The Commander-in-Chief, The Nore, was an operational commander 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 engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

. His subordinate units, establishments, and staff were sometimes informally known as the Nore Station or Nore Command.

The Nore The Nore is a long bank of sand and silt running along the south-centre of the final narrowing of the Thames Estuary, England. Its south-west is the very narrow Nore Sand. Just short of the Nore's easternmost point where it fades into the ch ...

is a sandbank at the mouth of the

Thames Estuary The Thames Estuary is where the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea, in the south-east of Great Britain. Limits An estuary can be defined according to different criteria (e.g. tidal, geographical, navigational or in terms of salini ...

and River Medway.Area Combined Headquarters Chatham & HMS Wildfire
/ref>

History

The origins of the Commander-in-Chief's post can be traced to the first area naval commander, then known as the ''Commander-in-Chief, Thames'' from 1695 to 1696. From 1698 to 1699 the appointment was known as ''Commander-in-Chief, Medway''. In 1707 the post holder was known as ''Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway'' and between 1711 and 1745 the office was known as the ''Commander-in-Chief, Thames, Medway and Nore''. In 1745 the post for the first time was simply called the ''Commander-in-Chief, Nore'' established at Chatham and became responsible for sub-commands at Chatham,

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

less the

Admiralty Admiralty most often refers to: *Admiralty, Hong Kong *Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964 *The rank of admiral *Admiralty law Admiralty can also refer to: Buildings * Admiralty, Traf ...

, Sheerness, Harwich and

Humber The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal rivers Ouse and Trent. From there to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between t ...

. A. Cecil Hampshire writes that in 1752

Isaac Townsend Isaac Townsend ( – 21 November 1765) was an admiral in the British Royal Navy and a Member of Parliament. A post-captain from 1720, Townsend commanded various ships. As captain of HMS Shrewsbury he took part in the expedition against Cartage ...

, Admiral of the Blue, was appointed as "Commander-in-Chief of HM Ships and Naval Vessels in the Rivers Thames and Medway and at the Buoy of the Nore." From 1827 the Commander-in-Chief was accommodated in Admiralty House, Sheerness, built as part of the renewal of

Sheerness Dockyard Sheerness Dockyard also known as the Sheerness Station was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the Sheerness peninsula, at the mouth of the River Medway in Kent. It was opened in the 1660s and closed in 1960. Location In the Age of Sail, the Roy ...

. From 1834 to 1899 his appointment was known as the ''Commander-in-Chief, Sheerness''. After the dissolution of the Home Fleet in 1905, remaining ships at a lesser state of readiness were split between three reserve divisions:

Nore Division The Commander-in-Chief, The Nore, was an operational commander of the Royal Navy. His subordinate units, establishments, and staff were sometimes informally known as the Nore Station or Nore Command. Nore, The Nore is a sandbank at the mouth of t ...

plus the

Devonport Division Devonport may refer to: * Devonport, Plymouth, Devon, England ** HMNB Devonport, naval base/dockyard ** Plymouth Devonport (UK Parliament constituency), parliamentary constituency formerly known as Devonport * Devonport, New Zealand, a suburb of ...

and the

Portsmouth Division Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most dense ...

. In 1909 the division was brought out of reserve status, and became operational as part of the 3rd and 4th Division of the Home Fleet. In 1907 the Commander-in-Chief moved to a new Admiralty House alongside the naval barracks ( HMS ''Pembroke'') in Chatham, the Sheerness house being given over to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet. The

Dover Patrol The Dover Patrol and later known as the Dover Patrol Force was a Royal Navy command of the First World War, notable for its involvement in the Zeebrugge Raid on 22 April 1918. The Dover Patrol formed a discrete unit of the Royal Navy based at Dove ...

Harwich Force The Harwich Force originally called Harwich Striking Force was a squadron of the Royal Navy, formed during the First World War and based in Harwich. It played a significant role in the war. History After the outbreak of the First World War, a ...

