Eighth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)

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The Eighth Destroyer Flotilla was a formation of destroyers of the Royal Navy.

History

In November 1912, fifteen destroyers were to be given Destroyer W/T Sets, part of an initiative to equip 26 destroyers in three patrol flotillas.[1]

Outbreak of War

At the outbreak of war, the Eighth had thirteen "B", "C" and "D" class destroyers led by scout cruiser Pathfinder and eleven first-class torpedo boats. It was deemed a "Patrol Flotilla" and served out in the Nore Command with the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla, based out of Chatham.[2].

A Patrol Flotilla in Home and Atlantic Waters
Flotilla Cruiser
Pathfinder
Depot Ships
Aquarius Tyne
"30-knotters"
Albacore Bat* Cheerful Express Fairy* Flying Fish*
Mallard Osprey Ostrich Peterel Stag Star*
Vigilant
First-class T.B.s
T.B. 25 T.B. 26 T.B. 27 T.B. 28 T.B. 29 T.B. 30
T.B. 31 T.B. 32 T.B. 34 T.B. 35 T.B. 36

It was noted that T.B. 33 was to join the Test Mobilisation, presumably delayed from a refit.[3]

September, 1914

The strength is largely the same, except the cruiser has been sunk, leaving the strength at thirteen "30 knotters", though Bat, Fairy, Flying Fish and Star are noted as being "detached", and eleven first-class T.B.s.[4]

A Patrol Flotilla in Home and Atlantic Waters
Flotilla Cruiser
Depot Ships
Aquarius Tyne
"30-knotters"
Albacore Bat* Cheerful Express Fairy* Flying Fish*
Mallard Osprey Ostrich Peterel Stag Star*
Vigilant
First-class T.B.s
T.B. 25 T.B. 26 T.B. 27 T.B. 28 T.B. 29 T.B. 30
T.B. 31 T.B. 32 T.B. 34 T.B. 35 T.B. 36

October, 1914

submarine Sentinel has joined from the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla, and the previously detached destroyers as well as Albacore and Osprey are all amongst the twenty T.B.D.s attached directly to Home and Atlantic Waters.

T.B. 33 has finally joined, bringing the strength to seven "30 knotters" and twelve first-class T.B.s.[5][6]

A Patrol Flotilla in Home and Atlantic Waters
under the orders of the Admiral Commanding on the Coast of Scotland
Flotilla Cruiser
Sentinel
Depot Ships
Aquarius Tyne
"30-knotters"
Cheerful Express Mallard Ostrich Peterel Stag
Vigilant
First-class T.B.s
T.B. 25 T.B. 26 T.B. 27 T.B. 28 T.B. 29 T.B. 30
T.B. 31 T.B. 32 T.B. 33 T.B. 34 T.B. 35 T.B. 36

This arrangement would persist through May, 1915.[7]

June, 1915

Along with the Seventh Submarine Flotilla, the flotilla is now part of the Firth of Forth Defence Flotilla, but it has lost Sentinel to the Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron.

Tyne is still attached but is noted as now also serving the miscellaneous destroyers attached to the Grand Fleet.[8]

Part of the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ships
Aquarius Tyne
"30-knotters"
Cheerful Express Mallard Ostrich Peterel Stag
Vigilant
First-class T.B.s
T.B. 25 T.B. 26 T.B. 27 T.B. 28 T.B. 29 T.B. 30
T.B. 31 T.B. 32 T.B. 33 T.B. 34 T.B. 35 T.B. 36

This arrangement would last until August.[9]

August, 1915

The flotilla has lost depot ship Aquarius to the Mediterranean Fleet, being marked with the designation "R.F.A.".[10]

Part of the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Tyne
"30-knotters"
Cheerful Express Mallard Ostrich Peterel Stag
Vigilant
First-class T.B.s
T.B. 25 T.B. 26 T.B. 27 T.B. 28 T.B. 29 T.B. 30
T.B. 31 T.B. 32 T.B. 33 T.B. 34 T.B. 35 T.B. 36

