View source for Fourteenth Submarine Flotilla (Royal Navy)

'''Vulcan's Flotilla''', a formation of [[Submarine|submarines]] of the [[Royal Navy]] named for their depot ship, was established in February or March, 1917 under the command of Vice-Admiral, Queenstown, charged with operating against enemy submarines off the West Coast of Ireland.{{UKTH1|p. 4}}

Some time between September and November, 1918,  it was re-designated as the '''Fourteenth Submarine Flotilla'''.

==History==
Operating alongside [[Platypus's Flotilla]] from Killybegs between March and September 1917, the two formations covered a patrol region ranging from 54 to 57 degrees north, west of 9 degrees West in 1917, managing 13 contacts and three attacks between May and December, 1917.{{UKTH1|pp. 5, 6}} 

===March, 1917===
Vulcan's Flotilla is named for the first time in the Navy List, formed in this month or the previous one (no February edition of the Navy List was located).  It is comprised of the eponymous depot ship, which brought {{UK-D3}}, {{UK-D7}} and {{UK-D8}} with her from the {{UK-SF|3}}.

{{UK-E32}} and {{UK-E54}} came from the {{UK-SF|9}}.  {{UK-H5}} and {{UK-H8}} came from the {{UK-SF|8}}.

Some of the subs are noted, indistinctly, as being "tender to {{UK-Vivid}}."{{SMNLMar17|p.14}}{{SMNLJan17|p.13}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Under [[Vice-Admiral, Queenstown]]'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship'''
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|align=center|{{UK-D3}}||align=center|{{UK-D7}}||align=center|{{UK-D8}}||align=center|{{UK-E32}}||align=center|{{UK-E54}}
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H5}}||colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H8}}
|-
|}

===April, 1917===
Vice-Admiral, Queenstown now has [[Platypus's Flotilla]] operating in tandem with Vulcan's, and it has been decided that this new flotilla should have all the "D" class boats.  Therefore, {{UK-D3}}, {{UK-D7}} and {{UK-D8}} are transferred to Platypus's formation.  Vulcan retains her "H" and "E" boats, joined by {{UK-E23}}, {{UK-E35}} and {{UK-E56}} from the {{UK-SF|9}} and {{UK-E48}}, which appears to be new in service.
The flotilla strength is now a depot ship and eight submarines.{{SMNLApr17|p.14}}{{SMNLMar17|p.13}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''At [[Vice-Admiral, Queenstown]]'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Depot /Flagship'''
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|align=center|{{UK-E23}}||align=center|{{UK-E32}}||align=center|{{UK-E35}}||align=center|{{UK-E48}}||align=center|{{UK-E54}}||align=center|{{UK-E56}}
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H5}}||colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H8}}
|-
|}

This roster and posting would apply until July.{{SMNLMay17|p. 14}}

===July, 1917===
The ships have not changed, but the flotilla is now operating out of Rathmullen, and is part of the Northern Division of the [[Coast of Ireland Station]].  {{UK-Vulcan}} is now noted as carrying a Captain (S).  Strength is a depot ship and eight submarines.{{SMNLJul17|p. 17}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Part of [[Coast of Ireland Station's Northern Division]]''', out of Rathmullen
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship''', Captain (S)
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|align=center|{{UK-E23}}||align=center|{{UK-E32}}||align=center|{{UK-E35}}||align=center|{{UK-E48}}||align=center|{{UK-E54}}||align=center|{{UK-E56}}
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H5}}||colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H8}}
|-
|}

===August, 1917===
The roster is unchanged, but the base is now Killybegs.
Strength is a depot ship and eight submarines.{{SMNLAug17|p. 17}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Part of [[Coast of Ireland Station's Northern Division]]''', out of Killybegs
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship''', Captain (S)
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|align=center|{{UK-E23}}||align=center|{{UK-E32}}||align=center|{{UK-E35}}||align=center|{{UK-E48}}||align=center|{{UK-E54}}||align=center|{{UK-E56}}
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H5}}||colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H8}}
|-
|}

===September, 1917===
The roster is unchanged, but the flotilla moved this month to Berehaven and the patrol lines moved to the approached to the St. George's and English Channels.
Strength is a depot ship and eight submarines.{{SMNLSep17|p. 17}}{{UKTH1|p. 6}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Part of [[Coast of Ireland Station's Northern Division]]''', out of Berehaven
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship''', Captain (S)
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|align=center|{{UK-E23}}||align=center|{{UK-E32}}||align=center|{{UK-E35}}||align=center|{{UK-E48}}||align=center|{{UK-E54}}||align=center|{{UK-E56}}
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H5}}||colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H8}}
|-
|}

