View source for East Indies Fleet

{{Short description|Formation of the Royal Navy, active from 1941 to 1952}}
{{Redirect|Eastern Fleet|the racehorse|Eastern Fleet (horse)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=East Indies Fleet
|image=Renown-9.jpg
|image_size=300px
|caption=HMS ''Renown'' in 1944 with other Eastern Fleet ships
|dates=1941–1952
|country={{UK}}
|allegiance=
|branch=[[File:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|23px]] [[Royal Navy]]
|type=[[Naval fleet|Fleet]]
|role=
|size=
|command_structure=
|garrison=[[Trincomalee naval base|Trincomalee Naval Base]], [[Sri Lanka|Ceylon]]<br/>[[Singapore Naval Base]] (postwar)
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles= [[Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse|Loss of ''Prince of Wales'' and ''Repulse'']]<br/>[[Indian Ocean raid]]<br/>[[Battle of Madagascar]]<br/>[[Operation Dukedom]]<br/>[[Operation Livery]]
|notable_commanders=[[James Somerville (admiral)|James Somerville]]<br/>[[Bruce Fraser, 1st Baron Fraser of North Cape|Bruce Fraser]]
|anniversaries=
}}

The '''Eastern Fleet''', later called the '''East Indies Fleet''', was a [[Naval fleet|fleet]] of the [[Royal Navy]] which existed between 1941 and 1952.

In 1904, the British [[First Sea Lord]], Admiral [[John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher|Sir John Fisher]], ordered that in the event of war the three main commands in the [[Far East]], the [[East Indies Station|East Indies Squadron]], the [[China Station]], and the [[Australian Squadron]], should all come under one command called the Eastern Fleet based in [[Singapore]]. The [[Commander-in-Chief, China]] would then take command. During the [[World War I|First World War]], the squadrons retained their distinct identities and 'Eastern Fleet' was used only as a general term. The three-squadron structure continued until the [[World War II|Second World War]] and the beginning of hostilities with the [[Empire of Japan]], when the Eastern Fleet was formally constituted on 8 December 1941, amalgamating the East Indies Squadron and the China Squadron.<ref name=aj>Jackson, p. 289</ref>

During the war, it included many ships and personnel from other navies, including those of the [[Royal Netherlands Navy|Netherlands]], [[Royal Australian Navy|Australia]], [[Royal New Zealand Navy|New Zealand]], and the [[United States Navy|United States]]. On 22 November 1944 the Eastern Fleet was re-designated East Indies fleet and continued to be based in Trincomalee. Following its re-designation its remaining ships formed the [[British Pacific Fleet]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hobbs |first1=David |title=THE BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET IN 1945 A Commonwealth effort and a remarkable achievement |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Hobbs_THE_BRITISH_PACIFIC_FLEET_IN_1945.pdf |website=navy.gov.au |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref> In December 1945 the British Pacific Fleet was disbanded and its forces were absorbed into the East Indies fleet. In 1952 the East Indies Fleet was renamed the [[Far East Fleet]].

==Background==
Until the Second World War, the [[Indian Ocean]] had been a British "lake". It was ringed by significant British and Commonwealth possessions and much of the strategic supplies needed in peace and war had to pass across it: i.e. Persian oil, Malayan rubber, Indian tea, Australian and New Zealand foodstuffs. Britain also used Australian and New Zealand manpower; hence, safe passage for British cargo ships was critical.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsis.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/rsis-pubs/WP144.pdf|title= Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Indian Ocean and the Maritime Balance of Power in Historical Perspective|access-date=2 September 2012 |date=25 October 2007 |first=Emrys |last=Chew |publisher=S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University   }}</ref>

At the outbreak of war, [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'' used [[Armed merchantmen|auxiliary cruiser]]s (converted merchant ships) and the [[Deutschland-class cruiser|"pocket battleship"]] {{Ship|German cruiser|Admiral Graf Spee||2}} to threaten the sea lanes and tie down the Royal Navy. In mid-1940, Italy declared war and their vessels based in [[Italian East Africa]] posed a threat to the supply routes through the [[Red Sea]]. Worse was to come when the Japanese declared war in December 1941 and, after [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]], the [[sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse|sinking by air attack]] of the [[battleship]] {{HMS|Prince of Wales|53|2}} and [[battlecruiser]] {{HMS|Repulse|1916|2}}, and the occupation of [[Japanese Invasion of Malaya|Malaya]], [[Japanese occupation of Singapore|Singapore]] and the [[Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies|Dutch East Indies]], there was an aggressive threat from the east.<ref name=pearl>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/rep/Pearl/CinCPac-Damage.html| title=Pearl Harbor Attack CINCPAC (Admiral Chester Nimitz) to CINCUS (Admiral Ernest J. King) DAMAGES SUSTAINED BY SHIPS AS A RESULT OF THE JAPANESE RAID, DECEMBER 7, 1941. |access-date=2 September 2012 |date=23 April 2000 |via=Hyperwar Foundation}}</ref>

