group.[10][11]

Roles and Responsibilities

COMLSG is one of the Royal Navy's deployable one-star Maritime Component Commander held at Very High Readiness (72 hours or less) in order to respond to unexpected global events. In most circumstances, COMLSG and his staff would deploy in the Fleet Flagship (such as HMS Albion, or one of the new QE Class Aircraft Carriers) in order to command the maritime element of the UK's Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) Task Group. While structured and trained to conduct high intensity war-fighting (with an emphasis on amphibious operations, working alongside Commander 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines), COMLSG staff are capable of commanding a diverse range of activities such as evacuation operations, or disaster relief. COMLSG, who is based in Royal Marines Barracks Stonehouse, reports to Commander United Kingdom Strike Force.[12]

Deployments and Operations

Op VERITAS 01
Op TELIC 03
Op VELA 06
Op HIGHBROW 06
CTF 152 08
TAURUS 09
COUGAR 11
Op ELLAMY 11
COUGAR 12
Op PATWIN 13
COUGAR 13
COUGAR 14
COUGAR 15
Op WEALD 15
JEF(M) 16[13]
CTF50 17[14]
Amphibious Task Group 18[15]
SAIF SAREEA 3 18[16]
BALTIC PROTECTOR 19[17]
Op SENTINEL 20 (International Maritime Security Construct)[18]

In command

Included:[19]

Commodore, Amphibious Warfare

Commodore Hardress L. Lloyd: May 1965-May 1966
Commodore David Dunbar-Naismith DSC: May 1966-July 1967
Commodore Gerard Mansfield: July 1967-November 1968
Commodore Thomas W. Stocker: November 1968-September 1970
Commodore Derek W. Napper DSC: September 1970-August 1971
Commodore Roy W. Halliday DSC: August 1971-September 1973
Commodore David T. Smith: September 1973-October 1975
Commodore Richard D. Franklin: October 1975-February 1977
Commodore Derek R. Reffell: June 1978-October 1979
Commodore Christopher J. Isacke: October 1979-May 1981
Commodore Michael Clapp CB: May 1981-February 1983 [20]
Commodore Peter G. V. Dingemans DSO: February 1983-January 1985 [21]
Commodore John Garnier CBE LVO: January-July 1985
Commodore E.S. Jeremy Larken DSO: July 1985-December 1987
Commodore Brian W. Turner: December 1987-April 1990
Commodore Peter J. Grindal: April 1990-April 1992
Commodore Richard A.Y. Bridges: April 1992- July 1994
Commodore Paul B.C. Canter CBE: July 1994-October 1996
Commodore Paul D. Stone: October 1996-1 December 1997

Note: COMAW was renamed COMATG in 1997[22]

Commander, Amphibious Task Group

Commodores in post included:[23]

Commodore Paul D. Stone: 1 December 1997-1998
Commodore Niall S.R. Kilgour: 1998-July 2001
Commodore A. James G. Miller: July 2001-September 2003
Commodore Christopher J. Parry: September 2003-January 2005
Commodore George M. Zambellas: January 2005-August 2006
Commodore Philip A. Jones: August 2006-2008
Commodore Peter D. Hudson: 2008-May 2009
Commodore Paul M. Bennett: May 2009-January 2011

Note: Following SDSR10, COMATG was renamed COMUKTG, and the Amphibious Task Group was renamed the Response Force Task Group.[24]

Commander, U.K. Task Group

Commodores in post included:[25]

Commodore John M. L. Kingwell: January-November 2011
Commodore Patrick A. McAlpine: November 2011-February 2014
Commodore Jeremy P. Kyd: February 2014-February 2015
Commodore Martin J. Connell: February 2015-March 2015[26]

Note: COMUKTG post reverted to the name Commander Amphibious Task Group in March 2015, and Cdre Connell continued in that role till May 2016[27]

Commander, Amphibious Task Group

Commodores in post included:[28]

Commodore Martin J. Connell: March 2015-May 2016
Commodore Andrew P. Burns: May 2016-May 2018
Commodore James M.B. Parkin: May 2018-October 2019[29]

Note: COMATG was renamed Commander Littoral Strike Group in October 2019, and Cdre Parkin continued in post under the new title.[30]