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The '''Grand Fleet''' was the British [[Royal Navy]]'s main naval fleet during the [[First World War]].  Its nemesis across the North Sea during the conflict was the German's opposing [[High Sea Fleet]].

==Background==
[[File:Grand Fleet Admirals 1916.jpg|thumb|right|512px|Grand Fleet flag officers at the fleet boxing championship, 3 August, 1916.  Left to right: Commodore, First Class [[Lionel Halsey]], Vice-Admiral [[Thomas Henry Martyn Jerram|Sir T. H. Martyn Jerram]], Admiral [[Cecil Burney, First Baronet|Sir Cecil Burney]], Rear-Admirals [[Herbert Leopold Heath|Herbert L. Heath]], [[Hugh Evan-Thomas]] and [[William Coldingham Masters Nicholson|William C. M. Nicholson]], and Vice-Admirals [[Charles Edward Madden, First Baronet|Sir Charles E. Madden]] and [[Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee|Sir F. C. Doveton Sturdee]].]]

Prior to the outbreak of war all British vessels in Home waters formed part of the [[Home Fleets (Royal Navy)|Home Fleets]], which was divided into three fleets.  The First Fleet was composed of ships in full commission; the Second Fleet of ships with 60% crews which could be manned by emptying the barracks and schools on shore; and the Third Fleet whose ships would be brought up to complement in an emergency.{{UKNSMonoX|pp. 3-4}}  On the outbreak of war with Germany the First Fleet become the "principal or Grand Fleet" directly under the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets.  His orders were:

<blockquote>To bring the enemy to battle on a good occasion, and to frustrate any efforts on his part, whether they are directed towards the landing of an invading or raiding force, or to the break-up of the patrol lines at the entrances to the North Sea.<ref>M-0053/15.  Dated July, 1914.  Copy in {{TNA|ADM 137/818.}}  f. 308.</ref></blockquote>

In 1914 no annual man&oelig;uvres were held.  Instead a Test Mobilisation of the Second and Third Fleets was performed between 19 and 25 July.  On 23 July the First Fleet proceeded to Weymouth Bay and on the 25 the Second and Fleets returned to their Home ports.  On 26 July the Admiralty ordered that no more ships of the First Fleet or flotillas were to leave Portland until further notice.  Long leave for officers and for second watches was cancelled, and the reopening of schools was postponed.  The Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets, [[George Astley Callaghan|Sir George A. Callaghan]], was ordered to report to the Admiralty in London in the evening of 28 July, and the following day the First Fleet was ordered to Scapa Flow under Vice-Admiral [[George John Scott Warrender, Seventh Baronet|Sir George J. S. Warrender, Bart.]], Vice-Admiral Commanding the {{UK-BS|2}}.  The Grand Fleet passed the Straits of Dover at Midnight on 29-30 July, and on 31 July Admiral Callaghan rejoined the fleet.{{UKNSMonoX|pp. 24-28}}

==War==
[[File:Flag Officers and Belgian Royalty.jpg|thumb|right|512px|The King and Queen of the Belgians on the Quarter Deck of the fleet flagship {{UK-QueenElizabeth}} in July, 1918.  Left to right: Rear-Admiral [[William Edmund Goodenough|Sir William E. Goodenough]], Vice-Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas, Admiral [[David Beatty, First Earl Beatty|Sir David R. Beatty]], King Albert of Belgium, Vice-Admiral [[John Michael de Robeck, First Baronet|Sir John M. de Robeck]], Elizabeth (Queen Consort of the Belgians), Rear-Admirals [[Richard Fortescue Phillimore|Sir Richard F. Phillimore]] and William Nicholson, and Vice-Admiral [[Osmond de Beauvoir Brock|Osmond de B. Brock]].<br><small>Photo: Imperial War Museum.</small>]]

By 20 August all dreadnoughts in the fleet had completed with ammunition up to 90 to 100 rounds per gun, and all had been painted light grey down to the upper deck.<ref>"Grand Fleet Operations - Narrative of Events."  Jellicoe Papers.  British Library.  Add MS. 48995.  f. 47.</ref>

==Jutland==
The fleet had the following stray ships attached to it for the battle:{{UKNavalOpsIII|p. 425}}
* {{UK-Oak|f=t}} {{LCommRN}} [[Douglas Faviell]], M.V.O. (tender to {{UK-IronDuke}})
* {{UK-Abdiel|f=t}}, fitted as a minelayer, {{CommRN}} [[Berwick Curtis]]
* {{UK-1Active|f=t}}, {{CaptRN}} [[Percy Withers]]
* {{UK-Campania|f=t}}, {{CaptRN}} [[Oliver Swann|O. Schwann]] (departed too late, recalled)
* kite balloon ship ''Menelaus'', {{CommRN}} [[Charles William Nicoll McCulloch|Charles W. N. McCulloch]] (could seemingly not be troubled to raise steam!)

