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

Revision as of 18:50, 21 December 2012

The Sixth Destroyer Flotilla was a formation of destroyers of the Royal Navy. The flotilla changed composition often as ships were damaged, retired or transferred.

On 1 November, 1911, the flotilla had eight 30-knotters and four 27-knotters at the Nore, two 30 knotters and four 27-knotters at Portsmouth, and four 27-knotters at Devonport.^[1]

Composition

July, 1914

In July 1914, one source claims twelve "Tribal" class destroyers joined twelve 30 knotters at Dover to comprise the flotilla,^[2] but a more detailed primary source^[3] seems to indicate one fewer destroyer (Nubian is absent) led by three scout cruisers, with Attentive seeming to be the one acting as tender to the T.B.Ds..

A nearly identical list of ships participating in the Test Mobilisation differs only in that it has Sentinel rather than Foresight, and notes that Firedrake, Lurcher and Nubian were to join on Mobilisation.^[4]

Amazon, Crusader, Maori and Viking were undergoing refit in Chatham Royal Dockyard until 8 July, 1914.^[5]

July, 1918^[6]
Along with some monitors, the Flotilla was the heart of the Dover Patrol, tender to depot ship Arrogant, which also served as flagship. Those that were paid off are marked with an asterisk.

War Service

At outbreak of war, the flotilla was deemed a "Patrol Flotilla" out of Portsmouth, with eleven "Tribals" (all but Nubian, acting as a tender at Excellent), three "B"s and nine "C"s under leaders Adventure and Active. Upon taking up war station at Dover, Nubian rejoined the flotilla.^[7]

In 1916, it was comprised of a mish-mash of types. Assorted old torpedo boats ran seventeen 18-in cold torpedoes that year that were 94% likely to endanger the enemy, while some P-boats' six 14-in runnings that year resulted in shots that were 83% likely to be dangerous to the enemy. The backbone, however, was comprised of River and Tribal class destroyers, whose ten 18-in Mark VII test-fired torpedoes were 70% likely to be dangerous to the enemy.^[8]

Footnotes

Bibliography

See Also

• Composition of the Grand Fleet