Sixth Submarine Flotilla (Royal Navy)

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The Sixth Submarine Flotilla was a formation of submarines of the Royal Navy.

It served with "C" class submarines in Home and Atlantic Waters from the start of the war through September, 1916 when it exchanged designations with another flotilla, placing it from thereafter with a variety of submarines supporting the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla. From September 1916 through mid-1917, it helped by preparing "K" class boats for service in the Twelfth Submarine Flotilla and Thirteenth Submarine Flotilla.

History

Test Mobilisation of July 1914

The flotilla was comprised of a depot ship and six coastal submarines.[1]

Test Mobilisation
Depot Ship
Bonaventure
Submarines
C 7 C 8 C 9 C 10 C 12 C 13

September, 1914

The flotilla, with the same submarines, now has an additional depot ship and is one of five flotillas assigned to the forces covering Home and Atlantic Waters. The strength is now two depot ships and six submarines[2]

Serving in Home and Atlantic Waters
Depot Ships
Bonaventure Hebe
Submarines
C 7 C 8 C 9 C 10 C 12 C 13

This roster would apply until January, 1915.[3]

January, 1915

C 14 has joined from the Third Submarine Flotilla, bringing the strength to two depot ships and seven submarines[4][5]

Serving in Home and Atlantic Waters
Depot Ships
Bonaventure Hebe
Submarines
C 7 C 8 C 9 C 10 C 12 C 13
C 14

This roster would apply until February or March.[6]

March, 1915

C 16 has joined from the Fourth Submarine Flotilla and W 1 from the Second Submarine Flotilla, bringing the strength to two depot ships and nine submarines.[7][8]

Serving in Home and Atlantic Waters
Depot Ships
Bonaventure Hebe
Submarines
C 7 C 8 C 9 C 10 C 12 C 13
C 14 C 16 W 1

This roster would apply until June.[9]

June, 1915

W 1 has moved over to the Tenth Submarine Flotilla Second Submarine Flotilla, bringing the strength to two depot ships and eight submarines.[10]

Serving in Home and Atlantic Waters
Depot Ships
Bonaventure Hebe
Submarines
C 7 C 8 C 9 C 10 C 12 C 13
  C 14 C 16

This roster would apply until November.[11]

November, 1915

Bonaventure is now designated as the flotilla's parent ship, the strength is still two depot ships and eight submarines.[12]

Serving in Home and Atlantic Waters
Parent Ship
Bonaventure
Depot Ship
Hebe
Submarines
C 7 C 8 C 9 C 10 C 12 C 13
  C 14 C 16

This roster would apply until January, 1916.[13]

January, 1916

Bonetta has joined from the Ninth Submarine Flotilla, the strength is now two depot ships, a destroyer and eight submarines.[14][15]

Serving in Home and Atlantic Waters
Parent Ship
Bonaventure
Depot Ship
Hebe
Destroyer
Bonetta
Submarines
C 7 C 8 C 9 C 10 C 12 C 13
  C 14 C 16

This roster would apply until July.[16]

July, 1916

Hebe has departed for the Seventh Submarine Flotilla, the strength is now a depot ship, a destroyer and eight submarines.[17]

Serving in Home and Atlantic Waters
Parent Ship
Bonaventure
Destroyer
Bonetta
Submarines
C 7 C 8 C 9 C 10 C 12 C 13
  C 14 C 16

This roster would apply until September.[18]

September, 1916

A shuffle of submarine flotilla designations has caused the Sixth and the Second Submarine Flotilla to exchange names. The Sixth is now operating with the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla, and has its prior assets plus the fleet submarine K 3 on a temporary basis. The strength is a depot ship, three coastal submarines and K 3.[19]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ship
Dolphin
Submarines
  B 1 B 5 S 1 K 3

This roster would apply until December.[20]

