Today COMLSG is a deployable one-star Maritime Component Commander held at Very High Readiness (72 hours or less) in order to respond to unexpected global events. In most circumstances, COMLSG and his staff would deploy in the Fleet Flagship (such as HMS Albion, or one of the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers) in order to command a deployed task group. While structured and trained to conduct high intensity war-fighting (with an emphasis on amphibious operations, working alongside 3 Commando Brigade, the staff are capable of commanding a diverse range of activities such as evacuation operations, or disaster relief.
After 1979 when FOCAF became Flag Officer, Third Flotilla,[2] COMAW became part of Third Flotilla. In 1981, Commodore Michael Clapp moved COMAW to Stonehouse Barracks in order to be based alongside HQ 3 Commando Brigade again. Following the pivotal role of the Royal Navy's amphibious forces during the Falklands War, when Clapp directed the Amphibious Group of the British task force, alongside Brigadier Julian Thompson, this co-location of the two Headquarters has endured ever since.[1]
From 1992 COMAW reported to the two-star deployable battle staff commander, currently titled Commander UK Strike Force.[3] The reestablishment of the Amphibious Warfare Warfare Squadron was announced in March 1997.[4] But the commander's title was renamed from COMAW to Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG) on 1 December 1997;[5] subsequent references to a 'squadron' are hard to find.
In early October 2012, the Commander UK Task Group, Commodore Paddy McAlpine led the Cougar 12 deployment of six ships and more than 3,000 marines and sailors to the Mediterranean Sea. One of the principle purposes of the deployment was to conduct large-scale amphibious exercises with allies. Key exercises included: 'Corsican Lion' with France; 'Albanian Lion' with Albania; a visit to Malta and exercises with the United States Navy and the Algerian Armed Forces.[7]
McAlpine said: "Cougar 12 provides us with a superb opportunity to rekindle our amphibious capability after a prolonged period when our focus has been ..elsewhere."[7] Exercise 'Corsican Lion' was the main focus of Cougar 12 and was designed to develop the maritime and amphibious components of the Anglo-French Combined Joint Expeditionary Force. The group worked alongside the French Navy's Task Force 473 led by French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.[8]
Brigadier Martin Smith of 3 Commando Brigade was quoted saying: "It is an incredibly versatile force and our burgeoning interoperability with the French further proves this. The quality of Royal Marines Commandos and French Marines delivers a highly effective first response capability ..optimised for early entry operations."[8]
COMATG was re-titled Commander Littoral Strike Group on 1 October 2019, to reflect the expected increased size and capabilities of the group, including Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.[11][12]