===October, 1917===
The flotilla has now been transferred to the Southern Division.  A ship named ''Mana'' has also attached and ''Result'' would come in November, but I cannot find out what sort of ships these are and they are listed intermittently.
Strength is a depot ship, eight submarines and, sometimes, ''Mana'' and ''Result''.{{SMNLOct17|p. 17}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Part of [[Coast of Ireland Station's Southern Division]]''', out of Berehaven
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship''', Captain (S)
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|align=center|{{UK-E23}}||align=center|{{UK-E32}}||align=center|{{UK-E35}}||align=center|{{UK-E48}}||align=center|{{UK-E54}}||align=center|{{UK-E56}}
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H5}}||colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H8}}
|-
|}

Excepting ''Mana'' and ''Result'', this arrangement would apply until December.{{SMNLNov17|p. 17}}

===December, 1917===
{{UK-E35}}, {{UK-E48}} have left to provide "detached service" of some kind and {{UK-E56}} has gone to the {{UK-SF|9}}.  {{UK-Ambrose}} is now the depot ship, but attached to the Southern Division and not directly to the Flotilla, it appears.
Strength is a depot ship and five submarines.{{SMNLDec17|pp. 13, 14, 17}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Part of [[Coast of Ireland Station's Southern Division]]''', out of Berehaven
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Flaghip''', Captain (S)
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines''', tender to {{UK-Ambrose}}
|-
|colspan=2 align=center|{{UK-E23}}||colspan=2 align=center|{{UK-E32}}||colspan=2 align=center|{{UK-E54}}
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H5}}||colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-H8}}
|-
|}

===January, 1918===
In this month, the label "Vulcan's Flotilla" is no longer used, and {{UK-Ambrose}} seems to have come in and usurped Captain (S) housing.  I think it fair to state that Vulcan's Flotilla has merged into [[Ambrose's Flotilla]] from here, though it would fork off again in April.{{SMNLJan18|p. 17 and Supplements through April}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Subsumed into [[Ambrose's Flotilla]]'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|To be re-instituted in April, 1918
|}

===March, 1918===
On 15 March, {{UK-Vulcan}} took two "H" class submarines with her to Kingstown, where a berth had been dredged for her.  This location afforded easier access to the Irish Sea patrol lines.{{UKTH1|p. 7}}

===April, 1918===
After three months of subordinate work in [[Ambrose's Flotilla]], Vulcan's Flotilla is again broken out as a separate formation.  {{UK-Vulcan}} has just a single submarine &ndash; {{UK-H8}}, which she prised away from ''Ambrose'' &ndash; as opposed to ten under ''Ambrose''.  ''Vulcan'' no longer has a Captain (S) embarked.{{SMNLApr18|p. 18}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Part of [[Coast of Ireland Station's Southern Division]]''', out of Kingstown
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Flotilla Lead Ship'''
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-H8}}
|-
|}

This humble force would remain until June, though it would seem more important when ''Ambrose'' and her flotilla suddenly decamped in May to take up "miscellaneous service".{{SMNLMay18|p. 19}}

===June, 1918===
{{UK-H11}}, {{UK-H12}} and {{UK-H14}} have joined from who knows where.{{SMNLJun18|p. 18}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Part of [[Coast of Ireland Station's Southern Division]]''', out of Berehaven (?)
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Flotilla Lead Ship'''
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|&nbsp;||align=center|{{UK-H8}}||align=center|{{UK-H11}}||align=center|{{UK-H12}}||align=center|{{UK-H14}}
|-
|}

===July, 1918===
{{UK-Vulcan}} again has a Captain (S) aboard, and {{UK-H14}} has paid off.  [[Bushnell's Flotilla]], an American submarine formation, is noted to be operating in concert.{{SMNLJul18|p. 18}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Part of [[Coast of Ireland Station's Southern Division]]''', out of Berehaven (?)
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Flotilla Flagship''', Captain (S)
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|&nbsp;||align=center|{{UK-H8}}||align=center|{{UK-H11}}||align=center|{{UK-H12}}||align=center|{{UK-H14}}*
|-
|}

This arrangement would apply until some time between September and November.{{SMNLAug18|p. 18.  No Supplement for September or October was found}}

===November, 1918===
The flotilla is referred to as the "Fourteenth Submarine Flotilla" in the Navy List, and given the now alternate designation of "Vulcan's Flotilla".  It has moved to the East Coast of England, leaving the [[Coast of Ireland Station's Southern Division]]'s theatre to [[Bushnell's Flotilla]].  {{UK-H14}} is still paid off.  Six more "H" class subs have joined, as well as {{UK-L8}} and {{UK-R1}}.  There is no outward indication that ''Vulcan'' has a Captain (S) aboard.

