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The '''Harwich Force''' was a [[Royal Navy]] command during the [[First World War]], based on the East Anglian port of Harwich. ==History== The command was founded in April, 1914 as "Destroyer Flotillas of First Fleet," an administrative name it would sporadically bear for some time in the ''Navy Lists''.{{SMNLSep14|p. 6}} From the outbreak of war, the Force was comprised of the {{UK-DF|3}} (re-designated as the {{UK-DF|9}} in September 1915) and the {{UK-DF|10}} equipped with fast and modern ships and the {{UK-LCS|5}}. Around March, 1917, the {{UK-DF|9}} would leave, but by this time 10 D.F. had been increased in strength to 27 destroyers whose modernity had been continuously refreshed. 5 L.C.S. would also be over twice as strong by this time, as well. ===May, 1915=== By May 1915, it was given the more aggressive-sounding name, '''Harwich Striking Force''', then having the {{UK-LCS|5}} with two light cruisers (with two others being completed) and two destroyer squadrons served by depot ship {{UK-Dido}}, two light cruisers and two other leaders (one being completed), giving it a total of four light cruisers and thirty-two [["L" Class Destroyer (1913)|"L"]] and [["M" Class Destroyer (1914)|"M" class destroyers]].{{SMNLMay15|p. 13}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (two light cruisers, two others being completed) * {{UK-DF|3}} (one light cruiser, twenty "L" class, one "M" class) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, eleven "M" class) ===June, 1915=== The formations are now somewhat stronger.{{SMNLJun15|p. 13}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (four light cruisers) * {{UK-DF|3}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, twenty "L" class destroyers) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, thirteen "M" class) ===July, 1915=== The formations are now somewhat stronger.{{SMNLJul15|p. 13}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (four light cruisers) * {{UK-DF|3}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, twenty "L" class destroyers) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, fifteen "M" class destroyers plus one joining shortly, and the {{UK-Hope|f=cp}}) ===August, 1915=== The stray destroyer from last month is not longer affiliated.{{SMNLAug15|p. 13}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (four light cruisers) * {{UK-DF|3}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, twenty "L" class destroyers) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, fifteen "M" class destroyers plus one joining shortly) ===September, 1915=== 10 D.F. has gained a division leader and the lagging {{UK-Melpomene|f=p}}.{{SMNLSep15|p. 13}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (four light cruisers) * {{UK-DF|3}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, twenty "L" class destroyers) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, sixteen "M" class destroyers) ===October, 1915=== {{UK-DF|3}} has been replaced by {{UK-DF|9}} (largely, through re-naming), with three fewer "L" destroyers. This strength would persist through October.{{SMNLOct15|p. 13, and subsequent ''Supplements''}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (four light cruisers) * {{UK-DF|9}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, seventeen "L" class destroyers) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, sixteen "M" class destroyers) ===November, 1915=== 5 L.C.S. has gained a seaplane carrier, and 9 D.F. has gained a destroyer.{{SMNLNov15|p. 13}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (four light cruisers, one seaplane carrier) * {{UK-DF|9}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, eighteen "L" class destroyers) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, sixteen "M" class destroyers) ===Battle of Jutland=== :{{Main|Harwich Force at the Battle of Jutland}} ===April, 1917=== 9 D.F. has left the Force.{{SMNLApr17|p. 13}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (eight light cruisers, one seaplane carrier) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, twenty-seven "M" and "R" class destroyers) ===May, 1917=== 10 D.F. has gained a second divisional leader and one more destroyer.{{SMNLMay17|p. 13}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (eight light cruisers, one seaplane carrier) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, two divisional leaders, twenty-eight "M" and "R" class destroyers) ===June, 1917=== 10 D.F. has lost two destroyers in aggregate.{{SMNLJun17|p. 13}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (eight light cruisers, one seaplane carrier) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, two divisional leaders, twenty-six "M" and "R" class destroyers) ===July, 1917=== 10 D.F. has gained a third divisional leader and lost two more destroyers, leaving it with only "R" class. This strength and structure would last through at least August.{{SMNLJul17|p. 13 and August's Supplement}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (eight light cruisers, one seaplane carrier) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, three divisional leaders, twenty-four "R" class destroyers) ===September, 1917=== 10 D.F. has lost another destroyer, leaving it with twenty-three "Rs". This strength and structure would last through at least October.{{SMNLSep17|p. 13 and Supplements through November}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (eight light cruisers, one seaplane carrier) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, three divisional leaders, twenty-three "R" class destroyers) ===December, 1917=== 10 D.F. gained another flotilla leader and destroyer.{{SMNLDec17|p. 13}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (eight light cruisers, one seaplane carrier) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, four divisional leaders, twenty-four "R" class destroyers) ===January, 1918=== 5 L.C.S. gained another light cruiser and 10 D.F. lost three destroyers.{{SMNLJan18|p. 13}} * {{UK-LCS|5}} (nine light cruisers, one seaplane carrier) * {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, four divisional leaders with another expected to join soon, twenty-one "R" class destroyers) ===1 December, 1918=== * {{UK-LCS|5}} (ten light cruisers, one of which is paid off) * {{UK-DF|10}} (four leaders, twenty-four modern destroyers) * {{UK-FSF|6}} (four sweepers, operating out of Harwich) * {{UK-FSF|20}} (four sweepers, operating out of Felixstowe) ==Rear-Admirals and Commodores Commanding== The command was almost unique in having a single commander throughout the conflict. Dates of appointment given: <div name=fredbot:office0 otitle="Rear-Admiral Commanding, Harwich Force" nat="UK"> {{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt, First Baronet|nick=Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt|appt=27 April, 1914{{SMNLJan15|p. 6}}|precBy=New Command|end=1 May, 1919<ref>Tyrwhitt Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}} f. 125.</ref>}} {{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=George Holmes Borrett|nick=George H. Borrett|appt=1 March, 1919<ref>Borrett Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 505.</ref>|ass=1 May, 1919<ref>Predecessor struck his flag that day. Tyrwhitt Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}} f. 125.</ref>|end=23 August, 1919<ref>Borrett Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/88.}} f. 134.</ref>}} </div name=fredbot:office0> ==See Also== {{refbegin}} {{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harwich_Force}} {{refend}} ==Footnotes== {{reflist}} ==Bibliography== {{refbegin}} {{refend}} {{CatNat|Naval Command|UK}} [[Category:Pages with Offices]]

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