==Post-Jutland==
Following the conference at Rosyth, on 23 September the Admiralty sent Jellicoe a letter entitled "Considerations as to the Employment of the <u>Grand Fleet</u> in the North Sea."<ref>Revised Final Form in {{TNA|ADM 196/1645.}}  ff. 350-355.</ref>

At the end of the letter direct reference was made to Jellicoe's letter of 30 October, 1914, and Their Lordships' approval of its contents at the time.  "Later experience has shown no reason to modify the approval then expressed."<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/1645.}}  f. 355.</ref>

The Grand Fleet ceased to exist on 7 April, 1919.  Its officers were thanked for their service, and they were discharged at full pay to their depots the following day, from there to be sent on leave.{{UKCeased|p. 1}}

==Commanders-in-Chief==

<div name=fredbot:office0 otitle="Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{AdmRN}}|name=John Rushworth Jellicoe, First Earl Jellicoe|nick=Sir John R. Jellicoe|appt=4 August, 1914<ref>Jellicoe Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/38.}} f. 693.</ref>|end=28 November, 1916<ref>Jellicoe Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/38.}} f. 693.</ref>|precBy=[[George Astley Callaghan|Sir George A. Callaghan]] as [[Home Fleets (Royal Navy)|Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets]]}}
{{Tenure|rank=Acting {{AdmRN}}|name=David Richard Beatty, First Earl Beatty|nick=Sir David R. Beatty|appt=28 November, 1916{{FC}}|succBy=Command Dispersed}}
</div name=fredbot:office0>

==Second-in-Command==

<div name=fredbot:office2IC otitle="Second-in-Command, Grand Fleet" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{ViceRN}}|name=Cecil Burney, First Baronet|nick=Cecil Burney|appt=28 August, 1915<ref>Burney Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/38.|D7578793}} f. 180.</ref>|end=28 November, 1916<ref>Burney Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/38.|D7578793}} f. 180.</ref>|precBy=New Command}}
{{Tenure|rank={{ViceRN}}|name=Charles Edward Madden, First Baronet|nick=Charles E. Madden|appt=28 November, 1916|end=7 April, 1919|succBy=Command Dispersed}}
</div name=fredbot:office2IC>

==Chiefs of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief==

<div name=fredbot:office1 otitle="Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{ViceRN}}|name=Charles Edward Madden, First Baronet|nick=Charles E. Madden|appt=4 August, 1914<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/87.}}  f. 124.</ref>|end=27 November, 1916<ref>Madden Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/87.}}  f. 124.</ref>|precBy=New Appointment}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Osmond de Beauvoir Brock|nick=Osmond de B. Brock|appt=28 November, 1916<ref>Brock Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}} f. 49.</ref>|end=7 APril, 1919<ref>Brock Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}} f. 49.</ref>|succBy=Position Abolished}}
</div name=fredbot:office1>

==Commodore of Flotillas, Grant Fleet==

<div name=fredbot:officeCF otitle="Commodore (F), Grand Fleet" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{Com2RN}}|name=James Rose Price Hawksley|nick=James R. P. Hawksley|appt=before June, 1916{{UKJutlandOD|p. 44}}}}
{{Tenure|rank={{Com2RN}}|name=Hugh Justin Tweedie|nick=Hugh J. Tweedie|appt=November, 1917<ref>Tweedie Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.|}} f. 332.</ref>|end=1 May, 1920<ref>Tweedie Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.|}} f. 332.</ref>}}
</div name=fredbot:officeCF>

==Captains of the Fleet==

<div name=fredbot:officeCaptF otitle="Captain of the Fleet, Grand Fleet" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank={{Com1RN}}|name=Allan Frederic Everett|nick=Allan F. Everett|appt=4 August, 1914|end=9 June, 1915<ref>Everett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 23.</ref>|precBy=[[Allan Frederic Everett|Allan F. Everett]] as Captain of the Fleet, Home Fleets}}
{{Tenure|rank={{Com1RN}}|name=Lionel Halsey|nick=Lionel Halsey|appt=June, 1915<ref>Halsey Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7576543}}  f. 243.</ref>|end=December, 1916<ref>Halsey Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|D7576543}}  f. 243.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=Hubert George Brand|nick=Hubert G. Brand|appt=December, 1916<ref>Brand Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 118.</ref>|end=6 March, 1919<ref>Brand Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 118.</ref>|succBy=Formation Disestablished}}
</div name=fredbot:officeCaptF>

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==Fleet Gunnery Officer==

<div name=fredbot:officeFGO otitle="Fleet Gunnery Officer, Grand Fleet" nat="UK">
</div name=fredbot:officeFGO>

==Fleet Torpedo Officer==

<div name=fredbot:officeFTO otitle="Fleet Torpedo Officer, Grand Fleet" nat="UK">
</div name=fredbot:officeFTO>

==Fleet Signal Officer==

<div name=fredbot:officeFSO otitle="Fleet Signal Officer, Grand Fleet" nat="UK">
</div name=fredbot:officeFSO>

==Fleet Navigation Officer==

<div name=fredbot:officeFNO otitle="Fleet Navigation Officer, Grand Fleet" nat="UK">
</div name=fredbot:officeFNO>
-->

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
*[[High Sea Fleet]]
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Fleet}}
{{refend}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{JellicoeGrandFleet}}
*{{UKNSMonoX}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Royal Navy Fleets]]
[[Category:Pages with Offices]]