Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)
Atlantic Fleet | |
---|---|
![]() Capital Ships of the Atlantic Fleet | |
Active | 1909–1914;1919–1932 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Fleet |
The Atlantic Fleet was a naval fleet of the Royal Navy. It existed for two separate periods; 1909 until 1914, and then 1919 until 1932.
History[]
On 14 December 1904 the Channel Fleet was re-styled the 'Atlantic Fleet'.[1] The Atlantic Fleet lasted until 1912 when rising tensions with Germany forced the Royal Navy to relook at fleet formations and the Atlantic Fleet became the 3rd Battle Squadron.[2] The Atlantic Fleet was based at Gibraltar to reinforce either the Channel Fleet or the Mediterranean Fleet, from January 1905 to February 1907. It remained at Gibraltar until April 1912.[3]
The Atlantic Fleet was again formed after the end of World War I, when British naval forces were reorganised to reflect the changed economic and political situation in Europe. The fleet was created upon the disbandment of the Grand Fleet in April 1919, absorbing many, but not all of its elements. It was placed under a Commander-in-Chief, who for part of that year held the title of Commander-in-Chief Atlantic and Home Fleets, before the Home Fleet became the Reserve Fleet and a totally separate command. HMS Queen Elizabeth became the Fleet's flagship and served in that capacity until 1924.[4]
The fleet never fought in a naval battle in its short history. The fleet's only point of note in history was in 1931, during the Invergordon Mutiny. Sailors of the fleet openly refused to obey orders over a dispute on pay sparked by the government at the time.[5] The fleet's short history ended in 1932, when the Admiralty having been shaken by the events of the Invergordon Mutiny, renamed the fleet, as the Home Fleet.[6]
Senior officers[]
Commanders-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet[]
The Commander-in-Chief's title was "Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet" between 1910-1912, however, the post was also sometimes styled as "Vice-Admiral Commanding, Atlantic Fleet".
- Included:[8]
Rank | Flag | Name | Term | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet (first formation) [9] | ||||
1 | Vice-Admiral | ![]() |
Lord Charles Beresford | 31 December 1904 – 1 March 1905 |
2 | Vice-Admiral | ![]() |
Sir William H. May | 1 March 1905 – 23 February 1907 |
3 | Vice-Admiral | ![]() |
Sir Assheton Curzon-Howe | 23 February 1907 – 19 November 1908 |
4 | Vice-Admiral | ![]() |
Prince Louis of Battenberg | 19 November 1908 – 20 December 1910 |
5 | Vice-Admiral | ![]() |
Sir John Jellicoe | 20 December 1910 – 19 December 1911 |
6 | Vice-Admiral | ![]() |
Sir Cecil Burney | 19 December 1911 – July, 1914 |
- Included:[11]
Rank | Flag | Name | Term | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet (second formation) [12] | ||||
1 | Admiral | ![]() |
Sir Charles Madden | 8 April 1919 – 15 August 1922 |
2 | Admiral | ![]() |
Sir John de Robeck | 15 August 1922 – 15 August 1924 |
3 | Admiral | ![]() |
Sir Henry Oliver | 15 August 1924 – 15 August 1927 |
4 | Admiral | ![]() |
Sir Hubert Brand | 15 August 1927 – 17 April 1929 |
5 | Admiral | ![]() |
Sir Ernle Chatfield | 17 April 1929 – 27 May 1930 |
6 | Vice-Admiral | ![]() |
Sir Michael Hodges | 27 May 1930 – 6 October 1931 |
7 | Admiral | ![]() |
Sir John Kelly | 6 October 1931 – 1932 |
Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Atlantic Fleet[]
The post of Rear-Admiral Second-in-Command, Atlantic existed during the first formation of the Atlantic Fleet from June 1904 to August 1912.[13] There were no admirals appointed as seconds-in-command in the fleet's second iteration.
