Difference between revisions of "Home Fleet (Royal Navy)"

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In the ''Statement Explanatory of the Navy Estimates, 1909&mdash;1910'' issued on 12 March, 1909, a redistribution of the Royal Navy in home waters was announced.  The Channel Fleet was absorbed into the Home Fleet, making for a total of sixteen fully-manned battleships divided into two divisions, each division being associated with a cruiser squadron of five armoured cruisers.  Also attached to the two fully manned divisions were ten cruisers and scouts and forty-eight destroyers.  The remainder of nucleus-crew vessels were organised into the Third and Fourth Divisions, under a Vice-Admiral.  The Atlantic Fleet continued to be an independent command, with six battleships and a cruiser squadron.<ref>"The Navy Estimates" (News).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 13 March, 1909.  Issue '''38906''', col A, pg. 7.</ref>  On 24 March, Vice-Admiral [[William Henry May|Sir William H. May]] succeeded Bridgeman as Commander-in-Chief.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 24 March, 1909.  Issue '''38915''', col B, pg. 9.</ref>  Vice-Admiral [[Archibald Berkeley Milne, Second Baronet|Sir Berkeley Milne]] became Vice-Admiral Commanding the Second Division of the Home Fleet.<ref>Milne Service Record.  The National Archives.  ADM 196/39.  p. 893.</ref>  Vice-Admiral [[George Neville]] hoisted his flag in the [[H.M.S. Magnificent (1894)|''Magnificent'']] at Sheerness as Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third and Fourth Divisions of the Home Fleet.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 25 March, 1909.  Issue '''38916''', col B, pg. 9.</ref>  Milne was succeeded on 9 August, 1910 by Vice-Admiral [[George Astley Callaghan|Sir George A. Callaghan]].<ref name=Callaghan>Callaghan Service Record.  The National Archives.  ADM 196/38.  p. 202.</ref>
 
In the ''Statement Explanatory of the Navy Estimates, 1909&mdash;1910'' issued on 12 March, 1909, a redistribution of the Royal Navy in home waters was announced.  The Channel Fleet was absorbed into the Home Fleet, making for a total of sixteen fully-manned battleships divided into two divisions, each division being associated with a cruiser squadron of five armoured cruisers.  Also attached to the two fully manned divisions were ten cruisers and scouts and forty-eight destroyers.  The remainder of nucleus-crew vessels were organised into the Third and Fourth Divisions, under a Vice-Admiral.  The Atlantic Fleet continued to be an independent command, with six battleships and a cruiser squadron.<ref>"The Navy Estimates" (News).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 13 March, 1909.  Issue '''38906''', col A, pg. 7.</ref>  On 24 March, Vice-Admiral [[William Henry May|Sir William H. May]] succeeded Bridgeman as Commander-in-Chief.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 24 March, 1909.  Issue '''38915''', col B, pg. 9.</ref>  Vice-Admiral [[Archibald Berkeley Milne, Second Baronet|Sir Berkeley Milne]] became Vice-Admiral Commanding the Second Division of the Home Fleet.<ref>Milne Service Record.  The National Archives.  ADM 196/39.  p. 893.</ref>  Vice-Admiral [[George Neville]] hoisted his flag in the [[H.M.S. Magnificent (1894)|''Magnificent'']] at Sheerness as Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third and Fourth Divisions of the Home Fleet.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 25 March, 1909.  Issue '''38916''', col B, pg. 9.</ref>  Milne was succeeded on 9 August, 1910 by Vice-Admiral [[George Astley Callaghan|Sir George A. Callaghan]].<ref name=Callaghan>Callaghan Service Record.  The National Archives.  ADM 196/38.  p. 202.</ref>
  
