User:Hammersfan/Royal Navy order of battle (1914)
This is the order of battle of the Royal Navy on the outbreak of World War I in August 1914.
Commanders and locations of the Royal Navy
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/George_V_-_BANQ.png/175px-George_V_-_BANQ.png)
Although George V, as the monarch and thus commander-in-chief of the UK's armed forces,[1] was nominally the head of the Royal Navy, actual command of the service was the responsibility of the Admiralty, which was a department of the UK's government.[2] The King had a number of naval advisors alongside the structure of the Admiralty Board, the most senior occupying the position of First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp.
- First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp - Admiral Sir Edmund Poë[note 1]
At the top of the Admiralty was a group called the Board of Admiralty, consisting of politicians, civil servants and senior naval officers. The board consisted of a total of nine members, with its president known as the First Lord:
- Civil Lords of the Admiralty
- First Lord of the Admiralty - Winston Churchill MP
- Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty - Thomas Macnamara MP
- Civil Lord of the Admiralty - George Lambert MP
- Additional Civil Lord of the Admiralty - Sir Francis Hopwood
- Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty[note 2] - Sir Graham Greene
- Sea Lords
Under the Board of Admiralty were a number of departments, each headed by a senior officer:
- Naval Secretary to the First Lord - Rear Admiral Horace Hood[note 5]
- The Admiralty War Staff was the operational planning organisation, answerable to the First Sea Lord, and formed to advise the Board of Admiralty on operational matters, and consisted of four directorates:
- Chief of the War Staff - Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Doveton Sturdee[note 6]
- Naval Intelligence Division - Rear Admiral Henry Oliver[note 5][note 6]
- Operations Division - Rear Admiral Arthur Leveson
- Mobilisation Division - Rear Admiral Alexander Duff[note 7]
- Trade Division - Captain Richard Webb
- Chief of the War Staff - Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Doveton Sturdee[note 6]
- The Second Sea Lord had responsibility for all aspects of naval personnel, and had a number of departments reporting to him:
- Admiral Commanding Reserves - Vice Admiral Arthur Farquhar
- President, Royal Naval College, Greenwich - Vice Admiral Frederic Fisher
- The Third Sea Lord had responsibility for ordnance and materiel:
- Director, Naval Ordnance - Rear Admiral Morgan Singer
- Director, Naval Construction - Eustace Tennyson d'Eyncourt
- Engineer-in-Chief - Vice Admiral Henry Oram
- The Fourth Sea Lord had responsibility for transport and supply:
- Director, Naval Equipment - Rear Admiral Arthur Waymouth
- Director, Dockyards - Sir James Marshall
Home Commands
[edit]The British Isles were divided into three major geographical commands for the purposes of administration, with responsibility for a range of major functions, including providing divisions of ratings, training establishments for other ranks, dockyards and local defence forces.
Nore Command
[edit]- Nore Command - The Nore covered the area from the eastern end of the English Channel to the mouth of the River Tees. The Nore's primary location was Chatham Dockyard, with additional facilities at Sheerness Dockyard
- Commander-in-Chief, Nore - Admiral Sir Richard Poore
- Admiral Superintendent, Chatham Dockyard - Rear Admiral Charles Anson
- Commodore, Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham - Commodore Ernest Gaunt
- Nore Command also had responsibility for a number of training establishments within its area:
- HMS Actaeon - Torpedo training school, Sheerness
- HMS Ganges - Boys' training school, Harwich
- Commander-in-Chief, Nore - Admiral Sir Richard Poore
- Nore Home Port vessels[note 8]
- Local Defence Flotilla Nore - Destroyers
- Local Defence Flotilla Nore - Torpedo boats
Portsmouth Command
[edit]- Portsmouth Command - Portsmouth had responsibility for the central area of the English Channel, with its primary location being Portsmouth Dockyard, together with additional facilities at Portland Dockyard.
- Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth - Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux
- Admiral Superintendent, Portsmouth Dockyard - Rear Admiral Herbert Heath
- Commodore, Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth - Commodore Charles Vaughan-Lee
- The training establishments under Portsmouth Command were:
- HMS Excellent - Gunnery school
- HMS Boxer (Tender)
- HMS Wizard (Tender)
- HMS Vernon - Torpedo school
- HMS Conflict (Tender)
- HMS Ringdove (Tender)
- HMS Fisgard - Mechanical engineering school
- HMS Dolphin - Submarine school
- HMS Dryad - Navigation school
- 2nd Royal Naval Brigade[note 11]
- Commander - Captain Oliver Backhouse
- 5th (Nelson) Battalion
- 6th (Howe) Battalion
- 7th (Hood) Battlion
- 8th (Anson) Battalion
- Commander - Captain Oliver Backhouse
- HMS Excellent - Gunnery school
- Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth - Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux
- Portsmouth Home Port vessels[note 8]
- Local Defence Flotilla Portsmouth - Destroyers
- HMS Roebuck
- HMS Spiteful
- HMS Surly
- HMS Velox
- HMS Angler
- HMS Desperate
- HMS Skipjack (Minesweeper)
- HMS Halcyon (Minesweeper)
- HMS Spanker (Minesweeper)
- Local Defence Flotilla Portsmouth - Torpedo boats
- HMS TB 025
- HMS TB 034
- HMS TB 042
- HMS TB 80
- HMS TB 81
- HMS TB 82
- HMS TB 85
- HMS TB 86
- HMS TB 87
- HMS TB 101
- HMS TB 116
- HMS TB 078
- HMS TB 98
- 2nd Submarine Flotilla
- HMS Dolphin (Depot ship)
- HMS A5
- HMS A6
- HMS A13
- HMS B1
Plymouth Command
[edit]- Plymouth Command - Plymouth's operating area covered the western end of the English Channel and the Bristol Channel, and included the primary facility at Devonport Dockyard, plus the smaller facilities at Pembroke Dockyard.
- Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth - Admiral Sir George Egerton
- Admiral Superintendent, Devonport Dockyard - Rear Admiral Godfrey Mundy
- Commodore, Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport - Commodore Thomas Dawson Sheppard
- HMS Opossum (Tender)
- HMS Ranger (Tender)
- HMS Sunfish (Tender)
- The training establishments under Plymouth Command were:
- HMS Defiance - Torpedo school
- HMS Indus - Mechanical engineering school
- HMS Impregnable - Boys' training school
- HMS Powerful (Tender)
- 1st Royal Naval Brigade[note 11]
- Commander - Captain Wilfred Henderson
- 1st (Drake) Battalion
- 2nd (Hawke) Battalion
- 3rd (Benbow) Battalion
- 4th (Collingwood) Battalion
- Commander - Captain Wilfred Henderson
- Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth - Admiral Sir George Egerton
- Devonport Home Port vessels[note 8]
- Local Defence Flotilla Devonport - Torpedo boats
- HMS TB 050
- HMS TB 052
- HMS TB 055
- HMS TB 058
- 1st Submarine Flotilla
- Pembroke Home Port vessels[note 8]
- Local Defence Flotilla Pembroke - Torpedo boats
- HMS TB 033
- HMS TB 041
- HMS TB 045
- HMS TB 049
Other home commands
[edit]In addition to the three major geographical commands based around the south of England, there were two other geographical commands with responsibility for other areas of the British Isles:
- Coast of Ireland Command - based at Queenstown:
- Senior Officer on the Coast of Ireland - Vice Admiral Sir Charles Coke
- Coast of Scotland Command - based at Rosyth Dockyard
- Admiral Commanding on the Coast of Scotland - Vice Admiral Sir Robert Lowry
- Flag Officer, Cromarty - Rear Admiral Edmund Pears
- Admiral Commanding on the Coast of Scotland - Vice Admiral Sir Robert Lowry
A further command, Orkneys & Shetlands, was established on the outbreak of war with the primary purpose of maintaining the Grand Fleet's main operating base at Scapa Flow.
- Commander-in-Chief, Orkneys & Shetlands - Vice Admiral Sir Stanley Colville
- Senior Naval Officer, Scapa - Rear Admiral Francis Miller[note 19]
Overseas commands
[edit]In addition to the command level organisations located in the British Isles, the Royal Navy operated a number of bases overseas for the purpose of maintaining its ships deployed outside home waters.
- Mediterranean Sea
- Flag Officer, Gibraltar - Vice Admiral Frederic Brock
- Admiral Superintendent, Malta Dockyard - Rear Admiral Sackville Carden[note 20]
- China and East Indies
- Rear Admiral-in-Charge, Hong Kong - Rear Admiral Robert Anstruther
Other commands
[edit]- Royal Yachts - The UK's royal yachts were administered as a separate command.
