Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers)

Office of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers)
Office of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers)
	Ensign of the Royal Navy
	Ministry of Defence
Member of	Navy Command
Reports to	Second Sea Lord
Nominator	First Sea Lord
Appointer	Prime Minister; Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council
Term length	Not fixed (typically 1–3 years)
Inaugural holder	Rear-Admiral Richard Bell-Davies
Formation	24 May 1939–current

The Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers) formerly the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation and Carrier Strike)^[1] is a senior Royal Navy appointment responsible for naval aviation. The post is also the successor to the Royal Navy's Flag Officer for naval aviation in the British Isles, established since 1939.

Flag Officer, Naval Air Stations

The post of Flag Officer Naval Air Stations was established in May 1939 to provide land based support for the Fleet Air Arm, then being transferred from the Royal Air Force to the Royal Navy.

Rear Admiral Richard Bell-Davies: 24 May 1939 – 30 September 1941^[2]
Rear Admiral Clement Moody: 30 September 1941 – April 1943^[2]
Vice Admiral Cloudesley Robinson: April 1943 – April 1945^[2]

Flag Officer, Air, Home

In May 1945 the FONAS post was re-styled Flag Officer Air Home.^[2]

In September 1945 the post of Flag Officer, Flying Training was created, to be followed by Flag Officer, Ground Training and Rear-Admiral, Reserve Aircraft (an Equipment Branch post) in January 1949.^[3] The Reserve Aircraft post was disestablished in 1956 and the Ground Training post in 1957.

Flag Officer, Air, Home flew his flag from RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus); the post existed until 1963. He was responsible for shore-based air command working up squadrons to operational effectiveness, and after an Operational Readiness Inspection, delivering them to the Fleet.^[4]

Vice-Admiral Sir Cloudesley Varyl Robinson: May 1945 (then retired)
Vice-Admiral Denis Boyd: June 1945 – April 1946.^[5] Title also reported as Admiral (Air).^[6]
Rear-Admiral Geoffrey N. Oliver: April–September 1946
Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas H. Troubridge: September 1946 – November 1947
Admiral Sir Reginald Portal: November 1947 – March 1951
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Lambe: March 1951 – January 1953
Vice-Admiral Sir John Eccles: January 1953 – June 1955
Vice-Admiral Sir Caspar John: June 1955 – March 1957
Admiral Sir Walter Couchman: March 1957 – January 1960
Admiral Sir Deric Holland-Martin: January 1960 – May 1961
Vice-Admiral Desmond Dreyer: May 1961 – October 1962
Vice-Admiral Sir John Hamilton: October 1962 – January 1964

Flag Officer, Naval Air Command

This post was created on 30 September 1963 as renaming of Flag Officer Air, Home, at the time a Vice-Admiral's command.^[7]

In November 1970 the post of Flag Officer, Flying Training was disestablished. Sir John Treacher, who was in post from June 1972, wrote in Life at Full Throttle that '..the tasks undertaken by the old Flying Training Command and Flag Officer Air (Home) had now been taken over by the Flag Officer Naval Air Command to form a single entity and the headquarters had been moved from Lee-on-Solent to the Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton. In April 2010 the post was renamed Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Carriers & Aviation).

Vice-Admiral Sir Richard M. Smeeton: January 1964 – October 1965
Vice-Admiral Sir Donald C.E.F. Gibson: October 1965 – October 1968
Vice-Admiral Sir H. Richard B. Janvrin: October 1968 – November 1970
Vice-Admiral Michael F. Fell: November 1970 – June 1972
Vice-Admiral John D. Treacher: June 1972 – August 1973
Vice-Admiral Sir Peter M. Austin: August 1973 – August 1976
Rear-Admiral John O. Roberts: August 1976 – February 1978
Vice-Admiral Sir A. Desmond Cassidi: February 1978 – June 1979
Rear-Admiral Edward R. Anson: June 1979 – May 1982
Vice-Admiral Sir John Cox: May 1982 – September 1983
Vice-Admiral Sir Derek Reffell: September 1983 – September 1984
Rear-Admiral Linley Middleton: September 1984 – February 1987
Rear-Admiral Roger Dimmock: February 1987 – August 1988
Rear-Admiral Michael Layard: August 1988 – December 1990
Rear-Admiral Colin H.D. Cooke-Priest: December 1990 – February 1993
Rear-Admiral Ian Garnett: February 1993 – June 1995
Rear-Admiral Terence W. Loughran: June 1995 – October 1998
Rear-Admiral Iain Henderson: October 1998 – July 2001 - Flag Officer, Maritime Aviation^[8]
Rear-Admiral Scott Lidbetter: July 2001 – 2003
Rear-Admiral Simon B. Charlier: September 2008 – April 2010