The flotilla is now comprised of a depot ship, a destroyer and twelve submarines.{{SMNLNov18|p. 15}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Part of [[East Coast Forces]], based in Blyth'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship'''
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Destroyer'''
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Bonetta}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|align=center|{{UK-H8}}||align=center|{{UK-H11}}||align=center|{{UK-H12}}||align=center|{{UK-H14}}*||align=center|{{UK-H15}}||align=center|{{UK-H23}}
|-
|align=center|{{UK-H24}}||align=center|{{UK-H25}}||align=center|{{UK-H26}}||align=center|{{UK-H41}}||align=center|{{UK-L8}}||align=center|{{UK-R1}}
|-
|}

===December, 1918===
{{UK-H14}} and {{UK-H15}} have been transferred to the Cruiser Forces in the North Atlantic in a paid off condition.  {{UK-L8}} has beensent to join [[Ambrose's Flotilla]] at Devonport.
The newly-commissioned boats {{UK-R2}} and {{UK-R9}} have joined.
The flotilla now has a depot ship, a destroyer and eleven submarines.{{SMNLDec18|pp. 15, 17, 21}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Part of [[East Coast Forces]], based in Blyth'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship'''
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Destroyer'''
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Bonetta}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|&nbsp;||align=center|{{UK-H8}}||align=center|{{UK-H11}}||align=center|{{UK-H12}}||align=center|{{UK-H23}}
|-
|&nbsp;||align=center|{{UK-H24}}||align=center|{{UK-H25}}||align=center|{{UK-H26}}||align=center|{{UK-H41}}
|-
|colspan=2 align=center|{{UK-R1}}||colspan=2 align=center|{{UK-R2}}||colspan=2 align=center|{{UK-R9}}
|-
|}

===January, 1919===
The war over, the flotilla is now part of the [[Grand Fleet]].  {{UK-Bonetta}} has left.
{{UK-H8}}, {{UK-H11}} and {{UK-H12}} have been dropped and do not seem to appear elsewhere on the Navy List.
{{UK-R2}} has been sent to the {{UK-SF|6}} at Portsmouth.
The flotilla now has a depot ship and seven submarines.{{SMNLJan19|pp. 11, 16}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Part of the [[Grand Fleet]]'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship'''
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|align=center|{{UK-H23}}||align=center|{{UK-H24}}||align=center|{{UK-H25}}||align=center|{{UK-H26}}||align=center|{{UK-H41}}
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-R1}}||colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-R9}}
|-
|}

===February, 1919===
{{UK-Alecto}} has come from the {{UK-SF|8}} in Dover to assist {{UK-Vulcan}}, bringing former charges {{UK-H28}}, {{UK-H29}} and {{UK-H30}} with her.
The new {{UK-R11}} has also joined.
The flotilla now has two depot ships and eleven submarines.{{SMNLFeb19|p. 11}}{{SMNLJan19|p. 13}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Part of the [[Grand Fleet]]'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ships'''
|-
|colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-Vulcan}}||colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-Alecto}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|&nbsp;||align=center|{{UK-H23}}||align=center|{{UK-H24}}||align=center|{{UK-H25}}||align=center|{{UK-H26}}
|-
|&nbsp;||align=center|{{UK-H28}}||align=center|{{UK-H29}}||align=center|{{UK-H30}}||align=center|{{UK-H41}}
|-
|colspan=2 align=center|{{UK-R1}}||colspan=2 align=center|{{UK-R9}}||colspan=2 align=center|{{UK-R11}}
|-
|}

===March, 1919===
A post-war reorganization sees the flotilla's vessels, augmented by the {{UK-R10}}, re-designated as the {{UK-SF|4}}.  The Fourteenth Flotilla is disestablished.{{SMNLMar19|pp. 12, 16}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Disestablished'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|Not to be re-instituted during the Dreadnought Era
|}

==Captains (S)==
Dates of appointment given:
<div name=fredbot:office0 otitle="Commander (S), Fourteenth Submarine Flotilla" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=Nicholas Edward Archdale|nick=Nicholas E. Archdale|appt=December, 1917<ref>Archdale Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/90.|}} f. 187.</ref>|end=31 December, 1918<ref>Archdale Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/90.|}} f. 187.</ref>}}
</div name=fredbot:office0>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
{{refend}}

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
{{refend}}

{{RNSubmarineFlotillas|sort=14}}