View source for Commander United Kingdom Strike Force

{{short description|Senior post in the Royal Navy}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Commander United Kingdom Strike Force
| body = 
| nativename = 
| insignia = COMUKSTRKFOR Crest.png
| insigniasize = 150px
| insigniacaption = Official Badge of COMUKSTRKFOR
| image = Robert G. Pedre (cropped).jpg
| imagesize = 
| incumbent = [[Rear Admiral (Royal Navy)| Rear Admiral]] [[Robert Pedre]]
| incumbentsince = September 2022
| department = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] <br/> [[Royal Navy]]
| member_of = [[Navy Command (Royal Navy)|Navy Command]]
| reports_to = [[Fleet Commander]]
| nominator = 
| appointer = [[Naval Secretary]]
| appointer_qualified = <small>Subject to formal approval by the [[King-in-Council]]</small>
| termlength = Not fixed; typically, 2–3 years
| inaugural = Rear-Admiral [[James Burnell-Nugent]]
| formation = 2001
| website = [http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/ www.royalnavy.mod.uk]
}}
The '''Commander United Kingdom Strike Force''' ('''COMUKSTRKFOR''' or '''CSF''') is a senior post in the [[Royal Navy]].

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.<ref name=MARFOR13>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Naval-Command-Headquarters/Fleet-Battle-Staff/Commander-UK-Maritime-Force Commander UK Maritime Forces] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509125804/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Naval-Command-Headquarters/Fleet-Battle-Staff/Commander-UK-Maritime-Force |date=9 May 2013 }}</ref> 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.

Previously the admiral also held the appointment of Rear Admiral Surface Ships, but this has now been dropped.

==Organisation within the Royal Navy==
The position reports to the [[Fleet Commander]], a vice-admiral, and is based at {{HMS|Excellent|shore establishment|6}} in Fieldhouse Building. Commander UK Strike Force has the rank of [[Rear Admiral (Royal Navy)|rear admiral]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf|title=Senior Royal Navy Appointments|access-date=16 March 2020}}</ref>

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]] (COMUKCSG).<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/documents/useful-resources/navy-list.pdf?la=en-gb| title=The Navy Directory 2016|publisher=Royal Navy|date=8 August 2017}}</ref> He also has responsibility for the Commander UK Minecountermeasures Force,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janes360.com/images/assets/444/58444/Keeping_up_with_the_hunt_UK_Royal_Navy_MCM_operations.pdf|title=Commander UK Minecountermeasures Force|publisher=Janes|access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref> Previously until at least 2019 the admiral also had the post of  Rear Admiral Surface Ships, the titular head of all the [[Royal Navy]] surface ships.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/surface-fleet |title=Surface Fleet |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=24 December 2019 |website=royalnavy.mod.uk |publisher=Royal Navy |access-date=24 December 2019 |quote=...was appointed Commander United Kingdom Strike Force COMUKSTRKFOR (CSF) and Rear Admiral Surface Ships (RASS)}}</ref>

As part of the [[NATO]] 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)<ref>[https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_69718.htm NATO: Command Structure]</ref> and as such has held the duty of [[NATO Response Force]] Maritime Component Commander on several occasions, including 2004, 2010, and 2016.<ref name=jdw28>[[Jane's Defence Weekly]] 19 May 2004, p.28</ref>

==History==
The position was first established on 1 December 1997, under the name of Commander United Kingdom Task Group (COMUKTG),<ref name=comuktg>[https://issuu.com/navynews/docs/199712/10 Navy News: Dec 97 Edition]</ref> but was renamed to Commander UK Maritime Forces (COMUKMARFOR) in 2001.<ref name=fbs>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/training-and-people/the-rn-today/navy-command-headquarters/fleet-battle-staff/history/index.htm Fleet Battle Staff: History]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213124944/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/training-and-people/the-rn-today/navy-command-headquarters/fleet-battle-staff/history/index.htm |date=13 February 2011 }}</ref>

Task Groups dispatched to the Far East since 2003 have included deployments in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, and 2018. In 2003, Naval Task Group 03, led by {{HMS|Ark Royal|R07}} had been intended to take part in FPDA exercises<ref>{{cite web|title=Ark Royal to lead UK taskforce|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/01/10/sproject.irq.ark.royal/index.html|date=January 11, 2003}}</ref> in the Asia-Pacific region but was diverted for involvement in the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 Iraq War]].  Eventually part of the [[Task force|naval task group]] including {{HMS|Liverpool|D92|2}}, {{HMS|Marlborough|F233|2}} and {{Ship|RFA|Grey Rover|A269|6}} departed Gulf waters, after the first part of the [[Iraq War]] (2003), en route for Exercise Flying Fish, with Commonwealth partner members of the [[Five Power Defence Arrangements]]. In 2004, {{HMS|Exeter|D89|2}}, {{HMS|Echo|H87|2}}, RFA ''Diligence'' and RFA ''Grey Rover'' visited the Asia-Pacific region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicalrfa.org/rfa-grey-rover-ships-details|title=RFA Grey Rover|publisher=Historical RFA|access-date=14 January 2023}}</ref>

