Commander United Kingdom Strike Force (COMUKSTRKFOR or CSF) and Rear Admiral Surface Ships (RASS) is a senior post in the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Fr ...

. The post is the highest seagoing command in the Royal Navy. Its role is to direct UK, Allied or Coalition maritime forces anywhere in the world.Commander UK Maritime Forces
Personnel within the command are always at short notice to deploy either at sea or on land, providing forces necessary for the task in hand. The Commander United Kingdom Strike Force may also be in command at sea of UK or NATO naval task forces and task groups formed for specific operations.

Organisation within the Royal Navy

The position reports to the

Fleet Commander The Fleet Commander is a senior Royal Navy post, responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the Naval Service. The Vice-Admiral incumbent is required to provide ships, submarine ...

and is based at

HMS Excellent A ship and a shore establishment of the Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engag ...

in Fieldhouse Building. The Commander has the rank of

rear admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star " admiral" rank. It is often rega ...

. COMUKSTRKFOR directs the two Very High Readiness Strike Groups in the Royal Navy: Commander Littoral Strike Group (COMLSG), formerly Commander Amphibious Task Group, (COMATG), and

Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group The Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group, (COMUKCSG) is a senior British Royal Navy appointment which commands the UK Carrier Strike Group. COMUKCSG, a Commodore, commands a total of 65 personnel, and is headquartered at HMNB Portsmout ...

(COMUKCSG). He also has responsibility for the Commander UK Minecountermeasures Force, and, as Rear Admiral Surface Ships, is the titular head of all the

surface ships. As part of the

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two N ...

Long Term Commitments Plot of Command responsibilities across the Alliance, COMUKSTRKFOR is one of six national/NATO deployable HQs accredited to act as the High Readiness Force (Maritime) and as such has held the duty of

NATO Response Force The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a high-readiness force comprising land, air, sea and special forces units capable of being deployed quickly. Until February 2022, when NATO activated it in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine,JAMES KITFIEL(1 ...

Maritime Component Commander on several occasions, including 2004, 2010, and 2016.

Jane's Defence Weekly ''Jane's Defence Weekly'' (abbreviated as ''JDW'') is a weekly magazine reporting on military and corporate affairs, edited by Peter Felstead. It is one of a number of military-related publications named after John F. T. Jane, an Englishman who ...

19 May 2004, p.28

History

The position was first established on 1 December 1997, under the name of Commander United Kingdom Task Group (COMUKTG),Navy News: Dec 97 Edition
/ref> but was renamed to Commander UK Maritime Forces (COMUKMARFOR) in 2001.
Until 2011, COMUKMARFOR had three subordinates – the

Commander Amphibious Task Group The Commander Littoral Strike Group (COMLSG) is a senior British Royal Navy Amphibious warfare appointment. COMLSG, who is based in Stonehouse Barracks, Stonehouse, Plymouth, reports to Commander United Kingdom Strike Force. It was first establishe ...

(COMATG), the Commander of the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group (COMCSG) and his one-star deployable deputy, Commander United Kingdom Task Group (COMUKTG). However, following the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, COMCSG and COMUKTG were abolished as separate commands (although the one-star post that was previously named COMUKTG was retained, albeit with no staff, to become Deputy Commander of COMUKMARFOR), and COMATG (remaining based in

Plymouth Plymouth () is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to ...

) assumed the title of COMUKTG.Royal Navy: Commander United Kingdom Task Group
In March 2015, this reorganisation was partially reversed when the post of COMUKTG reverted to its previous title of COMATG. In 2016, with the commissioning of the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, the Deputy COMUKMARFOR position transitioned to the re-established role of COMUKCSG in preparation for the arrival of the new

Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier The ''Queen Elizabeth'' class is a class of two aircraft carriers of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy which are the central components of the UK Carrier Strike Group. The lead ship, , was named on 4 July 2014, in honour of Elizabeth I. She wa ...

s. In April 2018 it was announced that the two separate deployable two-star maritime operational commanders (COMUKMARFOR and COMUKAMPHIBFOR) would be merged into a single, larger, organisation. This took place on 1 July 2019, whereupon the incumbent COMUKMARFOR took the title of COMUKSTRKFOR, and responsibility for all the deployable elements of COMUKAMPHIBFOR. The Role of

Commandant General Royal Marines The Commandant General Royal Marines is the professional head of the Royal Marines. The title has existed since 1943. The role is held by a General who is assisted by a Deputy Commandant General, with the rank of brigadier. This position is not t ...

