Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland
Former senior post in the Royal Navy
Military unit
The Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland (FOSNI) was a senior post in the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom . It was based at HM Naval Base Clyde , and the holder of the post was the Royal Navy’s senior officer in Scotland.[ 1] The post of FOSNI, dating from 1946, was re-scoped and re-named in 1994 to Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England & Northern Ireland (FOSNNI), then named back in 2015, before being dis-established in 2020.[why? ]
History
The Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland was the most senior naval position in Scotland and is the successor to appointments starting with the Senior Officer on the Coast of Scotland, established in 1913, just prior to the outbreak of the First World War . The title was altered to Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth in 1916. From 1946 the post became the Flag Officer Scotland & Northern Ireland. Between 1961 and 1994 the Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland was triple-hatted as Commander Northern Sub-Area (NORLANT) of Allied Command Atlantic (ACLANT), and as Commander Nore Sub-Area Channel (NORECHAN) of Allied Command Channel . Based at RAF Pitreavie Castle , NORECHAN was tasked to prevent Soviet Navy ships and submarines from entering the North Sea. When the command moved from Rosyth to HMNB Clyde in 1994, it took responsibility for a larger area, becoming the Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland.[ 2] In 2015 the post reverted to Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland. The post was removed under the Royal Navy's Navy Command Transformation Programme and renamed Commodore Submarine Service (COSM).[ 3]
Major subordinate stone frigates under C-in-C Rosyth on the outbreak of the Second World War included HMS Flora at Invergordon; HMS Bacchante (a shore establishment) at Aberdeen, HMS Claverhouse at Leith, and HMS Calliope on the Tyne.[ 4] Bacchante had been commanded by the Senior Naval Officer, Aberdeen from 1915 to 1919 [ 5] and then the Flag Officer-in-Charge, Aberdeen from 1942 to 1945.[ 6] Wartime subsidiary bases included Aultbea on Loch Ewe .[ 7] Facilities at Aultbea were established in February 1915 during World War I and partially deactivated in April 1919. Aultbea was reactivated during World War II in 1940 following the German attack on Scapa Flow and subsequent sinking of HMS Royal Oak , when the Home Fleet was temporarily based there.[ 8] It was also a staging point for arctic convoys that operated out of Loch Ewe . It remained in operation until October 1967.[ 9]
Admirals Commanding
Flag Officers have been:[ 10]
Admiral Commanding on the Coast of Scotland; 1913–1916
Included:[ 11]
S.No
Name
Rank
Assumed office
Left office
1
Sir Robert Lowry
Admiral
July 1913
June 1916
Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth; 1913–1919
Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland; 1919–1939
Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth; 1939–1946
Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland; 1946–1994
Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland; 1994–2015
Note: From 2005, the post holder also held the title of Flag Officer, Reserves and Flag Officer Regional Forces .[ 12]
Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland; 2015–2020
S.No
Name
Rank
Assumed office
Left office
1
John Weale
Rear-Admiral
July 2015 [ 15]
May 2020[ 16]
References
^ Royal Navy official site, FOSNNI
^ Army Quarterly and Defence Journal , Volume 124, page 230 (West of England Press, 1994).
^ "Submariners Association Newsletter In Depth 68" (PDF) . Submariners Association . 1 April 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020 .
^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945" . www.naval-history.net . Graham Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2017 .
^ Admiralty, Great Britain (December 1919). "Other Senior Naval Officers or Officers in Charge at Ports in the United Kingdom". Navy List . London England: HM Stationery Office. p. 699.
^ Admiralty, Great Britain (December 1942). "Flag Officers in Commission". Navy List . London England: HM Stationery Office. p. 1336.
^ Admiralty, Great Britain (January 1919). "The Royal Navy". Navy List . London England: HM Stationery Office. p. 769.
^ Smith, Peter C. (2008). The Great Ships: British Battleships in World War II . Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, United States: Stackpole Books. p. 70. ISBN 9780811749350 .
^ Archives, The National (1940–1967). "Aultbea Naval Base, Loch Ewe, Ross and Cromarty: a short history. With photographs and plan" . discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk . London England: The National Archives. Retrieved 19 October 2018 . ADM 1/31049
^ Listing compiled by historian Colin Mackie Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
^ Admiralty. British. (November 1914). The Navy List. List of Admirals by Seniority. Admirals. H.M.S.O. London. England. p86.
