Tenth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)

The Tenth Destroyer Flotilla was a formation of destroyers of the Royal Navy instituted in mid-December, 1914. It fought as part of the Harwich Force throughout the war.

History

Its formation was commanded on 15 December 1914 under leader Aurora with Dido as the depot ship and eight Beagles and all the M class destroyers presently available except Miranda and Meteor.

In 1916, it was comprised of M class destroyers armed with 21-in Mark II torpedoes.

March, 1915

The flotilla appears in The Navy List for the first time, under Commodore (T) in flagship cruiser Arethusa. It has a cruiser and nine "M" class destroyers.

A Flotilla under Commodore (T)
Flotilla Cruiser
Aurora
Depot Ship shared with Third Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mastiff	Mentor	Milne	Minos	Moorsom
Morris		Murray		Myngs

April, 1915

Still under Commodore (T), it and the Third Destroyer Flotilla are now part of the Harwich Striking Force, sharing the depot ship Dido. With the arrival of Matchless and Meteor, the Tenth is a cruiser and eleven "M" class destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Striking Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Aurora
Depot Ship shared with Third Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mastiff	Matchless	Mentor	Meteor	Milne
Minos	Moorsom	Morris	Murray	Myngs

May, 1915

The still-being-completed Tipperary and Mansfield will be joining, bringing the Tenth to the strength of two cruisers and twelve "M" class destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Striking Force
Flotilla Cruisers
Aurora			Tipperary*
Depot Ship shared with Third Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield*	Mastiff	Matchless	Mentor	Meteor
Milne	Minos	Moorsom	Morris	Murray	Myngs

June, 1915

Plans to add Tipperary to the Tenth may have been altered, as she is now part of the Third Destroyer Flotilla. Mansfield is seemingly now complete. The Tenth is one cruiser and twelve "M" class destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Aurora
Depot Ship shared with Third Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Mastiff	Matchless	Mentor	Meteor
Milne	Minos	Moorsom	Morris	Murray	Myngs

July, 1915

Medea, Medusa, Miranda and the Acorn class destroyer Hope have joined (the latter for just the month), and Melpomene is slated to join "shortly" – she would actually appear in September. In the meantime, the Tenth is projected to be one cruiser and seventeen destroyers.

August, 1915

Hope is gone, noted in the catch-all bin of "miscellaneous ships in home waters or on detached service". Melpomene is still not actually joined. The Tenth is one cruiser and sixteen "M" class destroyers.

September, 1915

Melpomene has finally, in fact, joined. Nimrod has joined as a Flotilla Leader. The Tenth is one cruiser, a flotilla leader and sixteen "M" class destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Aurora
Flotilla Leader
Nimrod 2nd in command
Depot Ship shared with Third/Ninth Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Mastiff	Matchless	Medea	Medusa
Melpomene	Mentor	Meteor	Milne	Minos	Miranda
	Moorsom	Morris	Murray	Myngs

This arrangement would apply until January, 1916.

January, 1916

Melampus has joined from "detached service" or what-not. On the other hand, Mastiff has departed to join the Eleventh Submarine Flotilla, destined to return in one month. For now, the Tenth is still one cruiser, a flotilla leader and sixteen "M" class destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Aurora
Flotilla Leader
Nimrod 2nd in command
Depot Ship shared with Ninth Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Matchless	Medea	Medusa	Melampus
Melpomene	Mentor	Meteor	Milne	Minos	Miranda
	Moorsom	Morris	Murray	Myngs

February, 1916

Mastiff has returned from her month with the Eleventh Submarine Flotilla, having been relieved by Talisman. The Tenth is now a cruiser, a flotilla leader and seventeen "M" class destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Aurora
Flotilla Leader
Nimrod 2nd in command
Depot Ship shared with Ninth Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Mastiff	Matchless	Medea	Medusa
Melampus	Melpomene	Mentor	Meteor	Milne	Minos
Miranda	Moorsom	Morris	Murray	Myngs

March, 1916

Melampus has left to join the Eighth Submarine Flotilla. The Tenth is now a cruiser, a flotilla leader and sixteen "M" class destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Aurora
Flotilla Leader
Nimrod 2nd in command
Depot Ship shared with Ninth Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Mastiff	Matchless	Medea	Medusa
Melpomene	Mentor	Meteor	Milne	Minos	Miranda
	Moorsom	Morris	Murray	Myngs

April, 1916

Medusa has been removed, lost to a collision on 26 March. On the other hand, Termagant and Trident have arrived – their tenure here would be temporary.

