The Mediterranean Fleet achieved an especially high degree of professional excellence under the leadersip of Admiral Roger Keyes from 1926 to 1929. He had under his command such strong figures as Dudley Pound as Chief of Staff, Ginger Boyle, commanding a cruiser squadron and Augustus Agar,V.C. commanding a destroyerflotilla.
The fleet was moved to Alexandria, Egypt just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War due to the perceived threat of air-attack from the Italian mainland, a decision which would prove to be costly during the Siege of Malta but which would ensure the continuing safety of the Fleet to enable a sustained fight against the Axis forces.
From 1952 until 1967, the post of Commander in Chief Mediterranean Fleet was given a dual hatted role as NATO Commander in Chief Mediterranean in charge of all forces assigned to NATO in the Mediterranean Area.
In the 1960s, with the decrease in imporance of maintaining the link beween the British Isles and the EmpireEast of Suez, as a result of the dismantling of the Empire, and the increasing focus in the Cold War on the North Atlantic, The Mediterranean Fleet was drawn down over a period of time, finally disbanding in June 1967. The Fleet's assets and area of responsibility were given to the new Western Fleet. As a result of this change, the UK relinquished the NATO post of Commander in Chief Mediterranean, which was disbanded.
The Royal Navy maintains a presence with the deployment of a warship to the NATO multi-national squadron Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED). The Navy also usually provides a warship to the NATO Mine Countermeasures Force (South).
Ships which have served in the British Mediterranean Fleet include:
