First Submarine Flotilla (Royal Navy)
The First Submarine Flotilla was a formation of submarines of the Royal Navy. Prior to mid-1912, it was referred to as the Devonport Submarine Flotilla, occasionally referred to as "Section VI".[1]
History
April, 1911
The Devonport Submarine Flotilla is comprised of four "A" class coastal boats with Onyx acting as depot ship.[2]
| Devonport Submarine Flotilla | |||
| Depot Ship | |||
| Onyx | |||
| Submarines | |||
| A 7 | A 8 | A 9 | A 10 |
August, 1912
The Devonport Submarine Flotilla is now designated the First Submarine Flotilla, though it is not clear at what point this occurred.[3]
| Based at Devonport | |||
| Depot Ship | |||
| Onyx | |||
| Submarines | |||
| A 7 | A 8 | A 9 | A 10 |
March, 1913
A 10 has gone over to the Lamlash Submarine Flotilla.[4]
| Based at Devonport | ||
| Depot Ship | ||
| Onyx | ||
| Submarines | ||
| A 7 | A 8 | A 9 |
Test Mobilisation of July 1914
Two submarines were known to participate: A 8 and A 9.[5]
September, 1914
The flotilla is a component of the Devonport Local Defence Flotilla, which also has some four organic destroyers and eight torpedo boats.[6]
| Attached to the Devonport Local Defence Flotilla | |||||
| Depot Ship | |||||
| Onyx | |||||
| Submarines | |||||
| A 8 | A 9 | ||||
This roster and tasking would apply until February of 1916.[7]
February, 1916
The flotilla appears to be disbanded. It would not reappear in the Monthly Supplements to the Navy List until September, 1916.
September, 1916
What was previously dubbed the Seventh Submarine Flotilla is now the new First. Its mission is the same as the Seventh's old one: part of the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla, working alongside the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla.[8]
| Attached to the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla | |||||
| Depot Ship | |||||
| Hebe | |||||
| Submarines | |||||
| B 3 | C 23 | C 24 | C 25 | ||
It would have this roster and tasking until February or March, 1917.[9][10][11][12]
March, 1917
Hebe has shifted over to the Third Submarine Flotilla and the "C" class submarines have been attached to Ninth Submarine Flotilla.[13] Only B 3 is holding the fort.
| Attached to the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla | |||||
| Submarines | |||||
| B 3 |
This humble state of affairs would last until February, 1918.[14]
February, 1918
B 3 is now noted as enjoying the services of a depot ship that is not otherwise affiliated with her tiny flotilla.[15]
| Attached to the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla | |||||
| Submarines, tender to Tarlair | |||||
| B 3 |
This would apply for just the month.
March, 1918
In March, 1918, the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla would be disbanded, as would its First Submarine Flotilla subsidiary. B 3 was sent to provide "Experimental Work",[16] which in this case meant serving as an audio target for the testing, development and training in the use of Hydrophones.
March, 1919
Back as one of six flotillas supporting the Grand Fleet in the post-war navy, the First has a leader, a depot ship and seven "K" class submarines.[17]
| Supporting the Grand Fleet one of six new flotillas | |||||
| Leader, Captain (S) | |||||
| Fearless | |||||
| Depot Ship | |||||
| Royal Arthur | |||||
| Submarines | |||||
| K 2 | K 3 | K 5 | K 6 | ||
| K 7 | K 8 | K 15 | |||
In Command
Dates of appointment given:
- Lieutenant-Commander Francis A. N. Cromie, 1 March, 1910[18][19] – 10 May, 1912[20]
- Lieutenant & Commander George H. Pownall, 10 May, 1912[21] – 22 August, 1913[22]
- Lieutenant-Commander Tom K. Triggs, 22 August, 1913[23] – 1 November, 1915
- Lieutenant-Commander (retired) Stopford C. Douglas, 1 November, 1915 – 16 February, 1916
- Lieutenant-Commander George A. Saltren-Willett, 13 June, 1916[24] – September, 1917[25]
- Captain Ernest W. Leir, 7 March, 1919[26] – 25 July, 1919[27]
- Captain George B. Lewis, 25 July, 1919[28] – 25 July, 1921[29]
- Captain Cecil P. Talbot, 25 July, 1921[30] – 14 March, 1922[31]
- Captain Max K. Horton, 14 March, 1922[32]
- Captain Geoffrey Layton, 15 April, 1924[33] – 31 December, 1924[34]
- Captain Robert R. Turner, 31 December, 1924[35] – 31 December, 1926[36]
- Captain Reginald B. Darke, 31 December, 1926[37] – December, 1928[38]
- Captain George P. Thomson, 17 December, 1928[39] – December, 1930
- Captain Frederick H. Taylor, 22 November, 1930[40] – 19 December, 1932
- Captain Ronald W. Blacklock, 16 November, 1932 – 19 June, 1934
- Captain Guy D'Oyly-Hughes, 19 May, 1934 – August, 1936
- Captain Edward A. Aylmer, 25 July, 1936[41] – 22 September, 1937[Inference]
- Commander Sydney M. Raw, 22 September, 1937 – 22 December, 1937
- Captain Edward A. Aylmer, 23 December, 1937 – 1 February, 1938[Fact Check]
- Captain Philip Ruck-Keene, early 1938 – 1 November, 1939
- Commander William E. Banks, c. 1938
- Commander Sydney M. Raw, 19 June, 1939 – 29 August, 1939 (temporary, vice Banks)
- Commander Gilbert P. Claridge, 1 November, 1939 – 31 December, 1939
- Commander Gilbert P. Claridge, 31 January, 1940 – 1 May, 1940
- Commander Geoffrey M. K. Keble-White, 1 May, 1940[42] – 8 August, 1940[43]
Footnotes
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 270b.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 270b.
- ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 270b.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1913). pp. 269d, 270b.
- ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 109 of 10 July, 1914.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 13.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 13 and Supplements through January, 1916.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1916). p. 17.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 17.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1916). p. 17.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 17.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1917). p. 17.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). pp. 13, 16, 17.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). p. 17 and Supplements through January, 1918.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1918). p. 18.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1918). p. 19.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 12.
- ↑ Cromie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/86. f. 291.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1912). p. 350.
- ↑ Cromie Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/86. f. 291.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 350.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1914). p. 351.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 396h.
- ↑ Saltren-Willett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/126. f. ?.
- ↑ Saltren-Willett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/126. f. ?.
- ↑ Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
- ↑ Leir Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/21. f. 424.
- ↑ Lewis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/74. f. 279.
- ↑ Lewis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47/74. f. 279.
- ↑ Talbot Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/120. f. 65.
- ↑ Talbot Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/120. f. 65.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 741.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 227.
- ↑ Layton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/134. f. ?.
- ↑ Turner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/13. f. ?.
- ↑ Turner Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/13. f. ?.
- ↑ Darke Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/88. f. ?.
- ↑ Darke Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/88. f. ?.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 233.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1931). p. 233.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1937). p. 227.
- ↑ Keble-White Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/60. f. 60.
- ↑ Keble-White Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/117/60. f. 60.
Bibliography
See Also
