Tenth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)

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The Tenth Destroyer Flotilla was a formation of destroyers of the Royal Navy instituted in mid-December, 1914.

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.[1]

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.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

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 (1910)|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.[6]

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

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.[7]

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

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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10][11]

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.[12][13]

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.[14]

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.[15]

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.[16]

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.{SMNLJun16|p. 13, and Supplements through July, 1916}}

Battle of Jutland

Just four destroyers from the flotilla were at the Battle of Jutland.[17]

Two fought with ?

And two were temporarily attached to the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla:[18]

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.[19]

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.[20]

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.[21]

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.[22]

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.[23]

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.[24]

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.[25]

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.[26][27]

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.[28]

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.[29]{SMNLJun17|p. 15}}{SMNLJul17|p. 12}}

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

July, 1918

The Flotilla was attached to the Harwich Force, supporting the Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron and tender to depot ship Dido.[30]

Captains (D)

Dates of appointment given:

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916. p. 87.
  2. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 14.
  3. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 13.
  4. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1915). p. 13.
  5. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). p. 13.
  6. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 13.
  7. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). pp. 13, 14.
  8. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). pp. 13, 14.
  9. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 13, and Supplements through January, 1916.
  10. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1916). pp. 12, 13.
  11. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 14.
  12. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1916). pp. 12, 13.
  13. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 14.
  14. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 13.
  15. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1916). p. 13.
  16. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1916). p. 12, 13.
  17. ↑ Naval Operations. Volume III. p. 430.
  18. ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 224.
  19. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1916). p. 12, 13.
  20. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1916). p. 13, and Supplements through September, 1916.
  21. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1916). p. 12, 13.
  22. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 13, and Supplements through December, 1916.
  23. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 12, 13.
  24. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1917). p. 13.
  25. ↑ No February, 1917 edition of the Monthly Supplement to the Navy List was consulted.
  26. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). pp. 13, 15.
  27. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1918). p. 12.
  28. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). pp. 13, 15.
  29. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). pp. 13, 15.
  30. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (July, 1918). p. 13.
  31. ↑ Navy List (December, 1918). p. 910.

Bibliography

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

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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