This threat became a reality during the [[Indian Ocean raid]] when an overwhelming Japanese naval force operated in the eastern Indian Ocean, sinking an aircraft carrier and other warships, and disrupting freight traffic along the Indian east coast. At this stage, the [[Chief of the Imperial General Staff]], General Sir [[Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke|Alan Brooke]] wrote of the situation in 14 April 1942:<ref>{{cite book |title=Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945 |author=Lord Alanbrooke |isbn=9781780227542   |date=2015 |editor-first=Alex |editor-last=Danchev |publisher=Orion }}</ref>
<blockquote>We were at the time literally hanging on by our eye-lids! Australia and India were threatened by the Japanese, we had temporarily lost control of the Indian Ocean, the Germans were threatening Iran and our oil, [[Claude Auchinleck|Auchinleck]] was in precarious straits in the desert, and the submarine sinkings were heavy.</blockquote>

==Early war years==
Until 1941, the main threat to British interests in the region was the presence of German [[commerce raiders]] ([[auxiliary cruisers]]) and submarines. The fleet had trade protection as its first priority and was required to escort convoys and eliminate the raiders. The Germans had converted merchant ships to act as commerce raiders and allocated supply ships to maintain them. The location and destruction of these German raiders consumed much British naval effort until the last raider – ''[[German auxiliary cruiser Michel|Michel]]'' – was sunk in October 1943.<ref>Muggenthaler, p. 282–287</ref>

On 10 June 1940, the entry of Italy into the war introduced a new threat to the oil supply routes from the [[Persian Gulf]], which passed through the [[Red Sea]] to the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]]. The Italians controlled ports in Italian East Africa and [[Tianjin]], [[China]]. The Italian Royal Navy (''[[Regia Marina]]'') presence in the Red Sea, [[Indian Ocean]], and the western Pacific Ocean consisted of destroyers, submarines, and a small number of [[armed merchantmen]]. The majority of these were based at [[Massawa]] in [[Eritrea]] as part of the Italian [[Red Sea Flotilla]], including seven destroyers and eight submarines. Damage to British destroyers at this time included {{HMS|Kimberley|F50|2}} which was crippled by Italian shore batteries.<ref>O'Hara, p.103</ref>

The Italian naval forces in [[East Africa]] were caught in a vice. To put to sea invited heavy British reaction, while to stay in ports threatened by British and Commonwealth forces became impossible. In 1941, during the [[East African Campaign (World War II)|East African Campaign]], these ports were captured by the British.<ref>{{cite magazine| editor-last=Hammerton |editor-first=John | title=South Africans Won the Race to Addis Ababa| issue=86 |volume=4 | location=London |publisher=[[William Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose|William Berry]] |date=25 April 1941| magazine=[[The War Illustrated]]| page=424| editor-link=John Alexander Hammerton}}</ref>

==Singapore==
Before the [[Battle of Singapore|fall of Singapore]], the Eastern Fleet's naval base at [[Singapore]] ([[Singapore Naval Base|HM Naval Base]]) was part of the [[British Far East Command]]. British defence planning [[Far East|in the area]] was based on two assumptions. The first was that the United States would remain as an effective ally in the western Pacific Ocean, with a fleet based at [[Manila]], which would be available as a forward base for British warships.<ref>Jackson, p.290</ref> Secondly, the technical capabilities and aggression of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] were underestimated. In these circumstances, with the Japanese fleet engaged by the [[United States Navy]] (USN), the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] planned to send four [[Revenge-class battleship|''Revenge''-class]] battleships to Singapore to provide defensive firepower and a British presence. The British assumptions were destroyed on 7 December 1941: the impact of the Japanese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] denied substantial USN support to the British defence of the "Malay barrier" and made impossible the relief of American garrisons in the Philippines. Furthermore, Japanese capabilities exceeded expectations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ww2study.com/pearl.html|title=The Intelligence Failure at Pearl Harbor|access-date=2 September 2012}}</ref>

After the [[fall of France]] in June 1940, Japanese pressure on the [[Vichy France|Vichy]] authorities in [[French Indochina]] resulted in the granting of base and transit rights, albeit with significant restrictions. Despite this, in September 1940, the Japanese launched an [[invasion of French Indochina|invasion]] of that country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.net4war.com/e-revue/dossiers/2gm/indochine-sgm/indochine-sgm-01.htm|title=L'Indochine française pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale|access-date=2 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205122644/http://www.net4war.com/e-revue/dossiers/2gm/indochine-sgm/indochine-sgm-01.htm|archive-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> The bases thus acquired in [[Indochina]] allowed extended Japanese air cover of the invasion forces bound for [[British Malaya|Malaya]] and for the [[Dutch East Indies]]. In these circumstances, ''Prince of Wales'' and ''Repulse,'' which were dispatched to intercept the invasion force, were vulnerable to concerted air attacks from the Japanese bases in Indochina and, without their own air cover, they were [[Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse|sunk]] in December 1941.<ref>Shores, et al., pp. 120–21</ref>

After the sinking of ''Prince of Wales'' and ''Repulse'', Admiral Sir [[Geoffrey Layton]] assumed command of the Eastern Fleet. The fleet withdrew first to [[Java]] and, following the fall of Singapore, to [[Trincomalee]], [[Sri Lanka|Ceylon]] (now Sri Lanka).

