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

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===November, 1918===
 
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Screening the Grand Fleet.  Depot ship is {{UK-Woolwich}}, bearing a Captain (D).  {{UK-Maenad}}, {{UK-Mameluke}}, {{UK-Mischief}}, {{UK-Munster}} and {{UK-Petard}} have joined from the {{UK-DF|12}}, ''Maenad'' being paid off and ''Mischief'' and ''Munster'' still being on loan back to the Twelfth.  {{UK-Nessus}} has been lost in a collision in September.{{SMNLNov18|p. 12}}
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Screening the Grand Fleet.  Depot ship is {{UK-Woolwich}}, bearing a Captain (D).  {{UK-Maenad}}, {{UK-Mameluke}}, {{UK-Mischief}}, {{UK-Munster}} and {{UK-Petard}} have joined from the {{UK-DF|12}}, ''Maenad'' being paid off and ''Mischief'' and ''Munster'' still being on loan back to the Twelfth.  {{UK-Nessus}} has been lost in a collision in September.  Lastly, {{UK-Lawford}}, {{UK-Nizam}}, {{UK-Norseman}}, {{UK-Oracle}}, {{UK-Oriana}} and {{UK-Orpheus}} are on loan from the {{UK-DF|4}}, but remain attached there for administrative purposes.{{SMNLNov18|pp. 12, 17}}
  
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|colspan=6 align=center|'''Screening the Battle Fleet'''<br>Under Commodore (F) in {{UK-Castor}}
 
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Revision as of 16:02, 18 January 2013

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

Originally the Nore Destroyer Flotilla, composed of nucleus crew vessels, it became the Third Destroyer Flotilla in April, 1910.[1]

Operations

Based in Harwich with fifteen "L" class destroyers (soon growing to 20) under flagship scout cruiser Amphion at the start of the war,[2] Lance and Landrail fired the first shots of the war against German minelayer Konigen Luise on 5 August. Amphion was sunk as she returned to port.[3] Commodore (T) was in the third class protected cruiser Amethyst.[4]

At 7 AM of 28 August, acting in concert with First Destroyer Flotilla in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, destroyers Laertes, Laurel, Liberty, and Lysander torpedoed light cruiser Mainz. Only Lysander avoided receiving significant damage.[5]

In September 1914, it was decided that an M class destroyer (apparently, Miranda was selected[6]) should join as the half-flotilla leader and be fitted with a Mark II W/T set, longer mast, No. 2 set of flags and two additional signal ratings. Additionally, Undaunted would replace Amphion as flotilla leader.[7]

In September-October, 1915, the Third Destroyer Flotilla became the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla. However, it was to return.

Composition

1 November, 1911

The flotilla was comprised of:[8]

The following year, it was largely comprised of Beagles.

July, 1914

Part of the First Fleet, the Flotilla was now comprised of sixteen "L" class destroyers (at least three very recently added) under scout cruiser Amphion with depot ship Dido. The Commodore (T) directed First Fleet's four flotillas from the flagship, third class protected cruiser Amethyst. Its composition during the Test Mobilisation of July 1914 was as follows.[9]

scout cruiser Amphion
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail
Lark Laurel Lawford Legion
Lennox Liberty Linnet Llewellyn
Louis Loyal Lydiard Lysander

September, 1914

The flotilla was one of four supporting the Home and Atlantic Waters, supported by depot ship Dido. It continued to be composed of "L" class destroyers, but was also being used as a temporary roost for newly-completed "M" class units. Faulknor has replaced Amphion, as it was lost early in August. Joining some time after July were Leonidas, Lookout, Lucifer and Miranda. Meteor was added as well, though she was not yet ready.[10]

destroyer Faulknor
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail Lark
Laurel Lawford Legion Lennox Leonidas
Liberty Linnet Llewellyn Lookout Louis
  Loyal Lucifer Lydiard
  Lysander Miranda Meteor*

This roster would change in the next month.

October, 1914

The flotilla was one of four supporting the Home and Atlantic Waters, supported by depot ship Dido. Faulknor has moved out to the First Destroyer Flotilla, replaced by Undaunted. Miranda has been promoted to the role of second-in-command, and Meteor has left, soon to provide the same service in the First Destroyer Flotilla. Laverock has joined.[11][12]

light cruiser Undaunted   Miranda, 2nd in command
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail Lark
Laurel Laverock Lawford Legion Lennox
Leonidas Liberty Linnet Llewellyn Lookout
Louis Loyal Lucifer Lydiard Lysander

December, 1914

The flotilla was one of four supporting the Home and Atlantic Waters, supported by depot ship Dido. Four "M" class destroyers have been added, though they were destined for the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla some time in January or February.[13][14]

light cruiser Undaunted   Miranda, 2nd in command
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail Lark
Laurel Laverock Lawford Legion Lennox
Leonidas Liberty Linnet Llewellyn Lookout
Louis Loyal Lucifer Lydiard Lysander
Minos Mastiff Manly Milne

This roster would apply until February or March, 1915.