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers)

In 2012, this post's responsibilities were officially described as '..ACNS(A&C) is responsible for delivering aviation Force Elements at Readiness in accordance with the RN plan and arising, contingent events. This includes all RN fixed and rotary wing assets, the two Naval Air Stations and the generation of aircraft carriers and carrier capability. He is the lead, on behalf of the Fleet Commander, for the development of the future Carrier Strike capability. As the Navy's Aviation Operational Duty Holder, he is personally, legally accountable for the safe execution of maritime aviation by all Royal Navy units, including aircraft, ships and submarines. ACNS(A&CS) is also Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm in which role, as a Head of a Naval Fighting Arm, he is responsible for the professional effectiveness, ethos and spirit of all Fleet Air Arm personnel.'^[9] It has been renamed as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers) (ACNS(A&C)) and Rear-Admiral Fleet Air Arm around 2019.

Today the main air station that ACNS (A&CS) has responsibility for is RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron).

Rear-Admiral Thomas A. Cunningham: April 2010 – September 2012
Rear-Admiral Russ Harding: September 2012 – May 2015
Rear-Admiral Keith E. Blount: May 2015 – February 2019
Rear-Admiral Martin J. Connell: February 2019–January 2022^[10]

References

^ "Aviation and Carrier Strike - endorses by Royal Navy Biography for incumbent" (PDF).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
^ See "Naval Aviation Organization: Admiralty Organization: Command Organization" (PDF). flightglobal.com. Flight Magazine, 20 April 1951. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
^ Mervik, Captain C. F. "The Integrated Fleet HQ and aviation's place within". Flight Deck (Winter 2001).
^ "Fleet Air Arm Service Records: Flag Officer Index". Fleet Air Arm Archive.net. 2005. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
^ "Royal Navy, Royal Naval Air Stations 1939-1945". www.unithistories.com. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
^ "Air Force, Naval and Army Flying News: Naval Air Command". Flight. 84 (2847): 592. 3 October 1963. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
^ Richard Cobbold, 'My Jobs: Joint Force Harrier Commander,' RUSI Journal, Vol. 145, No.3, June 2000, pp.21–27
^ "Navy Command Royal Navy". gov.uk. MOD, September 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
^ "The Navy Directory 2019" (PDF). royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020. 2* Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers) (ACNS(A&C))

External links

Royal Navy – Senior Appointments (p. 86)

[1] "Aviation and Carrier Strike - endorses by Royal Navy Biography for incumbent" (PDF).

[Watson_2015-2] Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2018.

[3] See "Naval Aviation Organization: Admiralty Organization: Command Organization" (PDF). flightglobal.com. Flight Magazine, 20 April 1951. Retrieved 12 June 2018.

[Mervik-4] Mervik, Captain C. F. "The Integrated Fleet HQ and aviation's place within". Flight Deck (Winter 2001).

[5] "Fleet Air Arm Service Records: Flag Officer Index". Fleet Air Arm Archive.net. 2005. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.

[6] "Royal Navy, Royal Naval Air Stations 1939-1945". www.unithistories.com. Retrieved 2024-04-20.

[Flight63-7] "Air Force, Naval and Army Flying News: Naval Air Command". Flight. 84 (2847): 592. 3 October 1963. Retrieved 17 January 2015.

[8] Richard Cobbold, 'My Jobs: Joint Force Harrier Commander,' RUSI Journal, Vol. 145, No.3, June 2000, pp.21–27

[9] "Navy Command Royal Navy". gov.uk. MOD, September 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2016.

