Thirteenth Submarine Flotilla (Royal Navy)

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The Thirteenth Submarine Flotilla was a formation of submarines of the Royal Navy.

History

May, 1917

The flotilla is established in May, 1917 to augment the efforts of three other flotillas in screening the Grand Fleet.

It starts with two "K" class submarines borne in Crescent which is not directly affiliated with the flotilla. K 9 had been previously worked up in the Sixth Submarine Flotilla, but K 14 appears to be new in service.[1]

Supporting the Grand Fleet
Submarines, borne in Crescent
K 9 K 14

June, 1917

K 11 has joined, coming in from the Twelfth Submarine Flotilla. The flotilla is comprised of three submarines.[2][3]

Supporting the Grand Fleet
Submarines, borne in Crescent
K 9 K 11 K 14

July, 1917

Trident has come over from the Eleventh Submarine Flotilla, "temporarily". The coastal submarine C 7 is for some reason here from the Ninth Submarine Flotilla, also temporarily. K 10 has joined. The flotilla is comprised of five submarines and a destroyer.[4][5]

Supporting the Grand Fleet
Destroyer
Trident*
Submarines, borne in Crescent
C 7* K 9 K 10 K 11 K 14

This roster would apply until September. From August, C 7 was noted as being "tender to Tyne".[6]

September, 1917

K 12 and K 17 have joined. The flotilla is comprised of seven submarines and a destroyer.[7]

Supporting the Grand Fleet
Destroyer
Trident*
Submarines, borne in Crescent
K 9 K 10 K 11 K 12 K 14 K 17
C 7*

October, 1917

K 22 has joined. Trident has moved out to the Eleventh Submarine Flotilla, replaced by Ithuriel's arrival from the Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla, whose tenure is also intended to be "temporary". C 7's presence is still noted as being temporary, and she is still "tender to Tyne". The flotilla is comprised of eight submarines and a destroyer.[8][9]

Supporting the Grand Fleet
Flotilla Leader
Ithuriel*
Submarines, borne in Crescent
K 9 K 10 K 11 K 12 K 14 K 17
K 22 C 7*

This roster would apply until February, 1918.[10]

February, 1918

K 17 has been removed, lost in a collision on 31 January. While Ithuriel's tenure is still noted as being "temporary", C 7's no longer is, though this is probably an error, as she will leave in the coming month. The flotilla is comprised of seven submarines and a destroyer.[11]

Supporting the Grand Fleet
Flotilla Leader
Ithuriel*
Submarines, borne in Crescent
K 9 K 10 K 11 K 12 K 14 K 22
C 7

March, 1918

Crescent, so long a provider of services to this flotilla, is finally attached and is no longer on "detached service". C 7 has been removed in order that she may perform "experimental work", and K 16 has joined. Ithuriel is no longer noted as being temporarily attached. The flotilla is comprised of seven submarines, a flotilla leader and a depot ship.[12][13]

Supporting the Grand Fleet
Flotilla Leader
Ithuriel
Depot Ship
Crescent
Submarines
K 9 K 10 K 11 K 12 K 14 K 16
K 22

April, 1918

K 14 and K 22 are paid off, to remain so until some time between September and November, perhaps indicating trouble crewing all these boats.[Inference] The flotilla is comprised of seven submarines, a flotilla leader and a depot ship.[14]

Supporting the Grand Fleet
Flotilla Leader
Ithuriel
Depot Ship
Crescent
Submarines
K 9 K 10 K 11 K 12 K 14* K 16
K 22*

This roster would apply until some time between September and November.[15]

November, 1918

K 14 and K 22 are no longer noted as being paid off, but depot ship Crescent has been returned to the vague state of being a "miscellaneous ship in commission". The flotilla is comprised of seven submarines, and a flotilla leader.[16]

Supporting the Grand Fleet
Flotilla Leader
Ithuriel
Submarines
K 9 K 10 K 11 K 12 K 14 K 16
K 22

This roster would apply until January, 1919.[17]

January, 1919

The war over, Crescent is again attached. The flotilla is comprised of seven submarines, a flotilla leader and a depot ship.[18]

Supporting the Grand Fleet
Flotilla Leader
Ithuriel
Depot Ship
Crescent
Submarines
K 9 K 10 K 11 K 12 K 14 K 16
K 22

This roster would apply until March.[19]

March, 1919

A post-war reorganization sees the flotilla's vessels re-designated as the Second Submarine Flotilla except Crescent is trundled off to the Firth of Forth, replaced by St. George. The Thirteenth Flotilla is disestablished.[20]

Disestablished
Not to be re-instituted during the Dreadnought Era


Captains (S)

It seems that the flotilla never had a Captain (S), though in March 1919 as it became the Second Flotilla, Ithuriel is noted as having a Commander (S).

Footnotes

  1. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1917). p. 12.
  2. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). p. 12.
  3. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1917). p. 12.
  4. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1917). p. 12.
  5. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). pp. 12, 13.
  6. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 12.
  7. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 12.
  8. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1917). p. 12.
  9. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 12.
  10. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 12 and Supplements through February, 1918.
  11. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1918). p. 12.
  12. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1918). pp. 12, 19.
  13. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1918). p. 14.
  14. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1918). p. 12.
  15. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1918). p. 12 and Supplements through November, though editions for September and October were not found.
  16. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). pp. 11, 19.
  17. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 11.
  18. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1919). p. 11.
  19. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 11.
  20. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). pp. 12, 16.
  21. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  22. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  23. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  24. Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
  25. Crowther Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/160. f. 564.
  26. The Navy List. (November, 1919). pp. 702-3, 823.
  27. Crowther Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/160. f. 564.

Bibliography

See Also


British Submarine Flotillas
First Submarine Flotilla | Second Submarine Flotilla | Third Submarine Flotilla | Fourth Submarine Flotilla
Fifth Submarine Flotilla | Sixth Submarine Flotilla | Seventh Submarine Flotilla | Eighth Submarine Flotilla
Ninth Submarine Flotilla | Tenth Submarine Flotilla | Eleventh Submarine Flotilla | Twelfth Submarine Flotilla
Thirteenth Submarine Flotilla | Fourteenth Submarine Flotilla | Fifteenth Submarine Flotilla | Sixteenth Submarine Flotilla
Ambrose's Flotilla | Mediterranean Flotilla | Platypus's Flotilla | Vulcan's Flotilla | Hong Kong Flotilla