, and

Humber Force The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal rivers Ouse and Trent. From there to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between th ...

operated in the Channel during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, but were responsible to the Admiralty in London; the Nore was effectively a provider of shore support rather than a command with operational responsibilities. In 1938 an underground Area Combined Headquarters was built close to Admiralty House to accommodate the Commander-in-Chief together with the Air Officer Commanding No. 16 Group RAF, Coastal Command, and their respective staffs; similar headquarters were built close to the other

Royal Dockyard Royal Navy Dockyards (more usually termed Royal Dockyards) were state-owned harbour facilities where ships of the Royal Navy were built, based, repaired and refitted. Until the mid-19th century the Royal Dockyards were the largest industrial ...

s. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, the Nore assumed great importance: it was used to guard the east coast convoys supplying the ports of North Eastern England. During the Second World War, the Commander-in-Chief at the Nore, at Chatham, included eight sub commands, each of which usually commanded by a Flag Officer either a Rear Admiral or Vice Admiral. They included Brightlingsea station, Harwich, Humber, London (not including the Admiralty), Lowestoft, Sheerness, Southend and Yarmouth. These sub-commands were then sub-divided into Base areas usually commanded by a ''Naval Officer in Charge (NOIC)'' or a ''Residential Naval Officer (RNO)'' these included HM Naval Bases at Boston, Burnham-on-Crouch, Felixstowe, Gravesend, Grimsby, Immingham, and Queensborough. With the onset of the Cold War, the Nore diminished in importance as the navy decreased in size. Between 1952 and 1961 the Commander-in-Chief, The Nore was double-hatted as Commander, Nore Sub-Area, of NATO's

Allied Command Channel Allied Command Channel (ACCHAN) was one of three major North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) commands from 1952 to 1994. Commander-in-Chief Channel was a Major NATO Commander (MNC). The Command was established in 1952 to defend the sea areas a ...

. Cecil Hampshire writes that the appointment of Commander-in-Chief finally lapsed as part of the "Way Ahead" economies. The closing ceremony took place on 24 March 1961, when the station's Queen's Colour was formally laid up in the presence of members of the

Admiralty Board The Admiralty Board is the body established under the Defence Council of the United Kingdom for the administration of the Naval Service of the United Kingdom. It meets formally only once a year, and the day-to-day running of the Royal Navy is ...

, several former Commanders-in-Chief, other civilian and military figures, "..and the Commander-in-Chief of the Netherlands Home Station flying his flag in the new Dutch destroyer ''Limburg'' who had been invited to attend." The Commander-in-Chief's appointment was finally discontinued on 31 March 1961. Cecil Hampshire writes that from 1 April 1961, the area was divided between the Commander-in-Chief Portsmouth and the

Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland The Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland (FOSNI) was a senior post in the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. It was based at HMNB Clyde, HM Naval Base Clyde, and the holder of the post was the Royal Navy’s senior officer in Scotland. The ...

, the demarcation line being "roughly at

The Wash The Wash is a rectangular bay and multiple estuary at the north-west corner of East Anglia on the East coast of England, where Norfolk meets Lincolnshire and both border the North Sea. One of Britain's broadest estuaries, it is fed by the riv ...

." For purposes of administration from that date onward, the Admiral Superintendent Chatham also took the title of Flag Officer Medway. The underground headquarters went on to serve as HMS ''Wildfire'', a Royal Naval Reserve training and communications centre, from 1964 to 1994.

Installations

Chatham

Chatham Dockyard Chatham Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the River Medway in Kent. Established in Chatham in the mid-16th century, the dockyard subsequently expanded into neighbouring Gillingham (at its most extensive, in the early 20th century ...

was a Dockyard located on the River Medway in Kent. Established in Chatham in the mid-16th century, the dockyard subsequently expanded into neighbouring Gillingham. At its most extensive, in the early 20th century, two-thirds of the dockyard lay in Gillingham, one-third in Chatham. The senior officer was a

Captain-Superintendent, Chatham Dockyard Chatham Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the River Medway in Kent. Established in Chatham in the mid-16th century, the dockyard subsequently expanded into neighbouring Gillingham (at its most extensive, in the early 20th century, ...

or the

Admiral-superintendent Chatham Chatham Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the River Medway in Kent. Established in Chatham in the mid-16th century, the dockyard subsequently expanded into neighbouring Gillingham (at its most extensive, in the early 20th century, ...

In the early 20th century the Rear Admiral Commanding, Chatham Sheerness Reserve Division, was established and became responsible eventually to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet(s). Post holders included Rear Admirals

Walter Hodgson Bevan Graham Admiral Walter Hodgson Bevan Graham (13 October 1849 – August 1931) was a British Royal Navy officer who was Captain Superintendent of Sheerness Dockyard from 1902 until 1904. Naval career Graham joined the Royal Navy in the 1860s. He was promot ...