The Tenth is now a cruiser, a flotilla leader and seventeen destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Aurora
Flotilla Leader
Nimrod 2nd in command
Depot Ship shared with Ninth Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Mastiff	Matchless	Medea	Melpomene
Mentor	Meteor	Milne	Minos	Miranda	Moorsom
Morris		Murray		Myngs
Termagant			Trident

May, 1916

Trident has moved out to join the Eleventh Submarine Flotilla. Termagant's assignment is noted as being temporary.

The Tenth is now a cruiser, a flotilla leader and sixteen destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Aurora
Flotilla Leader
Nimrod 2nd in command
Depot Ship shared with Ninth Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Mastiff	Matchless	Medea	Melpomene
Mentor	Meteor	Milne	Minos	Miranda	Moorsom
Morris		Murray		Myngs
Termagant*

This arrangement would apply until July, 1916.

Battle of Jutland

Just four destroyers from the flotilla were at the Battle of Jutland.

Two fought with ?

• Moorsom, Commander John Coombe Hodgson
• Morris, Lieutenant-Commander Edward Sidney Graham

And two were temporarily attached to the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla:

• Turbulent (lost), Lieutenant-Commander Dudley Stuart
• Termagant, Lieutenant-Commander Cuthbert Patrick Blake

As Turbulent had so very recently joined that she never was listed in the Navy List as part of the Tenth, the strength of the flotilla was not affected by the Battle.

July, 1916

Medea has moved out, briefly disappearing from the Navy List, but destined to appear with the Tenth Submarine Flotilla in November, 1916. Termagant's assignment is noted as being temporary.

The Tenth is now a cruiser, a flotilla leader and fifteen destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Aurora
Flotilla Leader
Nimrod 2nd in command
Depot Ship shared with Ninth Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Mastiff	Matchless	Melpomene	Mentor
Meteor	Milne	Minos	Miranda	Moorsom	Morris
Murray			Myngs
Termagant*

This arrangement would last until September.

September, 1916

Termagant has finally moved out to join the Tenth Submarine Flotilla.

The Tenth is now a cruiser, a flotilla leader and fourteen "M" class destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Aurora
Flotilla Leader
Nimrod 2nd in command
Depot Ship shared with Ninth Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Mastiff	Matchless	Melpomene	Mentor
Meteor	Milne	Minos	Miranda	Moorsom	Morris
Murray			Myngs

This arrangement would apply until December, 1916.

December, 1916

The newly-completed "R" class destroyer H.M.S. Starfish has joined.

The Tenth is now a cruiser, a flotilla leader and fifteen destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Aurora
Flotilla Leader
Nimrod 2nd in command
Depot Ship shared with Ninth Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Mastiff	Matchless	Melpomene	Mentor
Meteor	Milne	Minos	Miranda	Moorsom	Morris
Murray			Myngs
Starfish

January, 1917

The newly-completed destroyers Phoebe and Simoom have joined. Dedicated cruiser Aurora has moved out to join the Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron, replaced in part by shared use of the Undaunted with the Ninth Submarine Flotilla, the Tenth's sister flotilla within the Harwich Force.

The Tenth is now a cruiser, a shared flotilla leader and seventeen destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Undaunted shared with the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla
Flotilla Leader
Nimrod 2nd in command
Depot Ship shared with Ninth Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Mastiff	Matchless	Melpomene	Mentor
Meteor	Milne	Minos	Miranda	Moorsom	Morris
Murray		Myngs		Phoebe
Simoom			Starfish

This arrangement would last until February or March, 1917.

March, 1917

Melpomene, Mentor, Meteor and Morris have moved out to join the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla of the Dover Patrol. Simoom seems to vanish from the Navy List for a full year until being listed with Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla in March, 1918.

Offsetting these losses and more, eight newly-completed destroyers have joined: North Star, Redgauntlet, Satyr, Setter, Skate, Stork, Surprise and Sylph.

The Tenth is now a cruiser, a shared flotilla leader and twenty modern destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Undaunted shared with the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla
Flotilla Leader
Nimrod 2nd in command
Depot Ship shared with Ninth Destroyer Flotilla
Dido
"M" class Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Mastiff	Matchless	Milne	Minos
Miranda	Moorsom	Murray	Myngs	North Star	Phoebe
"R" class Destroyers
Redgauntlet	Satyr	Setter	Skate	Starfish	Stork
Surprise			Sylph

April, 1917

The dissolution of the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla in this month gives the Tenth exclusive use of the flagship cruiser it had been sharing with that formation, and has also lifted its flotilla leader, Lightfoot.