Until 2011, COMUKMARFOR had three subordinates – the [[Commander Amphibious Task Group]] (COMATG), the Commander of the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group (COMCSG) and his [[one-star rank|one-star]] deployable deputy, Commander United Kingdom Task Group (COMUKTG).<ref>[http://www.rncom.mod.uk/uploadedFiles/Pages/Reference_Library/20090227_bridge_card.pdf Royal Navy: Bridge Card]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928160520/http://www.rncom.mod.uk/uploadedFiles/Pages/Reference_Library/20090227_bridge_card.pdf |date=28 September 2011 }}</ref> However, following the [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010|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]]) assumed the title of COMUKTG.<ref name=cuktg>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/training-and-people/the-rn-today/navy-command-headquarters/fleet-battle-staff/comukmarfor/commander-united-kingdom-task-group-comuktg/index.htm Royal Navy: Commander United Kingdom Task Group] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211080608/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/training-and-people/the-rn-today/navy-command-headquarters/fleet-battle-staff/comukmarfor/commander-united-kingdom-task-group-comuktg/index.htm |date=11 February 2011 }}</ref> 

In March 2015, this reorganisation was partially reversed when the post of COMUKTG reverted to its previous title of COMATG.<ref>[https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/february/12/150212-new-co-announced-for-royal-navy-task-force Royal Navy: New CO for Amphibious Task Group]</ref>

In 2016, with the commissioning of the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, the Deputy COMUKMARFOR position transitioned to the re-established role of [[Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group|COMUKCSG]] in preparation for the arrival of the new [[Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier]]s.<ref>[https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2016/september/15/160915-new-co-carrier-strike-group Royal Navy: New CO for Carrier Strike Group]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/september/28/1150928-ukcsg-takes-shape-for-hms-queen-elizabeth|title=UK Carrier Strike Group takes shape for HMS Queen Elizabeth|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/474506/2015-08725_redacted_scanned.pdf|title=Letter from Ministry of Defence |date=27 October 2015|access-date=21 February 2016}}</ref>

In April 2018 it was announced that the two separate deployable [[two-star rank|two-star]] maritime operational commanders (COMUKMARFOR and [[Commandant General Royal Marines|COMUKAMPHIBFOR]]) would be merged into a single, larger, organisation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/79465/uk-amphibious-headquarters-to-disappear-in-merger|title=Jane's – UK Amphibious Headquarters to Disappear in Merger|date=20 April 2018|access-date=20 May 2018}}</ref> 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]], previously (but not exclusively) tied to COMUKAMPHIBFOR position, remains in existence as the (non-deployable) head of the [[Royal Marines]] and the Senior Responsible Owner for the future of amphibious warfare and littoral strike capability, or [[Future Commando Force]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bmt.org/events/future-amphibious-force/|title=Future Amphibious Force|publisher=BMT|access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref>

On 1 October 2019, COMATG was re-titled as [[Commander Littoral Strike Group]] (COMLSG).<ref>{{cite news |last=Rosamond |first=Jon |date=11 September 2019 |title=DSEI: Royal Marines Embrace Littoral Strike and Prepare to Forward Deploy |url=https://news.usni.org/2019/09/11/dsei-royal-marines-embrace-littoral-strike-and-prepare-to-forward-deploy |work=USNI News |location=London |access-date=1 October 2019 }}</ref>

==Past operational deployments directed by COMUKSTRKFOR (and predecessor organisations)==
COMUKMARFOR took on the duty of [[NATO Response Force]] Maritime Component Commander from 1 July 2004 for one year. Rear Admiral David Snelson told [[Jane's Defence Weekly]] 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.<ref name=jdw28/>

Commodore Thomas Cunningham, the previous COMUKCSG, flew his flag throughout the January to May Orion '08 deployment, as Commander Task Group 328.01,<ref>Richard Scott, 'ASW Resurfaces,' [[Jane's Defence Weekly]], Volume 45, Issue 24, 11 June 2008, p.25</ref> which included exercises with the [[Indian Navy]], aboard {{HMS|Illustrious|R06|6}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.11304/changeNav/6568 |title=''Illustrious'' Leaves UK for Indian Ocean Deployment |date=21 January 2008 |website=Royal Navy |access-date=4 March 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024154035/http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.11304/changeNav/6568 |archive-date=24 October 2008}}</ref>

