H.M.S. Alecto (1911)

H.M.S. Alecto (1911)
Pendant Number:	N.35 (1914) N.01 (Jan 1918)
Builder:	John Brown & Company
Launched:	29 Aug, 1911
Commissioned:	20 Jun, 1912
Sold:	7 Jul, 1949

H.M.S. Alecto was completed to navy order as a depot ship.

Service

Alecto commissioned at Sheerness on 20 June, 1912 and served with submarines at Yarmouth throughout the war.

She left Sheerness for Dundee to resume duties with the Seventh Submarine Flotilla on 13 June, 1914.

In November 1914, she left to join the new Tenth Submarine Flotilla, but stayed only about a month before going to the larger Eighth Submarine Flotilla, which was also serving in Home and Atlantic Waters. She would remain with them throughout the war as the number of submarines dwindled. After a massive reduction in the formation's size in August 1916, she was the only depot ship left, serving eleven subs.

In early 1919, after the flotillas were re-organized for the post-war period, Alecto found herself as one of two depot ships assigned to Fourth Submarine Flotilla, which was one of six sub flotillas supporting the Grand Fleet.

In 1925, she was working with the Third Submarine Flotilla.

Alecto was re-commissioned at Portsmouth on 22 October, 1926. She continued working with Third Submarine Flotilla until at least mid-1927, but by mid-1931 she was working with the Fifth Submarine Flotilla, remaining with them until at least mid-1934. She paid off at Portsmouth on 9 November, 1934.

Re-commissioned with a Reserve Complement on 28 June, 1935.

Captains

Dates of appointment given.

• Lieutenant-Commander George F. Cholmley, June, 1912 – January, 1914  (and for duty with submarines)
• Commander George B. Lewis, 1 March, 1914  (and for duty with submarines)
• Lieutenant-Commander (retired) Stopford C. Douglas, 10 February, 1915 – 29 September, 1915  (temporarily)
• Acting Commander Alexander H. Quicke, 29 September, 1915
• Commander Sir Leonard P. Vavasour, 9 August, 1916 – 14 November, 1918  (and in command of submarine flotilla)
• Commander Robert R. Turner, 14 November, 1918 – 15 January, 1919
• Commander Thomas C. B. Harbottle, 15 January, 1919 – 15 January, 1921
• Lieutenant-Commander Richard H. B. Everard, 15 January, 1921 – 24 April, 1923  (and for duty Class I with submarines)
• Lieutenant-Commander Alexander B. Greig, 24 April, 1923 – 7 September, 1924  (and for duty with submarines)
• Lieutenant-Commander Edward G. Stanley, 7 September, 1924  (and for duty with submarines)
• Lieutenant-Commander Charles H. Allen, January, 1926 – July, 1926  (and for duty with submarines)
• Lieutenant-Commander Edward A. Aylmer, 24 July, 1926 – 15 October, 1926  (and for duty Class I with submarines)
• Commander Charles H. Allen, 16 October, 1926  (and in command of the Training Half Flotilla)
• Commander Cyril G. B. Coltart, 15 August, 1927 – 22 April, 1929  (and in command of Training Half Flotilla and for duty Class I with submarines)
• Commander Ronald W. Blacklock, 22 April, 1929 – 5 January, 1931  (and in command of Training Half Flotilla and for duty with submarines)
• Commander Edward G. Stanley, 5 January, 1931 – 31 January, 1931  (and in command of Training Half Flotilla and for duty with submarines)
• Commander Charles H. Allen, 31 January, 1931 – 17 May, 1932  (and in command of Training Half Flotilla and for duty with submarines)
• Commander Philip Ruck-Keene, 17 May, 1932 – c. 22 February, 1933^[Inference]  (temporary, and for duty with submarines)
• Commander Gerald A. Garnons-Williams, 22 February, 1933 – 23 August, 1935  (and for duty Class I with submarines)
• Commander Arthur S. Lindsell, 31 October, 1935 – 13 November, 1936
• Lieutenant-Commander Eric R. Reed, 5 September, 1936 – 1 February, 1938  (took command upon reducing)
• Lieutenant-Commander Mark T. Collier, 1 February, 1938 – 21 November, 1939
• Lieutenant-Commander Henry C. Cumberbatch, 21 November, 1939 – 1 April, 1940
• Commander Roderick L. M. Edwards, 1 April, 1940 – 11 July, 1940
• Commander Robert M. G. Gambier, 11 July, 1940 – 20 February, 1942
• Lieutenant-Commander Thomas J. T. C. Jenks, 15 October, 1941 – 11 December, 1941  (temporary)
• Commander John R. S. Brown, 20 February, 1942 – early 1943
• Lieutenant-Commander Hubert A. L. Marsham, 4 March, 1943 – 23 August, 1943
• Commander (retired) Kenneth M. Greig, 23 August, 1943 – 20 January, 1944
• Acting Captain (retired) Arthur L. Sanders, 20 January, 1944 – 24 August, 1944  (vice Greig)
• Commander (retired) Evelyn S. Felton, 24 August, 1944 – mid 1945

See Also

• Wikipedia