Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
Encyclopedia
The Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) was one of two supreme commander
s of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the other being the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). The SACLANT led Allied Command Atlantic, based at Norfolk, Virginia
. The entire command was routinely referred to as 'SACLANT'.
Soon after its formation, ACLANT together with Allied Command Europe carried out the large exercise Exercise Mainbrace
, Throughout the Cold War
years, SACLANT carried out many other exercises, such as Operation Mariner in 1953 and Operation Strikeback
in 1957, as well as the Northern Wedding
and Ocean Safari series of naval exercises during the 1970s and 1980s. The command also played a critical role in the annual Exercise REFORGER
from the 1970s onwards. Following the end of the Cold War
, the Command was reduced in status and size, with many of its subordinate headquarters spread across the Atlantic area losing their NATO status and funding. However, the basic structure remained in place until the Prague Summit in the Czech Republic
in 2002.
The ACLANT Area of Responsibility (AOR) extended from the North Pole
to the Tropic of Cancer
as well as extending from the east coast of the North America
to the west coast of Africa
and Europe
, including Portugal
but not the English Channel
, the British Isles
, and the Canary Islands
.
SACLANT headquarters was located in Norfolk, Virginia
, adjacent to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet headquarters
.
).
EASTLANT was orgazined in the following sub-areas:
CINCWESTLANT was an American four-star admiral based in Norfolk, Virginia
who also serves of the Commander-in-Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT)
. Through 1994, WESTLANT was orgazined in the following sub-areas:
From 1994 through 2003, WESTLANT was organized as follows:
Joint Command Lisbon
.
COMSTRIKFLTLANT was an American three-star admiral based in Norfolk, Virginia
who also served as the Commander U.S. Second Fleet (COMSECONDFLT). STRIKFLTLANT was deactivated in a ceremony to be held on on June 24, 2005, being replaced by Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence located at the Second Fleet headquarters.
, who also served as the Commander Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT
). Under SUBACLANT were Commander, Submarines, Western Atlantic Area (COMSUBWESTLANT) and Commander, Submarines, Eastern Atlantic Area (COMSUBEASTLANT). COMSUBEASTLANT's national appointment was the Royal Navy
post of Flag Officer Submarines. Flag Officer Submarines moved in 1978 from HMS Dolphin at Gosport
to the Northwood Headquarters
in northwest London.
on 1 January 2005.
was established as its successor. This new NATO command is headed by the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), up to 2009 an American four-star admiral or general who is dual-hatted as commander, United States Joint Forces Command
(COMUSJFCOM), with SACLANT's former military missions folded into NATO's Allied Command Operations (ACO).
Supreme Allied Commander
Supreme Allied Commander is the title held by the most senior commander within certain multinational military alliances. It originated as a term used by the Western Allies during World War II, and is currently used only within NATO. Dwight Eisenhower served as Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary...
s of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the other being the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). The SACLANT led Allied Command Atlantic, based at Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. The entire command was routinely referred to as 'SACLANT'.
Soon after its formation, ACLANT together with Allied Command Europe carried out the large exercise Exercise Mainbrace
Operation Mainbrace
Exercise Mainbrace was the first large-scale naval exercise undertaken by the newly established Allied Command Atlantic , one of the two principal military commands of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization . It was part of a series of NATO exerciseS jointly commanded by Supreme Allied Commander...
, Throughout the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
years, SACLANT carried out many other exercises, such as Operation Mariner in 1953 and Operation Strikeback
Operation Strikeback
Operation Strikeback was a major naval exercise of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that took place over a ten-day period in September 1957....
in 1957, as well as the Northern Wedding
Northern Wedding
Northern Wedding was a NATO Cold War naval military exercise conducted every four years, designed to test NATO's ability to rearm and resupply Europe during times of war.-Exercises:...
and Ocean Safari series of naval exercises during the 1970s and 1980s. The command also played a critical role in the annual Exercise REFORGER
Exercise REFORGER
Exercise Reforger was an annual exercise conducted, during the Cold War, by NATO. The exercise was intended to ensure that NATO had the ability to quickly deploy forces to West Germany in the event of a conflict with the Warsaw Pact.The Reforger exercise itself was first conceived in 1967...
from the 1970s onwards. Following the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the Command was reduced in status and size, with many of its subordinate headquarters spread across the Atlantic area losing their NATO status and funding. However, the basic structure remained in place until the Prague Summit in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
in 2002.
Mission objectives & area of responsibilities
Allied Command Atlantic (ACLANT) had the following mission objectives:- Safeguard NATO’s sea lines of communications (SLOC)Sea lines of communicationSea lines of communication is a term describing the primary maritime routes between ports, used for trade, logistics and naval forces...
- Support amphibious and land operations
- Protect the deployment of NATO’s sea-based nuclear deterrenceSubmarine-launched ballistic missileA submarine-launched ballistic missile is a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead that can be launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles each of which carries a warhead and allows a single launched missile to...
The ACLANT Area of Responsibility (AOR) extended from the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
to the Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Cancer
The Tropic of Cancer, also referred to as the Northern tropic, is the circle of latitude on the Earth that marks the most northerly position at which the Sun may appear directly overhead at its zenith...
as well as extending from the east coast of the North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
to the west coast of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, including Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
but not the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, and the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
.
Headquarters
The high command of ACLANT comprised the following positions:- Supreme Allied Commander (SACLANT) - As one of the two principal supreme commanders in NATO's military command structure, SACLANT is responsible for all Alliance military missions within the ACLANT Area of Rsponsibilities. SACLANT is an AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
admiralAdmiral (United States)In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, admiral is a four-star flag officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health...
or generalGeneral (United States)In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
who also serves as the U.S. Commander-in-Chief Atlantic (CINCLANT), one of the unified commandsUnified Combatant CommandA Unified Combatant Command is a United States Department of Defense command that is composed of forces from at least two Military Departments and has a broad and continuing mission. These commands are established to provide effective command and control of U.S. military forces, regardless of...
within the U.S. military. - Deputy Supreme Allied Commander (DSACLANT) - The principal deputy to SACLANT held by a BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
admiralAdmiral (United Kingdom)Admiral is a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-9, outranked only by the rank Admiral of the Fleet...
. DSACLANT was originally the commander of the Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's North America and West Indies Station. - Chief of Staff (COFS) - Directs the SACLANT headquarters staff
SACLANT headquarters was located in Norfolk, Virginia
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, adjacent to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet headquarters
U.S. Atlantic Fleet
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
.
Allied Command Eastern Atlantic (EASTLANT)
The Commander-in-Chief Eastern Atlantic (CINCEASTLANT) was responsible for the administration and operation of the Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), on behalf of the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic (SACLANT). CINCEASTLANT was a British four-star admiral based at Northwood, United Kingdom who also served as the Commander in Chief of the Home Fleet (subsequently CINC Western Fleet, and later CINCFLEETCommander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet is the admiral responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the British Royal Navy...
).
EASTLANT was orgazined in the following sub-areas:
- Maritime Air Eastern Atlantic
- Northern Sub-Area
- Maritime Air Northern Sub-Area
- Central Sub-Area
- Maritime Air Central Sub-Area
- Submarine Force Eastern Atlantic
- Island Commander IcelandIceland Defense ForceThe Iceland Defense Force was a military command of the United States armed forces from 1951 to 2006. The IDF, created at the request of NATO, came into existence when the United States signed an agreement to provide for the defense of Iceland, which does not, and did not, have its own unified...
- Island Commander FaeroesIsland Command FaroesIsland Command Faroes is the military unit on the Faroe Islands. It is the military command of the Faroe Islands, the Faroe Islands airspace and the Faroe Islands territorial waters...
Allied Command Western Atlantic (WESTLANT)
The Commander-in-Chief Western Atlantic (CINCWESTLANT) was responsible for:- The safe transit of critical reinforcement and re-supply from North America to Europe, in support of the full spectrum of NATO forces operating anywhere in or beyond NATO's area of responsibility
- The sponsorship of peacetime joint multinational exercises and Partnership for Peace (PfP) activities, as well as maintaining operational control and providing support for NATO forces assigned to the headquarters
CINCWESTLANT was an American four-star admiral based in Norfolk, Virginia
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
who also serves of the Commander-in-Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT)
U.S. Atlantic Fleet
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
. Through 1994, WESTLANT was orgazined in the following sub-areas:
- Submarine Force Western Atlantic
- Ocean Sub-Area
- Canadian Atlantic Sub-Area
- Island Commander Bermuda
- Island Commander Azores
From 1994 through 2003, WESTLANT was organized as follows:
- SubWestLant
- Ocean Sub-Area
- Canadian Atlantic Sub-Area
- Greenland Island Commander
Allied Command Southern Atlantic (SOUTHLANT)
The Commander-in-Chief Southern Atlantic (CINCSOUTHLANT) was responsible for military movements and maritime operations across the southeast boundary between the Allied Command European (ACE) and Allied Command Atlantic (ACLANT). CINCSOUTHLANT was a Portuguese three-star admiral based in Lisbon, Portugal, and was formerly known as Commander-in-Chief Iberian Atlantic Area (CINCIBERLANT) prior to the standing up of SOUTHLANT. The command is nowJoint Command Lisbon
Joint Command Lisbon
Allied Joint Force Command Lisbon or JFC Lisbon is one of the three main subdivisions of NATO's Allied Command Operations. It is based in Oeiras, near Lisbon, Portugal...
.
Striking Fleet Atlantic (STRIKFLTLANT)
The Commander Striking Fleet Atlantic (COMSTRIKFLTLANT) was the major subordinate at-sea commander for SACLANT. The primary mission of Striking Fleet Atlantic is to deter aggression by maintaining maritime superiority in the Atlantic AOR and ensuring the integrity of NATO's sea lines of communication (SLOC). Its main striking force was the Carrier Striking Force, consisting of Carrier Striking Groups One and Two. The Carrier Striking Force appears to have had an American nucleus, built around Carrier Group Four, and Carrier Striking Group Two appears to have had a British nucleus, later, it seems, becoming Anti-Submarine Group Two.COMSTRIKFLTLANT was an American three-star admiral based in Norfolk, Virginia
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
who also served as the Commander U.S. Second Fleet (COMSECONDFLT). STRIKFLTLANT was deactivated in a ceremony to be held on on June 24, 2005, being replaced by Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence located at the Second Fleet headquarters.
Submarine Allied Command Atlantic (SUBACLANT)
The Commander Submarine Allied Command Atlantic (COMSUBACLANT) was the principal adviser to the SACLANT on submarine matters and undersea warfare. COMSUBACLANT was an American three-star admiral based in Norfolk, VirginiaNaval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, who also served as the Commander Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT
ComSubLant
Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic is the type commander for U.S. submarines in the Atlantic Fleet. Established on 7 December 1941, Rear Admiral Richard S. Edwards was assigned as the first Force Commander. U.S. submarine operations in the Atlantic, however, go back to before the First World War...
). Under SUBACLANT were Commander, Submarines, Western Atlantic Area (COMSUBWESTLANT) and Commander, Submarines, Eastern Atlantic Area (COMSUBEASTLANT). COMSUBEASTLANT's national appointment was the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
post of Flag Officer Submarines. Flag Officer Submarines moved in 1978 from HMS Dolphin at Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
to the Northwood Headquarters
Northwood Headquarters
Northwood Headquarters is a military headquarters facility of the British Armed Forces in Eastbury, Hertfordshire, England, adjacent to the London suburb of Northwood...
in northwest London.
Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT)
The Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) was a permanent peacetime multinational naval squadron composed of destroyers, cruisers and frigates from the navies of various NATO nations. Since its creation in 1967, STANAVFORLANT operated, trained, and exercised as a group, providing day-to-day verification of current NATO maritime procedures, tactics and effectiveness, as well as participated in NATO and national naval exercises designed to promote readiness and interoperability STANAVFORLANT was renamed Standing NRF Maritime Group 1Standing NRF Maritime Group 1
Standing NATO Maritime Group One is one of NATO's standing maritime Immediate Reaction Forces. Prior to 1 January 2005 it was known as Standing Naval Force Atlantic...
on 1 January 2005.
List of Supreme Allied Commanders Atlantic
| Date | Incumbent | Service | |
| 1 | 30 Jan 1952 - 12 Apr 1954 | ADM Lynde D. McCormick Lynde D. McCormick Admiral Lynde Dupuy McCormick was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy who served as vice chief of naval operations from 1950 to 1951 and as commander in chief of the United States Atlantic Fleet from 1951 to 1954, and was the first supreme allied commander of all NATO forces in the... |
USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 2 | 12 Apr 1954 - 29 Feb 1960 | ADM Jerauld Wright Jerauld Wright Admiral Jerauld Wright, USN, served as the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Command and the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S... |
USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 3 | 29 Feb 1960 - 30 Apr 1963 | ADM Robert L. Dennison | USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 4 | 30 Apr 1963 - 30 Apr 1965 | ADM Harold Page Smith | USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 5 | 30 Apr 1965 - 17 Jun 1967 | ADM Thomas H. Moorer | USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 6 | 17 Jun 1967 - 30 Sep 1970 | ADM Ephraim P. Holmes Ephraim P. Holmes Ephraim Paul Holmes was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander in chief of the U.S... |
USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 7 | 30 Sep 1970 - 31 Oct 1972 | ADM Charles K. Duncan Charles K. Duncan Charles Kenney Duncan was a United States Navy four star admiral who served as Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet from 1970 to 1972.-Military career:Duncan was born on December 7, 1911 in Nicholasville,... |
USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 8 | 31 Oct 1972 - 30 May 1975 | ADM Ralph W. Cousins Ralph W. Cousins Ralph W. Cousins was a United States Navy four star admiral and aviator. As an aircraft carrier pilot, Cousins led dive-bomber attacks against the Imperial Japanese Navy at the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 for which he was awarded the Navy Cross... |
USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 9 | 30 May 1975 - 30 Sep 1978 | ADM Isaac C. Kidd Jr. | USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 10 | 30 Sep 1978 - 30 Sep 1982 | ADM Harry D. Train II Harry D. Train II Harry Depue Train II is a retired Admiral in the United States Navy and a Senior Fellow at the Joint Advanced Warfighting School at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia.-Naval career:... |
USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 11 | 30 Sep 1982 - 27 Nov 1985 | ADM Wesley L. McDonald Wesley L. McDonald Wesley L. McDonald was a United States Navy four-star admiral and naval aviator. He led the first air strike against North Vietnam after the Gulf of Tonkin incident and was the commander in charge of Operation Urgent Fury, the invasion of Grenada to rescue U.S. citizens... |
USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 12 | 27 Nov 1985 - 22 Nov 1988 | ADM Lee Baggett Jr. | USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 13 | 22 Nov 1988 - 18 May 1990 | ADM Frank B. Kelso II Frank B. Kelso II Frank Benton Kelso II is a retired admiral of the United States Navy, who served as Chief of Naval Operations in the early 1990s.-Early life:... |
USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 14 | 18 May 1990 - 13 Jul 1992 | ADM Leon A. Edney Leon A. Edney Leon Albert "Bud" Edney is a retired United States Navy officer. A native of Dedham, Massachusetts, he retired from the Navy as an admiral and served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations for the United States Navy.-Naval career:... |
USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 15 | 13 Jul 1992 - 31 Oct 1994 | ADM Paul David Miller Paul David Miller Paul David Miller is a retired Admiral in the United States Navy. His last duty in the Navy was to serve as Commander-in-Chief, of the U.S. Atlantic Command.... |
USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 16 | 31 Oct 1994 - 24 Sep 1997 | GEN John J. Sheehan John J. Sheehan General John J. "Jack" Sheehan is a retired United States Marine Corps general. His final active duty commands, culminating 35 years of service in the Marine Corps, were as the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic for NATO and as Commander-in-Chief for the U.S... |
USMC United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States... |
| 17 | 24 Sep 1997 - 05 Sep 2000 | ADM Harold W. Gehman, Jr. Harold W. Gehman, Jr. Admiral Harold W. Gehman, Jr. is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who served as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic , Commander-in-Chief of the United States Joint Forces Command, one of the United States' Unified Combatant Commands, and Vice Chief of Naval Operations... |
USN United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
| 18 | 05 Sep 2000 - 02 Oct 2002 | GEN William F. Kernan William F. Kernan General William F. "Buck" Kernan was born in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was commissioned in November 1968 from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He holds a bachelor's degree in History, and a master's degree in Personnel Administration. His military education includes the... |
USA United States Army The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services... |
| (Acting) | Oct 2002 - 19 June 2003 | Adm Sir Ian Forbes Ian Forbes Admiral Sir Ian Andrew Forbes KCB CBE is a former Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
List of Deputy Supreme Allied Commanders Atlantic
His Second-in-Command was the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic:| Date | Incumbent | Service | |
| 1 | 1952 - 1953 | Vice Admiral Sir William Andrewes William Andrewes Admiral Sir William Gerrard "Bill" Andrewes KBE CB DSO was a Royal Navy officer who served in World War I and World War II, commanded the British and Commonwealth Naval Forces and United Nations Task Force 95 during the Korean War, and went on to command of the America and West Indies Squadron and... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 2 | 1953 - 1955 | Vice Admiral Sir John Stevens John Stevens (Royal Navy officer) Vice Admiral Sir John Felgate Stevens KBE CB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station.-Naval career:Stevens joined the Royal Navy in 1918 and served in the closing stages of World War I... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 3 | 1955 - 1956 | Vice Admiral Sir John Eaton John Eaton (Royal Navy officer) Vice Admiral Sir John William Musgrave Eaton KBE CB DSO DSC was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief America and West Indies Station.-Naval career:Eaton joined the Royal Navy in 1916 and served in World War I... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 4 | 1957 - 1960 | Vice Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods Wilfrid Woods Admiral Sir Wilfrid John Wentworth Woods, GBE, KCB, DSO and bar, DL was a Royal Navy officer who served in the Submarine Service in the Mediterranean.-Family:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 5 | 1960 - 1962 | Vice Admiral Sir Charles Evans Charles Evans (Royal Navy officer) Vice Admiral Sir Charles Leo Glandore Evans KCB CBE DSO DSC was a Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 6 | 1962 - 1964 | Vice Admiral Sir Richard Smeeton Richard Smeeton Vice Admiral Sir Richard Michael Smeeton KCB MBE DL was a Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 7 | 1964 - 1966 | Vice Admiral Sir William Beloe William Beloe (Royal Navy officer) Vice Admiral Sir William Beloe KBE CB DSC was a Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 8 | 1966 - 1968 | Vice Admiral Sir David Clutterbuck David Clutterbuck Vice Admiral Sir David Granville Clutterbuck KBE CB was a Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.-Naval career:Educated at the HMS Conway, Clutterbuck joined the Royal Navy in 1929... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 9 | 1968 - 1970 | Vice Admiral Sir Peter Compston Peter Compston Vice Admiral Sir Peter Maxwell Compston KCB was a Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 10 | 1970 - 1973 | Vice Admiral Sir John Martin John Martin (Royal Navy officer) Vice Admiral Sir John Edward Ludgate Martin KCB DSC was a former Royal Navy officer who became Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 11 | 1973 - 1975 | Vice Admiral Sir Gerard Mansfield Gerard Mansfield Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Gerard "Ged" Napier Mansfield KCB CVO was Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic, and after leaving the Royal Navy became a fund-raiser for the Queen's Silver Jubilee Trust.-Early life:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 12 | 1975 - 1977 | Vice Admiral Sir James Jungius James Jungius Vice Admiral Sir James George Jungius KBE DL is a former Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 13 | 1977 - 1980 | Vice Admiral Sir David Loram David Loram Vice Admiral Sir David Anning Loram KCB CVO was a Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 14 | 1980 - 1982 | Vice Admiral Sir Cameron Rusby | RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 15 | 1983 - 1984 | Vice Admiral Sir David Hallifax David Hallifax Admiral Sir David John Hallifax, KCB KCVO KBE, was Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle from 1988 until 1992.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 16 | 1984 - 1987 | Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Dalton Geoffrey Dalton Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Thomas James Oliver Dalton KCB is a former Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 17 | 1987 - 1989 | Vice Admiral Sir Richard Thomas | RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 18 | 1989 - 1991 | Vice Admiral Sir James Weatherall James Weatherall Vice-Admiral Sir James Lamb Weatherall KCVO, KBE is a former Royal Navy officer who was Her Majesty's Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps from 1992 to 2001.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 19 | 1991 - 1993 | Vice Admiral Sir Peter Woodhead Peter Woodhead Vice Admiral Sir Peter Woodhead KCB is a former Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 20 | 1993 - 1995 | Vice Admiral Sir Peter Abbott Peter Abbott Admiral Sir Peter Charles Abbott GBE KCB is a former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.-Naval career:Educated at Queens' College, Cambridge, Abbott was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1964... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 21 | 1995 - 1998 | Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett Ian Garnett Admiral Sir Ian David Graham Garnett KCB is the Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies.-Early life:Born in Surrey, England, he was the son of Capt Ian Garnett, of the Royal Navy. He attended the independent Canford School near Wimborne Minster, Dorset... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 22 | 1998 - 2002 | Vice Admiral Sir James Perowne James Perowne Vice Admiral Sir James Francis Perowne KBE is a former Royal Navy officer who served as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
| 23 | Jan - Oct 2002 | Vice Admiral Sir Ian Forbes Ian Forbes Admiral Sir Ian Andrew Forbes KCB CBE is a former Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.-Naval career:... |
RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... |
Disestablishment
Allied Command Atlantic was decommissioned effective 19 June 2003, and a new Allied Command Transformation (ACT)Allied Command Transformation
Allied Command Transformation is a NATO military command, which was formed in 2003 after North Atlantic Treaty Organisation restructuring....
was established as its successor. This new NATO command is headed by the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), up to 2009 an American four-star admiral or general who is dual-hatted as commander, United States Joint Forces Command
United States Joint Forces Command
United States Joint Forces Command was a former Unified Combatant Command of the United States Armed Forces. USJFCOM was a functional command that provided specific services to the military. The last commander was Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno...
(COMUSJFCOM), with SACLANT's former military missions folded into NATO's Allied Command Operations (ACO).
Further reading
- Maloney, Sean M. Securing Command of the Sea: NATO Naval Planning, 1948–1954. Naval Institute Press, 1995. 276 pp.
- Jane's NATO Handbook Edited by Bruce George, 1990, Jane's Information Group ISBN 0-7106-0598-6
- Jane's NATO Handbook Edited by Bruce George, 1991, Jane's Information Group ISBN 0-7106-0976-0