Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla

Surface Flotilla
Active	1990–2002
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Size	Flotilla
Part of	Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Garrison/HQ	HMNB Portsmouth
Commanders
First	Vice-Admiral A. Peter Woodhead
Last	Rear-Admiral Alexander K. Backus

The Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla was a senior British Royal Navy appointment from 1990 to 2002.

When the post of Commander-in-Chief Fleet was created in 1971, three major subordinate appointments were also created: First Flotilla, Second Flotilla and Flag Officer, Carriers and Amphibious Ships, each held by a rear-admiral.^[1] In 1990 the First Flotilla was re-designated Surface Flotilla. In April 1992, the system was changed when the Third Flotilla was abolished and the remaining two flotilla commanders became: Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla – responsible for operational readiness and training – and Flag Officer, UK Task Group – who would command any deployed task group.^[2]

Exercise Teamwork was a major NATO biennial exercise in defense of Norway against a Soviet land and maritime threat. Teamwork '92 was the largest NATO exercise for more than a decade.^[3] Held in the northern spring of 1992, it included a total of over 200 ships and 300 aircraft, held in the North Atlantic. Vice Admiral Nicholas Hill-Norton, Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla, led the RN contingent as Commander, Anti-Submarine Warfare Striking Force (CASWF), with Commodore Amphibious Warfare (COMAW) embarked in HMS Fearless.^[4]