Navy Command Headquarters

Navy Command Headquarters
Navy Command Headquarters
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Naval Service
Location	Whale Island, Hampshire 50°48′53.7″N 1°5′59.1″W / 50.814917°N 1.099750°W / 50.814917; -1.099750
Commanders
Fleet Commander	Vice Admiral Ben Key

Navy Command Headquarters is the organisation responsible for the direction and management of the Naval Service of the United Kingdom in accordance with legislation and the requirements of the Ministry of Defence. The command is the base of the Fleet Commander. It also provides forces by means of providing ships, personnel, aircraft and equipment in support of UK defence policy objectives.

The equivalent in the British Army is Army Headquarters at Andover and the equivalent in the Royal Air Force is Headquarters Air Command at High Wycombe.

NCHQ is distributed across a number of locations with the majority of the staff at:

NCHQ organisation comprises at least three sub groups:

The major commanders include:

The Fleet Battle Staff (also known as the UK Maritime Battle Staff, or UKMARBATSTAFF) is the UK's naval planning department and is a constituent part of the NCHQ. In May 2004 Jane's Defence Weekly ran a profile of the organisation, writing that it was created in 2001 as a result of the 'Fleet FIRST' reorganisation. In 2004 its location was reported as the Fieldhouse Building, Whale Island, Portsmouth.

Richard Scott wrote that the FBS supported five independent commanders: Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces (COMUKMARFOR), COMUKAMPHIBFOR (Commander United Kingdom Amphibious Forces, who is dual hatted as Commandant General Royal Marines), COMUKTG (Commander UK Task Group), Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG), and the Commander 3 Commando Brigade. Their combined staffs constitute the Fleet Battle Staff.

Scott wrote that three of the five staffs are at Whale Island, the exceptions being Commander Amphibious Task Group and Commander 3 Cdo Brigade which remained at Stonehouse Barracks, Plymouth.