- Officer training
- Royal Naval College, Osborne - Initial two years of training conducted at Osborne on the Isle of Wight
- Commandant - Captain The Hon. Herbert Holmes à Court
- HMS Racer (Tender)
- Commandant - Captain The Hon. Herbert Holmes à Court
- Royal Naval College, Dartmouth - Following the first two years at Osborne, cadets completed their basic training at Dartmouth in Devon
- Commandant - Captain The Hon. Victor Stanley
- Royal Naval College, Osborne - Initial two years of training conducted at Osborne on the Isle of Wight
Royal Marines
[edit]The Royal Marines was divided into two elements - the Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI) and the Royal Marine Artillery (RMA). The RMLI was divided into three operational divisions, each based at one of the Royal Navy's major ports in the south. A single division of the Royal Marine Artillery was based in Portsmouth, while the Royal Marines depot was at Deal in Kent. In August 1914, the Royal Marine Brigade was formed from untrained recruits from the depot, reservists and long-service marines, with each division of the RMLI forming a battalion. The brigade was planned for use as a mobile force intended to seize and protect forward naval bases.[4][note 22]
- Royal Marine Depot, Deal
- Royal Marine Depot
- Commandant - Brigadier-General Herbert White[6][note 23]
- Second Commandant - Colonel Ernest Chown[6]
- Royal Marine Depot
- Royal Marine Artillery
- Royal Marine Artillery Division
- Commandant - Brigadier-General Harry Lynch Talbot[7][note 23]
- Second Commandant - Colonel Sir George Grey Aston[7]
- Royal Marine Artillery Division
- Royal Marine Light Infantry
- Chatham Division
- Commandant - Brigadier-General Charles Kennedy[6][note 23]
- Second Commandant - Colonel Alfred Marchant[6]
- Plymouth Division
- Commandant - Brigadier-General Charles Gordon[6][note 23]
- Second Commandant - Colonel Charles Trotman[6]
- Portsmouth Division
- Commandant - Brigadier-General Edward Roe[6][note 23]
- Second Commandant - Colonel Ernest Curtoys[6]
- Chatham Division
- Royal Marine Brigade
- Commander - Brigadier-General Archibald Paris[note 24]
- 9th (Chatham) Battalion, RMLI
- 10th (Portsmouth) Battalion, RMLI
- 11th (Plymouth) Battalion, RMLI
- A Battalion, RMA[note 25]
- Commander - Brigadier-General Archibald Paris[note 24]
Grand Fleet
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/John_Jellicoe%2C_Admiral_of_the_Fleet.jpg/220px-John_Jellicoe%2C_Admiral_of_the_Fleet.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/HMS_Iron_Duke_%281912%29.jpg/220px-HMS_Iron_Duke_%281912%29.jpg)
The Grand Fleet was the primary strike force of the Royal Navy, and was established on the outbreak of war from the First Fleet and elements of the Second Fleet, which were two of the three major formations of the Home Fleets. The primary elements of the Grand Fleet were four battle squadrons, to which all of the Royal Navy's dreadnought battleships, plus a number of older pre-dreadnoughts were assigned. Upon its establishment, the Grand Fleet was under the command of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe.
Battle squadrons
[edit]- Commander-in-Chief - Admiral Sir John Jellicoe[note 4]
- HMS Iron Duke (Fleet Flagship)[note 26]
- HMS Sappho (Despatch vessel)
- HMS Oak (Tender)
- 1st Battle Squadron[9]
- Commander - Vice Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly[note 27]
- Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Hugh Evan-Thomas
- HMS Marlborough (Flagship)
- HMS St. Vincent (Flagship)
- HMS Hercules
- HMS Superb
- HMS Vanguard
- HMS Neptune
- HMS Collingwood
- HMS Colossus
- HMS Cyclops (Repair ship)
- 2nd Battle Squadron[9]
- Commander - Vice Admiral Sir George Warrender
- Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot
- HMS King George V (Flagship)
- HMS Orion (Flagship)
- HMS Ajax
- HMS Audacious[note 28]
- HMS Centurion
- HMS Conqueror
- HMS Monarch
- HMS Thunderer
- HMS Assistance (Repair ship)
- 3rd Battle Squadron[9][note 29]
- Commander - Vice Admiral Sir Edward Bradford
- Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Montague Browning
- HMS King Edward VII (Flagship)
- HMS Hibernia (Flagship)
- HMS Africa
- HMS Britannia
- HMS Commonwealth
- HMS Dominion
- HMS Hindustan
- HMS Zealandia
- 4th Battle Squadron[9][note 30][note 31][note 7]
- Commander - Vice Admiral Douglas Gamble
- HMS Dreadnought (Flagship)
- HMS Agincourt
- HMS Bellerophon
- HMS Temeraire
- Commander - Vice Admiral Douglas Gamble
- Scout cruisers
- Each battle squadron had an attached scout cruiser for signal repeating duties
- HMS Bellona (1st Battle Squadron)
- HMS Boadicea (2nd Battle Squadron)
- HMS Blanche (3rd Battle Squadron)
- HMS Blonde (4th Battle Squadron)
- Each battle squadron had an attached scout cruiser for signal repeating duties
- Destroyers
- The 1st and 2nd Battle Squadrons had a force of attached destroyers for close protection
Cruiser squadrons
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Vice_Admiral_Sir_David_Beatty.jpg/220px-Vice_Admiral_Sir_David_Beatty.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/LionSP_001672.jpg/220px-LionSP_001672.jpg)
The Grand Fleet's battlecruiser and cruiser squadrons operated under the name Cruiser Force A, with Vice Admiral David Beatty in overall command of the Grand Fleet's cruisers.
- 1st Battlecruiser Squadron[note 17]
- Commander - Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty
- 2nd Cruiser Squadron
- Commander - Vice Admiral Somerset Gough-Calthorpe
- HMS Shannon (Flagship)
- HMS Achilles
- HMS Cochrane
- HMS Natal
- Commander - Vice Admiral Somerset Gough-Calthorpe
- 3rd Cruiser Squadron
- Commander - Rear Admiral William Pakenham
- HMS Antrim (Flagship)
- HMS Argyll
- HMS Devonshire
- HMS Roxburgh
- Commander - Rear Admiral William Pakenham
- 6th Cruiser Squadron[note 12]
- Commander - Rear Admiral William Grant
- HMS Drake (Flagship)
- HMS Good Hope[note 33]
- HMS Leviathan
- Commander - Rear Admiral William Grant
- 1st Light Cruiser Squadron
- Commander - Commodore William Goodenough
Destroyer flotillas
[edit]- 2nd Destroyer Flotilla
- 4th Destroyer Flotilla
- HMS Swift - Flotilla Leader
- HMS Hecla - Depot ship
- HMS Ambuscade
- HMS Shark
- HMS Christopher
- HMS Acasta
- HMS Sparrowhawk
- HMS Cockatrice
- HMS Achates
- HMS Spitfire
- HMS Contest
- HMS Lynx
- HMS Owl
- HMS Midge
- HMS Paragon
- HMS Garland
- HMS Fortune
- HMS Porpoise
- HMS Ardent
- HMS Unity
- HMS Hardy
- HMS Victor
- Minesweepers
Channel Fleet
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Vice_Admiral_Cecil_Burney_%287307714298%29.jpg/220px-Vice_Admiral_Cecil_Burney_%287307714298%29.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/HMS_Lord_Nelson_IWM_Q_021459.jpg/220px-HMS_Lord_Nelson_IWM_Q_021459.jpg)
The Channel Fleet was formed from the remaining vessels of the Home Fleets that were not turned over to the Grand Fleet. The intention of the Channel Fleet was to serve as a defensive formation to protect the lines of communication between the United Kingdom and France for the British Expeditionary Force, and deny the German Navy access into the English Channel. The Channel Fleet also had a number of attached cruiser squadrons responsible for patrolling to the west of the British Isles.
Battle squadrons
[edit]- Commander-in-Chief - Vice Admiral Sir Cecil Burney[note 27]
- HMS Lord Nelson (Fleet Flagship)[note 34]
- 5th Battle Squadron
- Commander - Vice Admiral Bernard Currey
- Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Cecil Thursby
- HMS Prince of Wales (Flagship)
- HMS Queen (Flagship)
- HMS Agamemnon
- HMS Bulwark
- HMS London
- HMS Venerable
- HMS Formidable
- HMS Implacable
- HMS Irresistible
- 6th Battle Squadron[note 35]
- Commander - Rear Admiral Stuart Nicholson
- HMS Russell (Flagship)
- HMS Albemarle
- HMS Cornwallis
- HMS Duncan
- HMS Exmouth
- Commander - Rear Admiral Stuart Nicholson
- 8th Battle Squadron[note 36][note 37]
- Commander - Vice Admiral The Hon Alexander Bethell
- Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Henry Tottenham
- 9th Battle Squadron[note 40]
- Commander - Rear Admiral Francis Miller[note 19]
- HMS Hannibal (Flagship)
- HMS Magnificent
- HMS Mars
- HMS Victorious
- Commander - Rear Admiral Francis Miller[note 19]
- Scout cruisers
- Cruisers attached to battle squadrons for signal relaying
- HMS Topaze (5th Battle Squadron)
- HMS Diamond (6th Battle Squadron)
- HMS Sapphire[note 38] (8th Battle Squadron)
- HMS Proserpine (8th Battle Squadron)
- Cruisers attached to battle squadrons for signal relaying
Cruiser forces
[edit]- 4th Cruiser Squadron[note 41]
