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Commander Littoral Strike Group

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Commander Littoral Strike Group (COMLSG)
Official badge of COMLSG
Incumbent
Commodore Rob Pedre
since May 2020
Navy Command, Ministry of Defence
Reports toCommander United Kingdom Strike Force
AppointerNaval Secretary
Term lengthNot fixed (typically 2 years)
Inaugural holderCommodore Hardress Lloyd
Formation1965–current

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 established in 1971 as Commodore Amphibious Warfare.

Today COMLSG is a deployable one-star Maritime Component Commander held at Very High Readiness (72 hours or less) in order to respond to unexpected global events. In most circumstances, COMLSG and his staff would deploy in the Fleet Flagship (such as one of the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers) in order to command a deployed task group. While structured and trained to conduct high intensity war-fighting (with an emphasis on amphibious operations, working alongside 3 Commando Brigade, the staff are capable of commanding a diverse range of activities such as evacuation operations, or disaster relief.

Nevertheless, as of late 2024, the future of U.K amphibious capability was, at best, uncertain. In November 2024, the newly elected Labour government indicated that both of the Royal Navy's Albion-class landing platform dock vessels would be removed from service by March 2025.[1] Simultaneously, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary was suffering severe crewing problems, as well as a labour force disruption, meaning the manning of its three Bay-class landing ship dock vessels was facing serious challenges.[2][3] This brought into question the entire concept of the navy's ability to conduct even medium-sized amphibious operations.[4]

History

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In the 1960s most of the Navy's amphibious capability was under Commodore, Amphibious Forces, Far East Fleet (COMAFFEF), based at Singapore Naval Base. In March 1971, following the withdrawal from Singapore, and the return of 3 Commando Brigade to the UK, COMAFFEF was retitled Commodore Amphibious Warfare (COMAW), and moved to Fort Southwick, just outside Portsmouth.[5] COMAW became subordinate to Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships (FOCAF).

After 1979 when FOCAF became Flag Officer, Third Flotilla,[6] COMAW became part of Third Flotilla. In 1981, Commodore Michael Clapp moved COMAW to Stonehouse Barracks in order to be based alongside HQ 3 Commando Brigade again. Following the pivotal role of the Royal Navy's amphibious forces during the Falklands War, when Clapp directed the Amphibious Group of the British task force, alongside Brigadier Julian Thompson, this co-location of the two Headquarters has endured ever since.[5]

From 1992 COMAW reported to the two-star deployable battle staff commander, currently titled Commander UK Strike Force.[7] The reestablishment of the Amphibious Warfare Warfare Squadron was announced in March 1997.[8] But the commander's title was renamed from COMAW to Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG) on 1 December 1997;[9] subsequent references to a 'squadron' are hard to find.

In the early 21st century COMATG deployments included Operation Veritas in 2001; Operation Telic, the 2003 invasion of Iraq; Operation Vela in 2006; Operation Highbrow, evacuating personnel from Lebanon in 2006; leading Combined Task Force 152 in the Middle East in 2008; and Operation Taurus in 2009.

Until 2011, COMATG was one of the deployable maritime commanders who with their headquarters reported to the Fleet Battle Staff, alongside two others, the Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group (COMCSG) and the Commander UK Task Group (COMUKTG). However, following the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010, COMCSG and COMUKTG were abolished as separate commands and COMATG became the sole deployable HQ, under the new title of COMUKTG, responsible for command of the Response Force Task Group. At this point, the former Commander UK Task Group became Deputy Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces.[10]

In early October 2012, the Commander UK Task Group, Commodore Paddy McAlpine led the Cougar 12 deployment of six ships and more than 3,000 marines and sailors to the Mediterranean Sea. One of the principle purposes of the deployment was to conduct large-scale amphibious exercises with allies. Key exercises included: 'Corsican Lion' with France; 'Albanian Lion' with Albania; a visit to Malta and exercises with the United States Navy and the Algerian Armed Forces.[11]

McAlpine said: "Cougar 12 provides us with a superb opportunity to rekindle our amphibious capability after a prolonged period when our focus has been ..elsewhere."[11] Exercise 'Corsican Lion' was the main focus of Cougar 12 and was designed to develop the maritime and amphibious components of the Anglo-French Combined Joint Expeditionary Force. The group worked alongside the French Navy's Task Force 473 led by French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.[12]

Brigadier Martin Smith of 3 Commando Brigade was quoted saying: "It is an incredibly versatile force and our burgeoning interoperability with the French further proves this. The quality of Royal Marines Commandos and French Marines delivers a highly effective first response capability ..optimised for early entry operations."[12]

In March 2015, the post of COMUKTG reverted to its previous title of COMATG.[13] COMATG was responsible to Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces.[14]

COMATG was re-titled Commander Littoral Strike Group on 1 October 2019, to reflect the expected increased size and capabilities of the group, including Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.[15][16]

Deployments and operations

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In command

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Included:[24]