[10] "The Navy Directory 2019" (PDF). royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020. 2* Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers) (ACNS(A&C))

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

v t e Navy Command (Royal Navy)
oversight	Defence Board− Chief of the Defence Staff Group Permanent Under Secretary (PUS) Group
TLB holder	First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff (TLB Holder)
TLB group under TLB holder	Fleet Commander Second Sea Lord, (2SL) and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) Finance Director (Navy) Non-Executive Director, Navy Board
Fleet Command	Fleet Commander– Commander United Kingdom Strike Force Commander Maritime Operations Director Force Generation Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training Commandant General Royal Marines
maritime forces	Commander United Kingdom Strike Force– Commander UK Carrier Strike Group Commander Littoral Strike Group Assistant Chief of Staff Land and Littoral Manoeuvre and Deputy Commandant General Royal Marines
amphibious forces	Commander Littoral Strike Group
maritime operations	Commander Maritime Operations– Deputy Commander Operations Commander 3 Commando Brigade Commander Surface Flotilla Commander Submarine Flotilla
naval training	Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training– Deputy Director Future Training Commanding Officer Maritime Warfare School
regional forces	Commander Regional Forces and Naval Regional Commander Eastern England Naval Regional Commander Wales & Western England Naval Regional Commander Northern England Naval Regional Commander Scotland & Northern Ireland
navy personnel and capability	Second Sea Lord, (2SL) and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff– Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) Director People & Training and Naval Secretary Director Navy Acquisition Director Develop Director, Ships Support Transformation and Chief Naval Engineer Commodore Maritime Reserves Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers) Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation & Carriers) Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Submarines)/Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland Chaplain of the Fleet Chief of Staff Navy Command (HQ)
naval personnel	Director People & Training and Naval Secretary Commodore Maritime Reserves – Assistant Chief of Staff Medical/Head of the Royal Naval Medical Service/Medical Director General (Navy) Naval Assistant, ACNS (Personnel) (Naval Secretary) Deputy Director People Delivery Commodore Naval Legal Services Commander Regional Forces Head of Strategic Engagement, Naval Staff
naval capability	Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability)– Assistant Chief of Staff Warfare Assistant Chief of Staff Maritime Capability Chief Technology Officer
aviation and carriers	Deputy Director Naval Aviation – Deputy Director Naval Aviation and Commodore Fleet Air Arm Commanding Officer Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton
submarines	Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Submarines)/Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland– Assistant Chief of Staff, Submarines
surface ships	Commodore RFA and Deputy Director Royal Navy Afloat Support
support	Director Naval Support Assistant Chief of Staff Engineering Support Base Commander HM Naval Base Portsmouth Base Commander HM Naval Base Devonport Base Commander HM Naval Base Clyde
policy	Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy)– Commodore, Naval Staff
finance and resources	Finance Director (Navy)– Assistant Chief of Staff Resources and Plans Command Secretary (Command Secretariat) Navy Safety Director