March, 1915

Now the flotilla was one of three supporting the Home and Atlantic Waters, supported by depot ship Dido. With the departure of the "M class ships, the roster is again the same as in October/November.[15]

light cruiser Undaunted   Miranda, 2nd in command
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail Lark
Laurel Laverock Lawford Legion Lennox
Leonidas Liberty Linnet Llewellyn Lookout
Louis Loyal Lucifer Lydiard Lysander

April, 1915

The flotilla has been moved en masse to join the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla as part of the Harwich Striking Force, both flotillas sharing the depot ship Dido and under the command of Commodore (T) in light cruiser Arethusa. The roster is otherwise the same.[16]

light cruiser Undaunted   Miranda, 2nd in command
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail Lark
Laurel Laverock Lawford Legion Lennox
Leonidas Liberty Linnet Llewellyn Lookout
Louis Loyal Lucifer Lydiard Lysander

This roster and tasking would last until June, 1915.[17]

June, 1915

Part of the Harwich Striking Force, with the depot ship Dido and under the command of Commodore (T) in light cruiser Arethusa. Miranda has been replaced as second-in-command and gone to the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla, replaced by Tipperary, which either just completed or bounced over from a very brief tenure with the Tenth.[18]

light cruiser Undaunted flotilla leader Tipperary, 2nd in command
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail Lark
Laurel Laverock Lawford Legion Lennox
Leonidas Liberty Linnet Llewellyn Lookout
Louis Loyal Lucifer Lydiard Lysander

This roster and tasking would last until October, 1915.[19][20][21]

October, 1915

The Flotilla has been renamed the Ninth Torpedo Flotilla. The Third Destroyer Flotilla would be reformed in March, 1918 to support the Grand Fleet.

March, 1918

A new flotilla is formed to screen the Grand Fleet, and is named the Third. Depot ship Leander is marked to join "shortly".[22]

Screening the Battle Fleet
Under Commodore (F) in Castor
flotilla leader Nimrod
Magic Medway Mons Mystic

April, 1918

Screening the Grand Fleet. Depot ship Leander has arrived. Talisman is now the leader, coming from the Eleventh Submarine Flotilla. Mons has gone to the Northern Division of the Coast of Ireland and Mounsey has arrived from the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla.[23][24]

Screening the Battle Fleet
Under Commodore (F) in Castor
destroyer Talisman flotilla leader Nimrod
Magic Medway Mounsey Mystic

May, 1918

Screening the Grand Fleet. Depot ship is Leander. Nimrod is seemingly now the leader. All four destroyers have left for the Northern Division of the Coast of Ireland, replaced by Menace and Onslaught from the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla. [25][26]

Screening the Battle Fleet
Under Commodore (F) in Castor
flotilla leader Nimrod destroyer Talisman
  Menace Onslaught

June, 1918

Screening the Grand Fleet, but apparently doing so with no warships at all this month. Depot ship is Leander, now bearing a Captain (D). Menace and Onslaught have returned to the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla, Nimrod has temporarily gone to the Third Destroyer Flotilla, and Talisman to the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla.[27]

Screening the Battle Fleet
Under Commodore (F) in Castor
No ships are assigned except Leander

July, 1918

Screening the Grand Fleet. Depot ship is now Woolwich, bearing a Captain (D). All ships that departed last month have returned, joined by Nessus and Noble from the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla. [28][29]

Screening the Battle Fleet
Under Commodore (F) in Castor
flotilla leader Nimrod destroyer Talisman
Menace Nessus Noble Onslaught

August, 1918

Screening the Grand Fleet. Depot ship is Woolwich, bearing a Captain (D). Marvel, Napier and Nonsuch have joined from the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla.[30][31]

Screening the Battle Fleet
Under Commodore (F) in Castor
flotilla leader Nimrod   destroyer Talisman
Marvel Menace Napier Nessus Noble Nonsuch Onslaught

This roster would last until sometime between September and November.