, previously (but not exclusively) tied to COMUKAMPHIBFOR position, remains in existence as the (non-deployable) head of the

Royal Marines The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious warfare, amphibious light infantry and also one of the :Fighting Arms of the Royal Navy, five fighti ...

and the Senior Responsible Owner for the future of amphibious warfare and littoral strike capability, or

Future Commando Force The Future Commando Force (FCF) is an in-progress (as of February 2022) modernisation programme and model of the future role and operations of the Royal Marines. The FCF essentially retasks 40 Commando and 45 Commando with implementing the infantr ...

. On 1 October 2019, COMATG was re-titled as Commander Littoral Strike Group (COMLSG).

Past operational deployments directed by COMUKSTRKFOR (and predecessor organisations)

COMUKMARFOR took on the duty of

Maritime Component Commander from 1 July 2004 for one year. Rear Admiral David Snelson told

correspondent Richard Scott in May 2004 that in the lead up to assumption of duties as NATO Response Force Maritime Component Commander, there was to be a major exercise, Allied Action, in Italy. Allied Action was a command post exercise in which all three of the component commanders for NRF were to be located ashore so that the staffs could work together and the commanders could get to know one another. Commodore Thomas Cunningham, the previous COMUKCSG, flew his flag throughout the January to May Orion '08 deployment, as Commander Task Group 328.01, which included exercises with the

Indian Navy The Indian Navy is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy. As a blue-water navy, it operates si ...

, aboard . The Naval Task Group for Operation VELA, a three-month deployment to West Africa in 2006, was under the command of Commander UK Amphibious Group, Commodore Phil Jones. The VELA deployment involved a significant number of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships, the Royal Marine Commandos and helicopters. The Task Group included , , , , , , , , , , , Mine Counter Measure Squadron 1 and a Fleet submarine together with the Fleet Lead Commando Group, consisting of

40 Commando 40 Commando RM is a battalion-sized formation of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of Commander in Chief Fleet. Their barracks are at Norton M ...

Royal Marines,

59 Commando 24 Commando Royal Engineers is a unit of the British Army's Royal Engineers supporting 3 Commando Brigade. History The regiment, which was formed in April 2008, is one of two British Army units attached to 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines, th ...

Independent Engineering Squadron, 29 Commando Royal Artillery and 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines. Also involved were elements of Fleet Diving Unit 2 and 849 (B) Flight from

RNAS Culdrose Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose (RNAS Culdrose, also known as HMS ''Seahawk''; ICAO: EGDR) is a Royal Navy airbase near Helston on the Lizard Peninsula of Cornwall UK, and is one of the largest helicopter bases in Europe. Its main role is serv ...

. Embarked in HMS ''Ocean'' for the deployment a Tailored Air Group (TAG) was formed, consisting of Sea King helicopters of

845 Naval Air Squadron 845 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Part of the Commando Helicopter Force, it is a specialist amphibious unit operating the AgustaWestland Commando Merlin HC4 helicopter and provides troop transport and load ...

, 846 Naval Air Squadron, Merlin Mk 1 aircraft from

820 Naval Air Squadron 820 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier-based squadron flying the AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 in an Anti-Submarine role from RNAS Culdrose. The Squadron was formed at RNAS Gosport on 3 April 1933 with the transferral of the ...

and

Lynx A lynx is a type of wild cat. Lynx may also refer to: Astronomy * Lynx (constellation) * Lynx (Chinese astronomy) * Lynx X-ray Observatory, a NASA-funded mission concept for a next-generation X-ray space observatory Places Canada * Lynx, ...

helicopters of

847 Naval Air Squadron 847 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It operates AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 helicopters and provides armed reconnaissance and light transport support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Along with 845 and 846 n ...