==Indian Ocean retreat==
[[Stephen Roskill|Roskill]] writes in the ''War at Sea'', Vol. II that:<ref name=RoskillII22>[[Stephen Roskill]], War at Sea, [https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-RN-II/UK-RN-II-1.html#map4 Vol. II], p.22</ref>
<blockquote>Admiral [[James Somerville (admiral)|Somerville]] arrived at Colombo on the 26th of [March 1942], and he then took over command of the Eastern Fleet from Admiral Layton. His fleet consisted of the two large carriers ''Indomitable'' and ''Formidable,'' the small carrier {{HMS|Hermes|95|6}}, the battleships Warspite (recently returned from repairing battle damage received off Crete in America), Resolution, Ramillies, Royal Sovereign and Revenge, two heavy and five light cruisers (including the Dutch Heemskerck), sixteen destroyers and seven submarines.</blockquote>

On 31 March Somerville decided to divide the Fleet into two: Force A and Force B. [[Force A]] consisted of the battleship {{HMS|Warspite|03|2}}, the aircraft carriers {{HMS|Indomitable|92|6}}, and {{HMS|Formidable|67|6}}, and three cruisers.<ref>Roskill, Vol. II, 25; [http://pacific.valka.cz/forces/rn.htm Royal Navy in Pacific and Indian Oceans area]</ref> [[Force B]] was based around the slow [[Revenge-class battleship|''Revenge''-class]] battleships of the [[3rd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|3rd Battle Squadron]], under Vice-Admiral [[Algernon Willis]]. Neither individually nor together could the two Eastern Fleet forces challenge a determined Japanese naval assault.
[[File:On Board HMS Racehorse, Destroyer of the Eastern Fleet A25235.jpg|thumb|On board HMS ''Racehorse'', destroyer of the Eastern Fleet]]
When Admiral Somerville inspected the base at [[Trincomalee]], its deficiencies were clear to him. He found the port inadequate, vulnerable to a determined attack, and open to spying. An isolated island base with a safe, deep anchorage in a suitably strategic position was required. [[Addu Atoll]], southernmost of the [[Maldives]] in the Indian Ocean, 600 miles southwest of Ceylon, met the requirements and it was secretly developed as a fleet anchorage.<ref>[[Stephen Roskill]], War at Sea, [https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-RN-II/UK-RN-II-1.html Vol. II], p.25</ref>

Following the [[Japan]]ese capture of the [[Andaman Islands]], the main elements of the Fleet retreated to Addu Atoll. On 7 April Somerville was given discretion by the Admiralty to send the slow ''Revenge''-class battleships of [[Force B]] all the way back to [[Kilindini]] in [[East Africa]], relatively safe from Japanese attack. The [[Indian Ocean raid]] by [[Chuichi Nagumo]] cost the Fleet the carrier ''Hermes'', the cruisers {{HMS|Dorsetshire|40|6}} and {{HMS|Cornwall|56|6}}, the Australian destroyer {{HMAS|Vampire|D68|6}}, and two tankers.<ref>Roskill, Vol. II, pp.27-28.</ref> Beyond the withdrawal of Force B, the Admiralty warned that Colombo could not be used for the present. Somerville kept Force A in Indian waters "to be ready to deal with any attempt by the enemy to command those waters with light forces only."<ref>Roskill, Vol. II, p.29.</ref>

Later, the fleet in the Indian Ocean was then gradually reduced to little more than a convoy escort force as other commitments called for the more modern, powerful ships. In May 1942, the Eastern Fleet supported the [[Battle of Madagascar|invasion of Madagascar]], [[Operation Ironclad]]. It was aimed at thwarting any attempt by Japanese vessels to use naval bases on the Vichy French controlled territory. During the invasion, vessels of the Eastern Fleet were confronted by vessels of the [[French Navy]] and submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stonebooks.com/history/madagascar.shtml|title=Battle of Madagascar|access-date=2 September 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Admiral Sir James Somerville, Commander-in-Chief Eastern Fleet, inspecting Wrens in Colombo, Ceylon, 17 July 1944. A24959.jpg|thumb|Admiral Sir [[James Somerville]], Commander-in-Chief Eastern Fleet, in Colombo, [[British Ceylon]], 17 July 1944]]
From October 1943, the Eastern Fleet was the maritime component of [[South East Asia Command]], including responsibilities beyond the SEAC area. The fleet reached full operational strength again by 1944. On 22 November 1944 the Eastern Fleet was split into the [[British Pacific Fleet]], receiving the majority of the ships, and the remnant, which became known as the East Indies Fleet.<ref name=WatsonEastern>{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Graham |title=Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945: EASTERN FLEET 1.1942-EAST INDIES FLEET 11.44- |url=https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1939-45.htm#33 |website=naval-history.net |publisher=Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015 |access-date=11 July 2018}}</ref>

Apart from the Eastern Fleet battle forces, it also included a submarine force, to hinder Japan from using sea lanes between Burma and Singapore; and a large supporting escort force, responsible for protecting convoy roues between [[Suez]] ([[Red Sea]]) and [[India]], and between the [[Cape of Good Hope]] and India.<ref name=WatsonEastern />

The Eastern Fleet included, from time to time, as well as British warships, a number of warships from the British Dominions of Australia and New Zealand as well as other Allied nations, such as the [[French battleship Richelieu|French battleship ''Richelieu'']], other ships from the [[Free French Naval Forces]], the Netherlands, and the United States.

