Royal Navy Surface Fleet
The Royal Navy's surface combatants are administered by the Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces and Rear Admiral Surface Ships also known as COMUKSTRKFOR (CSF) . Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces is a sea-going combatant command appointment. Surface ships form one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. 

RN surface ships current consist of two flotillas based at HMNB Portsmouth and HMNB Devonport, both located on the south coast of England. Surface combatants range from aircraft carriers to mine countermeasures vessels to offshore patrol vessels, but most are escorts; destroyers (Type 45) and frigates (Type 23).

Surface combatants deploy to conduct several permanent Standing Royal Navy deployments. Closer to home, the surface fleet also conducts Fishery Protection Patrols around UK waters, by agreement with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Presently, Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group and Commander Littoral Strike Group are the two main 1* deployable forces under COMUKMARFOR.

History
In 1990-1992 the Royal Navy was reorganised, creating the new posts of Flag Officer, Surface Flotilla (FOSF) responsible for operational readiness and training, and Commander, UK Task Group, who would command any deployed task group. In 2001 both of these appointments were unified into the post of Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces (COMUKMARFOR), who thereafter reported to CINCFLEET. He administered three sub-commands called Amphibious Task Group, UK Task Group, and Carrier Strike Group, each of these being commanded by a Commodore. These three commodores' positions directed operational, deployed, seagoing groups of warships.

In January 2011 the UK Task Group Commander was renamed Deputy Commander UK Maritime Forces. The Devonport and Portsmouth Flotillas are currently administered by the Commander Operations.

At some point between 2011 and 2018, Commander UK Maritime Forces was also given the role of Rear-Admiral Surface Ships, the 'tribal chief' of surface ships within the Navy.

Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces and Rear-Admiral Surface Ships 
Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces and Rear Admiral Surface Ships – reporting to Commander-in-Chief Fleet till 2012 then Fleet Commander.

Rear Admiral James Burnell-Nugent (2001–2002)
Rear Admiral David Snelson (2002–2004)
Rear Admiral Charles Style (2004–2005)
Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti (2005–2007)
Rear Admiral George Zambellas (2007–2008)
Rear Admiral Philip Jones (2008–2009)
Rear Admiral Peter Hudson (2009–2011)
Rear Admiral Duncan Potts (2011–2013)
Rear Admiral Robert Tarrant (2013–2014)
Rear Admiral Tony Radakin (2014–2016)
Rear Admiral Alex Burton (2016–2017)
Rear Admiral Paul Bennett (2017–2018) (posted in November 2017; Navy Directory 2017)
Rear Admiral Jerry Kyd (2018–2019)
Rear Admiral Andrew Burns (February 2019–December 2019)
Rear Admiral Michael Utley (December 2019-present)