Ninth Submarine Flotilla (Royal Navy)

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The Ninth Submarine Flotilla was a formation of submarines of the Royal Navy formed in 1912.[1] Prior to February, 1914, it was known as the Lamlash Submarine Flotilla.[2]

History

Early in the war, the flotilla was based at Lamlash, on the Firth of Clyde, north of the Irish Sea. At some point between July and September 1916, it was re-designated as the Seventh Submarine Flotilla.

Test Mobilisation of July 1914

[3]

September, 1914

The flotilla is not only attached to the Clyde Local Defence Flotilla, it is that flotilla's only asset, and would remain so through September, 1916. It has three old "A" class submarines, depot ship Pactolus, a destroyer and an armed yacht.[4]

Attached to the Clyde Local Defence Flotilla
Surface Ships
Pactolus Bonetta Mairi
Submarines
A 10 A 11 A 12

This roster would apply until November of December.[5]

December, 1914

The flotilla is not only attached to the Clyde Local Defence Flotilla, it is that flotilla's only asset, and would remain so through September, 1916. Armed yacht Vanduara has joined, bringing strength to three submarines, a depot ship, a destroyer and two armed yachts.[6]

Attached to the Clyde Local Defence Flotilla
Surface Ships
  Pactolus Bonetta Mairi Vanduara
Submarines
A 10 A 11 A 12

This roster would apply until July.[7][8][9][10][11]

July, 1915

Armed yacht Vanduara has left, reducing strength to three submarines, a depot ship, a destroyer and an armed yacht.[12]

Attached to the Clyde Local Defence Flotilla
Surface Ships
  Pactolus Bonetta Mairi
Submarines
A 10 A 11 A 12

August, 1915

Armed yacht Mairi has left, reducing strength to three submarines, a depot ship and a destroyer.[13]

Attached to the Clyde Local Defence Flotilla
Surface Ships
  Pactolus Bonetta
Submarines
A 10 A 11 A 12

This roster would apply until October.[14]

October, 1915

Submarines A 11 and A 12 have gone over to the Fourth Submarine Flotilla and been replaced by B 3 and B 4 from that same formation, keeping the strength as three submarines, a depot ship and a destroyer.[15][16]

Attached to the Clyde Local Defence Flotilla
Surface Ships
  Pactolus Bonetta
Submarines
A 10 B 3 B 4

This roster would apply until January, 1916.[17][18]

January, 1916

Bonetta has been detached, to appear with the Sixth Submarine Flotilla in the coming month, reducing flotilla strength to three submarines and a depot ship.[19][20]

Attached to the Clyde Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Pactolus
Submarines
A 10 B 3 B 4

This roster would apply until May.[21][22][23]

May, 1916

B 3 has been detached, to appear with the British Adriatic Squadron in the coming month, reducing flotilla strength to two submarines and a depot ship.[24][25]

Attached to the Clyde Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Pactolus
Submarines
  A 10 B 4

This roster would apply until September, 1916.[26][27][28]

September, 1916

In a confusing shuffle. the flotilla has exchanged designations with the Seventh Submarine Flotilla. Pactolus and B 4 are now with the Seventh and remain attached to the Clyde Local Defence Flotilla. The flotilla now has the former assets of the Seventh and continues its work as part of the Harwich Force.

The strength is now much greater: three destroyers, fourteen "E" class submarines and three depot ships which acts as flagship for Captain (S).[29]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 23 E 29 E 30 E 31 E 35 E 37
E 38 E 42 E 43 E 45 E 53 E 54
  E 55 E 56

October, 1916

E 4 has joined, recently from the Eighth Submarine Flotilla, and E 44 has joined from the Tenth Submarine Flotilla. Medea has joined, recently from the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla. These additions have increasing the strength four destroyers, and sixteen "E" class submarines with three depot ships.[30][31]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake Medea
Submarines
E 4 E 23 E 29 E 30 E 31 E 35
E 37 E 38 E 42 E 43 E 44 E 45
  E 53 E 54 E 55 E 56

