Home Fleets (Royal Navy)
The Home Fleets were the Royal Navy's unified home commands in British waters from 1912 to 1914.
History
Previously there had been a Home Fleet composed of four Divisions, under Admiral Sir George Callaghan. On 1 May, 1912 the Home Fleets were instituted under Callaghan as Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets, who had command over three Fleets in varying degrees of readiness. The First Fleet contained the ships in full commission, the Second Fleet had ships with nucleus crews which were brought to full complement on mobilisation by active serve ratings, and the Third Fleet was composed of ships with reduced nucleus crews which would be brought up to strength by reservists.[1] On the outbreak of the First World War in August, 1914, the First Fleet became the Grand Fleet and absorbed squadrons from the Second Fleet, which became the Channel Fleet.[2] The Third Fleet effectively became part of the Channel Fleet.[3]
Devonport Division
On 9 May, 1914, Rear-Admiral Archibald P. Stoddart succeeded Arthur H. Christian as Rear-Admiral in the Home Fleets at Devonport.[4]
Footnotes
- ↑ "New Fleet Organization" (News). The Times. Monday, 1 April, 1912. Issue 39861, col A, pg. 3.
- ↑ Jellicoe. The Grand Fleet. p. 36.
- ↑ Corbett. Naval Operations. I. p. 76.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 11 May, 1914. Issue 40520, col B, pg. 4.
Bibliography