November, 1918

Screening the Grand Fleet. Depot ship is Woolwich, bearing a Captain (D). Maenad, Mameluke, Mischief, Munster and Petard have joined from the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla, Maenad being paid off and Mischief and Munster still being on loan back to the Twelfth. Nessus has been lost in a collision in September. Lastly, Lawford, Nizam, Norseman, Oracle, Oriana and Orpheus are on loan from the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla, but remain attached there for administrative purposes.[32]

Screening the Battle Fleet
Under Commodore (F) in Castor
flotilla leader Nimrod destroyer Talisman
Maenad* Mameluke Marvel Menace Mischief Munster
Napier Noble Nonsuch Onslaught Petard

December, 1918

Screening the Grand Fleet. Depot ship is Woolwich, bearing a Captain (D). Ophelia has joined from the Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla. No ships are paid off or on loan.[33][34]

Screening the Battle Fleet
Under Commodore (F) in Castor
flotilla leader Nimrod destroyer Talisman
Maenad Mameluke Marvel Menace Mischief Munster
Napier Noble Nonsuch Onslaught Ophelia Petard

This roster would apply until March, 1919.[35][36]

March, 1919

A great post-war reorganisation of destroyers has entirely changed the Flotilla's fighting ships, giving it sixteen new "S", "V" and "W" class destroyers. The flotilla is supporting the Battle Fleet.

The Captain (D) is now in the flotilla leader Campbell (coming in from the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla) and not in Woolwich, although that ship remains the depot vessel. Vampire has come from the Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla with the four "S" class destroyers Tactician, Tara, Tintagel and Trojan to become the second-in-command. Valkyrie, Vendetta, Verdun, Viceroy, Wakeful, Whitley, Woolston and Wrestler have come from the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla, Valhalla, Vivien, Winchester and Wolsey from the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla.

The fourteen previous warships have been sent to various destinations: Nimrod remained in commission, tender to Woolwich. Napier paid off. Talisman, Menace and Petard were sent to the Nore, Munster, Onslaught and Ophelia to Portsmouth, Mameluke, Mischief and Noble were placed in reserve in Devonport, and Maenad, Marvel and Nonsuch went to Devonport to provide miscellaneous service. [37][38]

Screening the Battle Fleet
Under Commodore (F) in Castor
flotilla leader Campbell flotilla leader Vampire
Tactician Tara Tintagel Trojan Valkyrie Valhalla
Vendetta Verdun Viceroy Vivien Whitley Wrestler
  Woolston Wolsey Wakeful Winchester

This roster would last until May.[39]

May, 1919

The Flotilla is now one of three supporting the Atlantic Fleet. Captain (D) is now temporarily in Woolwich and Tintagel has been detached to the Nore. Vampire and Valhalla have swapped roles, and Venom has joined.[40]

Screening the Battle Fleet
Under Commodore (F) in Castor
flotilla leader Campbell flotilla leader Valhalla
Tactician Tara Trojan Valkyrie Vampire Vendetta
Venom Verdun Viceroy Vivien Wakeful Whitley
  Winchester Wolsey Woolston Wrestler

[TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]

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. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 15.
  3. ↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 141.
  4. ↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 164.
  5. ↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 141.
  6. ↑ Grand Fleet Conferences, 1914. p. 218.
  7. ↑ Grand Fleet Conferences, 1914. p. 104.
  8. ↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 160.
  9. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 109 of 10 July 1914.
  10. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 11.
  11. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 11.
  12. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 11.
  13. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 11.
  14. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 11.
  15. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 11.
  16. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 13.
  17. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1915). p. 13.
  18. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). p. 13.
  19. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 13.
  20. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). p. 13.
  21. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). p. 13.
  22. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1918). p. 12.
  23. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1918). pp. 12, 18.
  24. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1918). p. 12.
  25. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1918). pp. 12, 18.
  26. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1918). p. 12.
  27. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1918). p. 12.
  28. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1918). p. 12.
  29. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1918). p. 12.
  30. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1918). p. 12.
  31. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1918). p. 12.
  32. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). pp. 12, 17.
  33. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 12.
  34. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 12.
  35. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1919). p. 12.
  36. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 12.
  37. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). pp. 12, 17-19, 21.
  38. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 12.
  39. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1919). p. 12.
  40. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1919). pp 11, 16.
  41. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 2 June, 1909. Issue 38975, col B, p. 9.
  42. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 26 July, 1912. Issue 39961, col C, p. 12.
  43. ↑ "Movements of Ships" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 28 March, 1913. Issue 40171, col E, p. 6.
  44. ↑ Navy List (October, 1915). p. 398s.
  45. ↑ Navy List (November, 1917). p. 395a.

Bibliography

  • March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892-1953. London: Seeley Service & Co. Limited. (on Bookfinder.com).
  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.

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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