, 3 January 1905 – 3 January 1906; Charles H. Adair 3 January 1906 – 3 January 1907; and Frank Finnis 3 January 1907 – 4 January 1909. The

Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham The Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, also known as HMS ''Pembroke'', was a UK naval barracks that was built between the Victorian Steam Yard and Brompton Barracks from 1897 to 1902. It was built on the site of a prison built in 1853 to house ov ...

were purpose-built to provide accommodation and training facilities for the men of the reserve fleet who were waiting to be appointed to ships. Designed by Colonel Henry Pilkington, construction of the barracks began in 1897 and completed in December 1902.

Sheerness Dockyard

was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the Sheerness peninsula, at the mouth of the River Medway in Kent. It was opened in the 1660s and closed in 1960. It was directed by the Admiral-Superintendent, Sheerness.

Sub-areas during First and Second World Wars

At various times during the First and Second World Wars, up to nine sub-areas were established. These were usually administered by either a retired vice or rear admiral, or an active captain, who were appointed as Senior Naval Officers or Flag Officers.

Seagoing formations

Various units that served in this command included:

Commanders-in-Chief

Commanders-in-Chief have included:
= died in post

Commander-in-Chief Thames (1695–1696)

* Commodore Stafford Fairborne 1695 * Commodore James Gother 1696

Commander-in-Chief, Medway, (1698–1699)

* Vice-Admiral Sir

John Jennings John Jennings may refer to: Politicians * John Jenyns (1660–1717), MP * John Jennings (Burton MP) (1903–1990), British Conservative Party politician * John Jennings (American politician) (1880–1956), U.S. Representative from Tennessee, 1939 ...

, 1698–1699

Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway, (1707–1711)

* Vice-Admiral Sir

, (1707–1711) (promoted to Admiral 1708)

Commander-in-Chief, Thames, Medway and Nore, (1711–1747)

* Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy, 1711–1712 * Rear-Admiral William Caldwell 1717 * Vice Admiral Sir

Chaloner Ogle Admiral of the Fleet Sir Chaloner Ogle KB (1681 – 11 April 1750) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. After serving as a junior officer during the Nine Years' War, a ship he was commanding was captured by three French ships off Ostend i ...

1745–1747

Commander-in-Chief, Medway and at the Nore, (1747–1797)

* Rear-Admiral Henry Osborn (1747–1748) (V.Adm May 1748) * Vice-Admiral Sir Francis Geary (1757–1758) * Commodore William Boys (1760–1761) * Commodore William Gordon (1762–1765) * Commodore Christopher Hill (1770–1771) * Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Denis (1771–1775) * Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon (1775–1776) * Vice-Admiral

Robert Roddam Robert Roddam (1719 – 31 March 1808) was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War, and the American War of Independence. He survived to see the French Revolutionary and N ...

(1778–1783) * Vice-Admiral Sir Walter Stirling (1783–1785) * Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Hammond (1785–1788) * Vice-Admiral Richard Edwards (1788–1792) * Vice-Admiral

William Locker William Locker (16 February 1866 – 15 August 1952) was an English footballer and cricketer. He played first-class cricket for Derbyshire between 1894 and 1903 and football for Stoke, Derby County and Notts County. He was one of nineteen spo ...

(1792–1794) * Rear-Admiral John Dalrymple (1794–1795) * Vice-Admiral Sir

George Collier Vice Admiral Sir George Collier (11 May 1732 – 6 April 1795) was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars. As commander of the fourth-rate shi ...

(1795) * Vice-Admiral Charles Buckner (1795–1797)

Commander-in-Chief, Nore, (1797–1834)

Post holders included: * Vice-Admiral

Skeffington Lutwidge Admiral Skeffington Lutwidge (13 March 1737 – 15/16 August 1814) was an officer of the Royal Navy, who saw service during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He had a particular connection w ...

(1797–1798) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Thomas Pasley Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley, 1st Baronet (2 March 1734 – 29 November 1808) was a senior and highly experienced British Royal Navy officer of the eighteenth century, who served with distinction at numerous actions of the Seven Years' War, Americ ...

(1798–1799) * Vice-Admiral

Alexander Graeme Admiral Alexander Graeme (9 December 1741 – 5 August 1818) was a Royal Navy officer who became Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. Naval career Born at ''Graemeshall'' in Orkney, Graeme became commanding officer of the sloop HMS ''Kingfisher'' in F ...

(1799–1803) * Vice-Admiral Lord Keith (1803–1807) (formed part of North Sea Command) * Vice-Admiral Thomas Wells (1807–1810) * Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Stanhope (1810–1811) * Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Williams (1811–1814) * Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Rowley (1815–1818) * Vice-Admiral Sir John Gore (1818–1821) * Vice-Admiral Sir Benjamin Hallowell (1821–1824) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Robert Moorsom Admiral Sir Robert Moorsom KCB (8 June 1760 – 14 April 1835) was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. His very active service career was especial ...

