Fifth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)

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The Fifth Battle Squadron was a fighting unit of the British Royal Navy before and during the First World War.

History

December, 1912

[1] The Fleet flagship was Neptune, which was not part of any Battle Squadron.

December, 1913

[2] Despite some shuffling in other Battle Squadrons, the Fifth is unchanged from the previous year's roster. It is part of the Second Fleet.

July, 1914

[3][4]

Operating as part of the Second Fleet. Some handwritten notes on this source indicate flux of some kind.

Attached: third class protected cruiser Topaze

5 August, 1914

With the fleet organised under flagship Iron Duke, the squadron was based at Portland along with the Sixth Battle Squadron, and had the same eight pre-dreadnoughts as in December, 1912, now supported by a cruiser.[5]

Attached: third class protected cruiser Topaze

September, 1914

The Squadron is in the Channel Fleet with the Seventh Battle Squadron with a strength of 10 pre-dreadnoughts with three divisions, screened by two light cruisers.[6]

Attached: third class protected cruiser Diamond, third class protected cruiser Topaze

This roster would last until November or December.[7]

December, 1914

Bulwark was removed, as she was lost to an internal explosion on 26 November.[8]

Attached: third class protected cruiser Diamond, third class protected cruiser Topaze

This roster would last just one month.

January, 1915

Formidable was dropped from the Navy List, perhaps because she was torpedoed on 1 January.[9] Lord Nelson became flagship on 7 January and would be replaced by Prince of Wales on 15 February.[10]

Attached: third class protected cruiser Diamond, third class protected cruiser Topaze

This roster would last until February or March, 1915.[11]

March, 1915

Lord Nelson, Irresistible and Agamemnon were removed in March, as they'd been transferred to the Mediterranean for the Dardanelles campaign.[12] Prince of Wales had her last day as flagship on 19 March, then handing it to Russell.[13]

Attached: third class protected cruiser Diamond, third class protected cruiser Topaze

This roster would last just a month.

April, 1915

Russell had her last day as flagship on 7 April, then handing it to Venerable. She kept it only until the 24th, after which it went to Exmouth.[14]

All the battleships were then dispatched to the Dardanelles except Venerable, which had been made flagship of the Channel or Southern Fleet. Topaze had followed Venerable and Diamond had been sent to the Third Battle Squadron.[15]

The Squadron would remain inactive until October, 1915, when it would reappear in an altogether more modern form.[16]

October, 1915

The Squadron is re-constituted and is going to grow into the fast wing of the Battle Fleet. It starts with Barham, just entering service, and brings in her sisters Queen Elizabeth from the Fourth Battle Squadron and Warspite from the Second Battle Squadron.[17] Barham became flagship on 1 October.[18]

It had no light cruiser attached.

This roster would last until February, 1916.[19]

February, 1916

The Squadron gained newly-completed super-dreadnoughts Valiant and Malaya.[20]

This roster would last until June, 1916.[21][22][23]

Battle of Jutland

By 1916, the squadron had been transformed to become the home of the most powerful dreadnoughts in the fleet, comprised solely of fast super-dreadnoughts. At Jutland, four of the five were at sea supporting the Battle Cruiser Fleet, commanded as follows.[24]

June, 1916

Battle damage to Barham prompted a change of flag to Queen Elizabeth on 4 June, though Barham would resume this role on 12 July.[25][26]

This roster would last until August, 1916.[27]

August, 1916

Barham resumed her role as flagship this month, and a light cruiser has finally been attached, Blonde from miscellaneous work "in Home Waters or on detached service".[28][29]

Attached: scout cruiser Blonde

This roster would last until October, 1916.[30]

October, 1916

Blonde was moved over to the Fourth Battle Squadron in October.[31]

This roster would last until February or March, 1917.[32][33][34]

October, 1916

Blonde was moved over to the Fourth Battle Squadron in October.[35]

This roster would last until February or March, 1917.[36][37][38]

March, 1917

Queen Elizabeth was removed from the Squadron in March or possibly February, as she had been appointed flagship of the Grand Fleet.[39]

This roster would last just one month.

