Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships

Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships (FOCAS) was a senior Royal Navy post that existed from 1931 to 1979.

Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships
Ensign of the Royal Navy
Admiralty, Ministry of Defence
Reports toCommander-in-Chief Fleet
NominatorSecretary of State for Defence
AppointerPrime Minister
Subject to formal approval by the Queen-in-Council
Term lengthNot fixed (typically 1–4 years)
Inaugural holderRear-Admiral Reginald G. H. Henderson
Formation1931-1979

A Flag Officer with specific responsibilities for command of aircraft carriers within the Royal Navy was first established in September 1931 with the appointment of Rear-Admiral Reginald Henderson as Rear-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers.[1] He was succeeded by Rear-Admiral the Hon. Sir Alexander R. M. Ramsay later Vice-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers. The post was held by successive flag officers under the titles listed below. In June 1968 the post Rear-Admiral, Carriers was renamed to Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships (FOCAS). The post was renamed Flag Officer, Third Flotilla in December 1979.[2] The admiral commanding's remit was broadened to include units other than aircraft carriers and amphibious ships.

The office holder reported to different senior flag officers during its existence including the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet,[3] the Commander-in-Chief, Western Fleet and finally the Commander-in-Chief Fleet.

Duties

At various times included:[4]

  • Ensuring the operational effectiveness of Carrier Task Groups.
  • Responsible for the Fleet Air Arm afloat

Rear-Admirals/Vice-Admirals Aircraft Carriers

Post holders included:[5]

RankFlagNameTermNotes
Rear-Admiral/Vice-Admiral (A), Aircraft Carriers
1Rear-AdmiralReginald G. H. HendersonSeptember 1931-September.1933
2Rear-Admiralthe Hon. Sir Alexander R. M. RamsaySeptember 1933-March 1936(VAdm by 06/1936)
3Vice-AdmiralNoel F. LaurenceMarch 1936-July 1937
4Vice-AdmiralGuy C. C. RoyleJuly 1937-July 1939
5Vice-AdmiralLionel V. WellsJuly 1939-July 1940
6Rear-AdmiralLumley LysterJuly 1940 - August 1940office renamed FO/MAC 09.1040[6]
In September 1940 the post was renamed Flag Officer, Mediterranean Aircraft Carriers.[7]

Flag Officer, Mediterranean Aircraft Carriers
RankFlagNameTermNotes
Flag Officer, Mediterranean Aircraft Carriers
1Rear-AdmiralLumley LysterSeptember 1940 to 4 February 1941office renamed FO/MAC 09.1040[8]
1Rear-AdmiralDenis BoydFebruary 1941 to January 1942
2Vice-AdmiralClement MoodyJanuary 1942 to December 1943(VAdm by 06/1936)
Post is re-established within the Home Fleet July 1942 till December 1943.

Admirals Commanding, Home Fleet Aircraft Carriers
RankFlagNameTermTitle / Remarks
Vice-AdmiralLumley LysterJuly 1942 - 21 May 1943Rear-Admiral, then Vice-Admiral, Home Fleet Aircraft Carriers, aboard HMS Indomitable[9]
Rear-AdmiralReginald Henderson21 May 1943 – 1 December 1943Rear-Admiral, Home Fleet Aircraft Carriers

On hauling down his flag as Vice-Admiral, Home Fleet Aircraft Carriers, about 27 April 1943, Admiral Lyster was appointed Flag Officer Carrier Training and Administration at HMS Monck (HQ Combined Training, Largs), which was transferred from 1 June 1944 to HMS Faraway, a training establishment & HQ of Flag Officer Carrier Training, at Greenock. He served in that post until 17.03.1945.[9]

Rear-Admiral Charles Woodhouse was listed as Rear-Admiral Aircraft Carriers, aboard HMS Implacable, March-April 1946.

Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers

Included:[10]

RankFlagNameTermNotes
Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers
1Rear-AdmiralWalter T. CouchmanDecember 1953-December 1954(as first Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers)[11]
2Rear-AdmiralArthur R. PedderDecember 1954-May 1956
3Vice-AdmiralManley L. PowerMay 1956-October 1957
4Rear-AdmiralHector C. D. MacLeanOctober 1957-January 1958
5Vice-AdmiralSir Alexander N.C. BingleyJanuary 1958-January 1959
6Vice-AdmiralCharles L.G. EvansJanuary 1959-March 1960
7Rear-AdmiralRichard M. SmeetonMarch 1960-January 1962
8Vice-AdmiralFrank H.E. HopkinsJanuary 1962-January 1963
9Rear-AdmiralDonald C.E.F. GibsonJanuary 1963-April 1964
10Rear-AdmiralH. Richard B. JanvrinApril 1964-February 1966Also Commander Carrier Striking Group Two, STRIKFLTLANT.[12]
11Rear-AdmiralWilliam D. O’BrienFebruary 1966-April 1967
12Rear-AdmiralL. Derek EmpsonApril 1967-June 1970
13Rear-AdmiralMichael F. FellJune 1968 - July 1970

In July 1970 the post was renamed Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships.

Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships

Included:[13]

RankFlagNameTermNotes
Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships
1Rear-AdmiralMichael F. FellJuly 1970
2Rear-AdmiralJohn D. TreacherJuly 1970-May 1972
3Vice-AdmiralRaymond D. LygoMay 1972-January 1974
4Rear-AdmiralDesmond CassidiJanuary 1974-May 1975
5Vice-AdmiralJames H.F. EberleMay 1975-March 1977
6Vice-AdmiralWilliam D.M. StaveleyMarch 1977-July 1978
7Rear-AdmiralPeter G.M. HerbertJuly 1978 – July 1979

Notes
  1. Brown, David K. (2006). Nelson to Vanguard : warship development, 1923-1945 (Paperback ed.). London: Chatham. p. 201. ISBN 9781591146025.
  2. Tailyour, Ewen Southby (1990). Reasons in Writing A Commandos View of the Falklands War. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. p. 113. ISBN 9781844150144.
  3. Beaver, Paul (1987). Encyclopaedia of the Fleet Air Arm since 1945. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: P. Stephens. p. 38. ISBN 9780850597608.
  4. Beaver, p.38, probably referring to pre-1967 when Home Fleet still existed.
  5. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, p.84. February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  6. Polmar, Norman (2006). Aircraft Carriers: A History of Carrier Aviation and Its Influence on World Events, Volume I: 1909-1945. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA: Potomac Books, Inc. p. 540. ISBN 9781574886634.
  7. Polmar.p.540.
  8. Polmar, Norman (2006). Aircraft Carriers: A History of Carrier Aviation and Its Influence on World Events, Volume I: 1909-1945. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA: Potomac Books, Inc. p. 540. ISBN 9781574886634.
  9. Royal Navy Officers 1939-1945: L
  10. Mackie.pp.84.
  11. "The Fighting Services". Aeroplane and Commercial Aviation News. 99: 636. 11 November 1960.
  12. Appendix K to
  13. Mackie.pp.84.
gollark: I have about a stack of ore ready to go. That's 3KST. Not really worth it.
gollark: Mining turtles aren't *that* cheap.
gollark: Now that I have automining going, GTech will begin selling iron and gold ingots at 0.5KST and 1.5KST respectively.
gollark: This is ridiculous. We should all get them or nobody should.
gollark: Can you 3D-print some arms instead of weapons?

References
  • Beaver, Paul (1987). Encyclopaedia of the Fleet Air Arm since 1945. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: P. Stephens. ISBN 9780850597608.
  • Brown, David K. (2006). Nelson to Vanguard : warship development, 1923-1945 (Paperback ed. ed.). London: Chatham. ISBN 9781591146025.
  • Drucker, G. (2005). "Fleet Air Arm Service Records: Flag Officer Index". Fleet Air Arm Archive.
  • Mackie, Colin. (2018) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Scotland, UK.
  • Tailyour, Ewen Southby (1990). Reasons in Writing: A Commando's View of the Falklands War. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. ISBN 9781844150144.
  • The Fighting Services". (1960). Aeroplane and Commercial Aviation News. Volume 99.
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