December, 1916

A shuffle of submarines sees B 1 and B 5 depart to undiscovered assignments, replaced by C 20 and C 34 from the Fifth Submarine Flotilla. The strength remains as a depot ship, three coastal submarines and K 3.[21][22]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ship
Dolphin
Submarines
  C 20 C 34 S 1 K 3

January, 1917

S 1 has left. K 3 has gone to join the Twelfth Submarine Flotilla. K 2 has arrived "temporarily" along with K 4 and K 6. The strength is now a depot ship, two coastal submarines three steam powered fleet submarines.[23]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ship
Dolphin
Submarines
C 20 C 34 K 2 K 4 K 6

This roster would apply until February or March.[24]

March, 1917

K 2 and K 4 have gone to the Twelfth Submarine Flotilla. K 7, K 8 and K 11 have come in. The strength is now a depot ship, two coastal submarines and four steam powered fleet submarines.[25]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ship
Dolphin
Submarines
C 20 C 34 K 6 K 7 K 8 K 11

April, 1917

C 4 has come in from the Ninth Submarine Flotilla in exchange for the C 34. K 6, K 7, K 8 and K 11 have left to join the Twelfth Submarine Flotilla and K 9 has joined. The strength is now a depot ship, two coastal submarines and one steam submarine.[26]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ship
Dolphin
Submarines
C 4 C 20 K 9

May, 1917

K 9 has left to join the newly established Thirteenth Submarine Flotilla. The strength is now a depot ship and two coastal submarines.[27]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ship
Dolphin
Submarines
C 4 C 20

This roster would apply until August.[28]

August, 1917

C 28 has joined from the Ninth Submarine Flotilla. The strength is now a depot ship and three coastal submarines.[29][30]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ship
Dolphin
Submarines
C 4 C 20 C 28

September, 1917

D 1 has joined from Platypus's Flotilla. The newly-completed F 2 has joined, as has the long-delayed N 1, which would function here as a depot ship. The strength is now a depot ship and six submarines.[31][32]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ship
Dolphin
Submarines
C 4 C 20 C 28 D 1 F 2 N 1

October, 1917

F 1 has joined from the Eighth Submarine Flotilla. The strength is now a depot ship and seven coastal submarines.[33][34]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ship
Dolphin
Submarines
C 4 C 20 C 28 D 1 F 1 F 2
N 1

November, 1917

L 1 has joined from the Ninth Submarine Flotilla. The strength is now a depot ship and eight coastal submarines.[35][36]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ship
Dolphin
Submarines
C 4 C 20 C 28 D 1 F 1 F 2
L 1 N 1

December, 1917

Thames has come in from the Ninth Submarine Flotilla to help keep the submarines bobbing as they should. The strength is now two depot ships and eight coastal submarines.[37][38]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ships
Dolphin Thames
Submarines
C 4 C 20 C 28 D 1 F 1 F 2
L 1 N 1

January, 1918

D 3 and D 4 have come to join from Platypus's Flotilla on the Coast of Ireland Station and F 3 has joined from the Eighth Submarine Flotilla. L 1 has, in turn, gone to join the submarines on the Coast of Ireland Station. The strength is now two depot ships and ten coastal submarines.[39][40]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ships
Dolphin Thames
Submarines
C 4 C 20 C 28 D 1 D 3 D 4
  F 1 F 2 F 3 N 1

February, 1918

Four more submarines have joined: C 15, C 18, C 30 from the Fifth Submarine Flotilla and G 14 from the Tenth Submarine Flotilla. The strength is now two depot ships and fourteen assorted submarines.[41][42]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ships
Dolphin Thames
Submarines
C 4 C 15 C 18 C 20 C 28 C 30
D 1 D 3 D 4 F 1 F 2 F 3
G 14 N 1

March, 1918

C 17 and C 24 have joined from the Portland Defence Flotilla and D 1 has departed to an undiscovered assignment. The strength is now two depot ships and fifteen assorted submarines.[43][44]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Parent Ships
Dolphin Thames
Submarines
C 4 C 15 C 17 C 18 C 20 C 24
C 28 C 30 D 3 D 4 F 1 F 2
F 3 G 14 N 1

April, 1918

C 1 and C 3 have joined in a paid off condition from the Ninth Submarine Flotilla, and D 3 has been removed, sunk on 15 March.