April, 1917

Blanche was added to the Squadron in April, fresh from miscellaneous work "in Home Waters or on detached service".[40][41]

Attached: scout cruiser Blanche

This roster would last until August.[42][43][44]

August, 1917

The Squadron lost its light cruiser again in August, as Blanche transferred to the Second Battle Squadron.[45]

This roster would last until October.[46]

October, 1917

The fickle cruiser Blanche has transferred back in from Second Battle Squadron.[47][48]

Attached: scout cruiser Blanche

This roster would last through the end of the war — indeed until March, 1919.[49]

March, 1919

Blanche left, apparently placed in reserve..[50][51]

This roster would last just one month.

April, 1919

Valiant was made flagship on 1 April. On the 7th, her Vice-Admiral would be transferred to Second Battle Squadron, and the Squadron would have a Rear-Admiral commanding.[52][53][54]

This roster would last just one month.

May, 1919

The Squadron has been abolished or re-designated as the Second Battle Squadron, as all four battleships are now thereat.[55]

In Command

Dates of appointment given:

Second in Command

Other Personnel

Squadron Gunnery Officer

Squadron Torpedo Officer

Squadron W/T Officer

Squadron Signal Officer

Squadron Navigating Officer

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Handwritten notes in Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
  2. ↑ Handwritten notes in Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
  3. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 109 of 10 July, 1914.
  4. ↑ Printed page "Fleets and Squadrons in Commission at Home and Abroad" in Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
  5. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 15.
  6. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 9.
  7. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 9 No November Supplement was produced.
  8. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 9.
  9. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 9.
  10. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 6.
  11. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 9. No copy for February was found.
  12. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). pp. 9, 18.
  13. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 6.
  14. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 6.
  15. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1915). pp. 9, 10, 14, 19.
  16. ↑ 5BS is not listed in Supplements for May, Jun, Jul, Aug or Sep, 1915.
  17. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 10.
  18. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 6.
  19. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 10, and Supplements through January.
  20. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 10.
  21. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 10.
  22. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1916). p. 10.
  23. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1916). p. 10.
  24. ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. pp. 33, 46.
  25. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1916). p. 10.
  26. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 6.
  27. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1916). p. 10.
  28. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1916). p. 10.
  29. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1916). p. 14.
  30. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1916). p. 10.
  31. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 10.
  32. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1916). p. 10.
  33. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 10.
  34. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1917). p. 10. No February Supplement was found.
  35. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 10.
  36. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1916). p. 10.
  37. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 10.
  38. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1917). p. 10. No February Supplement was found.
  39. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). p. 10.
  40. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). p. 10.
  41. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). p. 14.
  42. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1917). p. 10.
  43. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). p. 10.
  44. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1917). p. 10.
  45. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 10.
  46. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 10.
  47. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1917). p. 10.
  48. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 10.
  49. ↑ Supplements for Nov and Dec, 1917, as well as all months except September 1918.
  50. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 10.
  51. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). pp. 10, 17.
  52. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 10.
  53. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). pp. 10, 17.
  54. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 6.
  55. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1919). p. 10.
  56. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). f. 6.
  57. ↑ Burney Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 180.
  58. ↑ Burney Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 180.
  59. ↑ Bayly Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 39.
  60. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 6.
  61. ↑ Thursby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 1310.
  62. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 6.
  63. ↑ Evan-Thomas Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 105.
  64. ↑ Evan-Thomas Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 105.
  65. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 6.
  66. ↑ Leveson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 472.
  67. ↑ Leveson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 472.
  68. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 36.
  69. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 36.
  70. ↑ Thursby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 1310.
  71. ↑ Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.
  72. ↑ Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.

Bibliography

  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.


British Battle Squadrons
First Battle Squadron | Second Battle Squadron | Third Battle Squadron | Fourth Battle Squadron
Fifth Battle Squadron | Sixth Battle Squadron | Seventh Battle Squadron | Eighth Battle Squadron
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