Eighth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)
The Eighth Battle Squadron was a battle squadron of the Royal Navy at the beginning of the First World War.
History
Illustrious was reduced to care and maintenance on 9 August, and her crew commissioned the new battleship Erin. Vengeance became flagship of the squadron on 15 August, replacing Prince George. [1]
Composition
December, 1912
Handwritten on stationery from H.M.S. Princess Royal, Albert Francis Barclay Bridges recorded the order of battle for the Grand Fleet, whose contents are found on articles for the various formations. The Fleet flagship was noted as being Neptune, which was not part of any Battle Squadron.[2]
December, 1913
Part of the Third Fleet, the roster is the same as it was the previous year.[3]
July, 1914
The Squadron participated in the Test Mobilisation as follows.[4]
8 August, 1914
Based in Devonport with the Seventh Battle Squadron, which seems to have possibly stolen Jupiter between 5 and 8 August, and other ships soon thereafter.[1]
- Prince George
- Vengeance, flagship from 15 August.
- Albion
, detached 20 August,[1] possibly to 7th B.S..[5] - Ocean, detached 20 August,[1] possibly to 7th B.S..[6]
- Cæsar
- Goliath
- Canopus, detached 20 August,[1] possibly to 7th B.S..[7]
- Glory, detached 20 August,[1] perhaps to West Atlantic.[8]
- Jupiter, in dockyard, possibly transferring to 7th B.S. by the 8th.
- Majestic (Did not join)
- Illustrious (Paid off 9 August)
Attached: third class protected cruiser Sapphire, third class protected cruiser Proserpine
Rear-Admirals Commanding
Dates of appointment given:
- Rear-Admiral Robert S. P. Hornby, July, 1914[9] (Test Mobilisation)
- Rear-Admiral Henry L. Tottenham, 1 August, 1914[10]
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Monograph 6. p. 51.
- ↑ The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ Admiralty Weekly Orders. "109.—Test Mobilisation, July 1914.—Revised List of Ships Taking Part." M. 14120/14.—10.7.1914. The National Archives. ADM 182/5.
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 15.
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 15.
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 15.
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 15.
- ↑ Hornby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 338.
- ↑ "New Sea Lord" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 7 August, 1914. Issue 40597, col D, p. 4.
Bibliography
- Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division (1921). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Fleet Issue. Volume III. Monograph 6.—Passage of the British Expeditionary Force, August, 1914. Monograph 7.—The Patrol Flotillas at the Commencement of the War. Monograph 11.—The Battle of Heligoland Bight, August 28th, 1914. Monograph 8.—Naval Operations Connected with the Raid on the North-East Coast, December 16th, 1914. Monograph 12:—The Action of Dogger Bank, January 24th, 1915. O.U. 6181 (late C.B. 1585.). Copy No. 127 at The National Archives. ADM 186/610.
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| Fifth Battle Squadron | Sixth Battle Squadron | Seventh Battle Squadron | Eighth Battle Squadron |
