Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands

The Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands was an operational commander of the Royal Navy. His subordinate units, establishments, and staff were sometimes informally known as the Orkneys and Shetlands Command they were charged with the administration of the Orkney and Shetland Islands.

History
The Orkney and Shetland command was usually only formed at the outbreak of war to provide for the defence and administration of the main base for the Home Fleet. The duties of the Admiral Commanding were laid down as being responsible, under the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, for administration of naval defences, naval establishments, and shore duties generally in the Orkneys and Shetlands.

During the First World War and the Second World War the Rear-Admiral, Scapa Flow served under him, with a position similar to that of an Admiral Superintendent of a dockyard port. Directly under his orders were the Northern Patrol, Shetlands Patrols, the Officer Commanding Troops Orkney, the Officer Commanding Troops Shetlands, the Admiralty Port Officer Kirkwall, the Rear-Admiral commanding the local minefields and the officers responsible for the extended defences, the local defence flotilla and the Orkney Trawler Patrols. He was responsible for the patrolling of the area from Wick to Cape Wrath.

During the Second World War the Rear-Admiral, Scapa Flow continued to serve under him.

Commanders First World War
Flag Officer commanding:

Subordinate commanders First World War
Flag officer commanding: ''

The role was similar to that of Admiral Superintendent of a dockyard port

The Command was deactivated during interwar years 9 January 1920 – September 1939

Commanders Second World War
Flag officer commanding

Subordinate commanders Second World War
Flag officer commanding

Attribution
Primary source for this article is by Harley, Simon and Lovell Tony, Admiral. (2015), Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands, http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org