Postholders included:[14]
Rank | Flag | Name | Term | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Atlantic Fleet | ||||
1 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
Francis Bridgeman | 25 June 1904 – 25 August 1905 |
2 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
Sir Archibald Milne | 25 August 1905 – 25 August 1906 |
3 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
George L.C. Egerton | 25 August 1906 – 28 August 1907 |
4 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
Sir John R. Jellicoe | 28 August 1907 – 25 August 1908 |
5 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
William B. Fisher | 25 August 1908 – 26 August 1909 |
6 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
Sir Colin R. Keppel | 26 August 1909 – 12 September 1910 |
7 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
Sackville Carden | 12 September 1910 – 29 August 1911 (co-assigned) |
8 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
Sir Christopher Cradock | 29 August 1911 – 29 August 1912 |
Commodore/Rear-Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Atlantic Fleet[]
Post holders included:[15]
Rank | Flag | Name | Term | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Commodore(D) Atlantic Fleet/Rear-Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Atlantic Fleet | ||||
1 | Commodore | ![]() |
Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt | December 1913 - 1914 |
fleet disbanded 1914 - 1919 | ||||
2 | Commodore | ![]() |
Hugh J.Tweedie | 1919 - May 1920 |
3 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
Michael H. Hodges | May 1920-July 1922 |
4 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
Arthur K. Waistell | July 1922-April 1923 |
5 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
Sir George H.Baird | April 1923-September 1924 |
6 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
Colin K. Maclean | September 1924–September 1926 |
7 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
Wion de M. Egerton | September 1926-July 1928 |
8 | Commodore | ![]() |
Robin C. Dalglish | July 1928-August 1930 |
9 | Commodore | ![]() |
Edward O.B.S.Osborne | August 1930-March 1932 continued as R.Adm (D) HF till July 1932. |
Chief of Staff, Atlantic Fleet[]
- Second Formation included [16]
Rank | Flag | Name | Term | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chief of Staff, Atlantic Fleet | ||||
1 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
Michael H.Hodges | April 1919 - May 1920 [17] |
2 | Commodore 1st Class | ![]() |
Cyril T. M. Fuller | 1 May 1920 – 14 August 1922[18] |
2 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
14 August 1922 – 14 August 1924 [19] | |
3 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
14 August 1924 – October 1927 (initially-Cdre, 1.Cls)[20] | |
4 | Rear-Admiral | ![]() |
the Hon.Matthew R.Best | October 1927 – December 1927[21] |
5 | Commodore | ![]() |
Geoffrey Blake | December 1927 – April 1929 [22] |
Components[]
First formation[]
- Distribution of the Fleet first formation included:[23]
Unit | Date | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 2nd Cruiser Squadron | January 1905 – March 1909 | replaced by 5th CSQ [24] |
2 | 5th Cruiser Squadron | March 1909 – April 1912 | [25] |
3 | 1906–1907 | no destroyers after 1907 [26] | |
4 | 8 battleships | January 1905 – March 1909 | distributed [27] |
4 | 7 pre-dreadnoughts | March 1909 – April 1912 | distributed [28] |
Second formation[]
- Distribution of the Fleet second formation included:[29]
Unit | Date | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1st Battle Squadron | 1919 – November 1924 | re-titled 2nd BS [30] |
2 | 2nd Battle Squadron | 1919 – May 1924 | absorbed into 1st BS [31] |
3 | 3rd Battle Squadron | March 1926 – May 1930 | ex Mediterranean Fleet[32] |
4 | Battlecruiser Squadron | 1919 – September 1936 | to Med, 4.39-returned to Home Fleet[33] |
5 | Aircraft Carriers | 1919 – September 1931 [34] | |
6 | Aircraft Carrier Squadron | September 1931 – 1932 [35] | |
7 | 1st Light Cruiser Squadron | 1919 – November 1924 | to Mediterranean Fleet[36] |
8 | 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron | 1919–1920 | re-designated 2nd CSQ [37] |
9 | 2nd Cruiser Squadron[38] | 1920–1932 | [39] |
10 | 1st Destroyer Flotilla | 1919 – April 1925 | [40] |
10 | 2nd Destroyer Flotilla | 1919 – November 1924 | to Mediterranean Fleet[41] |
11 | 3rd Destroyer Flotilla | 1919 – August 1923 | to Mediterranean Fleet[42] |
12 | 4th Destroyer Flotilla | 1919 – August 1923 | to Mediterranean Fleet[43] |
13 | 5th Destroyer Flotilla | 1919 – April 1925 | to Mediterranean Fleet as 1DF [44] |
14 | 6th Destroyer Flotilla | 1919–1921 | absorbed 8th DF [45] |
15 | 7th Destroyer Flotilla | 1925 – August 1928 | [46] |
16 | 8th Destroyer Flotilla | 1925 – August 1927 | to China Station[47] |
17 | 9th Destroyer Flotilla | 1925 – August 1927 | absorbed 7th DF [48] |
18 | 1919–1927 | Rosyth Command to 1926 then to Nore Command till 1927 [49] | |
19 | 1919–1924 | Plymouth Command to 1924, after to FO, Malta[50] | |
20 | 1919–1927 | Portsmouth Command to 1922 Plymouth Command till 1927 then to 2nd SF [51] | |
21 | 1919–1932 | Portsmouth Command[52] | |
22 | 1919–1932 | FO, Portland[53] |
References[]
- ^ National Archives records
- ^ "Navy Estimates 1912-13". Hansard. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- ^ Smith, Gordon. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 8 August 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- ^ "HMS Queen Elizabeth". Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- ^ "The Invergordon Mutiny". Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- ^ "Home Fleet listing for 1933". Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- ^ Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914: January 1904-February 1907". www.naval-history.net. Graham Smith. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ Senior Royal Navy Appointments Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Government, H.M. (October 1913). "Flag Officers - Vice Admirals". The Navy List. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 87.
- ^ Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914: January 1904-February 1907". www.naval-history.net. Graham Smith. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ Whitaker's Almanacks 1919–1932
- ^ Government, H.M. (October 1913). "Flag Officers - Vice Admirals". The Navy List. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 87.
- ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Atlantic Fleet (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 18 July 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Atlantic Fleet (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 18 July 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ Mackie, Colin (July 2018). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. C. Mackie. p. 215. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Atlantic Fleet (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 18 July 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ Mackie, Colin (January 2019). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin. C. Mackie. p. 134. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ Mackie RN Appointments p.134
- ^ Mackie RN Appointments p.134
- ^ Mackie RN Appointments p.134
- ^ Mackie RN Appointments p.134
- ^ Mackie RN Appointments p.134
- ^ Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 8 August 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919-1939". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 2 September 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
- ^ Watson. 2015
External links[]
- Fleet Organisation Accessed March 2010
- Fleets of the Royal Navy
- Military units and formations established in 1909
- Military units and formations disestablished in 1932
- Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War I