The ANZUK force was formed in Singapore on 1 November 1971 under Rear Admiral David Wells and disbanded on 31 January 1974.

By 1973 the political climate in Australia and the United Kingdom had changed and it was deemed that ANZUK should be disbanded.

Rear Admiral Wells,[22] the First ANZUK commander who established the Force, had the task of planning the run-down phase and handing over to his successor Air Vice Marshal Richard Gordon Wakeford,[23] to follow through.

Australia would be retaining a presence in Butterworth in Malaysia[24] and the United Kingdom had decided to withdrawal all its forces east of Suez.

On 31 January 1974 ceased to exist, followed on 16 December 1974 with the disbanding of the Naval and Air Headquarters and their assets reverted to their respective national command and what remained of the United Kingdom's land component forces became the 28th (UK) Infantry Brigade.