Royal Navy

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the "senior service" of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. From approximately 1692 until World War II, the Royal Navy was the largest and most powerful navy in the world. The navy helped establish the United Kingdom as the dominant military and economic power of the 18th and 19th century, and was essential for maintaining the British Empire. Although the Royal Navy is now much smaller, it remains the largest Western European navy, the second largest navy in the world in terms of gross tonnage, and one of the world's most technologically advanced. It formed the basis for most other navies with few exceptions, and masses of sailors from Commonwealth and Friendly Navies attend Royal Naval Training Programmes in Britain. The end of the Cold War with the collapse of the Soviet Union has precipitated a restructuring of the Royal Navy's role as a major naval player in the Twenty-first century, from that of a deterrence force to a navy capable of extending British foreign policy worldwide.

Command of the Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is established under the royal prerogative, and the head of the Royal Navy, known as the Lord High Admiral, is the Queen (who is overall head of the UK Armed Forces).

Related Topics:
Royal prerogative - Lord High Admiral - Queen - UK Armed Forces

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In earlier times the office of Lord High Admiral was delegated to a naval officer. The office later came to be frequently put into commission, during which time the Royal Navy was run by a board headed by the First Lord of the Admiralty. In 1964 the functions of the Admiralty were transferred to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Defence Council of the United Kingdom. Since then, the historic title of Lord High Admiral has been restored to the Sovereign.

Related Topics:
First Lord of the Admiralty - 1964 - Secretary of State for Defence - Defence Council of the United Kingdom

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The functions of the Defence Council that concern the administration of the Naval Service are formally delegated to an Admiralty Board and its sub-committee, the Navy Board, which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Royal Navy.

Related Topics:
Admiralty Board - Navy Board

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The professional head of the Royal Navy is the First Sea Lord (who also holds the title of Chief of the Naval Staff). The current incumbent is Admiral Sir Alan West.

Related Topics:
Professional - First Sea Lord - Admiral Sir Alan West

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Commanders-in-Chief

Historically, the Royal Navy has usually been split into several commands, each with a Commander-in-Chief, e.g. Commander-in-Chief Plymouth, Commander-in-Chief China Station, etc. There now remain only two Commanders-in-Chief, Commander-in-Chief Fleet and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command, and it is planned that these two commands will soon amalgamate.

Related Topics:
Commander-in-Chief - Commander-in-Chief Fleet - Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command

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In 1971, with the withdrawal from Singapore, the Eastern and Western fleets of the Royal Navy were unified into one command under the Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CINCFLEET). It was initially based at Northwood in Middlesex, continuing the tradition of basing the home naval command there that had started in 1960 when the Home Fleet command had been transferred ashore. Recently most of CINCFLEET's staff has transferred to a new facility in Plymouth. However, CINCFLEET himself and a small staff remain at Northwood.

Related Topics:
1971 - Singapore - Eastern - Western - Northwood - Middlesex

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The Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command (CINCNAVHOME) is responsible for the shore-based establishments and manpower of the Royal Navy, and is based in Portsmouth, flying his flag aboard HMS Victory. He currently holds the title of Second Sea Lord.

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