Command of the UK’s amphibious task group has passed to a new man as the holder of the post leaves the Navy after 34 years distinguished service.

Commodore Chris Parry is the new Commander of the Amphibious Task Group (COMATG), whose headquarters are at Stonehouse Barracks, Plymouth.

He relieves Commodore Jamie Miller, who saw action in the Falklands Conflict in 1982 and, more recently, during the war with Iraq as COMATG based on board flagship HMS Ark Royal in the Northern Arabian Gulf.

Cdre Parry joins the ATG from the Ministry of Defence in London, where he was Director of Operational Capability, directly responsible to ministers and the Chiefs of Staff for the provision of independent assessments of operational capability and lessons from operations.

He already has strong links with the amphibious world, as his last command was the assault ship HMS Fearless.

He joined the Royal Navy as a Seaman officer, and subsequently sub-specialised as a Sea King, Wessex and Lynx helicopter observer.

He was mentioned in despatches during the Falklands Conflict, and received the Prince Philip helicopter rescue award from the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators in 1983.

Before being promoted to commander in 1989, he had been Executive Officer of the Type 42 destroyer HMS York. He then had appointments in defence policy at the MOD and on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief Fleet at Northwood before commanding the destroyer HMS Gloucester from 1994 to 1996.

On promotion to captain he served as Captain of the Maritime Warfare Centre, and was responsible for the teaching and development of joint and maritime doctrine, tactical development and operational analysis.

Cdre Parry has written and lectured on historical and defence themes, and has contributed to successive Defence options, cost studies and reviews.

His interests include medieval and military history, collecting books, walking and sport.

He has represented Oxford University and the Royal Navy at rugby union, and is President of the Royal Navy Rugby League.

His posting is a NATO appointment, and so carries with it the additional responsibility for the Netherlands Amphibious Task Group.

His first task in this sphere is to join HMS Ocean in Rotterdam this week to take part in the celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of the UK/Netherlands Amphibious Force, which will include a three-day World Harbour Days festival.

This is a celebration of the sea and waterways, and includes civilian and military demonstrations to members of the public.

On taking up his new appointment, Cdre Parry said: “I’m particularly pleased to be back in the amphibious world, and I will immediately continue to strengthen ties with our Dutch colleagues by taking part in the 30th anniversary celebrations in Rotterdam this week.

“There are many exciting things happening in the amphibious world with the arrival and commissioning of the first of the new class of assault ship HMS Albion earlier this year, and with the planned arrival of HMS Bulwark next year there is much to keep me busy.”