- Commander - Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock
- 5th Cruiser Squadron[note 42]
- Commander - Rear Admiral Archibald Stoddart
- HMS Carnarvon (Flagship)
- HMS Cornwall
- HMS Cumberland
- HMS Monmouth
- Commander - Rear Admiral Archibald Stoddart
- 9th Cruiser Squadron[note 43]
- Commander - Rear Admiral John de Robeck
- 11th Cruiser Squadron[note 44]
- Commander - Rear Admiral Robert Phipps Hornby
- HMS Doris (Flagship)
- HMS Juno
- HMS Isis
- HMS Venus
- HMS Minerva
- Commander - Rear Admiral Robert Phipps Hornby
- 12th Cruiser Squadron[note 45]
- Commander - Rear Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss
- HMS Charybdis (Flagship)
- HMS Diana
- HMS Eclipse
- HMS Talbot
- Commander - Rear Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss
- Minelayer Squadron
Other forces in home waters
[edit]Northern Patrol
[edit]- 10th Cruiser Squadron[note 46][note 47]
- Commander - Rear Admiral Dudley de Chair
East Coast
[edit]- Admiral of Patrols - Commodore George Ballard
- 6th Destroyer Flotilla (Dover)[note 49]
- HMS Attentive - Flotilla Leader
- HMS Adventure - Attached cruiser
- HMS Foresight - Attached cruiser
- HMS Afridi
- HMS Amazon
- HMS Cossack
- HMS Crusader
- HMS Ghurka
- HMS Maori
- HMS Mohawk
- HMS Nubian
- HMS Saracen
- HMS Tartar
- HMS Viking
- HMS Zubian
- HMS Zulu
- HMS Myrmidon
- HMS Syren
- HMS Kangaroo
- HMS Crane
- HMS Fawn
- HMS Flirt
- HMS Greyhound
- HMS Racehorse
- HMS Falcon
- HMS Leven
- HMS Gipsy
- HMS Mermaid
- 7th Destroyer Flotilla (Humber)
- HMS Skirmisher - Flotilla Leader
- HMS Albatross
- HMS Avon
- HMS Dove
- HMS Violet
- HMS Sylvia
- HMS Leopard
- HMS Vixen
- HMS Arab
- HMS Bullfinch
- HMS Earnest
- HMS Lively
- HMS Locust
- HMS Orwell
- HMS Panther
- HMS Quail
- HMS Seal
- HMS Sprightly
- HMS Success
- HMS Thorn
- HMS Thrasher
- HMS Wolf
- HMS TB 1
- HMS TB 2
- HMS TB 3
- HMS TB 4
- HMS TB 5
- HMS TB 13
- HMS TB 14
- HMS TB 15
- HMS TB 16
- HMS TB 21
- HMS TB 22
- HMS TB 24
- 8th Destroyer Flotilla (Rosyth)
- HMS Pathfinder - Flotilla Leader[note 50]
- HMS Aquarius - Depot ship
- HMS Tyne - Depot ship
- HMS Albacore
- HMS Peterel
- HMS Express
- HMS Cheerful
- HMS Osprey
- HMS Ostrich
- HMS Vigilant
- HMS Mallard
- HMS Stag
- HMS TB 25
- HMS TB 26
- HMS TB 27
- HMS TB 28
- HMS TB 29
- HMS TB 30
- HMS TB 31
- HMS TB 32
- HMS TB 34
- HMS TB 35
- HMS TB 36
- 9th Destroyer Flotilla (Nore)
- HMS Patrol - Flotilla Leader
- HMS St George - Depot ship
- HMS Derwent
- HMS Eden
- HMS Waveney
- HMS Doon
- HMS Kale
- HMS Ouse
- HMS Stour
- HMS Test
- HMS Ness
- HMS Nith
- HMS Ettrick
- HMS Rother
- HMS Itchen
- HMS Moy
- HMS Foyle
- HMS Teviot
- Shetland Patrol Force[note 51]
- HMS Forward - Flotilla Leader
- HMS Bat
- HMS Fairy
- HMS Flying Fish
- HMS Star
Harwich Force
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Adm._Sir_R._Tyrwhitt_LCCN2014716217.jpg/220px-Adm._Sir_R._Tyrwhitt_LCCN2014716217.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/HMS_Amethyst_1906_IWM_Q_20944.jpg/220px-HMS_Amethyst_1906_IWM_Q_20944.jpg)
The Harwich Force was formed in April 1914 and was intended to serve as a southern wing of the Grand Fleet, primarily consisting of light forces. In the first few months of the war, elements of the Harwich Force were subordinated to the Southern Force.
