[2] During much of the medieval period, fleets or "king's ships" were often established or gathered for specific campaigns or actions, and these would disperse afterwards.

Unlike some European states, England did not maintain a small permanent core of warships in peacetime.

England's naval organisation was haphazard and the mobilization of fleets when war broke out was slow.

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).

One of the most recent Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces was Rear Admiral Michael Utley.