Commander Amphibious Task Group

The  Commander Amphibious Task Group, (COMATG)  is a senior British Royal Navy appointment, first established in August 1971. The office holder commands the Amphibious Task Group, which makes up the majority of the Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime).

History
First established in August 1971 as Commodore, Amphibious Warfare (COMAW); Michael Clapp held the post during the Falklands War, when the post-holder directed the Amphibious Group of the British task force. The position of Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG) was established on 1 December 1997, following the establishment of the Amphibious Warfare Squadron in March 1997. 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.

Until 2011, COMATG was one of the three deployable one-star rank maritime operational commanders reporting to the two-star Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces, 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

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

Roles and Responsibilities
COMATG is the Royal Navy's only 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, COMATG 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), COMATG staff are capable of commanding a diverse range of activities such as evacuation operations, or disaster relief. COMATG reports to Commander UK Maritime Forces, and is based in Royal Marines Barracks Stonehouse, Plymouth.

Deployments and Operations

 * Op VERITAS 01
 * Op TELIC 03
 * Op VELA 06
 * Op HIGHBROW 06
 * TAURUS 09
 * COUGAR 11
 * Op ELLAMY 11
 * COUGAR 12
 * Op PATWIN 13
 * COUGAR 13
 * COUGAR 14
 * COUGAR 15
 * Op WEALD 15
 * JEF(M) 16
 * CTF50 17
 * Amphibious Task Group 18
 * SAIF SAREEA 3 18
 * BALTIC PROTECTOR 19

In command
Included:

Commodore, Amphibious Warfare Group
Note: COMAW was renamed COMATG
 * Commodore Roy W. Halliday: 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 C. Clapp: May 1981-February 1983
 * Commodore Peter G. V. Dingemans: February 1983-January 1985
 * Commodore John Garnier: January-July 1985
 * Commodore E.S. Jeremy Larken: July 1985-December 1987
 * Commodore Brian W. Turner: December 1987-April 1990
 * Commodore Peter J. Grindal: April 1990-1992
 * Commodore Richard A.Y. Bridges: 1992-1994
 * Commodore Paul B.C. Canter: 1994-October 1996
 * Commodore Paul D. Stone: October 1996-1 December 1997

Commander, Amphibious Task Group
Commodores in post included: Note: COMATG was renamed COMUKTG, and the Amphibious Task Group was renamed the Response Force Task Group.
 * 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

Commander, U.K. Task Group
Commodores in post included:
 * 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

Commander, Amphibious Task Group
Commodores in post included:
 * Commodore Martin J. Connell: March 2015-May 2016
 * Commodore Andrew P. Burns: May 2016-May 2018
 * Commodore James M.B. Parkin: May 2018-present

Note: COMUKTG post was renamed back to Commander Amphibious Task Group in March 2015, and Cdre Connell continued in that role till May 2016