- Commander, Destroyer Flotillas - Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt[note 52]
- HMS Amethyst[note 9] (Flagship)
- 1st Destroyer Flotilla[note 53]
- HMS Fearless - Flotilla Leader
- HMS Woolwich - Depot ship
- HMS Acheron
- HMS Archer
- HMS Ariel
- HMS Attack
- HMS Badger
- HMS Beaver
- HMS Defender
- HMS Druid
- HMS Ferret
- HMS Forester
- HMS Goshawk
- HMS Hind
- HMS Hornet
- HMS Hydra
- HMS Jackal
- HMS Lapwing
- HMS Lizard
- HMS Phoenix
- HMS Sandfly
- HMS Tigress
- 3rd Destroyer Flotilla[note 53]
- HMS Amphion - Flotilla Leader
- HMS Dido - Depot ship
- HMS Laertes
- HMS Laforey
- HMS Lance
- HMS Landrail
- HMS Lark
- HMS Laurel
- HMS Lawford
- HMS Legion
- HMS Lennox
- HMS Liberty
- HMS Linnet
- HMS Llewellyn
- HMS Louis
- HMS Loyal
- HMS Lydiard
- HMS Lysander
- 8th Submarine Flotilla[note 53]
- Seaplane carriers[note 54]
Southern Force
[edit]The Southern Force (also known as the "Combined Force") was formed in August 1914 around a cruiser squadron, with support from elements of the Harwich Force, and was intended to operate off the East Coast, protecting the coast of Belgium and communication channels to France.[10][note 53]
- Force Commander - Rear Admiral Arthur Christian
- HMS Euryalus (Flagship)
- 7th Cruiser Squadron[note 55][note 56]
- Commander - Rear Admiral Henry Campbell
Submarine flotillas
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Sir_Roger_Keyes.jpg/220px-Sir_Roger_Keyes.jpg)
- Commodore, Submarine Service - Commodore Roger Keyes
- HMS Lurcher (Flagship)
- 3rd Submarine Flotilla
- 4th Submarine Flotilla
- 5th Submarine Flotilla
- 6th Submarine Flotilla
- 7th Submarine Flotilla
- 9th Submarine Flotilla
- HMS Pactolus (Depot ship)
- HMS Bonetta (Depot ship)
- HMS A10
- HMS A11
- HMS A12
Other ships
[edit]- Coastguard vessels
- HMS Squirrel
- HMS Watchful
- HMS Thrush
- HMS Argus
- HMS Thrush
- Survey ships
- HMS Hearty
- HMS Triton
- HMS Research
- HMS Endeavour
- HMS Esther
- HMS Daisy
- Other ships
- HMY Enchantress
Overseas units
[edit]Mediterranean Fleet
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/AdmiralArchibaldMilne.jpg/220px-AdmiralArchibaldMilne.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/HMSInflexibleQ_039249.jpg/220px-HMSInflexibleQ_039249.jpg)
- Commander-in-Chief - Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne
- HMS Inflexible (Fleet Flagship)[note 58]
- HMS Hussar (Despatch vessel)
- HMS Imogene (Despatch vessel)
- 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron[note 15][note 59]
- 1st Cruiser Squadron
- Commander - Rear Admiral Ernest Troubridge
- Light cruisers
- The light cruisers assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet were not assigned to a particular squadron
- 5th Destroyer Flotilla
- Torpedo Boat Flotilla
- Stationed at Malta
- HMS TB 043
- HMS TB 044
- HMS TB 046
- HMS TB 063
- HMS TB 064
- HMS TB 070
- Stationed at Gibraltar
- HMS TB 83
- HMS TB 88
- HMS TB 89
- HMS TB 90
- HMS TB 91
- HMS TB 92
- HMS TB 93
- HMS TB 94
- HMS TB 95
- HMS TB 96
- Stationed at Malta
- Mediterranean Submarine Flotilla
China Station
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/The_Royal_Navy_on_the_China_Station%2C_1912-1914._HU64343.jpg/220px-The_Royal_Navy_on_the_China_Station%2C_1912-1914._HU64343.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Armoured_cruiser_HMS_Minotaur_-_IWM_Q_75288.jpg/220px-Armoured_cruiser_HMS_Minotaur_-_IWM_Q_75288.jpg)
- Commander-in-Chief - Vice Admiral Sir Martyn Jerram
- HMS Minotaur (Flagship)
- HMS Triumph
- Cruisers
- HMS Hampshire
- HMS Yarmouth
- HMS Newcastle
- HMS Alacrity
- Destroyers
- Sloops
- HMS Cadmus
- HMS Clio
- HMS Rosario
- Gunboats
- HMS Bramble
- HMS Britomart
- HMS Thistle
- River gunboats
- HMS Moorhen
- HMS Kinsha
- HMS Nightingale
- HMS Snipe
- HMS Woodcock
- HMS Teal
- HMS Widgeon
- HMS Robin
- HMS Sandpiper
East Indies Station
[edit]- Commander-in-Chief - Rear Admiral Sir Richard Peirse
- HMS Swiftsure (Flagship)
- Cruisers
- Sloops
- HMS Alert
- HMS Espiegle
- HMS Odin
- Other vessels
Other overseas stations
[edit]In addition to the major overseas forces, the Royal Navy had a number of other smaller stations with two or three ships assigned.