==Allied Indian Ocean strikes==
After the departure of the main battle forces during February 1942, the Indian Ocean was left with mostly [[escort carriers]] and older [[battleship]]s as the core of its naval forces. Allied advances in the Mediterranean and northern Europe during 1943 and 1944, however, released naval resources. As a result, more British [[aircraft carrier]]s entered the area; added to the force were the battlecruiser {{HMS|Renown|1916|2}}, the battleships {{HMS|Howe|32|2}}, {{HMS|Queen Elizabeth|1913|2}}, {{HMS|Valiant|1914|2}} and supporting warships. Preparations were put in hand for a more aggressive stance in the Indian Ocean and for British naval participation in the wide spaces of the [[Pacific Ocean]]. Agreement had been reached, after objections from Admiral [[Ernest King]] USN, but new procedures would need to be learnt by naval crews and [[Fleet Air Arm]] (FAA) aircrew. To this end, [[Operation Diplomat]], a training exercise, took place in late March 1944. The objective was for the fleet to rendezvous with a group of tankers (escorted by the Dutch cruiser {{HNLMS|Tromp|1937|6}}) and practice refuelling at sea procedures. The ships then rendezvoused with [[United States Navy]] [[Task Force 58|Task Group 58.5]], the aircraft carrier {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|6}} and three destroyers.<ref name=cruisers>{{citation|chapter-url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Navy-c23.html|chapter=Chapter 23 – The New Zealand Cruisers|publisher=Historical Publications Branch, Royal New Zealand Navy|access-date=2 September 2012 |title=The Royal New Zealand Navy |last= Waters |first= S. D. |location=Wellington |date=1956 |series= The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945  |pages=357, 359 }}</ref>

Admiral King requested that, during April, the Eastern Fleet should engage Japanese forces in their area and hold them there to reduce the opposition to an American seaborne assault on [[Jayapura|Hollandia]] and [[Aitape]] on the north coast of [[Netherlands New Guinea]]. In response, the Fleet, including Task Group 58.5, carried out [[Operation Cockpit]], an air attack on [[Sabang, Indonesia|Sabang]], off [[Sumatra]].<ref name="Jackson, p. 303">Jackson, p. 303</ref> Surprise was achieved: military and oil installations were heavily damaged by the attacks, aggravating Japanese fuel shortages. The American involvement was extended to capitalise on the success with a second attack, this time on [[Surabaya]], eastern Java, on 17 May ([[Operation Transom]]). The distances for this operation necessitated replenishment at sea. Again, the defenders were unprepared and significant damage was inflicted on the port and its military and oil infrastructures.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} ''Saratoga'' and her destroyers returned to the Pacific from 18 May after what Admiral Somerville called "a profitable and very happy association of Task Group 58.5 with the Eastern Fleet".<ref name=cruisers/>
[[File:Gracie Fields With the British East Indies Fleet, Trincomalee, Ceylon, 20 October 1945 A30899.jpg|thumb|[[Gracie Fields]] with the British East Indies Fleet, [[Trincomalee]], Ceylon, 20 October 1945]]
At the end of August 1944, Admiral Somerville was relieved as Commander-in-Chief Eastern Fleet by Admiral Sir [[Bruce Fraser, 1st Baron Fraser of North Cape|Bruce Fraser]], former Commander-in-Chief [[British Home Fleet|Home Fleet]].<ref name=whitaker/> The Eastern Fleet was greatly augmented by units intended for the Pacific and on 4 January 1945, the carriers {{HMS|Indomitable|92|2}} and {{HMS|Indefatigable|R10|2}} carried out an attack on oil refineries at [[Pangkalan Brandon]] in Sumatra ([[Operation Lentil (Sumatra)|Operation Lentil]]). The final attacks were flown as Force 63 was ''en route'' for [[Sydney]], Australia to become the [[British Pacific Fleet]]. [[Operation Meridian]] was a series of air attacks upon the oil refineries at [[Pladjoe]], north of [[Palembang]], Java and at [[Soengei Gerong]], Sumatra. Although successful, these were not as smooth as earlier attacks. Three crews (nine men) of Fleet Air Arm were captured by the Japanese during the Palembang raid. They were taken to Singapore where they were tortured and imprisoned; finally in August 1945 they were executed by the Japanese military authorities four days after the Japanese surrender.<ref>{{citation|chapter-url=https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Navy-a5.html |chapter=Appendix V – Execution By Japanese of Fleet Air Arm Officers |publisher=Historical Publications Branch, Royal New Zealand Navy|access-date=2 September 2012 |title=The Royal New Zealand Navy |last= Waters |first= S. D. |location=Wellington |date=1956 |series= The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945 |pages=537–538 }}</ref>

On 15–16 May 1945, the British fought the [[Battle of the Malacca Strait]]; the 26th Destroyer Flotilla (composed of {{HMS|Saumarez|G12|2}}, {{HMS|Venus|R50|2}}, {{HMS|Verulam|R28|2}}, {{HMS|Vigilant|R93|2}} and {{HMS|Virago|R75|2}}) sank the Japanese heavy cruiser {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Haguro||2}} in the [[Strait of Malacca|Malacca Straits]] using [[torpedo]]es.<ref name="Jackson, p. 303"/>

