8th Cruiser Squadron

8th Cruiser Squadron
Active	1912-1914, 1924/25-1942
Country	United Kingdom
Allegiance	British Empire
Branch	Royal Navy
Commanders
Notable commanders	Rear-Admiral John M. de Robeck

The 8th Cruiser Squadron was a temporary formation of cruisers of the British Royal Navy from 1912 to 1914.^[1] and again from 1924/25 to 1942.

History[]

First Formation[]

The 8th Cruiser Squadron was a temporary naval unit attached to the Third Fleet. The then Admiral of Patrols, Rear-Admiral J. M. de Robeck, assumed command on 26 July 1914, (for Test Mobilisation), however the squadron was never officially constituted.^[2] De Robeck was then given command of the 9th Cruiser Squadron also known as Cruiser Force I on 4 August 1914.^[3]

Second Formation[]

In 1924/25 the 8th Light Cruiser Squadron was re-designated 8th Cruiser Squadron and was attached to the North America and West Indies Station under direct command of the Commander-in-Chief North America and West Indies until 1942.^[4]

Cruiser deployments[]

The Royal Navy's cruiser squadrons were usually distributed to both fleets and stations. They contained a maximum of five to six ships but down as low as two to three ships. From 1914 until 1924/25 they were usually designated as Light Cruiser Squadrons after 1925 they were re-designated Cruiser Squadrons.^[5]

Rear/Vice-Admiral commanding[]

First Formation[]

	Rank	Flag	Name	Term	Notes
Rear-Admiral Commanding, 8th Cruiser Squadron
1	Rear-Admiral		John M. de Robeck	26 July 1914

Squadron disbanded

Second formation[]

Of note: The squadron was under direct command of the Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies^[6][7]

	Rank	Flag	Name	Term	Notes
CinC NAWI/Vice-Admiral Commanding, 8th Cruiser Squadron [8]
1	Vice-Admiral		Sir James Fergusson	May 1924-June 1926
2	Vice-Admiral		Sir Walter Cowan	June 1926-July 1928
3	Vice-Admiral		Sir Cyril Fuller	May 1930-April 1932
4	Vice-Admiral		Sir Vernon Haggard	May 1930-April 1932
5	Vice-Admiral		Sir Reginald Plunkett	April 1932-November 1934
6	Vice-Admiral		Sir Matthew Best	November 1934-May 1937
7	Vice-Admiral		Sir Sidney Meyrick	May 1937-April 1940
8	Vice-Admiral		Charles Kennedy-Purvis	April 1940-April 1942
9	Vice-Admiral		Alban Curteis	April 1942-July 1942

References[]

Footnotes[]

Sources[]

• Tennyson, Brian Douglas; Sarty, Roger (2000). Guardian of the Gulf: Sydney, Cape Breton, and the Atlantic Wars. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802085450.
• Tucker, Spencer; Wood, Laura Matysek; Murphy, Justin D. (1999). The European Powers in the First World War: An Encyclopedia. Oxford, England: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780815333517.
• Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organization and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
• Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organization and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919-1939: 6. CRUISER DEPLOYMENT 1919-1939". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
• Watson, Dr Gordon. (2015) "Royal Navy Organization in World War 2, 1939-1945: AMERICA AND WEST INDIES COMMAND, 1939-1942". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.