View source for Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)

The '''Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron''' was a formation of light cruisers created in March or April, 1915 to screen the British Battle Fleet.  Its composition remained fairly constant at four to six light cruisers.

==History==
The formation is first mentioned in the ''Navy List'' in April, 1915.

===April, 1915===
With four light cruisers, the squadron is the single L.C.S. attached to the Battle Fleet.  This arrangement would extend to some time in November, excepting that a flagship would be designated in June 1915.{{SMNLApr15|p. 10, and following supplements}}
* {{UK-Calliope}} 
* {{UK-Royalist}}
* {{UK-Phaeton}}
* {{UK-Comus}}

===June, 1915===
With the same composition and still supporting the Grand Fleet, {{UK-Calliope}} is now explicitly marked as bearing {{Com2RN}} [[Charles Edward Le Mesurier|Charles E. Le Mesurier]].{{SMNLJun15|p. 10, and following supplements}}
* {{UK-Calliope}} [[File:Com2RN.png|25px]] 
* {{UK-Royalist}}
* {{UK-Phaeton}}
* {{UK-Comus}}

===December, 1915===
The strength and tasking is the same, but {{UK-Royalist}} has left, having been exchanged for {{UK-Caroline}} from the {{UK-LCS|1}}.  This arrangement would last but one month.{{SMNLDec15|p. 10}}
* {{UK-Calliope}} [[File:Com2RN.png|25px]] 
* {{UK-Caroline}}
* {{UK-Comus}} 
* {{UK-Royalist}}

===January, 1916===
{{UK-Royalist}} has been dropped, reducing strength to three light cruisers.  This arrangement would last but one month.{{SMNLJan16|p. 10, and following supplements}}
* {{UK-Calliope}} [[File:Com2RN.png|25px]] 
* {{UK-Caroline}}
* {{UK-Comus}}

===February, 1916===
{{UK-Constance}} has joined, returning the strength to four light cruisers.  This arrangement would last until the [[Battle of Jutland]].{{SMNLFeb16|p. 10, and following supplements}}
* {{UK-Calliope}} [[File:Com2RN.png|25px]] 
* {{UK-Caroline}}
* {{UK-Comus}} 
* {{UK-Constance}} 

===31 May, 1916 at the Battle of Jutland===
:{{Main|Fourth L.C.S. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland}}
The Squadron was represented by:{{UKJutlandOD|pp. 34, 44}}
* {{UK-Calliope}},  Commodore 2nd class [[Charles Edward Le Mesurier|Charles E. Le Mesurier]] [[File:Com2.png|25px]]
* {{UK-Constance}}, Captain [[Cyril Samuel Townsend]]
* {{UK-Comus}}, Captain [[Alan Geoffrey Hotham]]
* {{UK-Caroline}}, Captain [[Henry Ralph Crooke]]
* {{UK-Royalist}}, Captain the Honourable [[Herbert Meade]]

===June, 1916===
{{UK-Royalist}} has returned, increasing strength to five light cruisers from the pre-Jutland roster and retaining the roster seen during the battle.  This arrangement would last until August.{{SMNLJul16|p. 10, and following supplements}}
* {{UK-Calliope}} [[File:Com2RN.png|25px]] 
* {{UK-Caroline}}
* {{UK-Comus}} 
* {{UK-Constance}} 
* {{UK-Royalist}} 

===August, 1916===
{{UK-Cambrian}} has joined, increasing strength to six light cruisers from the pre-Jutland roster and retaining the roster seen during the battle.  This arrangement would last until August, 1917.{{SMNLAug16|p. 10, and following supplements}}
* {{UK-Calliope}} [[File:Com2RN.png|25px]] 
* {{UK-Cambrian}}
* {{UK-Caroline}}
* {{UK-Comus}} 
* {{UK-Constance}} 
* {{UK-Royalist}} 

===August, 1917===
{{UK-Cordelia}} has replaced {{UK-Royalist}}.  This arrangement would last until November, 1918.{{SMNLAug16|p. 10, and following supplements}}
* {{UK-Calliope}} [[File:Com2RN.png|25px]] 
* {{UK-Cambrian}}
* {{UK-Caroline}}
* {{UK-Comus}} 
* {{UK-Constance}} 
* {{UK-Cordelia}} 

===November, 1918===
No changes since August 1917, but the formation is now under the command of Rear-Admiral [[Allan Frederic Everett]].  This arrangement would last until March 1919.{{SMNLNov18|p. 10, and following supplements}}
*{{UK-Calliope}}  [[File:RAdm.png|border|25px]]
*{{UK-Cambrian}}
*{{UK-Caroline}}
*{{UK-Comus}}
*{{UK-Constance}}
*{{UK-Cordelia}}

===March, 1919===

{{UK-Constance}} and {{UK-Cordelia}} have left, reducing strength to four light cruisers.  This arrangement would last just one month.{{SMNLMar19|p. 10}}
*{{UK-Calliope}}  [[File:RAdm.png|border|25px]]
*{{UK-Cambrian}}
*{{UK-Caroline}}
*{{UK-Comus}}

===April, 1919===

The formation appears to have been disbanded as part of the new, post-war reorganisation.

==In Command==
Dates of appointment given:
<div name=fredbot:office0 otitle="Rear-Admiral Commanding, Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{Com2RN}}|name=Charles Edward Le Mesurier|nick=Charles E. Le Mesurier|appt=15 May, 1915{{UKCeased|p. 26a}}|end=14 August, 1917{{UKCeased|p. 26a}}|as=Commodore 2nd Class Commanding, Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron|precBy=New Command}}
{{Tenure|rank={{Com2RN}}|name=Rudolf Walter Bentinck|nick=Rudolf W. Bentinck|appt=14 August, 1917{{UKCeased|p. 26a}}|end=26 October, 1918{{UKCeased|p. 26a}}|as=Commodore 2nd Class Commanding, Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Allan Frederic Everett|nick=Allan F. Everett|appt=26 October, 1918{{UKCeased|p. 26a}}|end=9 March, 1919{{UKCeased|p. 26a}}|succBy=Command Abolished}}
</div name=fredbot:office0>

==Second In Command==
Dates of appointment given:
<div name=fredbot:office1 otitle="Second-in-Command, Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=Cyril Samuel Townsend|nick=Cyril S. Townsend|appt=5 January, 1918<ref>Townsend Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/79.}} f. 98.</ref>|end=25 January, 1919<ref>Townsend Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/79.}} f. 98.</ref>}}
</div name=fredbot:office1>

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
{{refend}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

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

{{RNLightCruiserSquadrons|sort=4}}