Difference between revisions of "Fourth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)"

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Revision as of 16:27, 16 January 2013

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

Originally called the Portsmouth Flotilla and composed of Nucleus Crew vessels, it was re-designated as the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla in April, 1910[1] though it seems that it was often still called the Portsmouth Flotilla as late as the Test Mobilisation of July 1914.

The flotilla distinguished itself by its bold and costly torpedo attacks on the German battle line during the night action at the Battle of Jutland.

Composition

1 November, 1911

The flotilla was comprised of:[2]

May, 1912

An extensive reorganisation of the flotillas made the Fourth one of four running flotillas, along with four patrol flotillas with nucleus crews. The new complement of the flotilla was comprised of the Tribal class and four later destroyers.[3]

July, 1914 - Test Mobilisation

The Portsmouth Flotilla was included in the Test Mobilisation with the following vessels:[4]

July, 1914 - Outbreak of War

Part of the First Fleet, the Flotilla was now comprised of twenty Acasta class destroyers under flotilla leader Swift with depot ship Hecla. The Commodore (T) directed First Fleet's four flotillas from the flagship, third class protected cruiser Amethyst.[5] It retained this composition at the start of the war,[6] making it uniformly capable of 30 knots.[7]

The destroyers' test runnings of the 21-in Mark II torpedoes in 1916 resulted in five bad runs.[8][9]

flotilla leader Swift
Acasta Achates Ambuscade Ardent Christopher
Cockatrice Contest Fortune Garland Hardy
Lynx Midge Owl Paragon Porpoise
Shark Sparrowhawk Spitfire Unity Victor

September, 1914

The flotilla is supporting Home and Atlantic Waters, tender to depot ship Hecla. The roster is the same as before the war.[10]

flotilla leader Swift
Acasta Achates Ambuscade Ardent Christopher
Cockatrice Contest Fortune Garland Hardy
Lynx Midge Owl Paragon Porpoise
Shark Sparrowhawk Spitfire Unity Victor

In September 1914, it was considered that Aurora should become flotilla leader and that Swift should become the half-flotilla leader, but no Supplements to the Monthly Navy List indicated that Aurora ever came over.[11]

On 24 November, as Swift required a refit, Faulknor came to lead the half-flotilla, and Caroline would soon be coming to temporarily replace Swift[12]

This roster lasted until November or December.[13]

December, 1914

The flotilla is supporting Home and Atlantic Waters, tender to depot ship Hecla. Faulknor has joined to help lead.[14]

flotilla leader Swift   destroyer Faulknor
Acasta Achates Ambuscade Ardent Christopher
Cockatrice Contest Fortune Garland Hardy
Lynx Midge Owl Paragon Porpoise
Shark Sparrowhawk Spitfire Unity Victor

January, 1915

The flotilla is supporting Home and Atlantic Waters, tender to depot ship Hecla. The flotilla is under Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets, and Caroline has started her temporary stint as leader.[15]

light cruiser Caroline   destroyer Faulknor
Acasta Achates Ambuscade Ardent Christopher
Cockatrice Contest Fortune Garland Hardy
Lynx Midge Owl Paragon Porpoise
Shark Sparrowhawk Spitfire Unity Victor

This roster would apply until February or March.[16]

March, 1915

The flotilla is supporting Home and Atlantic Waters, tender to depot ship Hecla. The flotilla is under Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets for March, but this is not mentioned thereafter. Swift is back as leader, as Caroline has returned to the First Light Cruiser Squadron.[17]

flotilla leader Swift   destroyer Faulknor
Acasta Achates Ambuscade Ardent Christopher
Cockatrice Contest Fortune Garland Hardy
Lynx Midge Owl Paragon Porpoise
Shark Sparrowhawk Spitfire Unity Victor

This roster would apply until September, 1915.[18][19][20][21][22]

September, 1915

The flotilla is supporting the Grand Fleet, tender to depot ship Hecla. Swift has been removed to answer directly to the Grand Fleet, being swapped with the light cruiser Carysfort in that posting. Lynx has been removed, as she was mined in mid-August.[23][24]

light cruiser Carysfort   destroyer Faulknor
Acasta Achates Ambuscade Ardent Christopher
Cockatrice Contest Fortune Garland Hardy
  Midge Owl Paragon Porpoise
Shark Sparrowhawk Spitfire Unity Victor

This roster would apply until May, 1916.[25][26][27][28][29][30][31]

May, 1916

The flotilla is supporting the Grand Fleet, tender to depot ship Hecla. Carysfort has vacated to the Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron and Tipperary is now bearing the Captain (D), coming from the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla. Broke is now second-in-command, coming from a recent posting with the Second Destroyer Flotilla, while Faulknor has gone to lead the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla.[32][33][34]

flotilla leader Tipperary   flotilla leader Broke
Acasta Achates Ambuscade Ardent Christopher
Cockatrice Contest Fortune Garland Hardy
  Midge Owl Paragon Porpoise
Shark Sparrowhawk Spitfire Unity Victor