November, 1916

Medea and E 44 have gone to the Tenth Submarine Flotilla. The newly commissioned submarines E 32, E 46 and E 47 have joined.The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, and eighteen "E" class submarines with three depot ships.[32][33]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 23 E 29 E 30 E 31 E 32
E 35 E 37 E 38 E 42 E 43 E 45
E 46 E 47 E 53 E 54 E 55 E 56

December, 1916

The newly completed E 33, E 36 and E 41 have joined. The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, and twenty one "E" class submarines with three depot ships.[34]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 23 E 29 E 30 E 31 E 32
E 33 E 35 E 36 E 37 E 38 E 41
E 42 E 43 E 45 E 46 E 47 E 53
E 54 E 55 E 56

January, 1917

E 30 has detached, to join the Eleventh Submarine Flotilla in February. E 37 and E 38 have also detached, E 38 soon to be in "Home Waters or on Detached Service", and thence to detached service near Portsmouth.

The flotilla strength is now back to three destroyers, and eighteen "E" class submarines with three depot ships.[35][36][37]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 23 E 29 E 31 E 32 E 33
E 35 E 36 E 41 E 42 E 43 E 45
E 46 E 47 E 53 E 54 E 55 E 56

This roster would apply until February or March.

March, 1917

E 32 and E 54 have been detached to join Vulcan's Flotilla under Vice-Admiral, Queenstown and E 36 has been dropped owing to her loss to unknown causes on 17 January. Offsetting these changes, the newly commissioned E 50 and E 51 have joined and eleven "C" class submarines have been "attached". The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, and seventeen "E" and eleven "C" class submarines sharing the flotilla's three depot ships.[38]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 23 E 29 E 31 E 33 E 35
E 41 E 42 E 43 E 45 E 46 E 47
E 50 E 51 E 53 E 55 E 56
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
C 2 C 3 C 4 C 7 C 16
C 19 C 21 C 22 C 23 C 24 C 25

April, 1917

E 23, E 35 and E 56 have been detached to join Platypus and Vulcan's Flotillas under Vice-Admiral, Queenstown. The newly commissioned boats E 34 and E 52 have joined. Attached sub C 4 has swapped assignments with C 34 from the Sixth Submarine Flotilla. The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, and sixteen "E" and eleven "C" class submarines sharing the flotilla's three depot ships.[39][40]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 33 E 34
E 41 E 42 E 43 E 45 E 46 E 47
E 50 E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
C 2 C 3 C 7 C 16 C 19
C 21 C 22 C 23 C 24 C 25 C 34

This roster would apply until June.[41]

On 5 April, C 7 sank UC 68 near the Schouwen Bank.[42]

June, 1917

Attached sub C 23 has departed to the Fourth Submarine Flotilla and been replaced by C 28 from the Fifth Submarine Flotilla, keeping the flotilla strength as three destroyers, and sixteen "E" and eleven "C" class submarines sharing the flotilla's three depot ships.[43][44]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 33 E 34
E 41 E 42 E 43 E 45 E 46 E 47
E 50 E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
C 2 C 3 C 7 C 16 C 19
C 21 C 22 C 24 C 25 C 28 C 34

July, 1917

C 1 has arrived, but six boats have been removed: C 7 to the Twelfth Submarine Flotilla, C 19, C 22 and C 34 to the Tenth Submarine Flotilla, C 24 to the Fifth Submarine Flotilla, C 25 to the Fourth Submarine Flotilla, thus reducing the flotilla strength as three destroyers, and sixteen "E" and six "C" class submarines and three depot ships.[45][46]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 33 E 34
E 41 E 42 E 43 E 45 E 46 E 47
E 50 E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
C 1 C 2 C 3 C 16 C 21 C 28

August, 1917

C 28 has left to join the Sixth Submarine Flotilla, but the vessels of the just-disbanded Fourth Submarine Flotilla have come over: depot ship Thames and her charges C 5, C 23 and C 25. The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, four depot ships, sixteen "E" and eight "C" class submarines.[47]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
  Maidstone Thames Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 33 E 34
E 41 E 42 E 43 E 45 E 46 E 47
E 50 E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
C 1 C 2 C 3 C 16 C 21
Attached, tenders to Thames
  C 5 C 23 C 25

September, 1917

E 47 has been dropped, being lost to unknown cause on 20 August. The flotilla strength is now two three destroyers, four depot ships, fifteen "E" and eight "C" class submarines.[48]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
  Maidstone Thames Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 33 E 34
E 41 E 42 E 43 E 45 E 46
E 50 E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
C 1 C 2 C 3 C 16 C 21
Attached, tenders to Thames
  C 5 C 23 C 25

October, 1917

The new submarine L 1 has joined, and though Thames has not left, her tenders are now all being served by depot and flagship Maidstone. The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, four depot ships, fifteen "E", one "L" and eight "C" class submarines.[49]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
  Maidstone Thames Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 33 E 34
E 41 E 42 E 43 E 45 E 46
E 50 E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55 L 1
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
C 1 C 2 C 3 C 5 C 16
  C 21 C 23 C 25

November, 1917

L 1 has left to assignments unknown. The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, four depot ships, fifteen "E" and eight "C" class submarines.[50]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
  Maidstone Thames Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 33 E 34
E 41 E 42 E 43 E 45 E 46
E 50 E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
C 1 C 2 C 3 C 5 C 16
  C 21 C 23 C 25

December, 1917

Thames has left for the Sixth Submarine Flotilla. E 44 has joined from the Tenth Submarine Flotilla and E 56 has joined from Vulcan's Flotilla from the Berehaven on the Coast of Ireland Station. The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, three depot ships, seventeen "E" and eight "C" class submarines.[51][52]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 33 E 34
E 41 E 42 E 43 E 44 E 45 E 46
E 50 E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55 E 56
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
C 1 C 2 C 3 C 5 C 16
  C 21 C 23 C 25

This roster would apply until February, 1918.[53]

February, 1918

E 50 has been removed after being lost to a mine on 1 February. The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, three depot ships, sixteen "E" and eight "C" class submarines.[54]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 33 E 34
E 41 E 42 E 43 E 44 E 45 E 46
E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55 E 56
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
C 1 C 2 C 3 C 5 C 16
  C 21 C 23 C 25

This roster would apply until April.[55]

April, 1918

E 46 has left, destined to appear in the British Adriatic Force in May. C 1 and C 3 have been dropped, as they were both being prepared for use in the attack on Zeebrugge, while C 5 has been sent to the Mediterranean.

The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, three depot ships, fifteen "E" and five "C" class submarines.[56][57]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 33 E 34
E 41 E 42 E 43 E 44 E 45
E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55 E 56
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
C 2 C 16 C 21 C 23 C 25

May, 1918

C 16 has been sent to the Sixth Submarine Flotilla, reducing the flotilla strength to three destroyers, three depot ships, fifteen "E" and four "C" class submarines.[58]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 33 E 34
E 41 E 42 E 43 E 44 E 45
E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55 E 56
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
  C 2 C 21 C 23 C 25

This roster would apply until July.[59]

July, 1918

E 33, E 42 and E 44 have left to join the Tenth Submarine Flotilla. C 2 has been dropped for unknown purposes. The new submarines L 9, L 10 and L 15 have joined.

The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, three depot ships, twelve "E", three "L" and three "C" class submarines.[60]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 34 E 41 E 43
E 45 E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55 E 56
  L 9 L 10 L 15
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
  C 21 C 23 C 25

August, 1918

E 34 has been dropped, having been lost to a mine on 20 July. The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, three depot ships, eleven "E", three "L" and three "C" class submarines.[61]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 41 E 43 E 45
E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55 E 56 L 9
  L 10 L 15
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
  C 21 C 23 C 25

November, 1918

E 4 is paid off but still part of the flotilla. L 10 has been dropped, as she was sunk on 30 October, but the new minelaying submarines L 14 and L 17 have joined.

