Navy Command (Royal Navy)

Navy Command is a military formation and the senior command organisation of the British Royal Navy. It was formed in 2008 from the merger of Fleet Command and Naval Home Command. Prior to this the responsibilities of the command had been undertaken by different commands. The entire active Royal Navy is controlled by Navy Command which overseas all aspects of maritime activities including operations, administration, personnel and logistics. The Royal Navys surface fleet and submarine service, the Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Marines and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary all come under this command.

History
Prior to 1964 responsibility for control and direction of the British Naval Affairs lay with Admiralty, naval command lay with the Admiralty Naval Staff. Following the merger of the Admiralty in 1964 into the new Ministry of Defence it became known as the Navy Department. The Royal Navy was historically divided into a number of fleets and ashore commands, prominent examples being the Home Fleet and Portsmouth Command. By the 1960s a system was introduced to change the previous, globally dispersed assets, the fleet system was replaced at first by a Western Fleet and Eastern Fleet. However these were also eventually abolished and their units amalgamated into a Fleet Command. At the same time, the commands established to manage individuals naval bases were replaced in 1969 after the post's of Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth was merged with that of Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth to form Naval Home Command. As overseas bases continued to be reduced, the Navy's shore establishments became more concentrated in the UK, under Naval Home Command. At the beginning of the early 2000's the staffs of both Fleet Command and Naval Home Command were gradually integrated in a process to create a single Navy Command this culminated in 2008, making the Royal Navy the first among the three British Armed Forces to merge its operational command with that of personnel and training.

Navy Command Headquarters
The Navy Command Headquarters is based at Whale Island, Portsmouth, it also includes the Command Centre in Northwood, and also has support staff in Portsmouth Naval Base.


 * Henry Leach Building and West Battery Building, HMS Excellent, Portsmouth - Senior Naval staff
 * Moore Building, HMS Excellent - Fleet Battle Staff.
 * Command Centre, Northwood - Maritime operations staff.
 * HMNB Portsmouth: - Support Staff
 * Martime Warfare Centre: - Operational Knowledge-Centered support service.
 * Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service - Pastoral support.
 * Office of the Flag Officer Sea Training - Training support.

The Purpose built Headquarters at Whale Island was opened in 2002 was named after Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Leach, the First Sea Lord during the Falklands War. The purpose of the NCHQ, as the higher echelon of Navy Command, is the carry out three main tasks: Force Generation, Planning for the future and Advice, Assurance and Accountability.

The equivalent in the British Army is Army Headquarters at Andover and the equivalent in the Royal Air Force is Headquarters Air Command at High Wycombe.

Structure of the Navy Command




The First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, is the Royal Navy's professional head and Chairman of the Navy Board. He is responsible to the Secretary of State for the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale of the Naval Service, and supports the Secretary of State for Defence in the management and direction of the Armed Forces.

Office of the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff
As of 6 April 2017:
 * Office of the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff - based at the Ministry of Defence - as part of the Chiefs of the Defence Staff.
 * Office of the Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
 * Office of the Fleet Commander
 * Office of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy)
 * Office of the Finance Director (Navy)

Senior Naval Staff
Includes:


 * First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff
 * Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
 * Fleet Commander
 * Chief of Material (Fleet) and Chief Naval Engineer Officer - based at Defence Equipment and Support H.Q. formerly Chief of Fleet Support.

Office of the Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
As of 31 March 2016:


 * Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff

Office of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation & Carriers)

 * Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, Aviation and Carriers, (ACNS A&C)
 * Assistant Chief of Staff Carrier Strike and Aviation, (ACOS CSV)
 * Assistant Chief of Staff Land and Littoral Manoeuvre and Deputy Commandant General Royal Marines, (ACOS LLM)
 * Commanding Officer Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, (CO LV)

Office of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability)

 * Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability), (ACNS Cap) - also Controller of the Navy and Chief of Staff, Navy Command Headquarters.
 * Assistant Chief of Staff Warfare, (COS W)
 * Assistant Chief of Staff Information Warfare, (COS IW)
 * Assistant Chief of Staff Maritime Capability, (COS Mar Cap)

Office of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Personnel)

 * Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Personnel), (ACNS Pers)
 * Assistant Chief of Staff Medical, (COS Med) - also Surgeon Commodore (Surg Cdre)
 * Commodore Naval Legal Services, (CNLS)
 * Commodore Naval Personnel Strategy, (CNPS)
 * Commodore Naval Personnel, (CNP)
 * Commander Maritime Reserves, (COMMARRES)

Office of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Ships)

 * Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Ships), (ACNS Ships)
 * Assistant Chief of Staff Ships, (ACOS Ships)
 * Assistant Chief of Staff Afloat Support, (ACOS Ships)

Office of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Submarines)

 * Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Submarines), (ACNS Sub) - also (FO S&NI)

Office of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Support)

 * Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Support), (ACNS Sup)
 * Assistant Chief of Staff Logistics and Infrastructure, (COS Logs & Infra)
 * Assistant Chief of Staff Engineering Support, (COS Eng Sup)
 * Commander, Portsmouth, Naval Base, (NBC (P)
 * Commander, Clyde, Naval Base, (NBC (C)
 * Commander, Devonport, Naval Base, (NBC (D)

Office of the Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland
The Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland, (FO S&NI) - also (ACNS Submarines) is the senior Royal Navy Representative within Scotland and Northern Ireland liaising with the Scottish government and NI Assembly on Naval issues.

Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet

 * The Chaplin of the Fleet, (Chp FLT).
 * Deputy Chaplain of the Fleet.
 * Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service,

Office of the Naval Secretary

 * Naval Secretary, (NAV SEC) - also (ACNS Pers & FO Res)
 * Naval Assistant to Naval Secretary, (NA SEC)

Flag Officer, Reserves

 * Commodore Maritime Reserves - also (ACNS Pers & NAV SEC)

Office of the Fleet Commander
As of 31 March 2016:

Office of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Training)

 * Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Training), (ACNS, FO ST)
 * Assistant Chief of Staff Training, (ACOS T)
 * Commanding Officer Operational Training, (COM OT)
 * Commander Core Naval Training, (COM CORE)

Office of the Commander Operations

 * Commander Maritime Operations, (COM OPS)
 * Commander Portsmouth Flotilla, (COMPORFLOT)
 * Commander Devonport Flotilla, (COMDEVFLOT)
 * Commander Faslane Flotilla, (COMFASFLOT)
 * Commander 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines, (Comd 3CDO BDE RM)

Office of the Commander UK Maritime Forces

 * Commander UK Maritime Forces, (COMMARFOR)
 * Commander Amphibious Task Group, (COMATG)
 * Commander Carrier Strike Group, (COMCSG)

Office of the Commander UK Amphibious Forces/Commandant General Royal Marines

 * Commander UK Amphibious Forces/Commandant General Royal Marines, (COMAMPHIBFOR CGRM)
 * 1 Assault Group, Royal Marines
 * Commander 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines
 * Royal Marines Band Service
 * Special Boat Service

Office of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy)
As of 31 March 2016:


 * Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, (Policy), (ACNS Pol) directs and develops naval strategic policy and strategy for the Royal Navy.

Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff (Policy)

 * Assistant Chief of Staff (Policy), (ACOS Policy) (ACNS Pol) manages the department and staff of (ACNS Pol).

Office of the Commodore, Naval Staff

 * Commodore, Naval Staff, (Cdre NS) superintends the Naval Staff Directorate provides administrative support to Admiralty Board and the Navy Board.
 * Naval Staff Directorate

Office of the Commodore, Regional Forces

 * Commodore, Regional Forces, (Cdre REGFOR) & Naval Regional superintends the 4 UK geographical naval regional commands.
 * Naval Regional Commander Eastern England, (NRC EE) - also (Cdre REGFOR)
 * Naval Regional Commander, Northern England (NRC NE)
 * Naval Regional Commander, Wales & Western England (NRC WWE)

Office of the Head of Royal Navy Communications

 * Head of Royal Navy Communications, (COMMS Hd) Principal Navy Command advisor on RN communications and communications strategy.

Office of the Finance Director Navy
As of 31 March 2016:


 * Finance Director (Navy) is the Chief Financial Officer of Navy Command's delegated budget and superintends the Command Secretariat.

Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff Resources and Plans

 * Assistant Chief of Staff Resources and Plans supports the Director of Navy Finance in delivering the Naval financial objectives and adhering to the framework of legal, political, financial and regulatory authorities.

Office of the Command Secretary

 * Command Secretary is the senior civilian in Navy Command Headquarters responsible for civilian personnel, external accountability, resource management and certain aspects of planning.

Office of the Deputy Finance Director, Navy

 * Deputy Finance Director is responsible overall financially managing Navy Command and the Head of the Navy Command Finance department.

Office of the Head of Navy Effectiveness and Strategy

 * Head of Navy Effectiveness and Strategy superintends multidisciplinary project teams, specializing in policy, commercial and financial expertise he reports back to both the (FD(N) and ACNS(Pol).

Command Centre Northwood
Northwood is the UK’s principal military headquarters site is home to 5 operational HQs. The Joint Forces Command HQ, including Permanent Joint Headquarters and the Joint Forces Headquarters, the Commander Operations for the Royal Navy.

Defence Equipment and Support
Formed in April 2007 from the amalgamation of both the Defence Logistic Organisation (DLO) and the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) to form Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S). It provides naval equipment and delivers logistical support to the Royal Navy.

Flag Officer Sea Training
Is the organistation responsible for training on all Royal Naval and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels.

Fleet Battle Staff
Based in two locations (Portsmouth and Plymouth) the Fleet Battle Staff is the operational planning department, that plans exercises and operations for large multinational naval and marine task groups across the globe. The actual conduct of naval operations is generally the responsibility of the Joint Forces Command.

Maritime Warfare Centre
The Maritime Warfare Centre is an Operational Knowledge-Centered Support service allows the Royal Navy the ability to observe and process all aspects of operational experience to learn lessons from previous operations and enhance fighting power.

Royal Naval Chaplaincy Service
The Royal Naval Chaplaincy Service is responsible to the First Sea Lord for provision of pastoral support, ensuring the spiritual and pastoral needs of all Service personnel the service is superintended by the Chaplain of the Fleet.

Defence Equipment and Support
It is responsible for sustaining the Fleet and ensuring that the required vessels and units are available for operations according to the command plan. Superintended by the Chief of Staff, who administers the Maritime Warfare Centre, communications systems, engineering and certain functions of Fleet Air Arm support.