Atlantic Fleet (Royal Navy)

The Atlantic Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy from 1905 to 1912, when it was absorbed into the 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, the Earl of Selborne, publicly announced a redistribution of the Royal Navy's fleets. The 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. Lord Charles Beresford, Vice-Admiral Commanding the Channel Fleet, was informed on 14 December that: "These changes are to come in force forthwith."

The Atlantic Fleet's task was to cruise between its 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 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 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 W. Savory, Vice-Admiral Curzon-Howe's Flag Captain, as Chief of the Staff was refused.

In March, 1909 the Channel Fleet was absorbed into the Home Fleet, giving Britain her front-line naval force to face the 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.

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 of the 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, Flagship, Vice-Admiral
• H.M.S. Victorious, Flagship, Rear-Admiral
• H.M.S. Prince George
• H.M.S. Magnificent
• H.M.S. Majestic
• H.M.S. Illustrious
• H.M.S. Cæsar
• H.M.S. Hannibal

On 17 July, 1905 Prince George was replaced by H.M.S. New Zealand.

1907

• H.M.S. Exmouth, Flagship, Vice-Admiral
• H.M.S. Albemarle
• H.M.S. Cornwallis
• H.M.S. Duncan
• H.M.S. Russell
• H.M.S. Albion

1910

At the time of manœuvres on 4 July, 1910.

• Prince of Wales, Flagship, Vice-Admiral
• London, Flagship, Rear-Admiral
• Queen
• Formidable
• Implacable
• Venerable

1912

• H.M.S. Prince of Wales, Flagship, Vice-Admiral
• H.M.S. London, Flagship, Rear-Admiral
• H.M.S. Implacable
• H.M.S. Formidable
• 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".

• Vice-Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, 1 January, 1905
• Vice-Admiral Sir William H. May, 1 March, 1905
• Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir Assheton G. Curzon-Howe, 23 February, 1907 – 19 November, 1908
• Vice-Admiral H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battenberg, 15 November, 1908
• Vice-Admiral Sir John R. Jellicoe, 20 December, 1910 – 19 December, 1911
• Vice-Admiral (Acting) Cecil Burney, 19 December, 1911 – 13 June, 1913
• Admiral Sir Charles E. Madden, 8 April, 1919 – 15 August, 1922
• Admiral Sir John M. de Robeck, 15 August, 1922 – 15 August, 1924
• Admiral Sir Henry F. Oliver, 15 August, 1924 – 15 August, 1927
• Admiral The Hon. Sir Hubert G. Brand, 15 August, 1927
• Admiral Sir A. Ernle M. Chatfield, 17 April, 1929 – 27 May, 1930
• Admiral Sir Michael H. Hodges, 26 May, 1930 – 6 October, 1931
• Admiral Sir John D. Kelly, 6 October, 1931 – 13 September, 1933

Seconds-in-Command, Atlantic Fleet

• Rear-Admiral Francis C. B. Bridgeman, 25 June, 1904 – 25 August, 1905
• Rear-Admiral Sir A. Berkeley Milne, Bart., 26 August, 1905 – 25 August, 1906
• Rear-Admiral George Le C. Egerton, 25 August, 1906 – 28 August, 1907
• Rear-Admiral Sir John R. Jellicoe, 25 August, 1907 – 25 August, 1908
• Rear-Admiral William B. Fisher, 25 August, 1908 – 26 August, 1909
• Rear-Admiral Sir Colin R. Keppel, 26 August, 1909 – 12 September, 1910
• Rear-Admiral Sackville H. Carden, 26 August, 1910
• Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher G. F. M. Cradock, 29 August, 1911 – 29 August, 1912

Destroyer Flotilla Commanders

• Captain Hugh J. Tweedie, 8 December, 1917  (as Commodore, First Class)
• Rear-Admiral Michael H. Hodges, 1 May, 1920 – 15 July, 1922
• Rear-Admiral Arthur K. Waistell, 15 July, 1922 – 19 April, 1923
• Commodore, Second Class Colin K. MacLean, 1 September, 1924 – 1 September, 1926

Other Personnel

Chiefs of Staff

• Rear-Admiral Cyril T. M. Fuller, 1 May, 1920 – 14 August, 1922  (as Commodore, First Class)
• Rear-Admiral Arthur J. Davies, 15 August, 1926 – 15 August, 1927  (initially as Commodore, First Class until promoted to flag rank)

Captains of the Fleet

• Commodore, Second Class Henry W. Parker, 8 April, 1919
• Captain Eric J. A. Fullerton, 1 August, 1921 – 1 August, 1923
• Captain Francis A. Marten, 1 August, 1923
• Captain Thomas N. James, 1 August, 1925
• Captain Sidney J. Meyrick, 1 July, 1927
• Captain Robert C. Davenport, 14 December, 1928 – 7 May, 1930
• Captain Alfred Englefield Evans, 26 April, 1930 – 19 August, 1933

Fleet Gunnery Officer

• Commander (G) Guy C. C. Royle, 8 April, 1919
• Commander (G) Alan R. Dewar, 15 April, 1919
• Commander (G) Francis T. B. Tower, 15 August, 1922
• Commander (G) Eric W. W. Ling, 15 August, 1924
• Commander (G) Gerard W. T. Robertson, 21 October, 1927
• Commander (G) Charles A. A. Larcom, 20 August, 1928
• Commander (G) FitzRoy E. P. Hutton, 23 April, 1930

Fleet Torpedo Officer

• Commander (T) Gordon R. Bald, 8 April, 1919
• Commander (T) Arnold Maitland-Dougall, 15 August, 1922
• Commander (T) Charles O. Alexander, 15 August, 1924
• Commander (T) Edward de F. Renouf, 26 August, 1925
• Commander (T) Henry B. Rawlings, 21 October, 1927 – 1 May, 1929
• Commander (T) John C. Maclean, 20 April, 1931

Fleet Signal Officer

• Lieutenant-Commander (S) Arthur M. Peters, 8 April, 1919 – 1 September, 1921
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) Roden H. V. Buxton, 15 August, 1922
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) Douglas C. Lang, 15 August, 1924
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) Cyril A. H. Brooking, 21 August, 1927
• Lieutenant-Commander (S) Leslie S. Saunders, 27 May, 1930

Fleet Navigating Officer

Called "Master of the Fleet" before Cloete.

• Captain Alfred H. Norman, 8 April, 1919 – 1 May, 1920
• Commander (N) James A. G. Troup, 1 May, 1920 – 15 August, 1922
• Commander (N) Oswald H. Dawson, 15 August, 1922
• Commander (N) John H. D. Cunningham, 15 August, 1923
• Commander (N) Edward B. Cloete, 15 August, 1924
• Commander (N) John G. P. Vivian, 14 August, 1925
• Commander (N) John W. Clayton, 14 January, 1927
• Commander (N) William S. F. Macleod, 14 August, 1930 – 4 April, 1932

See Also

• Wikipedia