Commodore Submarine Service is a post in the Royal Navy which involves command of the Royal Navy Submarine Service. It evolved from the post of Inspecting Captain of Submarines in 1901 and would later evolve to become the post of Flag Officer Submarines in 1944.
History
In 1904 the Admiralty created the post of Inspecting Captain of Submarines which lasted until August 1912 when Captain Roger J. B. Keyes was appointed Commodore, Submarine Service. He held that position until February 1919[1] when the post holder was renamed Chief of the Submarine Service. It was for many years located at HMS Dolphin in Hampshire.[2]
In January 1940, Vice-AdmiralMax Horton was made Rear Admiral Submarines. Horton's biographer, Rear Admiral William S. Chalmers, cites the opinion that a new regulation, which required the post holder to be an officer who had served aboard submarines in the Great War, was forced through for the sole purpose of ensuring that Horton was on a very short list of qualifiers for this post, almost ensuring his rapid transfer to Aberdour, so great was the desire of some within the Admiralty to have Horton revitalize the submarine arm.[6]
From 1953 the Flag Officer Submarines was dual-hatted as NATO Commander Submarine Force Eastern Atlantic (COMSUBEASTLANT) under Commander Submarine Allied Command Atlantic (COMSUBACLANT), a major command of Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic. Flag Officer Submarines moved from Dolphin to the Northwood Headquarters in 1978.[7] From 1993 the post of Flag Officer Submarines was dual-hatted with the post of Commander Operations.[8]
In 2015, Rear Admiral John Weale was appointed Rear Admiral Submarines/Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Submarines, while Rear Admiral Robert Tarrant is Commander Operations (Royal Navy), two distinct posts from 2015.[9][8] In 2016, a new entity, the Submarine Flotilla, was technically established, but its commander's post was to be held by Commander Faslane Flotilla.[10] A single submarine base was to be achieved by 2020 when HMS Talent and HMS Triumph moved their homeports to the Clyde in 2019 and 2020 respectively.[10]
On 1 April 2020, the post of Commander Submarine Flotilla was announced at HMNB Clyde,[11] seemingly a renaming of the post of Commander Faslane Flotilla.[11]
As of December 2020, official Royal Navy Freedom of Information responses said that "the combined 2* Rear Admiral post of Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (ACNS) (Submarines)(SM), Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland (FOSNI) and Rear Admiral Submarines has been disestablished. The ACNS (SM) role and Rear Admiral Submarines roles have been [lowered] to Commodore and retitled Deputy Director Submarines and Commodore Submarine Service. The role of Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland role has been retitled as Senior Naval Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland (SNOSNI) and is currently held by 1* Deputy Director Submarines."[12]
Captain Reginald H. S. Bacon, 20 August 1901 – 21 October 1904[1] Initial appointment title was Inspecting Captain of Submarine Boats (Richard Compton-Hall, 115).
Captain Edgar Lees, 21 October 1904, (later RAdm.)[1]
Captain Sydney S. Hall, 12 November 1906 – 14 November 1910 (later Adm.)[1]
Commodore James Perks CBE (2020–2022): as of December 2020, Senior Naval Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland, Deputy Director Submarines, and Commodore Submarine Service.[12]