== Eastern Fleet senior officers ==
===Commanders-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet ===

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Rank !! Flag !! Name !! Term  
|-
|+Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet<ref name=whitaker>Whitaker's Almanacks 1941 – 1971</ref><ref>Mackie p151–152</ref>
|-
|1 ||Admiral || [[File:Flag of Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||Sir [[Tom Phillips (Royal Navy officer)|Tom S.V. Phillips]]||October – 10 December 1941
|-
|2 ||Vice-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||Sir [[Geoffrey Layton]] ||10 December 1941 – 12 February 1942
|-
|3 ||Vice-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] || Sir [[James Somerville]]||12 February 1942 – 6 April 1942 (promoted to Adm.
|-
|4 ||Admiral || [[File:Flag of Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] || Sir [[James Somerville]]||6 April 1942 – 22 August 1944 
|-
|5 ||Admiral || [[File:Flag of Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] || Sir [[Bruce Fraser, 1st Baron Fraser of North Cape|Bruce A. Fraser]]||22 August 1944 -December 1944 – becomes C-in-C [[British Pacific Fleet]]
|-
|}

=== Vice-Admiral Commanding, 3rd Battle Squadron & Second-in-Command, Eastern Fleet ===
{| class="wikitable"
! !! Rank !! Flag !! Name !! Term  
|-
|+Vice-Admiral, Commanding 3rd Battle Squadron & Second-in-command, Eastern Fleet<ref>Mackie p 152</ref><ref name=WatsonEastern />
|-
|1 ||Vice Admiral || [[File:Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] || [[Algernon Willis]]||26 February 1942 – February 1943
|-
|2 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[William Tennant (Royal Navy officer)|William G. Tennant]]||February–October 1943
|-
|3 ||Vice-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||Sir [[Arthur Power]]||January 1944 – November 1944
|-
|4 ||Vice-Admiral|| [[File:Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||Sir [[Harold Walker (Royal Navy officer)|Harold Walker]]||November 1944 – 1946
|-
|}

=== Chief of Staff, Eastern Fleet ===

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Rank !! Flag !! Name !! Term  
|-
|+Chief of Staff, Eastern Fleet<ref>Mackie, p153</ref>
|-
|1 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[Arthur Palliser|Arthur F. E. Palliser]]||December 1941 – January 1942
|-
|2 ||Commodore || [[File:UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg|25px]] ||[[Ralph Edwards (Royal Navy officer)|Ralph A. B. Edwards]]||March 1942 – August 1944
|-
|}

=== Rear-Admiral, Eastern Fleet Aircraft Carriers ===
This officer supervised the Fleet's aircraft carriers and naval air stations.<ref name=WatsonEastern /> Air stations included [[RNAS China Bay]] (Trincomalee), [[RNAS Colombo Racecourse]] (HMS ''Bherunda''), Coimbatore, and RNAS Katukurunda.

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Rank !! Flag !! Name !! Term  
|-
|+Rear-Admiral, Eastern Fleet Aircraft Carriers 
|-
|1 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[Denis Boyd]]||18 February 1941 – December 1942<ref>{{cite book |title=The Navy List |date=December 1942 |publisher=H. M. Stationery Office |location=London, England |page=1339}}</ref>
|-
|2 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[Clement Moody]]||1 December 1943 – August 1944
|-
|}

=== Flag Officer Commanding, Red Sea and Canal Area, 1943–44 ===
{| class="wikitable"
! !! Rank !! Flag !! Name !! Term  
|-
|+Flag Officer Commanding, Red Sea and Canal Area
|-
|1 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[Ronald Hamilton Curzon Hallifax|Ronald H. C. Hallifax]]||18 May 1942 – 6 November 1943<ref name="The Navy List">{{cite book |title=The Navy List |date=December 1942 |publisher=H. M. Stationery Office |location=London, England |page=1340}}</ref> (died in office)
|-
|2 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[John Waller (Royal Navy officer)|John Waller]]||6 November – 28 December 1943<ref name="The Navy List"/>
|-
|3 ||Commodore || [[File:UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg|25px]] ||[[Douglas Young-Jamieson]]||28 December 1943 – 31 October 1944<ref>{{cite book |title=The Navy List |date=November 1944 |publisher=H. M. Stationery Office |location=London, England |page=2264}}</ref>
|-
|}

=== Flag Officer, East Africa and Admiral Superintendent, H.M. Dockyard, Kilindini ===
Responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet, from April 1942 to September 1943 then transferred back under the East Indies Fleet.

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Rank !! Flag !! Name !! Term  !! Notes/Ref
|-
|+[[Flag Officer, East Africa]]
|-
|1 ||[[Rear admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral]] ||[[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]]||[[Peter Reid (Royal Navy officer)|Peter Reid]]||April 1942 – October 1942||
|-
|2 ||[[Commodore (Royal Navy)|Commodore]] ||[[File:UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg|25px]] ||[[Charles Gage Stuart|Charles G. Stuart]]||October 1942 – September, 1943||
|-
|}

With the Flag Officer, East Africa, was the [[Commodore, Naval Air Stations, East Africa]], which was within the Eastern Fleet command from April 1942 to September 1943 then was transferred back to the East Indies Fleet.

=== Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf ===
The [[Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf]] was responsible for administering Royal Navy ships and establishments in the Persian Gulf. He was initially located at Basra, in Mandatory Iraq, then later at {{HMS|Juffair}} in Bahrain from 1901 to 1972. His command was part of the [[East Indies Station]], then the Eastern Fleet, then the East Indies Fleet.<ref name=WatsonEastern />

There were also Naval Officers-in-Charge at [[Basra]] and for the [[Strait of Hormuz|Hormuz]].

=== Flag Officer, Malaya ===
The [[Flag Officer, Malaya]] commanded naval forces and establishments in Malaya including [[HMNB Singapore]].

=== Naval Officers in Charge, ports and bases ===
Included:<ref name="The Navy List"/>
* Naval Officer-in-Charge, [[Chittagong]]
* Naval Officer-in-Charge, [[Seychelles]]
* Naval Officer-in-Charge, [[Diego-Suarez|Diego Suarez]]
* Naval Officer-in-Charge, [[Trincomalee]]

== East Indies Fleet senior officers==

===Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Fleet===
{| class="wikitable"
! !! Rank !! Flag !! Name !! Term  
|-
|+Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Fleet<ref name="whitaker"/><ref>Mackie p 151–152</ref>
|-
|1 ||Admiral || [[File:Flag of Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||Sir [[Arthur Power|Arthur J. Power]]||November 1944 – December 1945<ref>{{cite book |last1=Heathcote |first1=T. A. |title=British Admirals of the Fleet: 1734–1995 |date=2002 |publisher=Pen and Sword |location=Barnsley, England |isbn=9780850528350 |page=187 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xtCXAwAAQBAJ&q=East+Indies+Fleet&pg=PA187 |language=en}}</ref> 
|-
|2 ||Vice-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||Sir [[Clement Moody]] ||15 December 1945 – 8 March 1946<ref>{{cite web |last1=Houterman |first1=J.N. |title=Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939–1945 – M |url=http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersM5.html |website=unithistories.com |publisher=Houterman and Kloppes |access-date=22 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
|2 ||Vice-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||Sir [[Denis Boyd]]||March 1946 – January 1948 
|-
|3 ||Admiral || [[File:Flag of Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||Sir [[Denis Boyd]]||January 1948 – January 1949<ref>{{cite web |last1=Houterman |first1=J.N. |title=Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939–1945 – B |url=http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersB4a.html |website=unithistories.com |publisher=Houterman and Kloppes  |access-date=22 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
|4 ||Vice-Admiral|| [[File:Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||Sir [[Patrick Brind]]||January 1949 – February 1951 
|-
|5 ||Vice-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||Sir [[Guy Russell]]||February 1951 – January 1952
|-
|}

=== Rear-Admiral, Commanding, 5th Cruiser Squadron and Second-in-Command, East Indies Fleet/Far East Fleet ===

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Rank !! Flag !! Name !! Term  
|-
|+Rear-Admiral, Commanding, 5th Cruiser Squadron and Second-in-Command, East Indies Fleet/Far East Fleet
|-
|1 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[Alexander Madden]]||1948 – 1950<ref name=Maddenlh>[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/MADDEN1.shtml Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives]</ref>{{full citation needed|date=June 2022}}
|-
|2 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[William Andrewes]]||17 December 1950 – October 1951<ref>[http://www.vrb.gov.au/service_eligibility/syd-53-11.pdf HMAS Sydney Record of Proceedings November 1953]</ref>
|-
|3 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[Eric Clifford]] CB||circa 1953 {{Citation needed|date=July 2018}}
|-
|4 ||Rear-Admiral|| [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[Gerald Gladstone (Royal Navy officer)|Gerald Gladstone]]||1953 – 1955<ref name=Gladstonelh>[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/GLADSTONE.shtml Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives]</ref>{{full citation needed|date=June 2022}}
|-
|}

=== Chief of Staff, East Indies Fleet ===

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Rank !! Flag !! Name !! Term  
|-
|+Chief of Staff, East Indies Fleet<ref>Mackie p153</ref> 
|-
|1 ||Commodore || [[File:UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg|25px]] ||[[Edward Evans-Lombe|Edward M. Evans-Lombe]]||August 1944 – October 1944
|-
|2 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||Edward M. Evans-Lombe||October 1944 – March 1946
|-
|3 ||Commodore || [[File:UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg|25px]] || Stephen H. Carlill||March 1946 – August 1948
|-
|4 ||Commodore|| [[File:UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg|25px]] ||Geoffrey F. Burghard||August 1948 – September 1950
|-
|5 ||Captain ||  ||Ralph L. Fisher||September 1950 – January 1952
|-
|}

=== Flag Officer, (Air), East Indies Fleet ===
This officer commanded the aircraft carriers and the naval air stations.

