Commander Amphibious Task Group

Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG)
	File:COMATG Crest.jpg Official badge of COMATG
	Incumbent; Commodore James M.B. Parkin; since May 2018
	Fleet Command, Ministry of Defence
Reports to	Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces
Nominator	Secretary of State for Defence
Term length	Not fixed (typically 2 years)
Inaugural holder	Commodore Roy W. Halliday
Formation	1971-current

The Commander Amphibious Task Group, (COMATG) is a senior British Royal Navy appointment, first established in August 1971. The office holder commands the Amphibious Task Group, which makes up the majority of the Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime).

History[]

First established in August 1971 as Commodore, Amphibious Warfare (COMAW); Michael Clapp held the post during the Falklands War, when the post-holder directed the Amphibious Group of the British task force.^[1] The position of Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG) was established on 1 December 1997,^[2] following the establishment of the Amphibious Warfare Squadron in March 1997.^[3] 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.^[4] Until 2011, COMATG was one of the three deployable one-star rank maritime operational commanders reporting to the two-star Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces, 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

In March 2015, this reorganisation was partially reversed when the post of COMUKTG reverted to its previous title of COMATG,^[5] and the RFTG became the Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime).

Roles and Responsibilities[]

COMATG is the Royal Navy's only deployable one-star Maritime Component Commander,^[6] held at Very High Readiness (72 hours or less) in order to respond to unexpected global events. In most circumstances, COMATG 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), COMATG staff are capable of commanding a diverse range of activities such as evacuation operations, or disaster relief. COMATG reports to Commander UK Maritime Forces,^[7] and is based in Royal Marines Barracks Stonehouse, Plymouth.

Deployments and Operations[]

Op VERITAS 01
Op TELIC 03
Op VELA 06
Op HIGHBROW 06
TAURUS 09
COUGAR 11
Op ELLAMY 11
COUGAR 12
Op PATWIN 13
COUGAR 13
COUGAR 14
COUGAR 15
Op WEALD 15
JEF(M) 16^[8]
CTF50 17^[9]
Amphibious Task Group 18^[10]
SAIF SAREEA 3 18^[11]
BALTIC PROTECTOR 19^[12]

In command[]

Included:^[13]

Commodore, Amphibious Warfare Group[]

Commodore Roy W. Halliday: August 1971-September 1973
Commodore David T. Smith: September 1973-October 1975
Commodore Richard D. Franklin: October 1975-February 1977
Commodore Derek R. Reffell: June 1978-October 1979
Commodore Christopher J. Isacke: October 1979-May 1981
Commodore Michael C. Clapp: May 1981-February 1983 ^[14]
Commodore Peter G. V. Dingemans: February 1983-January 1985 ^[15]
Commodore John Garnier: January–July 1985
Commodore E.S. Jeremy Larken: July 1985-December 1987
Commodore Brian W. Turner: December 1987-April 1990
Commodore Peter J. Grindal: April 1990 – 1992
Commodore Richard A.Y. Bridges: 1992-1994
Commodore Paul B.C. Canter: 1994-October 1996
Commodore Paul D. Stone: October 1996-1 December 1997

Note: COMAW was renamed COMATG^[16]