^ Committee, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Defence (2013). House of Commons - Defence Committee: The Defence Implications of Possible Independence - Volume I: HC 198: Sixth Report of Session 2013-14, Vol. 1: Report, Together with an Appendix, Formal Minutes and Oral Evidence . London: The Stationery Office. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-215-06246-8 .
^ Warships Magazine, FLAG OFF SCOTLAND SPECIAL
^ a b Royal Navy official site Base Braves the Elements to Wave Fond Farewell to Admiral , Tuesday, 6 September 2008
^ Lochside Press, New admiral takes the helm at Faslane, 27 July 2015
^ "No. 63039" . The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 June 2020. p. 11075.
oversight TLB holder TLB group under TLB holder Fleet Command maritime forces amphibious forces maritime operations naval training regional forces navy personnel and capability naval personnel naval capability aviation and carriers
Deputy Director Naval Aviation –
submarines surface ships support policy finance and resources
political head ministers governance military head office of the first sea lord under Vice & Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Air, Operations, Plans, Policy requirements, warfare naval staff directorates offices & branches naval personnel naval personnel department controller controllers department navy controllerate naval supplies and transport fleet support hq naval support command under naval supplies and transport fleet support hq naval support command chief scientists department under chief scientists department
Royal Naval Scientific Service Headquarters
Admiralty Compass Observatory
Department of Naval Physical Research
Department of Research and Development Services (Naval)
Department of Material Research (Naval)
Director-General Establishments, Resources and Programmes A
Signals Research and Development Establishment
Director-General Research Electronics
Services Electronics Research Laboratory
naval home command Shore units under Naval Home Command
Admiral-Superintendent, Devonport
Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth
Admiral Commanding, Reserves
Commodore, Clyde Submarine Base
Chief Executive Officer Marine Services
Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Yachts
Flag Officer, Medway
Flag Officer, Plymouth
Port Admiral, Devonport
Flag Officer, Portsmouth and Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth
Flag Officer Spithead and Port Admiral Portsmouth
Flag Officer, Training and Recruitment
Senior Naval Officer, Northern Ireland
Fleets under c-in-c, fleet
Chief of Staff Fleet
Chief of Staff, (Warfare) Fleet
Chief of Staff (Capability) Fleet
Chief of Staff (Personnel) Fleet
Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations
Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans
Assistant Chief of Staff, Warfare
Command Secretary, Fleet
Commandant General Royal Marines
Commander British Forces Gibraltar
Commander Operations
Commander UK Amphibious Forces
Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces
Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships
Flag Officer First Flotilla
Flag Officer, Second Flotilla
Flag Officer, Third Flotilla
Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla
Flag Officer Gibraltar and Gibraltar Naval Base Commander
Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland
Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland
Flag Officer Plymouth
Flag Officer Sea Training
Flag Officer Submarines
Flag Officer Naval Air Command
Flag Officer, Flying Training
Flag Officer, Naval Flying Training
under c-in-c home fleet, far east fleet mediterranean fleet, western fleet civil administration navy department under civil administration
Department of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Royal Navy)
Department of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Administration)
Greenwich Hospital Department
Naval Legal
Direction and control of Admiralty and Naval affairs Boards and offices under the First Lord Direction of Admirals Naval/Sea Lords War and Naval Staff Secretariat and staff under the First Sea Lord Operational planning, policy strategy, tactical doctrine requirements Divisions and sections under the War and Naval Staff Offices of the Sea Lords Admiralty civil departments and organisations under the Sea Lords
Admiralty Area Cash Offices
Admiralty Central Dockyard Laboratory
Admiralty Central Metallurgical Laboratory
Admiralty Civilian Shore Wireless Service
Admiralty Compass Observatory
Admiralty Constabulary
Admiralty Constabulary Headquarters
Admiralty Engineering Laboratory
Admiralty Experimental Station
Admiralty Experiment Works
Admiralty Gunnery Establishment
Admiralty Interview Board
Admiralty Labour Department
Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment
Admiralty Materials Laboratory
Admiralty Mine Design Department
Admiralty Mining Establishment
Admiralty Naval Aircraft Materials Laboratory
Admiralty Record Office
Admiralty Regional Offices
Admiralty Research Laboratory
Admiralty Signal Establishment
Admiralty Signals and Radar Establishment
Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment
Admiralty Surveying Service
Admiralty Torpedo Experimental Establishment
Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment
Admiralty Underwater Weapons Launching Establishment
Architectural and Engineering Works Department
Air Equipment and Naval Photography Department
Air Department
Air Materiel Department
Air Personnel Department
Amphibious Warfare Headquarters
Armament Supply Department
Board of Invention and Research
Board of Longitude
Boom Defence Department
Boom Defence and Marine Salvage Department
Britannia Royal Naval College
Chemical Board
Chemical Department
Civil Catering Department
Civil Engineer in Chiefs Department
Coastguard and Reserves Branch
Combined Operations Headquarters
Commissioner for Property and Income-tax for the Naval Department
Compass Department
Contract and Purchase Department
Council of Naval Education
Dental Examining Board
Department of Radio Equipment
Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy
Department of Aeronautical and Engineering Research
Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development
Department of Naval Assistant (Foreign) to Second Sea Lord
Department of Naval Education
Operational Research
Department of Personal Services and Officer Appointments
Department of Physical Research
Department of Physical Training & Sports
Department of Radio Equipment
Department of Research Programmes and Planning
Department of Superintendent of de-magnetisation
Department of the Admiral of the Training Service
Department of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance
Department of the Chief of Naval Information
Department of the Chief Scientist
Department of the Civil Engineer-in-Chief
Department of the Comptroller of Steam Machinery
Department of the Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services
Department of the Controller of the Navy
Department of the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding
Department of the Controller for Navy Pay
Department of the Deputy Controller for Auxiliary Shipbuilding
Department of the Deputy Controller for Dockyards and Shipbuilding
Department of the Director Contract-Built Ships
Department of the Director-General Aircraft
Department of the Director-General of Manpower
Department of the Director-General, Supply and Secretariat Branch
Department of the Director of Aircraft Maintenance and Repair
Department of the Director of Contract Labour
Department of the Director of Dockyards
Department of the Director of Electrical Engineering
Department of the Director of Manning
Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding
Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs
Department of the Director of Merchant Ship Repairs
Department of the Director of Naval Construction
Department of the Director of Naval Equipment
Department of the Director of Naval Recruiting
Department of the Director of Naval Weather Service
Department of the Director of Personal Services
Department of the Director of Physical Training and Sports
Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining
Department of the Director of Transports
Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons
Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Materials
Department of the Director of Unexploded Bombs
Department of the Director of Warship Production
Department of the Director of Welfare and Service Conditions
Department of the Director of Wreck Dispersal
Department of the Flag Officer Sea Training
Department of the Engineer in Chief
Department of the Paymaster Director-General
Department of the Inspector of Anti-Aircraft Weapons
Department of the Inspector of Dockyard Expense Accounts
Department of the Inspector-General of Naval Hospitals and Fleets
Department of the Medical Director-General of the Navy
Department of the Physician of the Navy
Department of the Physician General of the Navy
Department of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy
Department of the Surveyor of Buildings
Department of the Surveyor of Dockyards
Directorate-General, (Naval Manpower and Training)
Directorate General Training
Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Department
Dockyards Branch
Dockyard Expense Accounts Department
Dockyard Schools
Electrical Engineering Department
Engineer Branch
Engineering Department
Experimental Department
Fire Control Group
Greenwich Hospital Department
Inspector of Telegraphs
Inspector of Repairs
Joint Warfare Establishment
Medical Consultative Board
Medical Examining Board
Historical Section
Hydrographic Department
Marine Department
Marine Pay Department
Materials and Priority Department
Medical Consultative Board
Medical Department
Medical Examining Board
Movements Department
Nautical Almanac Office
Naval Artillery and Torpedo Department
Naval Engineering College
Naval Equipment Department
Naval Historical Branch
Naval Construction Department
Naval Intelligence Department
Naval Medical Service
Naval Law Division
Naval Manpower Department
Naval Mobilisation Department
Naval Ordnance Department
Naval Ordnance Inspection Department
Naval Ordnance Stores Department