The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, three depot ships, eleven "E", four "L" and three "C" class submarines.[62]

Attached to the Harwich Force
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 4 E 29 E 31 E 41 E 43 E 45
E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55 E 56 L 9
  L 14 L 15 L 17
Attached, tenders to Maidstone
  C 21 C 23 C 25

This roster would apply until January, 1919.[63]

January, 1919

E 4 has been dropped along with the three "C" class submarines. They do not appear in future supplements.

The flotilla strength is now three destroyers, three depot ships, ten "E", and four "L" class submarines.[64]

Based in Harwich
Depot Ships
Maidstone Forth Pandora
Destroyers
  Melampus Lurcher Firedrake
Submarines
E 29 E 31 E 41 E 43 E 45
E 51 E 52 E 53 E 55 E 56 L 9
  L 14 L 15 L 17

[TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]

In Command

Dates of appointment given:

Footnotes

  1. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1912. p. v. I am inferring that the new flotilla mentioned is this one, as it is based in Lamlash.
  2. Admiralty Weekly Order No. 883 of 20 Feb, 1914.
  3. Admiralty Weekly Order No. 109 of 10 July, 1914.
  4. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 13.
  5. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 13.
  6. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 13.
  7. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 13.
  8. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 16.
  9. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 16.
  10. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1915). p. 16.
  11. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). p. 17.
  12. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 17.
  13. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). p. 17.
  14. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). p. 17.
  15. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 15, 17.
  16. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). p. 15.
  17. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 17.
  18. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 17.
  19. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1916). p. 15, 17.
  20. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 15.
  21. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 17.
  22. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 17.
  23. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1916). p. 17.
  24. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1916). p. 17.
  25. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1916). p. 21.
  26. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1916). p. 17.
  27. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1916). p. 17.
  28. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1916). p. 17.
  29. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1916). p. 13.
  30. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 13.
  31. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1916). p. 13.
  32. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1916). pp. 12, 13.
  33. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 13.
  34. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 13.
  35. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1917). pp. 13, 14.
  36. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). p. 12.
  37. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1917). p. 14.
  38. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). pp. 13, 14.
  39. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). pp. 13, 14, 17.
  40. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). p. 17.
  41. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1917). p. 13.
  42. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 21. p. 5.
  43. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). pp. 13, 17.
  44. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1917). p. 15.
  45. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1917). pp. 12, 13, 15, 17, 18.
  46. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). p. 15.
  47. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1917). pp. 12, 13.
  48. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 13.
  49. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1917). p. 13.
  50. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 13.
  51. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1917). pp. 13, 18.
  52. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1917). pp. 12, 17.
  53. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1918). p. 13.
  54. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1918). p. 13.
  55. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1918). p. 13.
  56. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1918). pp. 13, 22.
  57. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1918). p. 23.
  58. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1918). pp. 13, 16.
  59. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1918). p. 13.
  60. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1918). pp. 12, 13.
  61. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1918). p. 13.
  62. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 13.
  63. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1919). p. 13.
  64. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 13.
  65. The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 353.
  66. Crowther Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/160. f. 564.
  67. Hughes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/22. f. 182.
  68. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 277.
  69. Hughes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/22. f. 182.
  70. Addison Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/138. f. 138.
  71. Addison Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/138. f. 138.

Bibliography

See Also


British Submarine Flotillas
First Submarine Flotilla | Second Submarine Flotilla | Third Submarine Flotilla | Fourth Submarine Flotilla
Fifth Submarine Flotilla | Sixth Submarine Flotilla | Seventh Submarine Flotilla | Eighth Submarine Flotilla
Ninth Submarine Flotilla | Tenth Submarine Flotilla | Eleventh Submarine Flotilla | Twelfth Submarine Flotilla
Thirteenth Submarine Flotilla | Fourteenth Submarine Flotilla | Fifteenth Submarine Flotilla | Sixteenth Submarine Flotilla
Ambrose's Flotilla | Mediterranean Flotilla | Platypus's Flotilla | Vulcan's Flotilla | Hong Kong Flotilla