The Royal Navy has handed over command of NATO’s new Atlantic maritime force after a year in which it laid the groundwork for securing transatlantic sea lanes in the event of conflict.
According to Navy News here, Rear Admiral Rob Pedre, Commander of the UK Strike Force (CSF), formally transferred authority to Italy’s Rear Admiral Andrea Petroni during a ceremony aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth on 1 July. The Royal Navy’s 12-month tenure marked the launch of Commander Task Force Atlantic (CTF Atlantic), one of five new regional maritime commands created by NATO as part of a restructured high-readiness posture.
Over the past year, a 100-strong CSF team based in Portsmouth, including personnel from all three UK services, NATO allies and civilian specialists, has drafted a full concept of operations (CONOPS) for the Atlantic. These plans are designed to ensure safe passage for reinforcement shipping into Europe in the event of crisis or war, particularly in response to an evolving Russian naval threat.
“The recently-published Strategic Defence Review firmly puts NATO at the heart of UK Defence policy and it is a privilege for CSF to act as the fulcrum of the Royal Navy’s ever-growing commitment to NATO,” said CSF Chief-of-Staff Colonel Andy Dow RM. “The threat we face is clear – as is the importance of the Task Force Atlantic Mission. CSF is at the centre of a Navy which leads, a Navy which fights and a Navy which wins.”
CTF Atlantic is one of five theatre-level commands formed when NATO replaced its single High Readiness Force structure with regionally focused maritime task forces, covering the Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic, Mediterranean and Black Sea. These commands rotate between alliance members and are designed to be flexible and responsive in rapidly evolving security conditions.
The UK-led command focused heavily on planning for the safe transit of shipping between North America and Europe, identifying chokepoints, modern submarine threats, and maritime infrastructure vulnerabilities. The plans, developed collaboratively with allies, will now serve as a foundation for future rotations of the Atlantic command.
Although Italy has now assumed leadership of CTF Atlantic, the UK Strike Force remains heavily engaged in NATO operations. CSF is now tasked with leading the Allied Reaction Force (Maritime), a multinational rapid response formation with HMS Queen Elizabeth as its command ship and afloat headquarters.
The Royal Navy is scheduled to retake command of CTF Atlantic in 2028, read more here.
Just think if it said,
“Britain lays battle plans to secure the Channel”
(hard hat on) 🫣
Fortunately, this is a serious defence news website, so that kind of boring and inane drivel is left to the bots and trolls.
Well said and 10/10 for the Ironic comment.
😂
20000 this year already,48% up on last year!
INSANE and boring isn’t it?
Tunnel
what with?
Does this mean that the CTF Atlantic team up sticks from the UK to Italy or does Italian Navy command personnel move to the UK?
Probably not move the “Atlantic fleet” to Italy, one would assume that the Italian Navy command personnel would move to the UK.. or work from home remotely
Is the concept of convoys strictly a relic from WWII, or is there a modern equivalent practiced for potential E-A conflicts? Presuming NATO retains air supremacy over North America, NA and Europe, an air bridge could be instituted for troop transport, but substantial materiel would still require maritime transport. Sufficient AAW, ASW assets available? Still the case if not only the Orcs but the ChiComs come calling simultaneously? 🤔