Naval Personnel Services and Officer Appointments Department
Naval Publicity Department
Naval Regional Offices
Naval Reserve Department
Naval Security Department
Naval Stores Department
Naval Training Department
Naval Works Department
Navy, Army and Air Force Institute
Navy and Army Canteen Board
Navy Works Department
Navigation Department
Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope
Office of the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves
Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves
Office of the Admiralty Chemist
Office of the Adviser on the Naval Construction to the Board of Admiralty
Office of the Assistant Controller
Office of the Assistant Controller Research and Development
Office of the Clerk of the Journals
Office of the Chief Polaris Executive
Office of the Deputy Controller of Navy
Office of the Deputy Controller Production
Office of Extra Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord
Office of the Inspector Gun Mountings
Office of the Keeper of Records
Office of the Senior Psychologist (Naval)
Office of the Senior Psychologist of the Navy
Office of the Translator of French and Spanish Languages
Office of the Vice Controller Air
Office of the Vice Controller of the Navy
Organisation and Methods Department
Packet Service
Regional Organisation for Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs
Royal Corps of Naval Constructors
Royal Flying Corps
Royal Marine Police
Royal Marines Office
Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet
Royal Naval Academy
Royal Naval Aircraft Workshops
Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Stations
Royal Naval Armaments Depot
Royal Naval Auxiliary Service
Royal Naval Cordite Factories
Royal Naval Propellant Factory
Royal Naval College
Royal Naval College and the School for Naval Architecture
Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Royal Naval College, Keyham
Royal Naval College, Osborne
Royal Naval Engineering College
Royal Naval Film Corporation
Royal Naval Hospital
Royal Naval Medical Depot
Royal Naval Minewatching Service
Royal Naval Mine Depot
Royal Naval Patrol Service
Royal Naval Scientific Service
Royal Naval Sick Quarters
Royal Naval Torpedo Depot
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Royal Naval War College
Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth
Royal Navy Dockyard
Royal Navy Medical Service
Royal Navy Shore Signal Service
Royal Observatory, Greenwich
Royal School of Naval Architecture
Salvage Department
School of Mathematics and Naval Construction
Scientific Research and Experiment Department
Sea Transport Branch
Sea Transport Department
Sea Transport Division
Ship Department
Ship Design Department
Signal Department
Signal School
Sixpenny Office
Statistics Department
Steam Department
Superintendent of De-magnetisation
Torpedo Experimental Establishment
Transport Department
Undersurface Warfare Department
Victualling Department
Volunteer Boys and Cadet Corps
Weapons Department
Weapons Department (Naval)
Women's Royal Naval Service
Wireless Telegraphy Board
Direction/Command of the Fleet Naval formations after 1707
1st Fleet
2nd Fleet
3rd Fleet
Commander-in-Chief, Africa
Atlantic Fleet
Commodore, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf
Australia Station
Cape of Good Hope Station
Cape and West Africa Station
Battle Cruiser Fleet
Battle Cruiser Force
Caspian Flotilla
Channel Fleet
Channel Squadron
Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland
Cork Station
Coast of Scotland
Commander-in-Chief, China
Commander-in-Chief, Dover
Flag Officer, East Africa
East Indies Station
East Indies and China Station
Eastern Fleet
Far East Fleet
English Channel
Grand Fleet
Flag Officer Gibraltar
Harwich Force
Home Fleet
Jamaica Station
Leith Station
Commander-in-Chief, Levant
Levant and East Mediterranean
Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands
Mediterranean Fleet
Medway
Newfoundland Station
New Zealand Division
New Zealand Naval Forces
Nore
North America and West Indies Station
Commander-in-Chief, North Sea
Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands
Pacific Fleet
Pacific Station
Admiral of Patrols
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
Queenstown Station
Royal East African Navy
Royal Indian Navy
Flag Officer Submarines
Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth
Reserve Fleet
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic
South East Coast of America Station
Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway
West Africa Squadron
Flag Officer, West Africa
Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches
Naval formations before 1707 Direction of Naval Finance Departments under the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary Direction of Naval Administration and the Admiralty Secretariat Branches and offices under the Permanent Secretary Civil Administration Departments under the Civil Lords Legal
Historic fleets and naval commands of the
Royal Navy North and Irish Seas and English Channel Atlantic Ocean Baltic, Black, Caspian, and Mediterranean Seas Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean