Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands
The Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands was an operational commander of the Royal Navy. His subordinate units, establishments, and staff were sometimes informally known as the Orkneys and Shetlands Command; they were charged with the administration of the Orkney and Shetland Islands and operating and defending the fleet base at Scapa Flow that was the main anchorage for both the Home Fleet and Grand Fleet at various times.
History
The Orkney and Shetland command was usually only formed at the outbreak of war to provide for the defence and administration of the main base for the Home Fleet. The duties of the Admiral Commanding were laid down as being responsible, under the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, for administration of naval defences, naval establishments, and shore duties generally in Orkney and Shetland.During the First World War and the Second World War the Rear-Admiral, Scapa Flow served under him, with a position similar to that of an Admiral Superintendent of a dockyard port. Directly under his orders were the Northern Patrol, Shetlands Patrols, the Officer Commanding Troops Orkney, the Officer Commanding Troops Shetlands, the Admiralty Port Officer Kirkwall, the Rear-Admiral commanding the local minefields and the officers responsible for the extended defences, the local defence flotilla and the Orkney Trawler Patrols. He was responsible for the patrolling of the area from Wick to Cape Wrath.
During the Second World War the Rear-Admiral, Scapa Flow continued to serve under him.
Admiral Commanding First World War
Flag Officer commanding:Subordinate commanders First World War
Flag officer commanding:The role was similar to that of Admiral Superintendent of a dockyard port''
Flag Officer Scapa Flow/Rear Admiral Scapa
Flag Officer Shetlands
The Command was deactivated during interwar years 9 January 1920 – September 1939Admiral Commanding Second World War
Flag officer commandingSubordinate commanders Second World War
Flag Officer, Scapa Flow/Rear-Admiral Scapa
Flag officer commandingAdmiral-superintendent Lyness
Admiral-superintendent Orkney
Orkneys and Shetlands Command
The Orkneys and Shetlands Command was formed at the outbreak World War One to establish and maintain the Grand Fleet's principal base at Scapa Flow.Shore units
Included:| Unit | Date | Notes |
| HMS Fox | Lerwick Naval Base | |
| HMS Pyramus | Kirkwall Naval Base |
Naval units
Included:| Unit | Date | Notes |
| 5th Minesweeper Flotilla | 04/1942-02/1944 | |
| 6th Minesweeper Flotilla | 07/1941-12/1942 | |
| 21st Minesweeper Flotilla | 1918 | |
| Northern Patrol | 1914-1918, 1939-1945 | Operating within the Orkneys & Shetland Command under VAdm Comm NP |
| Scapa Local Defence Flotilla | 1914-1918 |