The North Sea has traditionally been an important command from the 13th to 15th centuries, when there was an
Admiral of the North based at
Yarmouth who commanded the Northern Fleet. During the 16th century Admirals and Vice Admirals were appointed to the command in the North Sea though on a temporary basis. From 1652 to 1654 Yarmouth was used by the Royal Navy for the temporary stationing of its North Sea Fleet during the
First Anglo-Dutch War. From 1745 the
North Sea Fleet became a permanent formation. ==In command==