View source for First Submarine Flotilla (Royal Navy)

The '''First Submarine Flotilla''' was a formation of [[Submarine|submarines]] of the [[Royal Navy]]. Prior to mid-1912, it was referred to as the '''Devonport Submarine Flotilla''', occasionally referred to as "Section VI".{{NLApr11|p. 270''b''}}

==History==

===April, 1911===
The Devonport Submarine Flotilla is comprised of four "A" class coastal boats with {{UK-Onyx}} acting as depot ship.{{NLApr11|p. 270''b''}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=4 | '''Devonport Submarine Flotilla'''
|-
|align=center colspan=4|'''Depot Ship'''
|-
|align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Onyx}}
|-
|align=center colspan=4|'''Submarines'''
|-
|align=center|{{UK-A7}}||align=center|{{UK-A8}}||align=center|{{UK-A9}}||align=center|{{UK-A10}}
|-
|}

===August, 1912===
The Devonport Submarine Flotilla is now designated the First Submarine Flotilla, though it is not clear at what point this occurred.{{NLAug12|p. 270''b''}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=4 | '''Based at [[Devonport]]'''
|-
|align=center colspan=4|'''Depot Ship'''
|-
|align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Onyx}}
|-
|align=center colspan=4|'''Submarines'''
|-
|align=center|{{UK-A7}}||align=center|{{UK-A8}}||align=center|{{UK-A9}}||align=center|{{UK-A10}}
|-
|}

===March, 1913===
{{UK-A10}} has gone over to the [[Lamlash Submarine Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Lamlash Submarine Flotilla]].{{NLMar13|pp. 269''d'', 270''b''}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=3 | '''Based at [[Devonport]]'''
|-
|align=center colspan=3|'''Depot Ship'''
|-
|align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Onyx}}
|-
|align=center colspan=3|'''Submarines'''
|-
|align=center|{{UK-A7}}||align=center|{{UK-A8}}||align=center|{{UK-A9}}
|-
|}

===Test Mobilisation of July 1914===
Two submarines were known to participate:  {{UK-A8}} and {{UK-A9}}.{{AWO1914|109 of 10 July, 1914}}

===September, 1914===
The flotilla is a component of the [[Devonport Local Defence Flotilla]], which also has some four organic destroyers and eight torpedo boats.{{SMNLSep14|p. 13}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Attached to the [[Devonport Local Defence Flotilla]]'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|{{UK-Onyx}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|align=center colspan=3|{{UK-A8}}||colspan=3 align=center|{{UK-A9}}
|-
|}

This roster and tasking would apply until February of 1916.{{SMNLOct14|p. 13 and Supplements through January, 1916}}

===February, 1916===
The flotilla appears to be disbanded.  It would not reappear in the ''Monthly Supplements to the Navy List'' until September, 1916.

===September, 1916===
What was previously dubbed the {{UK-SF|7}} is now the new First.  Its mission is the same as the Seventh's old one: part of the [[Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla]], working alongside the {{UK-DF|8}}.{{SMNLSep16|p. 17}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Attached to the [[Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla]]'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|{{UK-Hebe}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|&nbsp;||align=center|{{UK-B3}}||align=center|{{UK-C23}}||align=center|{{UK-C24}}||align=center|{{UK-C25}}
|-
|}

It would have this roster and tasking until February or March, 1917.{{SMNLOct16|p. 17}}{{SMNLNov16|p. 17}}{{SMNLDec16|p. 17}}{{SMNLJan17|p. 17}}

===March, 1917===
{{UK-Hebe}} has shifted over to the {{UK-SF|3}} and the "C" class submarines have been attached to {{UK-SF|9}}.{{SMNLMar17|pp. 13, 16, 17}}  Only {{UK-B3}} is holding the fort.

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Attached to the [[Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla]]'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-B3}}
|-
|}

This humble state of affairs would last until February, 1918.{{SMNLApr17|p. 17 and Supplements through January, 1918}}

===February, 1918===
{{UK-B3}} is now noted as enjoying the services of a depot ship that is not otherwise affiliated with her tiny flotilla.{{SMNLFeb18|p. 18}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Attached to the [[Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla]]'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines''', tender to {{UK-Tarlair}}
|-
|colspan=6 align=center|{{UK-B3}}
|-
|}

This would apply for just the month.  

===March, 1918===
In March, 1918, the [[Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla]] would be disbanded, as would its First Submarine Flotilla subsidiary.  {{UK-B3}} was sent to provide "Experimental Work",{{SMNLMar18|p. 19}} which in this case meant serving as an audio target for the testing, development and training in the use of [[Hydrophone]]s.