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.<ref name=eagle>{{cite web|url=http://www.afdevinfo.com/htmlreports/org/org_58480.html |title=Exercise Green Eagle – Sierra Leone |work=afdevinfo.com |access-date=7 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112203701/http://www.afdevinfo.com/htmlreports/org/org_58480.html |archive-date=12 November 2010 }}</ref> The Task Group included {{HMS|Albion|L14|6}}, {{HMS|Ocean|L12|6}}, {{HMS|Southampton|D90|6}}, {{HMS|Argyll|F231|6}}, {{Ship|RFA|Wave Knight|A389|6}}, {{Ship|RFA|Mounts Bay|L3008|6}}, {{Ship|RFA|Sir Bedivere|L3004|6}}, {{Ship|RFA|Fort Austin|A386|6}}, {{HMS|Enterprise|H88|6}}, {{Ship|RFA|Diligence|A132|6}}, {{Ship|RFA|Oakleaf|A111|6}}, Mine Counter Measure Squadron 1 and a Fleet submarine<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afdevinfo.com/htmlreports/org/org_58480.html |title=Exercise Green Eagle – Sierra Leone |work=afdevinfo.com |access-date=7 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112203701/http://www.afdevinfo.com/htmlreports/org/org_58480.html |archive-date=12 November 2010 }}</ref> together with the Fleet Lead Commando Group, consisting of [[40 Commando]] Royal Marines, [[59 Commando]] Independent Engineering Squadron, [[29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery|29 Commando Royal Artillery]] and [[539 Assault Squadron RM|539 Assault Squadron]] Royal Marines. Also involved were elements of Fleet Diving Unit 2 and 849 (B) Flight from [[RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk)|RNAS Culdrose]]. Embarked in HMS ''Ocean'' for the deployment a Tailored Air Group (TAG) was formed, consisting of [[Westland Sea King|Sea King]] helicopters of [[845 Naval Air Squadron]], [[846 Naval Air Squadron]], [[AgustaWestland AW101|Merlin Mk 1]] aircraft from [[820 Naval Air Squadron]] and [[Westland Lynx|Lynx]] helicopters of [[847 Naval Air Squadron]]. The Vela task group conducted an amphibious exercise, Exercise Green Eagle, in Sierra Leone.<ref name=eagle/>

==List of commanders==

Commanders have been as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf |title=Royal Navy Senior Appointments|access-date=2 September 2018}}</ref>
*[[Rear admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear Admiral]] Stephen Meyer (2000–2001)
*Rear Admiral [[James Burnell-Nugent]] (2001–2002)
*Rear Admiral [[David Snelson]] (2002–2004)
*Rear Admiral [[Charles Style]] (2004–2005)
*Rear Admiral [[Neil Morisetti]] (2005–2007)
*Rear Admiral [[George Zambellas]] (2007–2008)
*Rear Admiral [[Philip Jones (Royal Navy officer)|Philip Jones]] (2008–2009)
*Rear Admiral [[Peter Hudson (Royal Navy officer)|Peter Hudson]] (2009–2011)
*Rear Admiral [[Duncan Potts]] (2011–2013)
*Rear Admiral [[Robert Tarrant]] (2013–2014)
*Rear Admiral [[Tony Radakin]] (2014–2016)
*Rear Admiral [[Alex Burton]] (2016–2017)
*Rear Admiral [[Paul Bennett (Royal Navy officer)|Paul Bennett]] (2017–2018)
*Rear Admiral [[Jerry Kyd|Jeremy Kyd]] (2018–2019)
*Rear Admiral [[Andrew Burns (Royal Navy officer)|Andrew Burns]] (2019–2019)
*Rear Admiral [[Mike Utley (Royal Navy officer)|Michael Utley]] (2019–2022)<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Surface fleet awarded for outstanding performance  |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2019/december/19/191219-surface-fleet-awarded |work=Royal Navy |date=20 December 2019 |access-date=20 December 2019 }}</ref>
*Rear Admiral [[Robert Pedre]]  (2022–present)

==Deputy Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces==
*[[Commodore (Royal Navy)|Commodore]] Simon Ancona (Jan 2011 – Jun 2011)
*Commodore John Clink (Jun 2011 – Oct 2012)<ref>[http://www.defenceviewpoints.co.uk/tag/promotions Promotions] Defence View Points</ref>
*Commodore Jeremy Blunden (Oct 2012 – Feb 2015)<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2012/November/22/121122-Indian-Portsmouth Indian Warship Arrives In Portsmouth] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819021219/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2012/November/22/121122-Indian-Portsmouth |date=19 August 2013 }}</ref>
*Commodore Guy Robinson (Feb 2015 – 2016)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/surface-fleet Commander UK Maritime Forces]

{{Navy Command (Ministry of Defence)|state=collapsed}}
{{Naval Service (British)|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Flag officers of the Royal Navy|MarFor]]