A trend toward flushing out "M" class in favour of "R" class gains speed as Mastiff, Moorsom and Myngs leave to join the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla of the Dover Patrol while ten new "R" class destroyers join the Tenth: Radiant, Retriever, Redoubt, Sharpshooter, Skilful, Sturgeon, Sybille, Tempest, Thruster and Torrent.

The Tenth is thus now a cruiser, two flotilla leaders and twenty-seven modern destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Undaunted
Flotilla Leaders
Lightfoot 2nd in command			Nimrod
Depot Ship
Dido
"M" class Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Matchless	Milne	Minos	Miranda
Murray		North Star		Phoebe
"R" class Destroyers
Redgauntlet	Radiant	Retriever	Redoubt	Satyr	Setter
Sharpshooter	Skate	Skilful	Starfish	Stork	Sturgeon
Surprise	Sybille	Sylph	Tempest	Thruster	Torrent

May, 1917

The flotilla continues a trend toward enrichment of the "R" class destroyer demographic. "M" class vessels Matchless and Miranda have gone to join the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla of the Dover Patrol, the former not to arrive before June, however.

"R" class destroyer Skate has also left, next to appear in July with the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla, to be replaced by the newly-completed Recruit, Springbok, Torrid and Taurus.

The Tenth is thus now a cruiser, two flotilla leaders and twenty-eight modern destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Undaunted
Flotilla Leaders
Lightfoot 2nd in command			Nimrod
Depot Ship
Dido
"M" class Destroyers
Manly	Mansfield	Milne	Minos	Murray	North Star
Phoebe
"R" class Destroyers
Redgauntlet	Radiant	Recruit	Retriever	Redoubt	Satyr
Setter	Sharpshooter	Skilful	Springbok	Starfish	Stork
Sturgeon	Surprise	Sybille	Sylph	Tempest	Thruster
Torrent		Torrid		Taurus

June, 1917

The flotilla now has just three "M" class destroyers and twenty-three "R"s.

Manly, Mansfield, Milne and Minos have moved out to go to the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla of the Dover Patrol.

Setter has been lost to a collision with Sylph on 17 May. Sturgeon has left, to appear next with the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla in August.

Newly-completed destroyers Sceptre, Tetrarch and Thisbe have joined.

The Tenth is thus now a cruiser, two flotilla leaders and twenty-six modern destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Undaunted
Flotilla Leaders
Lightfoot 2nd in command			Nimrod
Depot Ship
Dido
"M" class Destroyers
Murray		North Star		Phoebe
"R" class Destroyers
Redgauntlet	Radiant	Recruit	Retriever	Redoubt	Satyr
Sceptre	Sharpshooter	Skilful	Springbok	Starfish	Stork
Surprise	Sybille	Sylph	Taurus	Tempest	Tetrarch
Thisbe	Thruster	Torrent	Torrid	Truculent

July, 1917

Murray, North Star and Phoebe have left to join the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla of the Dover Patrol, leaving no "M"s in the Tenth.

Valkyrie has joined as a third flotilla leader, and Teazer has joined.

The Tenth is thus now a cruiser, three flotilla leaders and twenty-four destroyers, all of the "R" class.

This arrangement would apply until September.

September, 1917

Recruit has been lost to a mine on 9 August.

The Tenth is thus now a cruiser, three flotilla leaders and twenty-three "R" class destroyers.

October, 1917

A shuffle has brought in the new flotilla leader Shakespeare as second in command, sending Lightfoot to the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla.

Thisbe and Sharpshooter have been dropped without explanation, but they would reappear in December, 1917 and March, 1918, respectively.

Tornado and Ulleswater have entered service.

The Tenth is thus now a cruiser, three flotilla leaders and twenty-three "R" class destroyers.

This arrangement would apply until December.

December, 1917

Thisbe has returned from her two month absence.

Spenser has come in as a flotilla leader. It is not clear from the format, but she may also have the rank of second in command).

The Tenth is thus now a cruiser, four flotilla leaders and twenty-four "R" class destroyers.

January, 1918

Spenser now bears the Captain (D). Scott is to join "shortly".

