The Senior British Naval Officer, Suez Canal Area was an administrative appointment of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

established during World war II who was responsible for the naval base at

Ismailia Ismailia ( ', ) is a city in north-eastern Egypt. Situated on the west bank of the Suez Canal, it is the capital of the Ismailia Governorate. The city had an estimated population of about 1,434,741 according to the statistics issued by the Cen ...

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

. The SBNO was subordinate to the

East Indies Station The East Indies Station was a formation and command of the British Royal Navy. Created in 1744 by the Admiralty, it was under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies. Even in official documents, the term ''East Indies Station'' wa ...

from 1939 to 1941 then the

Mediterranean Fleet The British Mediterranean Fleet, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was a formation of the Royal Navy. The Fleet was one of the most prestigious commands in the navy for the majority of its history, defending the vital sea link between ...

until 1942. Vice-Admiral Sir James M. Pipon KBE, CB, CMG, MMO, (ret.) was the only SBNO Suez Canal Area, serving from 14 December 1939 until August, 1942.. See also http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/James_Murray_Pipon.

History

The post of Senior British Naval Officer, Suez Canal Area was established on 14 December 1939, Vice Admiral Murray Pipon taking command on 7 January 1940. Pipon was shore based, at Ismailia in Egypt. He reported directly to the Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Fleet. In the Navy List for December 1940 Pipon is shown as borne on the books of ''Stag,'' 'additional, for various services.' On 14 November 1941 the Senior Naval Officer-in-Charge, Suez who was based at Port Tawfik was placed under the command of the Flag Officer, Red Sea whilst the Senior British Naval Officer Suez Canal Area remained responsible for dealing with all British naval policy questions in regards to the

Suez Canal Company Suez (, , , ) is a seaport city with a population of about 800,000 in north-eastern Egypt, located on the north coast of the Gulf of Suez on the Red Sea, near the southern terminus of the Suez Canal. It is the capital and largest city of the ...

. In August 1942 further restructuring led to the creation of a new post, Flag Officer Commanding, Red Sea and Canal Area, who assumed Pipon's duties. HMS Stag was the base for British naval personnel in

during World War II. First established at Port Said in December 1939. There were outposts at Adabya, Kabrit, and Generiffa. The station was closed in May 1949.

Sub-commands

Naval Officer-in-Charge, Palestinian Ports

Naval Officer-in-Charge, Port Said

References

Sources

* Brown, David (2013). The Royal Navy and the Mediterranean: Vol.II: November 1940-December 1941. Cambridge, England: Routledge. . * Houterman, Jerome N..; Koppes, Jeroen (2004–2006). "Royal Navy, Mediterranean Fleet 1939-1945". www.unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. * Stationery Office, H.M. (December 1940). The Navy List. Edinburgh Scotland: National Library of Scotland. * Warlow, Ben (2000). "6". Shore establishments of the Royal Navy : being a list of the static ships and establishments of the Royal Navy (2nd ed.). Cornwall, England: Maritime. . {{Royal Navy fleets, state=collapsed S