v t e Navy Department (Ministry of Defence)
political head ministers	Office of the Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy (1964-1967) Office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (1967-1981) Deputy Under-Secretary of State (Navy) (1967-1981) Office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (1981-1990) Office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (1991-1997)
governance	Defence Council Defence Board Admiralty Board Navy Board
military head	First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff
office of the first sea lord	Office of the Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff Office of the Deputy-Chief of the Naval Staff Office of the Naval Secretary-flag officer appointments - Naval Assistant to Naval Secretary-captains appointments Director of Naval Officer Appointments Director of Naval Officer Appointments (Engineer Officers) Director of Naval Officer Appointments (Seaman Officers) Director of Naval Officer Appointments (Supply and Secretariat and WRNS Officers) Director of Naval Security (1988-) Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord Secretary to the First Sea Lord
under Vice & Deputy Chief of Naval Staff	Offices of the Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff Commandant General Royal Marines Chief of Staff Colonel General Staff (Assistant Chief of Staff) Military Secretary (Royal Marines) Assistant Adjutant-General (Royal Marines) Assistant Quartermaster- General (Royal Marines) Director Royal Marines Reserves Directorate of Naval Security Director of Naval Security Hydrographer of the Navy Assistant Hydrographer Officers appointments Director of Naval Oceanography and Meteorology Director of Hydrographic Plans and Surveys Director of Hydrographic Charting and Sciences Director of Hydrographic Administration and Supply
Air, Operations, Plans, Policy requirements, warfare	Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) Assistant of Chief Defence Staff (Pol) Naval Staff Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations) Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations and Air) Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Ops) Naval Staff Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operational Requirements) Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Warfare)
naval staff directorates offices & branches	Directorate of Communications & Information Systems (Navy) Directorate of Defence Plans (Navy) Directorate of Defence Policy(Naval) Directorate of Fleet Management Services Directorate of Naval Air Warfare Operation Directorate of Naval Management and Organisation Directorate of Operational Analysis (RN) Directorate of Naval Operations and Trade Directorate of Naval Operational Requirements Directorate of Naval Plans Directorate of Naval Tactical and Weapons Policy Directorate of Naval Security Directorate of Naval Signals Directorate of Naval Staff Duties Directorate of Navigation and Tactical Control (Naval) Directorate of Surface Warfare (Naval) Directorate of Under-Sea Warfare (Naval) Hydrographic Department Naval Historical Branch Naval Historical Library Naval Staff Directorate Plans and Resources Division
naval personnel	Office of the Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
naval personnel department	Office of the Chief Naval Supply and Secretariat Officer Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet-became Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service Principal Chaplain Church of Scotland & Free Churches (Naval) Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain (Naval) Directorate General Training Directorate-General Naval Manpower and Training Director of Naval Manpower Planning Director of Naval Manpower Requirements Director of Naval Manning and Training (Seaman) Director of Naval Manning and Training (Engineering) Director of Naval Manning and Training (Supply and Secretariat) Director of Naval Training Support Naval Manpower Statistics Branch Director of Naval Foreign and Commonwealth Training Director of Naval Education Service Joint Warfare Establishment Directorate-General Naval Personnel Services Directorate of Naval Officer Appointments Directorate of Naval Physical Training and Sports Head of Naval Social Service Directorate of Naval Service Conditions Director of Naval Service Conditions Directorate of Fleet Supply Duties (1964-1973) General Manager Royal Navy Film Corporation Job Evaluation Judge Naval Recruitment Training Agency Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves Office of the Medical Director-General of the Navy Office of the Medical Director-General (Naval) Deputy Director-General (Naval) Director Naval Dental Services Director of Medical Personnel and Logistics Director of Naval Recruiting Women's Royal Naval Service Headquarters became- Office of the Matron-in-Chief Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service
controller	Controller of the Navy
controllers department navy controllerate	Assistant Controller of the Navy Office of the Chief Executive Polaris Deputy Controller Polaris Department of the Director of Naval Construction Weapons Department (Naval) Director-General Weapons (Naval) Director Weapons Coordination and Acceptance (Naval) Co-Ordination Directorate Compass Directorate Director Naval Ordnance Services Director Naval Weapons Contracts B Director Underwater Weapons Projects (Naval) Director Weapons Surface Projects (Naval) Director Surface Electronic Projects (Naval) Department of the Director-General Aircraft (Naval) Naval Ordnance Inspection Directorate Production Directorate Director Weapons Production (Naval) Surface Weapons Research and Development Directorate Under Water Weapons Research and Development Directorate Weapons Equipment Surface Directorate Ship Department Deputy Director-General Ships- Director of Contracts (Ships) Director Engineering (Ships) Director of Electrical Engineering Director of Naval Construction Director of Naval Equipment Director of Project Team Submarines/Polaris Director of Resources and Programmes (Ships) Director Warship Design Directorate of Naval Construction Marine Engineering Directorate Naval Equipment Division Naval Equipment Directorate Naval Electrical Engineering Directorate Naval Ship Production Directorate Principal Director of Navy Contracts
