West Africa Station

West Africa Station
Active	1942-1945
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Fleet
Part of	Admiralty
Garrison/HQ	Freetown, Sierra Leone

The West Africa Station was a military command of the British Royal Navy during World War Two administered by the Flag Officer, West Africa, (FOWA) it existed from 1942 to 1945.

History

In 1941, escort forces began to be built up at Freetown.^[1] Initially consisting of 2 corvettes and a few Free French ships.^[1] The post of Flag Officer, West Africa was officially established in August 1942 as part of the Admiralty's re-organisation of commands.^[1] This was due to the growing importance of Freetown as a major base for convoy escorts.^[1] It existed until 1945.

Flag Officers, West Africa

Post holders included:^[2]

	Rank	Name	Term
Flag Officer, West Africa
1	Vice-Admiral	Frank Pegram	August, 1942 - May,1943 ^[2]
2	Vice-Admiral	Bernard Rawlings	May - November, 1943 ^[2]
3	Vice-Admiral	Arthur Peters	November, 1943 - 1945 ^[2]

Components

Distribution of units attached to station included:^[1]

	Unit	Date	Notes
1	18th Destroyer Flotilla	July 1941- January 1942	2 sloops, 18 corvettes ^[1]
2	18th Destroyer Flotilla	January 1942 - August 1942	2 sloops, 24 corvettes ^[1]
3	18th Destroyer Flotilla	August 1942 - July 1943	2 sloops, 23 corvettes ^[1]
4	18th Destroyer Flotilla	July 1943 - February 1944	15 destroyers, 2 sloops, 15 corvettes ^[1]
5	18th Destroyer Flotilla	February 1944 - September 1944	6 destroyers, 7 sloops & frigates, 7 corvettes ^[1]
6	55th Escort Group	September 1944 - May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]
7	56th Escort Group	September 1944 - May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]
8	57th Escort Group	September 1944 - May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]
9	58th Escort Group	September 1944 - May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers, 15 corvettes ^[1]
10	59th Escort Group	September 1944 - May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]
11	60th Escort Group	September 1944 - May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]

Earlier West Africa stations

Note: This command should not be confused with the West Africa Squadron later known as the "West Coast of Africa Station" it was primarily a patrol squadron operating off the Western Africa during the 19th century nor the Cape of Good Hope Station that merged with the West Coast of Africa Station to create the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station for the periods (1857-1865, 1867-1920) that command was based at Simonstown, South Africa.

Important dates

1807: British slave trade illegal
1808: First RN anti-slavery patrol, West Africa Squadron
1819: West African Station an independent command under a Commodore (prior to this the ships were on "particular service")
1840: West African Station still independent, but not under a Commodore
1842: West African Station once more commanded by a Commodore
1857-1865: West African Station again combined with Cape of Good Hope Station
1866: West African Station an independent command again
1867 West Africa/Preventative Squadron is disbanded
1867-1920 West Africa Station combined with Cape of Good Hope Station
1920-1941 No West Africa Station
1942-1945 West Africa Station reformed based at Freetown Sierra Leone

References

Footnotes

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Orgnisation in World War 2, 1939-1945:West Africa Command". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
1 2 3 4 Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, p.84. February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

Sources

Mackie, Colin. (2018) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Scotland, UK.
Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Orgnisation in World War 2, 1939-1945:West Africa Command". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015.

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