First Battle Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)

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The First Battle Cruiser Squadron was a squadron of battle cruisers in the British Royal Navy from 1913 to 1919. From 1915 to 1919 it formed part of the Battle Cruiser Fleet, which was renamed Battle Cruiser Force in 1916.

History

In January, 1913, the First Cruiser Squadron was renamed the First Battle Cruiser Squadron by authority of M.11175/13, dated 31 January.[1]

Vice-Admirals and Rear-Admirals Commanding

Dates of appointment given:

Rear-Admiral in the First Battle Cruiser Squadron

Composition

December, 1913

[13][14]

This roster would remain for a considerable time.

September, 1914

The roster is unchanged. From at least this date, the Squadron was a component of Cruiser Force A, which also included the Second Battle Cruiser Squadron (which was also then-known as Cruiser Force K), and Second Cruiser Squadron, Third Cruiser Squadron and Sixth Cruiser Squadron as well as the First Light Cruiser Squadron and Cruiser Forces B and C, which were assortments of fifteen cruisers of various types.

This roster and affiliation within Cruiser Force A would persist until November or December.[15]

December, 1914

Tiger has been added.[16]

This roster and affiliation within Cruiser Force A would last only one month.

January, 1915

New Zealand has been transferred to the Second Battle Cruiser Squadron.[17]

This roster and affiliation within Cruiser Force A would last one or two months.[18]

March, 1915

The Battle Cruiser Fleet has been instituted to replace Cruiser Force A, and Lion has moved to be the Fleet flagship.[19]

This roster and affiliation would last just one month.

April, 1915

Still part of the Battle Cruiser Fleet, Tiger has become flagship.[20]

This roster and affiliation would last until July, 1915.[21][22]

July, 1915

Still part of the Battle Cruiser Fleet, Princess Royal has again become flagship.[23]

This roster and affiliation would last until June, 1916.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]

June, 1916

Still part of the Battle Cruiser Fleet. The loss of Queen Mary at the Battle of Jutland has prompted New Zealand to be transferred in from the Second Battle Cruiser Squadron.[34]

This roster and affiliation would last until September, 1916.[35][36][37]

September, 1916

Part of the Battle Cruiser Fleet. Repulse was added, though she did not join until December.[38]

This roster and affiliation would last until November, 1916.[39]

November, 1916

Part of the Battle Cruiser Fleet. Renown was added this month, though she would not join until X.[40]

This roster and affiliation would last only one month.

December, 1916

Part of the Battle Cruiser Force, the less-autonomous-sounding successor to the Battle Cruiser Fleet. New Zealand has been sent to be flagship of Second Battle Cruiser Squadron.[41]

This roster would last until February or March, 1917.[42]

March, 1917

Part of the Battle Cruiser Force. Renown has joined and was made flagship on 10 January, 1917 and then Repulse took over this role on 29 January.[43][44]

This roster and affiliation would last until December, 1918.[45]

December, 1918

Part of the Battle Cruiser Force. Renown has been made flagship, as Repulse is soon to be paid off.[46]

This roster and affiliation would last until May, 1919.[47]

May, 1919

The Squadron has been abolished, or perhaps more accurately converted into the single Battle Cruiser Squadron (by adding in Lion as flagship) deemed sufficient to meet post-war needs.[48]

Battles

Second Battle of Heligoland Bight

The Squadron fought with the Battle Cruiser Force flagship and light forces.[49]

Screened by:

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order 49.—Nomenclature of Cruisers. The National Archives. ADM 182/4.
  2. ↑ This date could range from 23 November, 1912 to March, 1913.
  3. ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1914). p. 4.
  4. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 9.
  5. ↑ Brock Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 49.
  6. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 9.
  7. ↑ Phillimore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 29a
  8. ↑ Phillimore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 29a
  9. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 9.
  10. ↑ Oliver Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 319.
  11. ↑ Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  12. ↑ Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  13. ↑ Handwritten notes in Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
  14. ↑ 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]
  15. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 9. No copy of November's Supplement has been consulted.
  16. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 9.
  17. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 9.
  18. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 11. No Supplement for February has been found.
  19. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 11.
  20. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 12.
  21. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1915). p. 12.
  22. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). p. 11.
  23. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 11.
  24. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). p. 11.
  25. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). p. 11.
  26. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 11.
  27. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 11.
  28. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 11.
  29. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1916). p. 11.
  30. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 11.
  31. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 11.
  32. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1916). p. 11.
  33. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1916). p. 11.
  34. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 11.
  35. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1916). p. 11.
  36. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1916). p. 11.
  37. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1916). p. 11.
  38. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1916). p. 11.
  39. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 11.
  40. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1916). p. 11.
  41. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 11.
  42. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1917). p. 11. No Supplement for February was found.
  43. ↑ Phillimore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 29a
  44. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). p. 11.
  45. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). p. 11 and Supplements through November 1918, excepting September and October 1918 which were not found.
  46. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 11.
  47. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 11 and Supplements through May 1919.
  48. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1919). p. 10.
  49. ↑ Naval Operations. Vol. V. pp. 168-169.

Bibliography


British Battle Cruiser Squadrons
First Battle Cruiser Squadron | Second Battle Cruiser Squadron | Third Battle Cruiser Squadron | Battle Cruiser Squadron
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