Commodore, Amphibious Warfare

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  • Commodore Hardress L. Lloyd: May 1965-May 1966
  • Commodore David Dunbar-Naismith DSC: May 1966-July 1967
  • Commodore Gerard Mansfield: July 1967-November 1968
  • Commodore Thomas W. Stocker: November 1968-September 1970
  • Commodore Derek W. Napper DSC: September 1970-August 1971
  • Commodore Roy W. Halliday DSC: August 1971-September 1973
  • Commodore David T. Smith: September 1973-October 1975
  • Commodore Richard D. Franklin: October 1975-February 1977
  • Commodore Derek R. Reffell: June 1978-October 1979
  • Commodore Christopher J. Isacke: October 1979-May 1981
  • Commodore Michael Clapp CB: May 1981-February 1983 [25]
  • Commodore Peter G. V. Dingemans DSO: February 1983-January 1985 [26]
  • Commodore John Garnier CBE LVO: January–July 1985
  • Commodore E.S. Jeremy Larken DSO: July 1985-December 1987
  • Commodore Brian W. Turner: December 1987-April 1990
  • Commodore Peter J. Grindal: April 1990-April 1992
  • Commodore Richard A.Y. Bridges: April 1992- July 1994
  • Commodore Paul B.C. Canter CBE: July 1994-October 1996
  • Commodore Paul D. Stone: October 1996-1 December 1997

Note: COMAW was renamed COMATG in 1997[27]

Commander, Amphibious Task Group

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Commodores in post included:[28]

Note: Following SDSR10, COMATG was renamed COMUKTG, and the Amphibious Task Group was renamed the Response Force Task Group.[29]

Commander, U.K. Task Group

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Commodores in post included:[30]

Note: COMUKTG post reverted to the name Commander Amphibious Task Group in March 2015, and Cdre Connell continued in that role till May 2016[32]

Commander, Amphibious Task Group

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Commodores in post included:[33]

Note: COMATG was renamed Commander Littoral Strike Group in October 2019, and Cdre Parkin continued in post under the new title.[35]

Commander, Littoral Strike Group

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Notes

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  1. ^ Vock, Ido (20 November 2024). "UK to decommission ships, drones and helicopters to save £500m". BBC.
  2. ^ Sharpe, Tom (26 September 2024). "Hey, Starmer and Reeves. This group of public sector workers really deserves a pay rise". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  3. ^ "RFA Fort Victoria to be placed in long-term lay up". Navy Lookout. 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  4. ^ "Royal Navy finished as full-spectrum force as Albion and Bulwark axed". Naval News. 2024-11-20. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  5. ^ a b Clapp & Southby-Tailyour 1996.
  6. ^ Tailyour 1990, p. 113.
  7. ^ "HMS Queen Elizabeth to get a new captain as former CO is promoted". Portsmouth News. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  8. ^ Navy News: Mar 97 Edition Page 42
  9. ^ Navy News: Dec 97 Edition Page 10
  10. ^ "Simon Ancona, Deputy Commander, UK Maritime Forces" (PDF). SMI. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  11. ^ a b Naval force gears up for Cougar 12, gov.uk, 27 September 2012
  12. ^ a b Royal Marines face French counterparts in Exercise Corsican Lion, gov.uk, 23 October 2012
  13. ^ Royal Navy: New CO for Amphibious Task Group;"HMS Ocean deploys on joint expeditionary force". Royal Navy. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  14. ^ "Navy Command Operating Model V3" (PDF). gov.uk. Royal Navy. p. 134. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  15. ^ Rosamond, Jon (11 September 2019). "DSEI: Royal Marines Embrace Littoral Strike and Prepare to Forward Deploy". USNI News. London. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Navy News February 2020". Navy News. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  17. ^ "UK's Amphibious Task Group deploys for operations". Royal Navy. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  18. ^ "Royal Navy leads US Task Force 50 for the first time". Royal Navy. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  19. ^ "Joint Staffs Arrive for ATG18". Twitter. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  20. ^ "Royal Navy task force poised for major Middle East test". Royal Navy. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  21. ^ "UK-Led Joint Expeditionary Force Exercise in The Baltic Sea, One of the Exercise Phases Will be Conducted on Lithuania's Coast in June". Defense Aerospace. France. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  22. ^ "British Officer takes command of Gulf maritime security mission". gov.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  23. ^ "HMS ALBION LEADS UK TASK GROUP FOR THREE-MONTH MED DEPLOYMENT". Royal Navy. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  24. ^ Mackie, Colin (August 2018). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865". gulabin.com. C. Mackie. p. 218. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  25. ^ Keleny, Anne (29 January 2016). "Rear-Admiral Peter Dingemans: Falklands War naval officer". The Independent. London, England: Newspaper Publishing PLC. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  26. ^ "Rear-Admiral Peter Dingemans - obituary". The Daily Telegraph. London, England. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  27. ^ Mackie pp.218-219
  28. ^ Mackie pp.218-219
  29. ^ Mackie pp.218-219
  30. ^ Mackie pp.218-219
  31. ^ "New commanding officer announced for Royal Navy task force". Royal Navy. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  32. ^ Mackie pp.218-219
  33. ^ Mackie pp.218-219
  34. ^ "New commander for Royal Navy's Amphibious Task Group". Royal Navy. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  35. ^ Mackie pp.218-219
  36. ^ Rosamond, Jon (11 September 2019). "DSEI: Royal Marines Embrace Littoral Strike and Prepare to Forward Deploy". USNI News. London. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  37. ^ "UK'S AMPHIBIOUS FORCES CHANGE HANDS". Royal Navy. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.

References

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