June, 1916

The flotilla is supporting the Grand Fleet, tender to depot ship Hecla. It suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Jutland, bringing its strength down to 15 destroyers when it was recently 20. Broke has been promoted to replace the lost Tipperary as leader. The lost destroyers Ardent, Fortune, Shark and Sparrowhawk have been dropped from the roster.[35]

flotilla leader Botha   flotilla leader Broke
Acasta Achates Ambuscade Christopher Cockatrice
Contest Garland Hardy Midge Owl
Paragon Porpoise Spitfire Unity Victor

July, 1916

The flotilla is supporting the Grand Fleet, tender to depot ship Hecla. The flotilla has been further reduced by the departure of Acasta and Spitfire for unknown purposes (they would reappear in August). Broke has been removed, as well.[36]

flotilla leader Botha
  Achates Ambuscade Christopher Cockatrice
Contest Garland Hardy Midge Owl
Paragon Porpoise   Unity Victor

August, 1916

The flotilla is no longer supporting the Grand Fleet, but has been moved down to embody the Humber Force. The depot ship remains Hecla. Active has arrived from a temporary attachment direct to the Grand Fleet and leads the flotilla and houses the Captain (D). Christopher has been detached for some undisclosed purpose, and Acasta and Spitfire have rejoined following their mysterious one month absence.[37]

destroyer Active
Acasta Achates Ambuscade   Cockatrice
Contest Garland Hardy Midge Owl
Paragon Porpoise Spitfire Unity Victor

This roster and tasking would last until October, 1916.[38]

October, 1916

The flotilla is serving as the Humber Force. The depot ship remains Hecla. Christopher has rejoined.[39]

destroyer Active
Acasta Achates Ambuscade Christopher Cockatrice
Contest Garland Hardy Midge Owl
Paragon Porpoise Spitfire Unity Victor

This roster and tasking would last until December, 1916.[40]

December, 1916

The flotilla is no longer serving as the Humber Force, but Active and ten destroyers have moved on to augment the Portsmouth defences along with depot ship Hecla. Five destroyers, Ambuscade, Paragon, Porpoise, Unity and Victor have departed to join the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla in the Dover Patrol.[41]

destroyer Active
Acasta Achates Christopher Cockatrice Contest
Garland Hardy Midge Owl Spitfire

January, 1917

The flotilla is still in Portsmouth, with depot ship Hecla, now under orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth. Active has departed to help lead the Template:UK DF on the Dover Patrol.[42]

Acasta Achates Christopher Cockatrice Contest
Garland Hardy Midge Owl Spitfire

This tasking would last until February or March, 1917.

March, 1917

The flotilla appears to have moved to Devonport, with depot ship Hecla, now under orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Devonport.[43]

Acasta Achates Christopher Cockatrice Contest
Garland Hardy Midge Owl Spitfire

April, 1917

The flotilla is still in Devonport, with depot ship Hecla, under orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Devonport. It has received nine more destroyers. Ambuscade, Porpoise, Unity and Victor have returned from the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla. Laurel Lennox, Leonidas, Legion and Liberty from the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla, though the last two would have to recommission before they could rejoin.[44][45]

Acasta Achates Ambuscade Cockatrice Contest
Christopher Garland Hardy Laurel Legion*
Lennox Leonidas Liberty* Midge Owl
Spitfire Porpoise Unity Victor  

May, 1917

The flotilla is still in Devonport, with depot ship Hecla, under orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Devonport. Legion and Liberty are still awaiting recommissioning; Victor has left for some undiscovered purpose; Lookout has joined, most recently of the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla.[46][47]

Acasta Achates Ambuscade Cockatrice Contest
Christopher Garland Hardy Laurel Legion*
Lennox Leonidas Liberty* Lookout Midge
Owl Spitfire Porpoise Unity

June, 1917

The flotilla is still in Devonport, with depot ship Hecla, under orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Devonport. Legion alone is still awaiting recommissioning; Laverock has joined from the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla.[48][49]

Acasta Achates Ambuscade Cockatrice Contest
Christopher Garland Hardy Laurel Laverock
Legion* Lennox Leonidas Liberty Lookout
Midge Owl Spitfire Porpoise Unity

July, 1917

The flotilla is still in Devonport, with depot ship Hecla, under orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Devonport. Laertes, Lance and Lochinvar have joined from the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla, and Victor has rejoined from wherever she'd gone. Legion has been sent to the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla on the East Coast of England.[50][51]

Acasta Achates Ambuscade Cockatrice Contest
Christopher Garland Hardy Laertes Lance
Laurel Laverock Lennox Leonidas Liberty
Lochinvar Lookout Midge Owl Spitfire
  Porpoise Unity Victor

August, 1917

The flotilla is still in Devonport, with depot ship Hecla, under orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Devonport. It continues to grow, reaching 27 destroyers. Beaver Druid Forester have joined from the First Destroyer Flotilla and Lysander from the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla.[52][53]

Acasta Achates Ambuscade Beaver Cockatrice
Contest Christopher Druid Forester Garland
Hardy Laertes Lance Laurel Laverock
Lennox Leonidas Liberty Lochinvar Lookout
Lysander Midge Owl Spitfire Porpoise
  Unity   Victor