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Callaghan assumed command of the Home Fleet with the rank of Acting Admiral on 5 December, 1911,<ref name=Callaghan/> hoisting his flag in the battleship [[H.M.S. Hercules (1910)|''Hercules'']] at Portland.  Acting Vice-Admiral [[Frederick Tower Hamilton|Frederick T. Hamilton]] succeeded Battenberg in command of the Third and Fourth Divisions of the fleet at Sheerness on the same date.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 6 December, 1911.  Issue '''39761''', col F, pg. 14.</ref>
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Vice-Admiral [[Prince Louis of Battenberg]] relieved Neville in command of the Third and Fourth Divisions on 24 March, 1911 at Sheerness.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 25 March, 1911.  Issue '''39542''', col B, pg. 7.</ref>  Bridgeman took command of the Home Fleet on 25 March, flying his flag in the [[H.M.S. Bellerophon (1907)|''Bellerophon'']].<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 27 March, 1911.  Issue '''39543''', col E, pg. 4.</ref>  Callaghan assumed command of the Home Fleet with the rank of Acting Admiral on 5 December, 1911,<ref name=Callaghan/> hoisting his flag in the battleship [[H.M.S. Hercules (1910)|''Hercules'']] at Portland.  Acting Vice-Admiral [[Frederick Tower Hamilton|Frederick T. Hamilton]] succeeded Battenberg in command of the Third and Fourth Divisions of the fleet at Sheerness on the same date.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 6 December, 1911.  Issue '''39761''', col F, pg. 14.</ref>
  
 
===Destroyers===
 
===Destroyers===

Revision as of 06:54, 2 May 2010

A Seagoing Home Fleet, 1903-1905

In 1903 the Fleet in Home waters was reorganised, and the command of the Home Fleet was divorced from that of the Naval Reserves. Accordingly, Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur K. Wilson was appointed in command.[1] He hoisted his flag in the Revenge on 21 May.[2] Under the terms of the Admiralty Memorandum of 6 December, 1904, the Home Fleet was renamed the Channel Fleet[3] on 1 January, 1905.[4]

Seconds-in-Command

Rear-Admiral Edmund S. Poë was appointed as Second-in-Command on 8 May, 1903.[5] Rear-Admiral Charles J. Barlow succeeded Rear-Admiral Poë as Second-in-Command of the Home Fleet on 9 May, 1904.[6]

Portsmouth Division

Rear-Admiral Robert L. Groome hoisted his flag in command of the reserve division on 3 January, 1903.[7]

Devonport Division

On 3 January, 1905 Rear-Admiral Charles G. Robinson hoisted his flag in command of the Devonport Division of ships in commission in Reserve.[7] Rear-Admiral Edward H. Gamble took command on 3 January, 1906.[8]

Nore Division

A Reconstituted Home Fleet, 1907-1912

The reconstitution of the Home Fleet, based on Sheerness, was announced by the Admiralty on 24 October, 1906. Under the command of a flag officer with the status of a Commander-in-Chief, the fleet was to be formed out of the ships in commission in reserve.[9] On 30 October it was announced that the King had approved the appointment of Rear-Admiral Francis C. B. Bridgeman.[10] On 17 December it was announced that Admiralty House, Sheerness, would become the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet, after the Commander-in-Chief at the Nore vacated it on 1 January, 1907.[11] Vice-Admiral Bridgeman hoisted his flag in the battleship Majestic at Sheerness at 09:00 on 5 March, 1907.[12] On 10 January, 1908 Captain the Hon. Alexander E. Bethell was appointed Chief of Staff to Bridgeman.[13]

In the Statement Explanatory of the Navy Estimates, 1909—1910 issued on 12 March, 1909, a redistribution of the Royal Navy in home waters was announced. The Channel Fleet was absorbed into the Home Fleet, making for a total of sixteen fully-manned battleships divided into two divisions, each division being associated with a cruiser squadron of five armoured cruisers. Also attached to the two fully manned divisions were ten cruisers and scouts and forty-eight destroyers. The remainder of nucleus-crew vessels were organised into the Third and Fourth Divisions, under a Vice-Admiral. The Atlantic Fleet continued to be an independent command, with six battleships and a cruiser squadron.[14] On 24 March, Vice-Admiral Sir William H. May succeeded Bridgeman as Commander-in-Chief.[15] Vice-Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne became Vice-Admiral Commanding the Second Division of the Home Fleet.[16] Vice-Admiral George Neville hoisted his flag in the Magnificent at Sheerness as Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third and Fourth Divisions of the Home Fleet.[17] Milne was succeeded on 9 August, 1910 by Vice-Admiral Sir George A. Callaghan.[18]

Vice-Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg relieved Neville in command of the Third and Fourth Divisions on 24 March, 1911 at Sheerness.[19] Bridgeman took command of the Home Fleet on 25 March, flying his flag in the Bellerophon.[20] Callaghan assumed command of the Home Fleet with the rank of Acting Admiral on 5 December, 1911,[18] hoisting his flag in the battleship Hercules at Portland. Acting Vice-Admiral Frederick T. Hamilton succeeded Battenberg in command of the Third and Fourth Divisions of the fleet at Sheerness on the same date.[21]