(1824) * Vice-Admiral Sir

Henry Blackwood Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood, 1st Baronet, GCH, KCB (28 December 1770 – 17 December 1832), whose memorial is in Killyleagh Parish Church, was a British sailor. Early life Blackwood was the fourth son of Sir John Blackwood, 2nd Baronet, ...

(1827–1830) * Vice-Admiral Sir John Beresford (1830–1833) * Vice-Admiral Sir Richard King (1833–1834)

Commander-in-Chief, Sheerness, (1834–1899)

Post holders included: * Vice-Admiral Charles Elphinstone Fleeming (1834–1837) * Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Otway (1837–1840) * Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Digby (Royal Navy officer), Henry Digby (1840–1841) * Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Brace (1841–1843) * Vice-Admiral Sir John Chambers White, John White (1844–1845) * Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Durnford King (1845–1848) * Vice-Admiral Sir George Elliot (1784–1863), George Elliot (1848–1851) * Vice-Admiral Josceline Percy (Royal Navy officer), Josceline Percy (1851–1854) * Vice-Admiral William Gordon (Royal Navy officer), William Gordon (1854–1857) * Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Harvey (1857–1860) * Vice-Admiral Sir William James Hope-Johnstone, William Hope-Johnstone (1860–1863) * Vice-Admiral Sir George Lambert (Royal Navy officer), George Lambert (1863–1864) * Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Talbot (Royal Navy officer), Charles Talbot (1864–1866) * Vice-Admiral Sir Baldwin Wake Walker, Baldwin Walker (1866–1869) * Vice-Admiral Richard Warren (Royal Navy officer), Richard Warren (1869–1870) * Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Elliot (1818–1895), Charles Elliot (1870–1873) * Vice-Admiral George Fowler Hastings, George Hastings (1873–1876) * Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Chads (1876–1877) * Vice-Admiral Sir William King-Hall (1877–1879) * Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald Macdonald (1879–1882) * Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Rice (Royal Navy officer), Edward Rice (1882–1884) * Vice-Admiral Sir John Corbett (Royal Navy officer), John Corbett (1884–1885) * Vice-Admiral Ernst Leopold, 4th Prince of Leiningen, The Prince of Leiningen (1885–1887) * Vice-Admiral Charles Waddilove (1887–1888) * Vice-Admiral Thomas Lethbridge (Royal Navy officer), Thomas Lethbridge (1888–1890) * Vice-Admiral Charles Curme (1890–1892) * Vice-Admiral Sir Algernon Heneage (1892–1894) * Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Wells (Royal Navy officer), Richard Wells (1894–1896) * Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Nicholson (Royal Navy officer), Henry Nicholson (1896–1897) * Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Frederick Hotham, Charles Hotham (1897–1899)

Commander-in-Chief, Nore, (1899–1961)

Post holders included: * Vice-Admiral Sir Nathaniel Bowden-Smith (1899–1900) * Vice-Admiral Sir William Kennedy (Royal Navy officer), William Kennedy (1900–1901) * Vice-Admiral Sir Albert Hastings Markham, Albert Markham (1901–1903) * Admiral Sir Hugo Pearson (1903–1907) * Admiral Sir Gerard Noel (Royal Navy officer), Gerard Noel (1907–1908) * Admiral Sir Charles Carter Drury, Charles Drury (1908–1911) * Admiral Sir Sir Richard Poore, 4th Baronet, Richard Poore (1911–1915) * Admiral Sir George Callaghan (1915–1918) * Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee (1918–1921) * Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas (1921–1924) * Vice Admiral Sir William Goodenough (1924–1927) * Admiral Sir Edwyn Alexander-Sinclair (1927–1930) * Admiral Sir Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt, 1st Baronet, Reginald Tyrwhitt (1930–1933) * Vice Admiral Sir Hugh Tweedie (1933–1935) * Vice Admiral Sir Edward Evans, 1st Baron Mountevans, Edward Evans (1935–1939) * Admiral Sir Studholme Brownrigg (January 1939 – December 1939) * Admiral Sir Reginald Drax, Reginald Plunkett (1939–1941) * Admiral Sir George Hamilton D'Oyly Lyon, George Lyon (1941–1943) * Admiral Sir John Tovey, 1st Baron Tovey, John Tovey (1943–1946) * Admiral Sir Harold Burrough (1946–1948) * Admiral Sir Henry Ruthven Moore, Henry Moore (1948–1950) * Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt (1950–1952) * Admiral Sir Cyril Douglas-Pennant (1952–1953) * Admiral Sir Geoffrey Oliver (1953–1955) * Admiral Sir Frederick Parham (1955–1958) * Admiral Sir Robin Durnford-Slater (1958–1961)

