Ninth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)
The Ninth Cruiser Squadron, also called Cruiser Force I from 1914, was a cruiser squadron of the Royal Navy.
Rear-Admiral Henry H. Campbell commanded the Squadron during the 1914 Test Mobilisation, and hauled down his flag at Sheerness on 26 July.[1]
The squadron ceased to exist on 3 January, 1919.[2]
In Command
Dates of appointment given:
- Rear-Admiral John M. de Robeck, 1 August, 1914[3] – 7 February, 1915[4]
- Rear-Admiral Sir A. Gordon H. W. Moore, 12 February, 1915[5][6] – 30 August, 1916[7]
- Rear-Admiral Sydney R. Fremantle, 30 August, 1916[8] – 28 December, 1916[9]
- Rear-Admiral Thomas D. L. Sheppard, 8 December, 1916[10][11] – 3 January, 1919[12][13]
- Commodore, Second Class Cyril G. B. Coltart, 5 January, 1940 – June, 1940 (removed, suick, at Bermuda)
Robert Keith Arbuthnot may have held this position.[Fact Check]
Composition
December, 1912
December, 1913
Significant changes, yielding the same strength as last year. Ariadne, Diadem, and Spartiate have been sent on to greener pastures somewhere, replaced by Challenger, Highflyer and Vindictive.[15]
- Amphitrite
- Argonaut
- Challenger (joined from 12th C.S.)
- Europa
- Highflyer (joined from ?)
- Vindictive (joined from 11th C.S.)
July, 1914
Operating as part of Third Fleet.[16]
- Donegal (being refit)
- Monmouth
- Amphitrite (detached for training duties at "Home Fort" - sp?)
- Argonaut (being refit)
- Challenger
- Europa
- Highflyer (detached for Cadet Training duties)
- Vindictive (detached for training duties at "Home Fort" - sp?)
5 August, 1914
Based in Portland, the squadron has lost Monmouth and possibly Donegal (or Argonaut has completed refit), leaving:[17]
- Amphitrite
- Argonaut
- Europa
- Highflyer
- Vindictive
- Challenger (in Bristol Channel)
A rapid succession of ships were flagship for Rear-Admiral de Robeck. Amphitrite on 1 August, Warrior temporarily in November, then Amphitrite before November was out, Argonaut on 20 December, and finally Vengeance on 31 January, 1915.[18]
When Moore took over command, this flagship shuffle continued: Europa was the flag on 12 February, 1915, transferred to Arrogant on 20 April, to Europa on 11 May, Amphitrite on 23 May, Argonaut on 31 May, Essex on 4 September, ending up with King Alfred on 3 October, 1915. King Alfred would retain the flag through at least 30 August, 1916 when Moore struck his flag.[19]
March, 1915
- Europa
- Amphitrite
- Argonaut
- armed merchant cruiser Calgarian
- armed merchant cruiser Carmania
- armed merchant cruiser Edinburgh Castle
- armed merchant cruiser Ophir
- armed merchant cruiser Victorian
November, 1915
- King Alfred
- Essex
- armed merchant cruiser Carmania
- armed merchant cruiser Ophir
September, 1917
- armoured cruiser Bacchante
- battleship Africa
- battleship Britannia
- armoured cruiser King Alfred
- armed merchant cruiser Ophir
- armed merchant cruiser Mantua
- armed merchant cruiser Marmora
- armed merchant cruiser Morea
July, 1918
[23] The Squadron is small, and augmenting the larger force of the North America and West Indies Station.
November, 1918
- armoured cruiser Bacchante
- whaler Nivonia
- whaler Silesia
Footnotes
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 27 July, 1914. Issue 40586, col B, p. 4.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 20.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 5.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 20.
- ↑ Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
- ↑ Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 20.
- ↑ Fremantle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 473.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 20.
- ↑ Sheppard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 393.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 20.
- ↑ Sheppard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 393.
- ↑ Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ 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]
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 15.
- ↑ de Robeck Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 128.
- ↑ Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 12.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 19.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 20.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1918). p. 21.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 21.
Bibliography