This arrangement would last until October.[11]

October, 1915

T.B. 29 and T.B. 30 have gone to the Mediterranean to work alongside the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, reducing the Eighth's strength to seven "30 knotters" and ten first-class T.B.s.[12]

Part of the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Tyne
"30-knotters"
Cheerful Express Mallard Ostrich Peterel Stag
Vigilant
First-class T.B.s
  T.B. 25 T.B. 26 T.B. 27 T.B. 28
T.B. 31 T.B. 32 T.B. 33 T.B. 34 T.B. 35 T.B. 36

November, 1915

T.B. 13 has joined from the Dover Patrol, increasing the Eighth's strength to seven "30 knotters" and eleven first-class T.B.s.[13][14]

Part of the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Tyne
"30-knotters"
Cheerful Express Mallard Ostrich Peterel Stag
Vigilant
First-class T.B.s
T.B. 13 align=center|T.B. 25 T.B. 26 T.B. 27 T.B. 28
T.B. 31 T.B. 32 T.B. 33 T.B. 34 T.B. 35 T.B. 36

This arrangement would apply until February, 1916.Template:SMNLDec15 and Supplements through January, 1916

February, 1916

T.B. 34 has left to an undiscovered assignment, decreasing the Eighth's strength to seven "30 knotters" and ten first-class T.B.s.[15]

Part of the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Tyne
"30-knotters"
Cheerful Express Mallard Ostrich Peterel Stag
Vigilant
First-class T.B.s
T.B. 13 align=center|T.B. 25 T.B. 26 T.B. 27 T.B. 28
T.B. 31 T.B. 32 T.B. 33 T.B. 34 T.B. 35 T.B. 36

February, 1916

T.B. 34 has returned and T.B. 13 has been lost to a collision and T.B. 35 has left for an undiscovered purpose, decreasing the Eighth's strength to seven "30 knotters" and nine first-class T.B.s.[16]

Part of the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Tyne
"30-knotters"
Cheerful Express Mallard Ostrich Peterel Stag
Vigilant
First-class T.B.s
T.B. 25 T.B. 26 T.B. 27
T.B. 28|align=center|T.B. 31 T.B. 32 T.B. 33 T.B. 34 T.B. 36

This arrangement would apply until X.Template:SMNLDec15 and Supplements through W

[TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]

In 1916, it was comprised of assorted old torpedo boats of classes "A" through "D".[17]

Captains (D)

Date of appointment given:

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1912. Wireless Appendix, p. 7.
  2. ↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 164.
  3. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 109 of 10 July, 1914.
  4. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 12.
  5. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1914). pp. 8, 12.
  6. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 12.
  7. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 12, and Supplements through May, 1915.
  8. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). pp. 12, 16, 17.
  9. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 17, and Supplements through July, 1915.
  10. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). pp. 17, 20.
  11. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). p. 17, and Supplements through September, 1915.
  12. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). pp. 17, 20.
  13. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 17.
  14. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 15.
  15. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 17.
  16. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 17.
  17. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916. p. 87.
  18. ↑ Navy List (December, 1916). p. 398t.
  19. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 69.

Bibliography

  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
  • March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892-1953. London: Seeley Service & Co. Limited. (on Bookfinder.com).

See Also


British Destroyer Flotillas
First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth | Sixth | Seventh | Eighth | Ninth | Tenth
Eleventh | Twelfth | Thirteenth | Fourteenth | Fifteenth | Sixteenth | Seventeenth | Eighteenth | Nineteenth
Twentieth | Twenty-first
Local Defence Flotillas
Clyde | Devonport | Devonport & Falmouth | Falmouth | Firth of Forth | Gibraltar
Liverpool | Mersey | Newhaven | Nore | North Channel | Milford & Pembroke | Pembroke
Portland | Portsmouth | Queenstown
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