Director of Naval Plans in Whitehall he assisted in the implementation
of the crushing 1981 Defence Review which arranged for the sale or withdrawal from service of much of the fleet including both aircraft carriers and marine amphibious landing ships. Luckily these steps were not yet implemented when he in turn was called upon to lead Operation Corporate one year later but tragically, gone was any airborne early warning (AEW) capability whatsoever.
Upon promotion to Rear Admiral, 7 July 1981 at the age of forty- nine, Woodward
was appointed Flag Officer, Submarines, but in a surprising turn of events this was changed
within weeks to Flag Officer, First Flotilla (FOFA),
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no reason given. Less than ten months later First Flotilla would beat war - with a submariner’s firm grip on the helm.
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