The strength is now two depot ships and sixteen assorted submarines.[45][46]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Dolphin
? Ship
Thames
Submarines
C 1* C 3* C 4 C 15 C 17 C 18
C 20 C 24 C 28 C 30 D 4 F 1
  F 2 F 3 G 14 N 1

May, 1918

C 3 has departed, presumably to be readied for use as a demolition ship at Zeebrugge. The new monitor submarine M 1 has joined. The strength is still two depot ships and sixteen assorted submarines.[47]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Dolphin
? Ship
Thames
Submarines
C 1* C 4 C 15 C 17 C 18
C 20 C 24 C 28 C 30 D 4 F 1
F 2 F 3 G 14 M 1 N 1

June, 1918

C 1 is no longer paid off, but C 4 is. The strength is still two depot ships and sixteen assorted submarines.[48]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Dolphin
? Ship
Thames
Submarines
C 1 C 4* C 15 C 17 C 18
C 20 C 24 C 28 C 30 D 4 F 1
F 2 F 3 G 14 M 1 N 1

This roster would apply until August.[49]

August, 1918

V 3 and V 4 have joined from Eighth Submarine Flotilla. The strength is now two depot ships and eighteen assorted submarines.[50][51]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Dolphin
? Ship
Thames
Submarines
C 1 C 4* C 15 C 17 C 18 C 20
C 24 C 28 C 30 D 4 F 1 F 2
F 3 G 14 M 1 N 1 V 3 V 4

This roster would apply until sometime between September and November.[52]

November, 1918

Thames has left with F 1, F 2, F 3, V 3 and V 4 to start a periscope school up in the Clyde. C 17 has been dropped for some undiscovered reason. D 7 and D 8 have come in from Platypus's Flotilla. M 1 has left to join the Eleventh Submarine Flotilla. C 4 is no longer paid off, but G 14 is. V 3 and V 4 have joined from Eighth Submarine Flotilla. The strength is now down to one depot ship and thirteen assorted submarines.[53][54][55]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Dolphin
Submarines
C 1 C 4 C 15 C 18 C 20 C 24
C 28 C 30 D 4 D 7 D 8 G 14*
N 1

December, 1918

The strength is now one depot ship and fourteen assorted submarines.[56][57]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Dolphin
Submarines
C 1 C 4 C 15 C 18 C 20 C 24
C 28 C 30 D 4 D 7 D 8
G 14* N 1

January, 1919

The war now over, the flotilla has sent all its old submarines off and has four itinerant vessels under Dolphin.[58]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ship
Dolphin
Submarines
  H 27 R 2 R 7 R 8

February, 1919

R 7 and R 8 have left the Sixth, but remain part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla. H 51 has joined from an undiscovered assignment, leaving the flotilla with three submarines and two depot ships.[59]

Part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla
Depot Ships
Dolphin Sangfoin
Submarines
H 27 H 51 R 2

March, 1919

As part of the fleet-wide reorganization of submarine flotillas, the flotilla's designation is given to what had been called Ambrose's Flotilla, and the Sixth's existing vessels become the heart of a submarine school in Portsmouth, along with four other submarines. The new Sixth is based at Devonport and combines the former vessels of Ambrose's Flotilla plus newcomer Iroquois. The flotilla is now eight submarines and two depot ships.[60]

At Devonport
Depot Ships
Ambrose Iroquois
Submarines
L 1 L 2 L 3 L 4 L 5 L 6
L 7 L 8

This arrangement would apply until June.[61]

June, 1919

The formation is bolstered by the arrival of L 9, L 15 and L 20. The flotilla is now eleven submarines and two depot ships.[62]

At Devonport
Depot Ships
Ambrose Iroquois
Submarines
L 1 L 2 L 3 L 4 L 5 L 6
L 7 L 8 L 9 L 15 L 20

July, 1919

Iroquois is replaced by Marazion and Ambrose is marked as a parent ship. L 5 seems to be moonlighting at a submarine school at Portsmouth.

The flotilla is now eleven submarines and two depot ships.[63]

At Devonport
Parent Ship
Ambrose
Depot
Marazion
Submarines
L 1 L 2 L 3 L 4 L 5 L 6
L 7 L 8 L 9 L 15* L 20

In Command

Dates of appointment given:

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 109 of 10 July, 1914.
  2. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 14.
  3. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 14 and following Supplements through January, 1915.
  4. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 14.
  5. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 14.
  6. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 17. No February edition was found.
  7. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 17.
  8. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). pp. 13, 14.
  9. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 17 and Supplements through June.
  10. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). p. 16.
  11. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 16 and Supplements through November.
  12. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 16.
  13. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 16 and Supplements through January.
  14. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1916). p. 16.
  15. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 17.
  16. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 16 and Supplements through July.
  17. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1916). pp. 16, 17.
  18. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). p. 16 and September.
  19. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1916). p. 17.
  20. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). p. 17 and Supplements through December.
  21. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 17.
  22. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1916). p. 15.
  23. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1917). pp. 12, 17.
  24. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). p. 17. No Supplement for February was found.
  25. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). pp. 12, 17.
  26. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). pp. 12, 17.
  27. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). pp. 12, 17.
  28. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). p. 17 and Supplements through August.
  29. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 18.
  30. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1917). p. 13.
  31. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 18.
  32. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 13.
  33. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1917). p. 18.
  34. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 13.
  35. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 18.
  36. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1917). p. 13.
  37. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1917). p. 18.
  38. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 13.
  39. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1918). p. 18.
  40. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1917). pp. 13, 17.
  41. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1918). p. 18.
  42. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1918). pp. 12, 15.
  43. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1918). p. 16.
  44. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1918). p. 18.
  45. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1918). p. 16.
  46. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1918). p. 13.
  47. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1918). p. 16.
  48. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1918). p. 16.
  49. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1918). p. 16.
  50. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1918). p. 16.
  51. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1918). p. 13.
  52. ↑ No Supplements for September or October were consulted.
  53. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). pp. 16, 17.
  54. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1918). p. 18.
  55. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 11.
  56. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 16.
  57. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 18.
  58. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1919). p. 16.
  59. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 16.
  60. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 14.
  61. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1919). p. 17 and Supplements through June.
  62. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 13.
  63. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1919). p. 13.
  64. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 287.
  65. ↑ "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), 12 Oct. 1912, p. 4.
  66. ↑ Donaldson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 230.
  67. ↑ Donaldson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 230.
  68. ↑ Burgess Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/197. f. 197.
  69. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 391n.
  70. ↑ Burgess Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/197. f. 197.
  71. ↑ Crowther Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/160. f. 564.
  72. ↑ Crowther Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/160. f. 564.
  73. ↑ Gill Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/72. f. 207.
  74. ↑ Gill Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/50/72. f. 207.
  75. ↑ Glencross Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. f. ?.
  76. ↑ Glencross Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. f. ?.
  77. ↑ Grieg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/74. f. 434.
  78. ↑ Grieg Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/74. f. 434.
  79. ↑ de Burgh Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/314. f. ?.
  80. ↑ de Burgh Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/314. f. ?.
  81. ↑ Marrack Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/225. f. 237.
  82. ↑ Marrack Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/225. f. 237.
  83. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1935). p. 280.
  84. ↑ Lindsell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/147. f. 149.
  85. ↑ Lindsell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/147. f. 149.
  86. ↑ Bethell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/119/101. f. 101.
  87. ↑ Bethell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/119/101. f. 101.
  88. ↑ Voelcker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/279. f. 279.
  89. ↑ Voelcker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/154/279. f. 279.

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
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