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

Latest revision as of 11:49, 30 April 2023

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

History

In November 1912, seven destroyers were to be given Destroyer W/T Sets, part of an initiative to equip 26 destroyers in three patrol flotillas.^[1]

In 1916, it was comprised of assorted old torpedo boats and River class destroyers. The T.B.s ran 37 18-in cold torpedoes that year, endangering the enemy 84% of the time, the "Rivers" were 97% likely to endanger the enemy with their 45 18-in Mark VII runs.^[2]

November, 1911

The flotilla in the Mediterranean was comprised of:^[3]

• Blonde (flag)
• Venus (depot ship)
• twenty Acherons
• five "Rivers"
• six "30-knotters"

April, 1912

The Royal Navy's flotillas 1–8 were reorganised this month, leaving 7 D.F. as one of four patrol flotillas provided with nucleus crews only. Her strength is now twenty-four old T.B.Ds. and a cruiser based on Devonport.^[4][5]

July, 1914

The flotilla was based in Devonport, part of the Second Fleet, under depôt ship Leander. It was to participate in the Test Mobilisation as follows.^[6]

September, 1914

One of four patrol flotillas serving in Home and Atlantic Waters. T.B. 4, T.B. 13, T.B. 22 and T.B. 24 have left to join the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla. The formation has a strength of a cruiser, a depot ship, 21 destroyers and eight torpedo boats.^[7]

October, 1914

scout cruiser Forward has joined from the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla to act as a second flotilla cruiser. The formation has a strength of two cruisers, a depot ship, 21 destroyers and eight torpedo boats.^[8][9]

December, 1914

St. George has replaced Leander as depot ship, freeing her to go to serve the destroyers attached to the Home Fleet. T.B. 4, T.B. 13, T.B. 22 and T.B. 24 have returned from the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla. The formation has a strength of two cruisers, a depot ship, nine destroyers and twelve torpedo boats.^[10]

January, 1915

Violet has been removed, but would return by March. The formation has a strength of two cruisers, a depot ship, eight destroyers and eight torpedo boats.^[11][12]

March, 1915

Ranger and Thrasher have joined from undiscovered previous assignments and Violet has returned. The torpedo boats have seemingly been removed, but they do not appear to have come up elsewhere in the Supplement. The formation has a strength of two cruisers, a depot ship and eleven destroyers.^[13]

April, 1915

Derwent and Eden have joined from the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla and Forward has left to join that formation. Ranger has been dropped; she would be assigned to the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla in July. The formation has a strength of one cruiser, a depot ship and twelve destroyers.^[14][15][16]

This roster would apply until June.^[17]

June, 1915

Skirmisher has left to join the Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron. The formation is now a depot ship and twelve destroyers.^[18]

This roster would apply until September.^[19]

September, 1915

Derwent and Eden have left to join the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla. scout cruiser Patrol has joined from the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla and brought with her "River" class destroyers Doon, Itchen, Kale, Moy, Ness, Nith, Ouse, Stour and Test. The formation is now a flotilla cruiser, a depot ship and nineteen destroyers.^[20][21]

October, 1915

Waveney has joined, recently of the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla.^[22]

November, 1915

The destroyers are now tenders to Wallington, as St. George has been sent off, soon to be "in Home Waters or on detached service".^[23][24]

This roster would apply until January, 1916.^[25]

January, 1916

The flotilla is now part of the East Coast of England station. Albatross has been dropped for unknown reason, destined to reappear here in May.^[26][27]

February, 1916

Nith has been dropped, but would return the next month.^[28]

March, 1916

Nith has returned, but Ness has gone missing. She would return the next month.^[29]

April, 1916

Ness has returned, bringing the strength to nineteen destroyers.^[30]

May, 1916

Albatross has returned. Test and Violet have left for a single month hiatus, reducing strength to one flotilla cruiser and eighteen destroyers.^[31]

June, 1916

Stour has left, destined to return in August, reducing strength to one flotilla cruiser and seventeen destroyers.^[32]

July, 1916

Panther has left, but Test and Violet have returned, bringing the strength to one flotilla cruiser and eighteen destroyers.^[33]

August, 1916

Stour has returned, bringing the strength to one flotilla cruiser and nineteen destroyers.^[34]

September, 1916

Avon has left and Panther has returned, leaving the strength as one flotilla cruiser and nineteen destroyers.^[35]

This roster would apply until January, 1917.^[36]

January, 1917

Avon has returned, bringing the strength to one flotilla cruiser and twenty destroyers.^[37]

This roster would last until February or March.^[38]

March, 1917

Panther has been dropped until July, reducing the strength to one flotilla cruiser and nineteen destroyers.^[39][40]

April, 1917

Seal has dropped until June. From the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla, Lawford and Lysander have joined with Legion and Loyal to follow "shortly". This brings the strength to one flotilla cruiser and twenty-two destroyers.^[41][42]

May, 1917

Doon has been dropped, eventually to reappear in July in the East Coast Convoy Flotilla. Legion is gone, if indeed she ever actually arrived. Oddly, she would join in July! On the other hand, Loyal has arrived. The flotilla remains as one flotilla cruiser and twenty-one destroyers.^[43][44]

June, 1917

Seal has rejoined. Ouse and Panther have left.^[45]

July, 1917

The flotilla has sloughed off twelve of its destroyers to the newly instituted East Coast Convoy Flotilla this month, which also falls under East Coast of England Station and which we will treat as part of this formation in light of its single mention this month. Nine destroyers have also joined: Bat, Fairy, Flying Fish and Osprey from the Grand Fleet, and Express, Ostrich, Peterel and Vigilant from the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla. Legion and Doon have rejoined and Ferret has joined the reduced flotilla, recently of the First Destroyer Flotilla. The formation is now twenty-two destroyers and a flotilla cruiser.^[46][47][48]

August, 1917

Boyne has joined from the Devonport Local Defence Flotilla, Dee from the Mersey Local Defence Flotilla, and Stag from the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla. Star has joined, recently attached to the Grand Fleet and former units Ouse and Panther have rejoined. Four destroyers have been converted to a minelaying configuration. The formation is now thirty-three destroyers and a flotilla cruiser.^[49][50][51]

September, 1917

Earnest, Panther, Seal, Thrasher, Violet and Vixen have left to join the Nore Local Defence Flotilla and eight destroyers have arrived: Cherwell, Exe, Liffey, Rother, Swale, Teviot and Ure from Portsmouth Escort Flotilla and Garry, recently of the Northern Division of the Ireland Station. The formation is now thirty-five destroyers and a flotilla cruiser.^[52][53]

October, 1917

Loyal has left to join the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla in Devonport, possibly being removed from her minelaying configuration,^[Inference] replaced by Ariel from that formation who is now also fitted for minelaying.

Arun has joined, belated joining her siblings from the Portsmouth Escort Flotilla. Ostrich has left to become, oddly, the sole destroyer under Captain-in-Charge, Lowestoft, to help him keep three small vessels and a monitor in order. The formation's strength is thirty-five destroyers and a flotilla cruiser.^[54][55]