Surprise, Tornado and Torrent were all mined on 23 December.

The Tenth is thus now a cruiser, four/five flotilla leaders and twenty-one "R" class destroyers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Cruiser
Undaunted
Flotilla Leaders
Spenser (Captain D)			Shakespeare 2nd in command
Scott*		Nimrod		Valkyrie
Depot Ship
Dido
"R" class Destroyers
Redgauntlet	Radiant	Retriever	Redoubt	Satyr	Sceptre
Skilful	Springbok	Starfish	Stork	Sybille	Sylph
Taurus	Teazer	Tempest	Tetrarch	Thisbe	Thruster
Torrid		Truculent		Ulleswater

February, 1918

Four paddle sweepers have joined from the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla, and Undaunted has departed to join the Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron, also part of the Harwich Force.

Scott has now arrived, but Nimrod has gone to a temporary assignment with the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla and Shakespeare is no longer marked as second in command.

The Tenth is thus now four flotilla leaders, twenty-one "R" class destroyers and four paddle sweepers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Leader w/ Captain (D)
Spenser
Flotilla Leaders
Scott		Shakespeare		Valkyrie
Depot Ship
Dido
"R" class Destroyers
Redgauntlet	Radiant	Retriever	Redoubt	Satyr	Sceptre
Skilful	Springbok	Starfish	Stork	Sybille	Sylph
Taurus	Teazer	Tempest	Tetrarch	Thisbe	Thruster
Torrid		Truculent		Ulleswater
Paddle Sweepers
	Eglinton	Gatwick	Melton	Pontefract

March, 1918

The four paddle sweepers are now marked "Harwich Fleet Sweeping Flotilla", but still seem as though they may be part of this flotilla in an administrative sense.^[Inference] Valkyrie and Satyr are paid off, though this will last just a month for '"Satyr.

Sharpshooter and Sturgeon have returned. Skate has joined.

The flotilla strength is four flotilla leaders, twenty-four "R" class destroyers and four paddle sweepers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Leader w/ Captain (D)
Spenser
Flotilla Leaders
Scott		Shakespeare		Valkyrie*
Depot Ship
Dido
"R" class Destroyers
Radiant	Redgauntlet	Redoubt	Retriever	Satyr*	Sceptre
Sharpshooter	Skate	Skilful	Springbok	Starfish	Stork
Sturgeon	Sybille	Sylph	Taurus	Teazer	Tempest
Tetrarch	Thisbe	Thruster	Torrid	Truculent	Ulleswater
Harwich Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
	Eglinton	Gatwick	Melton	Pontefract

April, 1918

Valkyrie has gone to join the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla in her paid off condition. Satyr no longer seems to be paid off.

The flotilla strength is three flotilla leaders, twenty-four "R" class destroyers and four paddle sweepers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Leader w/ Captain (D)
Spenser
Flotilla Leaders
Scott			Shakespeare
Depot Ship
Dido
"R" class Destroyers
Radiant	Redgauntlet	Redoubt	Retriever	Satyr	Sceptre
Sharpshooter	Skate	Skilful	Springbok	Starfish	Stork
Sturgeon	Sybille	Sylph	Taurus	Teazer	Tempest
Tetrarch	Thisbe	Thruster	Torrid	Truculent	Ulleswater
Harwich Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
	Eglinton	Gatwick	Melton	Pontefract

May, 1918

Bruce has joined.

The flotilla strength is four flotilla leaders, twenty-four "R" class destroyers and four paddle sweepers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Leader w/ Captain (D)
Spenser
Flotilla Leaders
Bruce		Scott		Shakespeare
Depot Ship
Dido
"R" class Destroyers
Radiant	Redgauntlet	Redoubt	Retriever	Satyr	Sceptre
Sharpshooter	Skate	Skilful	Springbok	Starfish	Stork
Sturgeon	Sybille	Sylph	Taurus	Teazer	Tempest
Tetrarch	Thisbe	Thruster	Torrid	Truculent	Ulleswater
Harwich Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
	Eglinton	Gatwick	Melton*	Pontefract

This arrangement would apply until X, but in June, Melton would be noted as bearing the sweeping flotilla's senior officer.

July, 1918

The sweeping flotilla is now also called the Sixth. Shakespeare is paid off.