===March, 1919===
Back as one of six flotillas supporting the Grand Fleet in the post-war navy, the First has a leader, a depot ship and seven "K" class submarines.{{SMNLMar19|p. 12}}

{|width=75% class="toccolours"
|-
| style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Supporting the [[Grand Fleet]]<br>one of six new flotillas'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Leader''', Captain (S)
|-
|align=center colspan=6|{{UK-1Fearless}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship'''
|-
|align=center colspan=6|{{UK-RoyalArthur}}
|-
|align=center colspan=6|'''Submarines'''
|-
|&nbsp;||align=center|{{UK-K2}}||align=center|{{UK-K3}}||align=center|{{UK-K5}}||align=center|{{UK-K6}}
|-
|align=center colspan=2|{{UK-K7}}||align=center colspan=2|{{UK-K8}}||align=center colspan=2|{{UK-K15}}
|}

==In Command==
Dates of appointment given:
<div name=fredbot:office0 otitle="Commander (S), First Submarine Flotilla" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}}|name=Francis Allen Newton Cromie|nick=Francis A. N. Cromie|appt=1 March, 1910<ref>Cromie Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/86.|D7603793}} f. 291.</ref>{{NLJan12|p. 350}}|end=10 May, 1912<ref>Cromie Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/86.|D7603793}} f. 291.</ref>|as=In Command, Devonport Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LaCRN}}|name=George Harley Pownall|nick=George H. Pownall|appt=10 May, 1912{{NLMar13|p. 350}}|end=22 August, 1913{{NLFeb14|p. 351}}|as=In Command, First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}}|name=Tom Kenneth Triggs|nick=Tom K. Triggs|appt=22 August, 1913{{NLOct15|p. 396''h''}}|end=1 November, 1915|as=Lieutenant-Commander (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}} (retired)|name=Stopford Cyril Douglas|nick=Stopford C. Douglas|appt=1 November, 1915|end=16 February, 1916|as=Lieutenant-Commander (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}}|name=George Augustus Saltren-Willett|nick=George A. Saltren-Willett|appt=13 June, 1916<ref>Saltren-Willett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/126.|D7604538}} f. ?.</ref>|ass=20 June, 1916<ref>Saltren-Willett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/126.|D7604538}} f. ?.</ref>|end=September, 1917<ref>Saltren-Willett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/126.|D7604538}} f. ?.</ref>|as=Lieutenant-Commander (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Ernest William Leir|nick=Ernest W. Leir|appt=7 March, 1919<ref>Leir Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/48/21.|D7603925}} f. 424.</ref>|end=25 July, 1919<ref>Leir Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/48/21.|D7603925}} f. 424.</ref>|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=George Bridges Lewis|nick=George B. Lewis|appt=25 July, 1919<ref>Lewis Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/74.|}} f. 279.</ref>|end=25 July, 1921<ref>Lewis Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/47/74.|}} f. 279.</ref>|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=Cecil Ponsonby Talbot|nick=Cecil P. Talbot|appt=25 July, 1921<ref>Talbot Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/120.|D7604219}}  f. 65.</ref>|end=14 March, 1922<ref>Talbot Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/120.|D7604219}}  f. 65.</ref>|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Max Kennedy Horton|nick=Max K. Horton|appt=14 March, 1922{{NLJan23|p. 741}}|end=|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=Geoffrey Layton|nick=Geoffrey Layton|appt=15 April, 1924{{NLJul24|p. 227}}|end=31 December, 1924<ref>Layton Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/134.|D7604233}} f. ?.</ref>|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Robert Ross Turner|nick=Robert R. Turner|appt=31 December, 1924<ref>Turner Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/13.|D7604426}} f. ?.</ref>|end=31 December, 1926<ref>Turner Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/13.|D7604426}} f. ?.</ref>|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Reginald Burnard Darke|nick=Reginald B. Darke|appt=31 December, 1926<ref>Darke Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/88.|D7604500}} f. ?.</ref>|end=December, 1928<ref>Darke Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/88.|D7604500}} f. ?.</ref>|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=George Pirie Thomson|nick=George P. Thomson|appt=17 December, 1928{{NLFeb29|p. 233}}|end=December, 1930|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=Frederick Henry Taylor|nick=Frederick H. Taylor|appt=22 November, 1930{{NLJul31|p. 233}}|end=19 December, 1932|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=Ronald William Blacklock|nick=Ronald W. Blacklock|appt=16 November, 1932|end=19 June, 1934|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=Guy D'Oyly-Hughes|nick=Guy D'Oyly-Hughes|appt=19 May, 1934|end=August, 1936|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=Edward Arthur Aylmer|nick=Edward A. Aylmer|appt=25 July, 1936{{NLJul37|p. 227}}|end=22 September, 1937{{INF}}|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}}|name=Sydney Moffat Raw|nick=Sydney M. Raw|appt=22 September, 1937|end=22 December, 1937|as=Commander (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=Edward Arthur Aylmer|nick=Edward A. Aylmer|appt=23 December, 1937|end=1 February, 1938{{FC}}|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=Philip Ruck-Keene|nick=Philip Ruck-Keene|appt=early 1938|end=1 November, 1939|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}}|name=William Eric Banks|nick=William E. Banks|appt=c. 1938|end=|as=Commander (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}}|name=Sydney Moffat Raw|nick=Sydney M. Raw|appt=19 June, 1939|end=29 August, 1939|note=temporary, vice Banks|as=Commander (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}}|name=Gilbert Palmer Claridge|nick=Gilbert P. Claridge|appt=1 November, 1939|end=31 December, 1939|as=Commander (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}}|name=Gilbert Palmer Claridge|nick=Gilbert P. Claridge|appt=31 January, 1940|end=1 May, 1940|as=Commander (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}}|name=Geoffrey Meredith Keble Keble-White|nick=Geoffrey M. K. Keble-White|appt=1 May, 1940<ref>Keble-White Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/117/60.|}}  f. 60.</ref>|end=8 August, 1940<ref>Keble-White Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/117/60.|}}  f. 60.</ref>|as=Captain (S), First Submarine Flotilla}}
</div name=fredbot:office0>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
{{refend}}

==See Also==

{{RNSubmarineFlotillas|sort=1}}