Commander Littoral Strike Group

First created in May 1965 as Commodore Amphibious Warfare (COMAW), upon establishment the role was tied to the separate post of Commodore, Amphibious Forces, Far East Fleet (COMAFFEF), which was based at Singapore Naval Base after the Royal Navy’s Amphibious Warfare Squadron was transferred from Middle East Command to the Far East Fleet. In March 1971, following the withdrawal from Singapore, and the return of 3 Commando Brigade to the UK, COMMAFFEF was abolished and COMAW and his staff moved to Fort Southwick, just outside Portsmouth.[1]

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 Cdre 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.[2]

The position was renamed from COMAW to Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG) on 1 December 1997,[3] following the establishment of the Amphibious Warfare Squadron in March 1997.[4] From 1965 to 1971, the post reported to Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet, and after return to the UK, from 1971 to 1979 the post holder reported to Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships. From 1979 to 1992 he reported to the Flag Officer, Third Flotilla,[5] and from 1992 has reported to the two-star deployable battlestaff commander, currently titled Commander UK Strike Force.[6]

Until 2011, COMATG was one of the three deployable maritime headquarters who reported to the battlestaff, along with the Commander of the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group (COMCSG) and the Commander of the 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 (RFTG). At this point, the former Commander UK Task Group became Deputy Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces.[7]

In March 2015, this reorganisation was partially reversed when the post of COMUKTG reverted to its previous title of COMATG,[8] and the RFTG became the Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime).[9]

COMATG was re-titled as COMLSG on 1 October 2019, to reflect the expanded role of the post to incorporate Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers at the heart of a new Littoral Strike Group.[10][11]

COMLSG is one of the Royal Navy's 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 HMS Albion, or one of the new QE Class Aircraft Carriers) in order to command the maritime element of the UK's Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) Task Group. While structured and trained to conduct high intensity war-fighting (with an emphasis on amphibious operations, working alongside Commander 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines), COMLSG staff are capable of commanding a diverse range of activities such as evacuation operations, or disaster relief. COMLSG, who is based in Royal Marines Barracks Stonehouse, reports to Commander United Kingdom Strike Force.[12]

• Op VERITAS 01
• Op TELIC 03
• Op VELA 06
• Op HIGHBROW 06
• CTF 152 08
• TAURUS 09
• COUGAR 11
• Op ELLAMY 11
• COUGAR 12
• Op PATWIN 13
• COUGAR 13
• COUGAR 14
• COUGAR 15
• Op WEALD 15
• JEF(M) 16[13]
• CTF50 17[14]
• Amphibious Task Group 18[15]
• SAIF SAREEA 3 18[16]
• BALTIC PROTECTOR 19[17]
• Op SENTINEL 20 (International Maritime Security Construct)[18]
• Littoral Response Group (Experimentation) Deployment 20 [19]

Included:[20]

• Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime)
• Commander United Kingdom Strike Force
• Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group
• Albion Class Landing Platform Dock (LPD)
• 3 Commando Brigade
• Amphibious Warfare