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The '''Atlantic Fleet''' was a fleet of the [[Royal Navy]] from 1905 to 1912, when it was absorbed into the [[Home Fleets (Royal Navy)|Home Fleets]], and from 1919 to 1932, when it was renamed the Home Fleet. ==Institution and Background== On 6 December, 1904, the [[First Lord of the Admiralty]], [[William Waldegrave Palmer, Second Earl of Selborne|the Earl of Selborne]], publicly announced a redistribution of the [[Royal Navy]]'s fleets. The [[Channel Fleet (Royal Navy)|Channel Fleet]] was renamed the '''Atlantic Fleet''' and was to be permanently based on Gibraltar. The Flag Officer in command was given the status and title of a Commander in Chief.<ref>Published as a Command Paper: ''Navy: Distribution and Mobilization of the Fleet''. Cd. 2335. p. 2.</ref> Lord Charles Beresford, Vice-Admiral Commanding the Channel Fleet, was informed on 14 December that: "These changes are to come in force forthwith."<ref>Permanent Secretary to the Board of Admiralty to Vice-Admiral Commanding the Channel Fleet. Letter M.14018 of 14 December, 1904. The National Archives. ADM 144/16. f. 208.</ref> The Atlantic Fleet's task was to cruise between it's base at Gibraltar and the base at [[Berehaven]] in Ireland, with the ability to reinforce either the Channel Fleet or the Mediterranean. To this end it was decreed in early 1905 that the Atlantic Fleet would hold combined manœuvres twice a year with the Mediterranean Fleet, at the end of April and the beginning of August, and once a year with the Channel Fleet in February. Its geographical sphere of operations was loosely defined as west to the Azores, north to Cape Finisterre, east to Sicily and south to the Canary Islands. In time of peace, Gibraltar came under the direct command of the Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, but is was decided that in the event of war the key strategic port would pass to the control of the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. From 11 July, 1905 the Fleet, composed mainly of battleships paid a visit to the French port of Brest to foster goodwill, and spent a week there as guests of the [[Marine Nationale|French Navy]]. ==Further Changes== In 1906 the fleets were reorganised again to an extent, with reserve elements of the home forces united into the ''Home Fleet'' - the active force being provided by two battleships each from the three ocean-going fleets (Channel, Atlantic and Mediterranean), with the rest of its fighting ability relying on the [[Nucleus-crew System]] instituted by Fisher. In July, 1907 the Atlantic Fleet, under Vice-Admiral [[Assheton Gore Curzon-Howe|The Hon. Sir Assheton G. Curzon-Howe]] was dispatched to the City of Quebec to celebrate the Canadian Province's Tercentenary. Interestingly, the appointment of Captain [[Herbert Whitmore Savory|Herbert W. Savory]], Vice-Admiral Curzon-Howe's Flag Captain, as Chief of the Staff was refused.<ref>Savory Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}} f. 1154.</ref> In March, 1909 the Channel Fleet was absorbed into the Home Fleet, giving Britain her front-line naval force to face the [[Kaiserliche Marine|Imperial German Navy]]. The Atlantic Fleet, while retaining its independent status, was now assigned to act as a fully-manned and trained adjunct to the Home Fleet in the time of war, and to reflect this its main base of operations was moved to Dover. When Prince Louis of Battenberg was succeeded in command of the fleet by Sir John Jellicoe on 20 December, 1910, the officer in command lost the status of Commander-in-Chief.<ref>"Naval Commands Afloat" (News). ''The Times''. Tuesday, 3 January, 1911. Issue '''39472''', col A, p. 5.