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Rank !! Flag !! Name !! Term  
|-
|+Flag Officer, (Air), East Indies Fleet<ref name=WatsonEastern />
|-
|1 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[Clement Moody]]||August 1944 – November 1944 
|-
|2 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[Reginald Henry Portal|Reginald H. Portal]]||November 1944 – March 1946 
|-
|3 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||Charles H.L. Woodhouse||March – July 1946
|-
|4 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[Robin Bridge]]||July 1946 – February 1947 
|-
|5 ||Vice-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[George Creasy]]||February 1947 – 1948 
|-
|}

=== Commodore (D), Commanding, Destroyer Flotillas, Eastern Fleet (and later East Indies Fleet)===
{| class="wikitable"
! !! Rank !! Flag !! Name !! Term  
|-
|+Commodore (D), Commanding, Eastern Fleet Destroyer Flotillas
|-
|1 ||Commodore || [[File:UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg|25px]] ||S. H. T. Harliss||9 June 1942 – December 1942<ref name="The Navy List"/>
|-
|2 ||Commodore || [[File:UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg|25px]] ||[[Allan Lawrence Poland|Albert. L. Poland]]||April 1944 – October 1944<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book |title=The Navy List |date=October 1944 |publisher=H. M. Stationery Office |location=London, England |page=2263}}</ref>
|-
|3 ||Commodore || [[File:UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg|25px]] || [[Stephen Hope Carlill|Stephen H. Carlill]]||March 1946 – August 1948
|-
|4 ||Commodore|| [[File:UK-Navy-OF6-Flag.svg|25px]] ||[[Geoffrey Frederick Burghard|Geoffrey F. Burghard]]||August 1948 – September 1950
|-
|}

=== Flag Officer, Ceylon, 1942–46 ===

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Rank !! Flag !! Name !! Term  
|-
|+Flag Officer, Ceylon<ref>{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Graham |title=Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945: EASTERN FLEET 1.1942-EAST INDIES FLEET 11.44- |url=https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1939-45.htm#33 |website=naval-history.net |publisher=Gordon Smith |date= 19 September 2015 |access-date=11 July 2018}}</ref> |
|-
|1 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[Arthur Read (Royal Navy officer)|Arthur Read]]||14 May 1942 – August 1943
|-
|2 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[Victor Hilary Danckwerts|Victor Danckwerts]]||August 1943 – March 1944, (died in office)
|-
|3 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[Gresham Nicholson]]||March 1944 – 1945
|-
|4 ||Rear-Admiral || [[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[John Mansfield (Royal Navy officer)|John Mansfield]] || 1945 -10 April 1946 
|-
|}

=== Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Navy ===
The Royal Indian Navy came under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, on the outbreak of the Second World War and reverted to a separate command after the Japanese surrender.

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Rank !! Flag !! Name !! Term  
|-
|+Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Navy
|-
|1 ||Vice-Admiral ||[[File:Flag of Vice-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]]||Sir [[Herbert Fitzherbert]] || December 1941 -22 March 1943
|-
|2||Vice-Admiral ||[[File:Flag of Rear-Admiral - Royal Navy.svg|25px]] ||[[John Henry Godfrey]] ||22 March 1943 – 15 March 1946
|-
|}

In addition to the Vice-Admiral commanding, Rear-Admiral [[Oliver Bevir]] served as Senior Officer, Royal Naval Establishments, India, from June 1944 to July 1945.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

=== Flag Officer, Malaya and Forward Areas ===
{{main|Flag Officer, Malaya and Forward Areas}}

== Subordinate naval formations ==
Units that served in the two fleets included:<ref>{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Graham |title=Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945: 3.3 Indian and Pacific Oceans |url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1939-45.htm |website=naval-history.net |publisher=Gordon Smith |date= 19 September 2015 |access-date=10 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Graham |title=Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947–2013:1. ROYAL NAVY ORGANISATION AND DEPLOYMENT FROM 1947 |url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1947-2013.htm#1 |website=naval-history.net |publisher=Gordon Smith |date= 12 July 2015 |access-date=10 July 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Naval Units !! Based at !! Date !! Notes
|-
|[[Force A]] || [[Trincomalee]]  || March 1942 to June 1942|| 
|-
|[[Force B]] || Trincomalee/Kilidini || March 1942 to June 1942|| 
|-
|[[21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron]] || Trincomalee  ||March 1945 – December 1945 ||
|-
|[[1st Battle Squadron]] || Trincomalee ||March 1942 to 1942|| 
|-
|[[3rd Battle Squadron]] || Trincomalee ||January 1942 to December 1945  || 
|-
|[[4th Cruiser Squadron]] || Trincomalee then [[Singapore Naval Base]]   ||December 1947 to July 1954  ||
|-
|[[5th Cruiser Squadron]]  || Trincomalee then [[Singapore Naval Base]]   ||January 1942 – May 1960 ||  
|-
|[[2nd Destroyer Flotilla]]  || [[Trincomalee]]  ||February 1942 to June 1943  ||  
|-
|[[4th Destroyer Flotilla]]  || Trincomalee  ||April 1943 to November 1944 || 
|-
|[[6th Destroyer Flotilla]]  || Trincomalee  ||June 1945 –  || 
|-
|[[7th Destroyer Flotilla]]  || Trincomalee  ||January 1942 to April 1945||
|-
|[[8th Destroyer Flotilla]]  || Singapore  ||1947 to July 1951||re-designated 8th DSQ
|-
|[[11th Destroyer Flotilla]]  || Trincomalee  ||February 1943 – 1945||transferred from Med Fleet
|-
|[[24th Destroyer Flotilla]]  || [[Trincomalee]] ||January to May 1945||
|-
|[[26th Destroyer Flotilla]]  || Trincomalee  ||January 1945|| 
|-
|[[1st Destroyer Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Destroyer Squadron]]  || Singapore  ||1950 to April 1960|| 
|-
|[[8th Destroyer Squadron (United Kingdom)|8th Destroyer Squadron]]  || Singapore  ||July 1951 – May 1963|| renamed 24th ESQ
|-
|[[1st Escort Flotilla]]  || Singapore  ||1946 to 1954|| 
|-
|[[4th Frigate Squadron (United Kingdom)|4th Frigate Squadron]]|| Singapore  ||January 1949 to August 1954|| 
|-
|[[6th Minesweeper Flotilla]]   || [[Trincomalee]]||January 1945 to July 1947 || transferred to Singapore
|-
|[[6th Minesweeper Flotilla]]   || Singapore ||August 1947 to 1951  ||placed in reserve  
|-
|[[6th Minesweeper Squadron]]   || Singapore ||1951 to June 1954 ||new formation 
|-
|[[7th Minesweeper Flotilla]]   || Trincomalee ||February 1945 ||
|-
|[[2nd Submarine Flotilla]] || Trincomalee  ||January 1945||
|-
|[[4th Submarine Division]] || [[Sydney]] ||May to October 1949||
|-
|[[4th Submarine Flotilla]] || Trincomalee ||January 1942 to October 1947||
|-
|[[4th Submarine Flotilla]] || Singapore ||October 1947 to December 1948||
|-
|[[6th Submarine Flotilla]] || Trincomalee ||February to August 1944||
|-
|[[2nd Submarine Flotilla]] || Trincomalee  ||January 1945||
|-
|[[4th Submarine Flotilla]] || Trincomalee then Singapore ||January 1942 to October 1947||
|-
|[[6th Submarine Flotilla]] || [[Trincomalee]]  ||February to August 1944||
|-
|[[Persian Gulf Division]] ||[[HMS Jufair|Juffair Naval Base]] ||January 1942 to January 1954||
|-
|[[Red Sea Division]] || [[HMS Sheba (shore establishment)|Aden Naval Base]]  ||February 1942 to January 1954||
|-
|60th Escort Group ||Trincomalee ||January to May 1945 ||11 ships
|-
|Aden-Bombay-Colombo Groups ||[[Aden]]/[[Mumbai|Bombay]]/[[Colombo]]||4 February 1944 to January 1945 ||ABC 30 escorts
|-
|Aden Escort Forces ||[[Aden]] ||4 February 1944 to January 1945 ||15 escorts 
|-
|Ceylon Escort Forces  ||Colombo ||9 January 1943 to 4 February 1944 || 10 escorts 
|-
|[[East Africa Station|Kilidini Escort Forces]] ||[[Kilindini Harbour|Kilidini]]||4 February 1944 to January 1945 || 8 escorts
|-
|[[East Africa Station|Kilidini Escort Forces]] ||[[Kilindini Harbour|Kilidini]]||January to May 1945 ||14 ships
|-
|[[Royal Indian Navy]] Escort Forces  ||[[Mumbai|Bombay]] ||4 February 1944 to January 1945||8 escorts
|-
|}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist}}

== References ==
*{{cite book|last =Grove|first=Eric|title=Vanguard to Trident: British Naval Policy Since World War II|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1987|isbn=978-0870215520}}
*{{cite book |last=Heathcote |first=Tony |title=The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995 |publisher=Pen & Sword Ltd |year=2002 |isbn=0-85052-835-6}}
*{{cite book|title=Lewin of Greenwich|last=Hill |first=Richard|publisher= Weidenfeld Military|year= 2000|isbn= 978-0-304-35329-3}}
*{{cite book | last = Jackson| first = Ashley| author-link =Ashley Jackson (historian) | title = The British Empire and the Second World War| publisher = Hambledon Continuum| year = 2006| location = London | isbn= 1-85285-417-0 }}
*{{cite web |last1=Mackie |first1=Colin |title=Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865 |url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf |website=Colin Mackie's website |publisher=Colin Mackie  |access-date=11 July 2018 }}
*{{cite book|last=Muggenthaler |first=August Karl|title=German Raiders of World War II|publisher= London Pan |year=1980 |isbn=0-330-26204-1}}
*{{cite book|last=O'Hara|first=Vincent |year=2009|title=Struggle for the Middle Sea: the great navies at war in the Mediterranean theater, 1940–1945|publisher=Naval Institute Press| isbn= 978-1591146483}}
*{{cite book|last1=Shores|first1=Christopher|last2=Cull|first2=Brian|last3=Izawa|first3=Yasuho|title=Bloody Shambles: The Drift to War to the Fall of Singapore|volume=I|year=1992|publisher=Grub Street|location=London|isbn=0-948817-50-X}}
* Watson, Dr Graham (2015). "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.


[[Category:Fleets of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1952]]