September, 1917

The flotilla is still in Devonport, with a new depot ship – Apollo. It remains under orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Devonport. By taking in elements of the Second Destroyer Flotilla which had also been at Devonport, it has now reached a phenomenal 38 destroyers and gained a Captain (D) in the former flotilla cruiser for the Second, Eclipse which has brought along five destroyers with her: Ariel, Attack, Goshawk, Lyra and Tigress. Defender, Hind, Hornet, Sandfly have come from the First Destroyer Flotilla and Grasshopper and Scourge have joined from the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla.[54] [55]

destroyer Eclipse
Acasta Achates Ambuscade Ariel Attack
Beaver Cockatrice Contest Christopher Defender
Druid Forester Garland Goshawk Grasshopper
Hardy Hind Hornet Laertes Lance
Laurel Laverock Lennox Leonidas Liberty
Lochinvar Lookout Lyra Lysander Midge
Owl Porpoise Sandfly Scourge Spitfire
  Tigress Unity Victor

October, 1917

The flotilla is still in Devonport, with depot ship Apollo. It is under orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Devonport. Ariel has left to become a minelaying destroyer on the East Coast of England. Contest has been detached as she was torpedoed on 18 September, while Grasshopper and Scourge have gone to the Second Destroyer Flotilla. Almost meeting this attrition was the arrival of three destroyers: Loyal from the East Coast of England, Oriole from the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla and Oracle recently of the Thirteenth. [56] [57]

destroyer Eclipse
Acasta Achates Ambuscade Attack Beaver
Cockatrice Christopher Defender Druid Forester
Garland Goshawk Hardy Hind Hornet
Laertes Lance Laurel Laverock Lennox
Leonidas Liberty Lochinvar Lookout Loyal
Lyra Lysander Midge Oracle Oriole
Owl Porpoise Sandfly Spitfire Tigress
  Unity   Victor

[TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]

Battles

Battle of Jutland

The flotilla, with substantially the same membership (Lynx had been lost earlier in the war, Paragon, Victor and Cockatrice were absent perhaps due to being under refit, and the "M" class destroyer Ophelia was attached), faced heavy losses in the night action when it met elements of the High Sea Fleet unexpectedly at short range. Its composition in the battle was as follows:[58]

July, 1918'[59]
The Flotilla was operating out of Devonport and had achieved an epic size: fifty destroyers with Captain (D) in Eclipse and serviced by depôt ship Apollo:

Captains (D)

Dates of appointment given:

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 20 April, 1910. Issue 39251, col A, p. 9.
  2. ↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 160.
  3. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1912. p. 36.
  4. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 109 of 10 July 1914.
  5. ↑ Printed page "Fleets and Squadrons in Commission at Home and Abroad" in Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
  6. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 15.
  7. ↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 164.
  8. ↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 131.
  9. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916. p. 87.
  10. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 11.
  11. ↑ Grand Fleet Conferences, 1914. p. 104.
  12. ↑ Grand Fleet Conferences, 1914. pp. 218-219.
  13. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 11. No November issue was found.
  14. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 11.
  15. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 11.
  16. ↑ No Supplement for February was found.
  17. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). pp. 11, 14.
  18. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 11.
  19. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1915). p. 11.
  20. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). p. 11.
  21. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 12.
  22. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). p. 12.
  23. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). pp. 10, 12.
  24. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). p. 10.
  25. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 12.
  26. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 12.
  27. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 12.
  28. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1916). p. 12.
  29. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 12.
  30. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 12.
  31. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1916). p. 12.
  32. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1916). p. 12.
  33. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1916). p. 13.
  34. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 12.
  35. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1916). p. 12.
  36. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1916). p. 12.
  37. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1916). p. 13.
  38. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1916). p. 13.
  39. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 13.
  40. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1916). p. 13.
  41. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1916). pp. 15, 17.
  42. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1917). pp. 14, 15.
  43. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). p. 14.
  44. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). p. 14.
  45. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). p. 15.
  46. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1917). p. 14.
  47. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). p. 13.
  48. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). p. 14.
  49. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1917). p. 15.
  50. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1917). pp. 14, 17.
  51. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). p. 15.
  52. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 14.
  53. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1917). pp. 14, 16.
  54. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 14.
  55. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1917). pp. 14, 21.
  56. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1917). pp. 14, 16, 17.
  57. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). pp. 14, 16, 21.
  58. ↑ Naval Operations. Volume III. p. 432.
  59. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (July, 1918). p. 16.
  60. ↑ Tyrwhitt Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 125.
  61. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 5 July, 1910. Issue 39316, col C, p. 9.
  62. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 25 April, 1912. Issue 39882, col E, p. 10.
  63. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 2 August, 1912. Issue 39967, col F, p. 2.
  64. ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 44.
  65. ↑ Naval Operations. Volume III. p. 397.
  66. ↑ At The National Archives. ADM 137/1645, p. 41.

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
[[Category:Royal Navy {{{1}}}]][[Category:{{{1}}}]]
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