</ref> On 1 May, 1912 the fleets were again reorganised to completely unify the home command. The Battle Squadron, Atlantic Fleet became the [[Third Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Third Battle Squadron]] of the [[First Fleet (Royal Navy)|First Fleet]] and the fleet went out of existence until the name was given to the fleet in home waters in 1919, after the dispersal of the [[Grand Fleet]]. ==Composition== ===December, 1904=== *[[H.M.S. King Edward VII (1903)|H.M.S. ''King Edward VII'']], Flagship, Vice-Admiral *[[H.M.S. Victorious (1895)|H.M.S. ''Victorious'']], Flagship, Rear-Admiral *[[H.M.S. Prince George (1895)|H.M.S. ''Prince George'']] *[[H.M.S. Magnificent (1894)|H.M.S. ''Magnificent'']] *[[H.M.S. Majestic (1895)|H.M.S. ''Majestic'']] *[[H.M.S. Illustrious (1896)|H.M.S. ''Illustrious'']] *[[H.M.S. Cæsar (1896)|H.M.S. ''Cæsar'']] *[[H.M.S. Hannibal (1896)|H.M.S. ''Hannibal'']] On 17 July, 1905 ''Prince George'' was replaced by [[H.M.S. Zealandia (1904)|H.M.S. ''New Zealand'']]. ===1907=== *[[H.M.S. Exmouth (1901)|H.M.S. ''Exmouth'']], Flagship, Vice-Admiral *[[H.M.S. Albemarle (1901)|H.M.S. ''Albemarle'']] *[[H.M.S. Cornwallis (1901)|H.M.S. ''Cornwallis'']] *[[H.M.S. Duncan (1901)|H.M.S. ''Duncan'']] *[[H.M.S. Russell (1901)|H.M.S. ''Russell'']] *[[H.M.S. Albion (1898)|H.M.S. ''Albion'']] ===1910=== At the time of manœuvres on 4 July, 1910. *[[H.M.S. Prince of Wales (1902)|''Prince of Wales'']], Flagship, Vice-Admiral *[[H.M.S. London (1899)|''London'']], Flagship, Rear-Admiral *[[H.M.S. Queen (1902)|''Queen'']] *[[H.M.S. Formidable (1898)|''Formidable'']] *[[H.M.S. Implacable (1899)|''Implacable'']] *[[H.M.S. Venerable (1899)|''Venerable'']] ===1912=== *[[H.M.S. Prince of Wales (1902)|H.M.S. ''Prince of Wales'']], Flagship, Vice-Admiral *[[H.M.S. London (1899)|H.M.S. ''London'']], Flagship, Rear-Admiral *[[H.M.S. Implacable (1899)|H.M.S. ''Implacable'']] *[[H.M.S. Formidable (1898)|H.M.S. ''Formidable'']] *[[H.M.S. Queen (1902)|H.M.S. ''Queen'']] ==Commanders of the Atlantic Fleet== The Fleet was generally under command of the "Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet" except for a period in 1910-1912, where the position was dubbed "Vice-Admiral Commanding, Atlantic Fleet". <div name=fredbot:office0 otitle="Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet" nat="UK">{{TenureListBegin|Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet}} {{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Charles William de la Poer Beresford, First Baron Beresford|nick=Lord Charles Beresford|appt=1 January, 1905|precBy=Preceded by New Command}} {{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=William Henry May|nick=Sir William H. May|appt=1 March, 1905}} {{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral the Hon.|name=Assheton Gore Curzon-Howe|nick=Sir Assheton G. Curzon-Howe|appt=23 February, 1907<ref>Curzon-Howe Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/18.}} f. 529.</ref>|end=19 November, 1908<ref>Curzon-Howe Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/18.}} f. 529.</ref>}} {{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Louis Alexander Mountbatten, First Marquess of Milford Haven|nick=H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg|appt=16 November, 1908}} {{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=John Rushworth Jellicoe, First Earl Jellicoe|nick=Sir John R. Jellicoe|appt=20 December, 1910|as=Vice-Admiral Commanding, Atlantic Fleet}} {{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral (Acting)|name=Cecil Burney, First Baronet|nick=Cecil Burney|appt=19 December, 1911<ref>Burney Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/38.}} f. 84/180.</ref>|as=Vice-Admiral Commanding, Atlantic Fleet}} {{Tenure|rank=Admiral|name=Charles Edward Madden, First Baronet|nick=Sir Charles E. Madden|appt=8 April, 1919<ref>"End of Grand Fleet" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Thursday, 3 April, 1919. Issue '''42065''', col D, p. 13.</ref>}} {{Tenure|rank=Admiral|name=John Michael de Robeck, First Baronet|nick=Sir John M. de Robeck|appt=15 August, 1922<ref>"Flag Command Changes" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Wednesday, 21 December, 1921. Issue '''42909''', col D, p. 14.</ref>|end=15 August, 1924<ref>de Robeck Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 285.</ref>}} {{Tenure|rank=Admiral|name=Henry Francis Oliver|nick=Sir Henry F. Oliver|appt=15 August, 1924<ref>"Navy Command Changes" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Thursday, 13 March, 1924. Issue '''43599''', col D, p. 14.</ref>}} {{Tenure|rank=Admiral|name=Hubert George Brand|nick=The Hon. Sir Hubert G. Brand|appt=15 August, 1927<ref>"Atlantic Fleet Command" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Saturday, 12 March, 1927. Issue '''44528''', col B, p. 12.