Destroyers

It had been decided in 1906 that on 5 March, 1907, the Rear-Admiral Commanding, Torpedo Craft and Submarine Flotillas would come under the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet.[22] On 5 March Captain Lewis Bayly was appointed Commodore, Second Class in command of destroyers in full commission in home waters.[23] In August, 1907 the Home Fleet flotillas under Commodore Bayly ceased to be the responsibility of Rear-Admiral Montgomerie, who with the First and Second Flotillas was transferred to the Channel Fleet[24] and became Rear-Admiral (D).[25] Bayly was superseded by Captain Edward F. B. Charlton as Commodore (T) on 27 November, 1908.[26] Charlton was succeeded by Captain Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot on 6 December, 1910.[27]

Portsmouth Division

Devonport Division

On 3 January, 1907 Rear-Admiral Harry S. F. Niblett succeeded Rear-Admiral Gamble in command of the Devonport Division of the Home Fleet.[28] He was succeeded by Rear-Admiral John Denison on 3 January, 1908.[29] Rear-Admiral Cecil Burney relieved Denison on 4 January, 1909.[30] Rear-Admiral Arthur A. C. Galloway succeeded Rear-Admiral Burney on 5 January, 1910.[31]

On 5 January, 1912 Rear-Admiral Henry Loftus Tottenham succeeded Rear-Admiral Farquhar, hoisting his flag in the King Alfred on 6 January.[32]

Nore Division

Rear-Admiral Frank Finnis succeeded Adair as Rear-Admiral in the Home Fleet at Sheerness-Chatham on 3 January, 1907.[28] Rear-Admiral the Hon. Stanley C. J. Colville succeeded Finnis on 3 January, 1908, hoisting his flag at Chatham.[33]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Important Naval Appointments" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 20 February, 1903. Issue 37073, col E, pg. 12.
  2. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 22 May, 1903. Issue 37087, col A, pg. 9.
  3. ↑ Bradford. The Life of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Knyvet Wilson. p. 197.
  4. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 24 October, 1908. Issue 38786, col E, pg. 11.
  5. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 6 May, 1903. Issue 37073, col E, pg. 12.
  6. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 10 May, 1904. Issue 37390, col C, pg. 11.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 4 January, 1905. Issue 37595, col C, pg. 8.
  8. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 4 January, 1906. Issue 37908, col C, pg. 8.
  9. ↑ "Redistribution of Naval Strength" (News). The Times. Wednesday, 24 October, 1906. Issue 38159, col A, pg. 11.
  10. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 30 October, 1906. Issue 38164, col A, pg. 12.
  11. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 17 December, 1906. Issue 38205, col D, pg. 10.
  12. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 6 March, 1907. Issue 38273, col B, pg. 11.
  13. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 21 December, 1907. Issue 38522, col B, pg. 10.
  14. ↑ "The Navy Estimates" (News). The Times. Saturday, 13 March, 1909. Issue 38906, col A, pg. 7.
  15. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 24 March, 1909. Issue 38915, col B, pg. 9.
  16. ↑ Milne Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. p. 893.
  17. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 25 March, 1909. Issue 38916, col B, pg. 9.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Callaghan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. p. 202.
  19. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 25 March, 1911. Issue 39542, col B, pg. 7.
  20. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 27 March, 1911. Issue 39543, col E, pg. 4.
  21. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 6 December, 1911. Issue 39761, col F, pg. 14.
  22. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 11 December, 1906. Issue 38200, col F, pg. 5.
  23. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 5 March, 1907. Issue 38272, col A, pg. 12.
  24. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 13 August, 1907. Issue 38410, col B, pg. 10.
  25. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 25 November, 1907. Issue 38499, col C, pg. 4.
  26. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 27 November, 1908. Issue 38815, col F, pg. 6.
  27. ↑ Arbuthnot Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. p. 202.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 3 January, 1907. Issue 38220, col C, pg. 4.
  29. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 4 January, 1908. Issue 38534, col A, pg. 9.
  30. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 5 January, 1909. Issue 38848, col D, pg. 7.
  31. ↑ Hazell's Annual, 1911. p. 191.
  32. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 6 January, 1912. Issue 39788, col F, pg. 11.
  33. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 3 January, 1908. Issue 38533, col A, pg. 4.

Bibliography

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