Senior staff officers

Flag Captain, the Nore

Post holders supporting the senior naval officer at the Nore included: * Captain William G. Luard: July 1860 – July 1863 * Captain John Fulford: July 1863 – April 1866 * Captain Donald McL. Mackenzie: April 1866 – June 1869 * Captain Thomas Miller: June 1869 – June 1870 * Captain John C. Wilson: June 1870 – January 1872 * Captain George W. Watson: January 1872 – January 1875 * Captain Charles T. Curme: January 1875 – February 1876 * Captain St. George C. D'Arcy-Irvine: February 1876 – September 1877 * Captain Thomas B. Lethbridge: September 1877 – January 1879 * Captain Thomas B.M. Sulivan: January 1879 – July 1881 * Captain John D’Arcy: July 1881 – September 1883 * Captain James A. Poland: September 1883 – September 1886 * Captain Frederick C.B. Robinson: September 1886 – July 1887 * Captain Arthur C. Curtis: July 1887 – July 1890 * Captain Leicester C. Keppel: July 1890 – August 1892 * Captain Henry H. Boys: August 1892 – October 1894 * Captain William H.C. St.Clair: October 1894 – February 1896 * Captain James L. Hammet: February 1896 – January 1898 * Captain William F.S. Mann: January 1898 – July 1899 * Captain Charles Campbell: July–October 1899 * Captain Henry C. Bigge: October 1899 – February 1901 * Captain Archibald Y. Pocklington: February 1901 – December 1902 * Captain Arthur Y. Moggridge: January 1907 – April 1908 * Captain Clement Greatorex: April–December 1908 * Captain Henry J. L. Clarke: December 1908 – August 1911 * Captain Philip H. Colomb: August 1911 – January 1915 * Captain Ernest Taylor (Royal Navy officer), Ernest A. Taylor: January 1915 – May 1916 * Captain William Bowden-Smith: May–July 1916 * Captain Alexander Campbell (Royal Navy officer), Alexander V. Campbell: July 1916 – April 1918 * Captain Cecil Staveley, Cecil M. Staveley: April–October 1918

Chief of Staff, the Nore

Post holders supporting the CINC, Nore included: * Captain Theobald W.B. Kennedy: October 1918 – May 1921 * Captain Wilfred Tomkinson: May 1921 – June 1923 * Captain Herbert Willes Webley Hope, Herbert W.W. Hope: June 1923 – December 1924 * Captain the Hon. William Leveson-Gower, 4th Earl Granville, William S. Leveson-Gower: December 1924 – May 1927 * Captain the Hon. Edward Bingham, E. Barry S. Bingham: May 1927 – May 1929 * Captain Douglas B. Le Mottee: May 1929 – May 1931 * Captain Reginald V. Holt: May 1931 – August 1933 * Captain Hector Boyes: August 1933 – November 1934 * Captain Robert B. Ramsay: November 1934 – December 1935 * Captain Reginald B. Darke: December 1935 – August 1937 * Captain Philip Esmonde Phillips: August 1937 – July 1938 * Captain the Hon. George Fraser: July 1938 – May 1940 * Rear-Admiral Alfred H. Taylor: May 1940 – March 1943 * Commodore George H. Creswell: March–October 1943 * Commodore Robert G.H. Linzee: October 1943 – April 1946 * Captain Albert L. Poland: April 1946 – July 1948 * Captain Lennox A. K. Boswell: July 1948 – May 1949 * Captain Arthur M. Knapp: May 1949 – June 1951 * Captain Herbert F.H. Layman: June 1951 – January 1953 * Captain Ronald E. Portlock: January 1953 – December 1954 * Captain John A. W. Tothill: December 1954 – July 1956 * Captain William A.F. Hawkins: July 1956 – December 1957 * Captain Roger B.N. Hicks: December 1957 – April 1960 * Captain Barry J. Anderson: April 1960 – March 1961

Offices under the Chief of Staff

Included:

Notes

External links

* Unit Histories
RN Nore

{{Royal Navy fleets Commanders-in-chief of the Royal Navy, N Military units and formations established in 1752 Military units and formations disestablished in 1961 Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War I Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War II