- New Zealand Naval Forces
- Naval Adviser to the New Zealand Government - Captain Percival Hall-Thompson
- Cape of Good Hope Station
- Commander-in-Chief - Vice Admiral Herbert King-Hall
- HMS Hyacinth (Flagship)
- HMS Astraea
- HMS Pegasus[note 61]
- Commander-in-Chief - Vice Admiral Herbert King-Hall
- West Africa and South Atlantic
- HMS Glasgow
- HMS Dwarf
- West Coast of America
- Survey ships
- HMS Fantome[note 62]
- HMS Merlin
- HMS Mutine
- HMS Sealark
Dominion naval forces
[edit]Although in peacetime the fledgling naval forces of the Dominions operated independently, during time of war they were intended to be subordinated to the command of the Admiralty in London.
Australian fleet
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/HMAS_Australia_1914.jpg/220px-HMAS_Australia_1914.jpg)
- First Naval Member, Australian Commonwealth Naval Board - Rear Admiral Sir William Creswell
- Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Fleet - Rear Admiral Sir George Patey
- HMAS Australia (Fleet Flagship)
- Cruisers
- Destroyers
- Submarines
- HMAS Protector (Depot ship)
- HMAS AE1
- HMAS AE2
- Other vessels
Canadian fleet
[edit]- Director of the Naval Service - Rear Admiral Charles Kingsmill
- Cruisers
- Patrol vessels
- Submarines
Notes
[edit]- ^ Poë retired in September and was replaced by Admiral Sir George Callaghan
- ^ The Permanent Secretary was not one of the Lords of the Admiralty, but was instead the senior civil servant whose main role was to provide advice to the board in its decision making
- ^ Battenburg resigned on 24 October and was replaced by Baron Fisher
- ^ a b Hamilton was appointed Second Sea Lord on 4 August in succession to Jellicoe, who was named as commander of the Grand Fleet in place of Admiral Sir George Callaghan
- ^ a b Hood was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Dover Patrol upon its formation in October, and was replaced by Oliver
- ^ a b Sturdee was appointed as Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and Pacific in December and replaced by Oliver
- ^ a b Duff was appointed as the second-in-command of the 4th Battle Squadron in October
- ^ a b c d Ships unassigned to any particular operational squadron
- ^ a b Amethyst was replaced by Arethusa as the flagship of the Harwich Force in mid-August
- ^ Hermes was sunk on 31 October
- ^ a b Formed from excess reservists to reinforce the Royal Marine Brigade in Belgium.[3]
- ^ a b King Alfred was recommissioned as assigned to the 6th Cruiser Squadron in mid-August
- ^ Queen Elizabeth was undergoing sea trials, and was commissioned on 22 December 1914
- ^ Revenge was undergoing a refit for coastal bombardment duties as part of the Dover Patrol
- ^ a b Invincible had undergone a major refit from March to August 1914, and was declared operational on 12 August. She had been part of the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean, but upon her recommissioning was retained in home waters
- ^ Aurora was commissioned in September 1914 and assigned as Flotilla Leader of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla
- ^ a b Tiger was undergoing sea trials, and was commissioned on 3 October, when she was assigned to the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron
- ^ Cordelia was undertaking sea trials prior to commissioning in January 1915
- ^ a b Miller, as Rear Admiral in Command at Scapa Flow, took responsibility for the guard ships of the 9th Battle Squadron with his flag in Hannibal
- ^ Carden was appointed commander of the newly formed Eastern Mediterranean Squadron on 20 September and was replaced by Vice Admiral Arthur Limpus
- ^ Nicholson was appointed as commanding officer of HMS Agincourt on 8 August
- ^ The brigade went on to form part of the Royal Naval Division.[5]
- ^ a b c d e The colonels commandant in the Royal Marines were ranked as colonels until October 1913, when they were upgraded to the rank of brigadier-general.[8]
- ^ Paris was promoted to Major-General and assigned to command the Royal Naval Division in September.
- ^ A Battalion was replaced by a new RMLI battalion formed from the depot and named as 12th (Deal) Battalion in September.