. The Vela task group conducted an amphibious exercise, Exercise Green Eagle, in Sierra Leone.

List of commanders

Commanders have been as follows: *

Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star " admiral" rank. It is often rega ...

James Burnell-Nugent Admiral Sir James Michael Burnell-Nugent, (born 20 November 1949) is a retired Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief Fleet from 2005 to 2007. Early life and education Burnell-Nugent was educated at Stowe School, then an all-boys p ...

(2001–2002) *Rear Admiral

David Snelson Rear Admiral David George Snelson, is a former Royal Navy officer who served as Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces from 2002 to 2004. Naval career Snelson joined the Royal Navy in 1969. He first became Commanding Officer of the destroyer ...

(2002–2004) *Rear Admiral

Charles Style Vice Admiral Charles Rodney Style, (born 15 January 1954) is a former Royal Navy officer who served as Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies from 2008 to 2012. Naval career Educated at the University of Cambridge, Style joined the ...

(2004–2005) *Rear Admiral

Neil Morisetti Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, is a retired Royal Navy officer who is an Honorary Professor and Director of Strategy at University College London's Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy Department. Naval career Morisetti was educated ...

(2005–2007) *Rear Admiral

George Zambellas Admiral Sir George Michael Zambellas, (born 4 April 1958) is a retired Royal Navy officer. He was the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from April 2013 until he handed over duties to Admiral Sir Philip Jones in April 2016. In his ea ...

(2007–2008) *Rear Admiral Philip Jones (2008–2009) *Rear Admiral

Peter Hudson Peter John Hudson AM (born 19 February 1946) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and for the New Norfolk Football Club and Glenorchy Football Club in the ...

(2009–2011) *Rear Admiral

Duncan Potts Vice Admiral Duncan Laurence Potts, (born 10 March 1961) is a retired senior Royal Navy officer. He served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Capability) and Controller of the Navy from 2013 to 2014, and as Director General of the Defence Acade ...

(2011–2013) *Rear Admiral Robert Tarrant (2013–2014) *Rear Admiral

Tony Radakin Admiral Sir Antony David Radakin, (born 10 November 1965) is a senior Royal Navy officer. Since November 2021, he is the 24th Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom), Chief of the Defence Staff, the professional head of the British Armed For ...

(2014–2016) *Rear Admiral

Alex Burton Rear Admiral Alexander J. Burton is a retired senior Royal Navy officer who served as Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces and Rear Admiral Surface Ships. Early life and education Burton was educated at St Dunstan's College and Durham Univ ...

(2016–2017) *Rear Admiral Paul Bennett (2017–2018) *Rear Admiral Jeremy Kyd (2018–2019) *Rear Admiral Andrew Burns (2019–2019) *Rear Admiral

Michael Utley Michael Edward Utley is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer for Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band. He is the musical director of the band. Born in Blytheville in Mississippi County, Arkansas, he graduated from the Univer ...

(2019–present)

Deputy Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces

Commodore Commodore may refer to: Ranks * Commodore (rank), a naval rank ** Commodore (Royal Navy), in the United Kingdom ** Commodore (United States) ** Commodore (Canada) ** Commodore (Finland) ** Commodore (Germany) or ''Kommodore'' * Air commodore ...

Simon Ancona (Jan 2011 – Jun 2011) *Commodore John Clink (Jun 2011 – Oct 2012) *Commodore Jeremy Blunden (Oct 2012 – Feb 2015)Indian Warship Arrives In Portsmouth
*Commodore Guy Robinson (Feb 2015 – 2016)

References

External links

Commander UK Maritime Forces
{{Naval Service (British), state=collapsed MarFor