Flag Officer, Third Flotilla

The Flag Officer, Third Flotilla was the senior Royal Navy appointment in command of the Third Flotilla from 1979 to 1992.

History
Following the further downsizing of the Royal Navy the Western Fleet and Far East Fleet were merged into the single Commander-in-Chief Fleet in 1971. Within this new structure three major sub-commands were created the First Flotilla, Second Flotilla and Carriers and Amphibious Ships each commanded by a Flag Officer. In December 1979 the Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships (FOCAS) re-named Flag Officer, Third Flotilla (FOF3) - reporting to CINCFLEET. In April 1992, the system was changed when the Third Flotilla was abolished and the remaining two flotilla commanders became: Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla - responsible for operational readiness and training and Commander United Kingdom Task Group (COMUKTG), who would command any deployed task group.

Flag officers commanding
Included:
 * Rear-Admiral Peter G.M. Herbert: November 1979-December 1979
 * Vice-Admiral Sir John M.H. Cox: December 1979 – 1981
 * Vice-Admiral Sir John M.H. Cox: December 1981-March 1982
 * Rear-Admiral Derek R. Reffell: March 1982-August 1983
 * Vice-Admiral Sir Richard G.A. Fitch: August 1983-October 1985
 * Vice-Admiral Sir J.Julian R. Oswald: October 1985-April 1987
 * Rear-Admiral Hugo M. White: April 1987-October 1988
 * Vice-Admiral Sir Alan Grose: October 1988-March 1990
 * Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir Nicholas J. Hill-Norton: March 1990-April 1992

Main components
At various times included: