# Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf

The Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf, was a Royal Navy command appointment who was responsible for administering the Persian Gulf Station military formation including its establishments and naval forces known as the Persian Gulf Squadron later called the Persian Gulf Division. Initially located at Basidu, Qishm Island, in Persia (c. 1823–1850–1935), then Henjam Island in Persia (1911–1935), and finally Ras Al-Jufair, Bahrain (1935–1972).
The Persian Gulf Station encompassed the Persian Gulf and Straits of Hormuz.

## History

British naval presence in the Persian Gulf began in the early nineteenth century with temporary naval forces assembled for specific operations until the establishment of a more constant naval force presence called the Persian Gulf Squadron later the Persian Gulf Division. The Senior Naval Office Persian Gulf gradually became an important position throughout the twentieth century by supporting Britain's strategic interests in the region, he reported to the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station. The Persian Gulf was one of the areas of naval operations during First World War in which it assumed a level of importance during the Mesopotamian campaign, its operations consisted of patrolling, keeping the peace and ensuring the continued supply of oil from the region. In May 1942 it then became part of the Eastern Fleet command until May 1944 when it became part of the East Indies Fleet command until July 1945 when it was abolished. The station was re-established in April 1949 reporting to the C-in-C, East Indies Station until 1958. In 1959 the station was merged with the Red Sea Station under the new appointment of Commodore, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf. In 1962 the station was re-established under the Flag Officer, Middle East, until it was abolished in 1972.
In 2003 the Royal Navy reestablished a post in the Persian Gulf, with a new title, the UK Maritime Component Command. On 1 November 2015, it was announced that HMS Jufair would be re-established as a permanent Royal Navy base. On 5 April 2018, the UK Naval Support Facility was officially opened.

## Headquarters

The British established a Persian Gulf Squadron in the mid-nineteenth century to support the Political Resident Persian Gulf (PRPG), who was responsible for all of Britains relationships in the region. The SNOPG was originally headquartered at Basidu on-board his ship from 1823 onward. A permanent depot and headquarters was first established at Basidu, Qishm Island, in Persia, around 1850. In 1911 his headquarters moved to Henjam Island in the Straits of Hormuz until 12 April 1935. On 13 April 1935 a naval base and shore establishment called HMS Juffair was established at Ras Al-Jufair, Bahrain, which served as headquarters for the SNO Persian Gulf until 1972.

### SNOPG, Ships

From 1885 to 1946 the SNO Persian Gulf was usually aboard an operational ship beginning with HMS Osprey, (1885–1890). Followed by HMS Triad from 1909 to 21 April 1933 It was replaced by HMS Shoreham (L32) 21 April 1933 to 1946.
Four Loch-class frigates were stationed in the Persian Gulf circa 1957: HMS Loch Fada, HMS Loch Fyne, HMS Loch Killisport and HMS Loch Ruthven.

## Senior Naval Officers, Persian Gulf

    Incomplete list of post holders included:
| | Rank | Name | Term | Notes/Ref |
| Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf ||||||
| 1 | Captain | Francis Erskine Loch | 16 October 1818 - September 1837 | SNO Persian Gulf |
| 2 | Commodore | George Pepper | October -1837 - 1 April 1838 | (SNO Persian Gulf) |
| 3 | Commander | John Croft Hawkins | 1 April - 12 June 1838 | SNO Persian Gulf |
| 4 | Commodore | Captain Brucks | 12 June 1838-? | Acting-SO Persian Gulf |
| 5 | Commodore | George Robinson | June 1852 | (as Commander, Persian Gulf Squadron) |
| 6 | Commander | C. M. Cruttenden | 1855 - 12 January 1861 | SNO Persian Gulf |
| 7 | Commander | H.W. Dowding | October, 1885 | SNO Persian Gulf Division |
| 8 | Captain | J. H. Pelly | 14 August 1895 - May 1896 | SNO Persian Gulf |
| 9 | Captain | Thomas W. Kemp | 1901 – 25 November 1904 | Commander and SNO Persian Gulf |
| 10 | Commodore | Drury St. A. Wake | 18 October 1915 – November, 1918 | (as Commodore, Persian Gulf) |
| 11 | Commodore | David T. Norris | December 1918-February 1920 | (as Commodore, Persian Gulf) |
| 12 | Captain | George Parker Bevan | November, 1919 – 14 January 1920 | |
| 13 | Captain | John L. Pearson | 6 February 1920 – February, 1922 | later V.Adm |
| 14 | Captain | Alexander R. Palmer | February 1922-March 1924 | later V.Adm |
| 15 | Captain | Ernest W. Leir | March 1924-February 1926 | later R.Adm |
| 16 | Captain | Reginald St. P. Parry | February 1926-January 1928 | |
| 17 | Captain | Hector Boyes | January 1928-May 1930 | |
| 18 | Captain | Lewis G. E. Crabbe | May 1930-March 1933 | later V.Adm |
| 19 | Captain | James V. Creagh | March 1933-March 1935 | later R.Adm |
| 20 | Captain | Vernon S. Butler | March 1935-March 1937 | later R.Adm. |
| 21 | Captain | George H. Faulkner | 20 February 1937 – 17 April 1938 | |
| 22 | Commodore | Allan Poland | March 1937-April 1939 | as Captain then later Cmdre. |
| 23 | Commodore | Cosmo M. Graham | April 1939-February 1942 | |
| From May 1942 the station is reporting to the C-in-C, Eastern, Fleet until May 1944 ||||||
| 24 | Rear-Admiral | Charles Hamill | 2 February 1942-January 1944 | |
| From May 1944 the station is reporting to the C-in-C, East Indies, Fleet until July 1945 when its abolished ||||||
| 25 | Commodore | John M. Howson | January–September 1944 | |
| 26 | Commodore | Ivan W. Whitehorn | September 1944 - July, 1945 | |
| The station is re-established in April 1949 reporting to the C-in-C, East Indies Station until 1959 ||||||
| 27 | Captain | Peter Skelton | April 1949-August 1950 | |
| 28 | Captain | Arthur H. Wallis | August 1950-April 1952 | |
| 29 | Captain | Hugh G. Waters | April 1952-October 1953 | |
| 30 | Captain | Alan S. Webb | October 1953-October 1954 | |
| 31 | Captain | Vere A. Wight-Boycott | October 1954-April 1956 | |
| 32 | Captain | Stephen H. Beattie | 17 April 1956-April 1958 | |
| 33 | Captain | George F.M. Best | April 1958 – 1959 | Promoted to Cmdre. as Flag Officer, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf |
| In 1959 this appointment was merged with that of the Red Sea to form the Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf Station. In 1962 the station re-established under the Flag Officer, Middle East until it was abolished in 1972. ||||||
| 34 | Rear-Admiral | Fitzroy Talbot | August 1960 - August 1962 | Title changed to Flag Officer Middle East by May 1, 1962, the date his HQ moved from Bahrain to Aden. |
| 35 | Commodore | Michael D. Kyrle-Pope | April 1962-April 1964 | reporting to the Flag Officer, Middle East. |
| 36 | Commodore | Edmund S. Carver | April 1964-October 1966 | reporting to the FOME. |
| 37 | Commodore | Thomas E. Fanshawe | October 1966-December 1968 | reporting to the FOME. |
| 38 | Commodore | Kenneth Lee-White, MBE | December 1968-September 1970 | reporting to the FOME |
| 39 | Commodore | Sir Peter Anson | September 1970 – 1972 | Commander Naval Forces Gulf |

## Naval formations and units that served in this command

Included:
| Naval Units | Based at | Date | Notes |
| Persian Gulf Division | Manama, Bahrain | 1914 - 1958 | 2 cruisers, 1 minelayer cruiser, 1 scout cruiser 10 destroyers |
| Persian Gulf Division | Manama, Bahrain | 1936 - 1939 | Escort sloops – HMS Egret (L75), HMS Fleetwood (U47) (17 Nov 1936) |
| 21st Destroyer Flotilla | Shatt al-Arab, Basra | 1939- 1942 | |
| Minesweeping Group 156 | Shatt al-Arab, Basra | 1942 | 3 ships |
| Minesweeping Group 157 | Shatt al-Arab, Basra | 11942 | 3 ships |
| 9th Mine-Countermeasures Squadron | Manama, Bahrain | 1950-1971 | 18 ships |
| Sloops | Basra/ | 1922 - 1939 | 13 ships |