The flotilla strength is otherwise still four flotilla leaders, twenty-four "R" class destroyers and four paddle sweepers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Leader w/ Captain (D)
Spenser
Flotilla Leaders
Bruce		Scott		Shakespeare*
Depot Ship
Dido
"R" class Destroyers
Radiant	Redgauntlet	Redoubt	Retriever	Satyr	Sceptre
Sharpshooter	Skate	Skilful	Springbok	Starfish	Stork
Sturgeon	Sybille	Sylph	Taurus	Teazer	Tempest
Tetrarch	Thisbe	Thruster	Torrid	Truculent	Ulleswater
Harwich (Sixth) Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
	Eglinton	Gatwick	Melton (S.O.)	Pontefract

This arrangement would apply until some time between September and November.

November, 1918

A second sweeping flotilla, the Twentieth, is present. It is normally to be from Felixstowe, but is temporarily detached to Granton in November, arriving in Felixstowe in December. All sweepers in the Sixth Fleet Sweeping Flotilla have changed.

Montrose has arrived, replacing Scott, which was lost on 15 August. Shakespeare no longer appears to be paid off.

Swallow has arrived, replacing Ulleswater, which was torpedoed by UC 17 on 15 August.

The flotilla strength remains four flotilla leaders, twenty-four "R" class destroyers and eight paddle sweepers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Leader w/ Captain (D)
Spenser
Flotilla Leaders
Bruce		Montrose		Shakespeare
Depot Ship
Dido
"R" class Destroyers
Radiant	Redgauntlet	Redoubt	Retriever	Satyr	Sceptre
Sharpshooter	Skate	Skilful	Springbok	Starfish	Stork
Sturgeon	Swallow	Sybille	Sylph	Taurus	Teazer
Tempest	Tetrarch	Thisbe	Thruster	Torrid	Truculent
Harwich (Sixth) Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
	Bootle	Fareham	Sutton	Tring
Felixstowe (Twentieth) Fleet Sweeping Flotilla*
	Blackburn	Derby	Harrow	Stoke

This arrangement would apply until February, 1919.

February, 1919

The end of the war brings a draw-down in fighting capacity and an increase in mine clearance forces, with two more sweeping flotillas being formed.

The end of the war has allowed eight destroyers to do what they always wanted to do: teach! Some have joined torpedo schools at various ports; Satyr at Devonport, Skate at Portsmouth, and Springbok at the Nore, with Skilful to join her "shortly". Others have joined gunnery schools; Sharpshooter at Portsmouth, and Starfish and Stork at the Nore. Sturgeon has gone to Dartmouth College.

The flotilla strength is now four flotilla leaders, sixteen "R" class destroyers and eighteen paddle sweepers.

Part of the Harwich Force
Flotilla Leader w/ Captain (D)
Spenser
Flotilla Leaders
Bruce		Montrose		Shakespeare
Depot Ship
Dido
"R" class Destroyers
Radiant	Redgauntlet	Redoubt	Retriever	Sceptre	Swallow
Sybille	Sylph	Taurus	Teazer	Tempest	Tetrarch
	Thisbe	Thruster	Torrid	Truculent
Harwich (Sixth) Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
	Bootle	Fareham	Sutton	Tring
Felixstowe (Twentieth) Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
	Blackburn	Derby	Harrow	Stoke
Twelfth Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
Gaddesden	Irvine	Kendal	Marlow	Saltburn	Southdown
Nineteenth Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
	Faversham	Newark	Saltash (S.O.)	Tiverton

March, 1919

The flotilla has ceased to exist by name. The other ships have been cast to the winds.

Most of the fighting ships were sent to active formations of the post-war Navy. Tetrarch, Thruster and Truculent remain part of the Harwich Force, but without a flotilla designation of any kind. The sweeping flotillas seem to remain in Harwich, but not as part of the Force. Montrose and Swallow have gone to the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean. Spenser and Shakespeare are leading the Second Destroyer Flotilla and Bruce the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla. The Fourth Destroyer Flotilla has swiped the Radiant, Redoubt, Retriever, Sylph, Taurus, Teazer and Tempest. Redgauntlet and Sceptre went to the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla.

Others have been placed in reserve; Sybille and Thisbe at the Nore, Torrid at Devonport,

Flotilla is Dis-established

In Command

Dates of appointment given:

• Captain Wilmot S. Nicholson, 11 November, 1914 – 1 December, 1916
• Captain Colin K. MacLean, 17 October, 1917 – 1 March, 1919

Bibliography

• Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.