</ref>}} {{Tenure|rank=Admiral|name=Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield, First Baron Chatfield|nick=Sir A. Ernle M. Chatfield|appt=17 April, 1929<ref>"Atlantic Fleet Command" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Thursday, 1 November, 1928. Issue '''45039''', col D, p. 11.</ref>|end=27 May, 1930<ref>Chatfield Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 346.</ref>}} {{Tenure|rank=Admiral|name=Michael Henry Hodges|nick=Sir Michael H. Hodges|appt=26 May, 1930<ref>"Naval, Military, and Air Force" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Wednesday, 9 April, 1930. Issue '''45483''', col E, p. 10.</ref>|ass=27 May, 1930<ref>Chatfield Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 346.</ref>}} {{Tenure|rank=Admiral|name=John Donald Kelly|nick=Sir John D. Kelly|appt=6 October, 1931<ref>"Naval, Military, and Air Force" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Tuesday, 6 October, 1931. Issue '''45946''', col D, p. 6.</ref>}} {{TenureListEnd}} </div name=fredbot:office0> ==Seconds-in-Command, Atlantic Fleet== <div name=fredbot:office1 otitle="Second-in-Command, Atlantic Fleet" nat="UK">{{TenureListBegin|Second-in-Command, Atlantic Fleet}} {{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Francis Charles Bridgeman Bridgeman|nick=Francis C. B. Bridgeman|appt=25 June, 1904<ref>Bridgeman Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}} f. 167.</ref>|precBy=Former [[Channel Fleet (Royal Navy)|Channel Fleet]]|end=25 August, 1905<ref>Bridgeman Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}} f. 167.</ref>}} {{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Archibald Berkeley Milne, Second Baronet|nick=Sir A. Berkeley Milne, Bart.|appt=26 August, 1905}} {{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=George Le Clerc Egerton|nick=George Le C. Egerton|appt=25 August, 1906}} {{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=John Rushworth Jellicoe, First Earl Jellicoe|nick=Sir John R. Jellicoe|appt=26 August, 1907}} {{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=William Blake Fisher|nick=William B. Fisher|appt=25 August, 1908<ref>Fisher Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/38.}} f. 459.</ref>|end=26 August, 1909<ref>Fisher Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/38.}} f. 459.</ref>}} {{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Colin Richard Keppel|nick=Sir Colin R. Keppel|appt=27 August, 1909}} {{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Sackville Hamilton Carden|nick=Sackville H. Carden|appt=26 August, 1910}} {{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Christopher George Francis Maurice Cradock|nick=Sir Christopher G. F. M. Cradock|appt=29 August, 1911<ref>Cradock Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.|D7579040}} f. 89.</ref>|end=29 August, 1912<ref>Cradock Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.|D7579040}} f. 89.</ref>}} {{TenureListEnd}} </div name=fredbot:office1> ==Chiefs of Staff== <div name=fredbot:office2 otitle="Chief of Staff to C-in-C, Atlantic Fleet" nat="UK">{{TenureListBegin|Chief of Staff to C-in-C, Atlantic Fleet}} {{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Cyril Thomas Moulden Fuller|nick=Cyril T. M. Fuller|appt=1 May, 1920<ref>Fuller Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 460.</ref>|end=14 August, 1922<ref>Fuller Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 460.</ref>}} {{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Arthur John Davies|nick=Arthur J. Davies|appt=15 August, 1926<ref>Davies Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}} f. 413.</ref>|end=15 August, 1927<ref>Davies Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/44.}} f. 413.</ref>|note=initially as {{Com1RN}} until promoted to flag rank}} {{TenureListEnd}} </div name=fredbot:office2> ==Footnotes== {{reflist}} ==Bibliography== {{refbegin}} {{refend}} ==See Also== {{refbegin}} {{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Fleet_(United_Kingdom)}} {{refend}} [[Category:Formations]] [[Category:Royal Navy Fleets and Stations]] [[Category:Pages with Offices]]

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