- ^ During a full mobilisation of the battle fleet, Iron Duke was attached to the 4th Battle Squadron
- ^ a b Bayly and Burney swapped commands in December, with Bayly appointed as commander-in-chief of the Channel Fleet, and Burney assuming command of the 1st Battle Squadron
- ^ Audacious sank having struck a mine on 27 October 1914
- ^ The 3rd Battle Squadron was primarily tasked with providing heavy support to the Northern Patrol
- ^ Erin joined the 4th Battle Squadron on 5 September 1914
- ^ Benbow and Emperor of India were working up at the start of the war and joined the 4th Battle Squadron in December
- ^ New Zealand was transferred to the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron in mid-August 1914, before returning to the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron in September
- ^ a b Good Hope was transferred to the 4th Cruiser Squadron on 14th August, and assumed the role of flagship from Suffolk
- ^ During a full mobilisation, Lord Nelson was attached to the 5th Battle Squadron
- ^ The ships of the 6th Battle Squadron were transferred to the Grand Fleet in August 1914 to reinforce the Northern Patrol
- ^ The 8th Battle Squadron was formed at the beginning of August 1914 by the amalgamation of the 7th and 8th Battle Squadrons
- ^ The 8th Battle Squadron was broken up in late August 1914 with the majority of its ships sent to reinforce cruiser squadrons on trade protection duties
- ^ a b c d e Formerly part of 7th Battle Squadron
- ^ Illustrious was sent to serve as guard ship at Loch Ewe at the end of August
- ^ The 9th Battle Squadron was disbanded as a formation in early August 1914, and its ships used operationally as guard ships
- ^ Although nominally attached to the Channel Fleet, the 4th Cruiser Squadron was primarily responsible for the former North America and West Indies Station
- ^ The 5th Cruiser Squadron was redesignated as Cruiser Force D and assigned to patrol the Atlantic off north-west Africa
- ^ The 9th Cruiser Squadron was redesignated as Cruiser Force I and assigned to patrol the Atlantic off north-west Africa
- ^ The 11th Cruiser Squadron was redesignated as Cruiser Force E and assigned to patrol off the west coast of Ireland
- ^ The 12th Cruiser Squadron was redesignated as Cruiser Force G and assigned to patrol the Western Channel
- ^ The 10th Cruiser Squadron was formed by redesignating the Training Squadron stationed at Queenstown
- ^ All ships were replaced by Armed Merchant Cruisers in December 1914
- ^ Hawke was sunk on 15 October
- ^ The 6th Destroyer Flotilla was removed from the command of the Admiral of Patrols and transferred to the newly established Dover Patrol in October 1914
- ^ Pathfinder was sunk on 5 September 1914
- ^ The Shetland Patrol Force was administered as part of the 9th Destroyer Flotilla
- ^ Commodore Tyrwhitt was in overall command of the Grand Fleet's destroyers
- ^ a b c d The 1st and 3rd Destroyer Flotillas and 8th Submarine Flotilla were detached for operations with the Southern Force
- ^ In August 1914, three passenger steamers belonging to the South Eastern and Chatham Railway were requisitioned and converted for use as seaplane tenders; these were subsequently assigned to the Harwich Force
- ^ The 7th Cruiser Squadron was divided into two separate "cruiser forces" - Cruiser Force C consisted of Euryalus, Bacchante, Aboukir and Cressy, while Cruiser Force F consisted of Hogue and Sutlej
- ^ The 7th Cruiser Squadron was disbanded following the loss of Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue in September 1914
- ^ a b c Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue were sunk on 22 September
- ^ Inflexible operated as part of the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron
- ^ Rear Admiral Gordon Moore was appointed as commander of the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron from 1 September 1914, but raised his flag in Invincible on 12 August. The 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron was transferred from the Mediterranean Fleet to Cruiser Force A, initially with Invincible and New Zealand, in mid-August 1914; Inflexible replaced New Zealand from September, while Indomitable and Indefatigable were retained in the Mediterranean until November
- ^ Weymouth was detached from the Mediterranean Fleet in August and sent to the East Indies station to assist in the hunt for the German light cruiser Emden
- ^ Pegasus was sunk on 20 September 1914
- ^ Fantome was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in November 1914
- ^ Psyche was attached to the New Zealand Naval Forces on the outbreak of war
- ^ a b Transferred from the Fisheries Protection Service to the Royal Canadian Navy in August 1914
References
[edit]- ^ Kirsty.Oram (2017-01-09). "The Queen and the Armed Forces". The Royal Family. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- ^ Hamilton, C. I. (3 February 2011). The Making of the Modern Admiralty: British Naval Policy-Making, 1805–1927. Cambridge University Press. p. 56. ISBN 9781139496544.
- ^ "63rd (Royal Naval) Division". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ Manning, Alex. "Jack and Royal in the Trenches (The Royal Naval Division 1914-1919)" (PDF). RM Historical. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "The Royal Naval Division Badges, Units and Order of Battle 1914-19". lightinfantry.org. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "Senior RM Officers - Promotion". Roots Web. London Gazette. 17 October 1913. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d Dittmar, F.J & Colledge J.J., British Warships 1914–1919 Ian Allan, London. 1972; ISBN 0-7110-0380-7
- ^ Corbett. Naval Operations. I. pp. 81-82.
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