naval supplies and transport fleet support hq naval support command	Office of the Chief of Naval Supplies and Transport Office of the Chief of Fleet Support
under naval supplies and transport fleet support hq naval support command	Assistant Chief of Fleet Support Director of Naval Administrative Planning Director of Fleet Supply Duties Director of Fleet Maintenance Director of Marine Services Head of Aircraft Department (Naval) HQ Director of Quartering (Navy) Civil Catering Department Contract and Purchase Department (Naval) Department of Fuel Movements and Transport (Naval) Department of Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Dockyard Division Fleet Maintenance Division Marine Services Division Office of the Chief Executive Royal Dockyards- Director of Dockyard Manpower and Productivity Director of Dockyard Production and Support Director of Finance and Administration Directorate-General of Supplies and Transport Director of Supplies and Transport (Management and Administration) Director of Supplies and Transport (General and Victualling) Victualling Division Director of Supplies and Transport (Fuel and Movements) Director of Supplies and Transport (Armament and Specialist) Director of Supplies and Transport (Finance) Naval Stores Department Royal Naval Supply and Transport Service Victualling Department (1832-1971)
chief scientists department	Office of the Chief Scientist (Royal Navy) also Deputy Controller Research and Development Establishments, and Research A Director Research Ships Director Research Underwater
under chief scientists department	Royal Naval Scientific Service Headquarters Deputy Chief Scientist (Navy) Directorate Naval Operational Studies Director of Naval Operational Studies Office of the Senior Psychologist (Naval) Admiralty Compass Observatory Department of Naval Physical Research Department of Research and Development Services (Naval) Department of Material Research (Naval) Director-General Establishments, Resources and Programmes A Admiralty Engineering Laboratory Admiralty Experiment Works Admiralty Marine Engineering Establishment Admiralty Oil Laboratory Admiralty Research Laboratory Admiralty Research Establishment Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment Naval Construction Research Establishment Royal Naval Physiological Laboratory Royal Radar Establishment Signals Research and Development Establishment Director-General Research Electronics Services Electronics Research Laboratory
naval home command	Naval Home Command
Shore units under Naval Home Command	Admiral-Superintendent, Devonport Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth Admiral Commanding, Reserves Commodore, Clyde Submarine Base Chief Executive Officer Marine Services Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Yachts Flag Officer, Medway Flag Officer, Plymouth Port Admiral, Devonport Flag Officer, Portsmouth and Admiral-superintendent, Portsmouth Flag Officer Spithead and Port Admiral Portsmouth Flag Officer, Training and Recruitment Senior Naval Officer, Northern Ireland
Fleets	Home Fleet Far East Fleet Mediterranean Fleet Western Fleet Commander-in-Chief Fleet
under c-in-c, fleet	Chief of Staff Fleet Chief of Staff, (Warfare) Fleet Chief of Staff (Capability) Fleet Chief of Staff (Personnel) Fleet Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans Assistant Chief of Staff, Warfare Command Secretary, Fleet Commandant General Royal Marines Commander British Forces Gibraltar Commander Operations Commander UK Amphibious Forces Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships Flag Officer First Flotilla Flag Officer, Second Flotilla Flag Officer, Third Flotilla Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla Flag Officer Gibraltar and Gibraltar Naval Base Commander Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland Flag Officer Plymouth Flag Officer Sea Training Flag Officer Submarines Flag Officer Naval Air Command Flag Officer, Flying Training Flag Officer, Naval Flying Training
under c-in-c home fleet, far east fleet mediterranean fleet, western fleet	Flag Officer Second-in-Command Far East Fleet Chief of Staff, Far East Fleet Commodore, Amphibious Forces, Far East Fleet Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong Mediterranean Fleet Chief of Staff Mediterranean Fleet Flag Officer, Gibraltar Commodore (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers Rear-Admiral (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers Vice-Admiral (D) Commanding, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers Western Fleet Chief of Staff, Western Fleet
civil administration navy department	Office of the Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Royal Navy) Office of the Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Administration)
under civil administration	Department of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Royal Navy) Department of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State (Administration) Greenwich Hospital Department
Naval Legal	Office of the Counsel to the Navy Department, Ministry of Defence Office of the Judge Advocate of the Fleet Office of the Chief Naval Judge Advocate