Devonport Local Defence Flotilla

The Devonport Local Defence Flotilla was a Local Defence Flotilla in the Royal Navy stationed in Devonport at the Western end of the English Channel.

History

Test Mobilisation, July 1914

Four destroyers and eight torpedo boats participated in the Test Mobilisation.

September, 1914

The First Submarine Flotilla of two old "A" class submarines has joined, bringing the strength to four destroyers, eight torpedo boats and two submarines and their depot ship.

This roster would apply until February or March, 1915.

March, 1915

Destroyers Boyne and Foyle have come over following service in Home and Atlantic Waters, bringing the strength to six destroyers, eight torpedo boats and the two submarines with their depot ship.

This roster would apply until February, 1916.

February, 1916

The First Submarine Flotilla has been detached, eventually to reappear in September as part of the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla with different submarines, reducing the strength to six destroyers and eight torpedo boats.

This roster would apply until May.

May, 1916

Roebuck has been detached for just the month of May, temporarily reducing the strength to five destroyers and eight torpedo boats.

June, 1916

Roebuck has returned, bringing the strength back up to six destroyers and eight torpedo boats.

This roster would apply until April, 1917.

April, 1917

Foyle has been detached as the flotilla's first loss of the war after being mined and lost on 15 March, reducing the strength to five destroyers and eight torpedo boats.

This roster would apply until July.

July, 1917

The old 27 knotter Opossum has been detached, destined to return in October, reducing the strength to four destroyers and eight torpedo boats.

This roster would apply until September.

September, 1917

Boyne has been detached to join the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla, and patrol boats P 42 and P 56 have joined for just the month, bringing the strength to three destroyers, two patrol boats and eight torpedo boats.

Destroyers
	Bittern	Roebuck	Sunfish
Torpedo Boats
T.B. 054	T.B. 067	T.B. 074	T.B. 99	T.B. 104	T.B. 105
		T.B. 107	T.B. 108
Patrol Boats, tenders to Dreel Castle
		P 42	P 56

October, 1917

Opossum has returned, and patrol boats P 42 and P 56 have left to join the Milford and Pembroke Local Defence Flotilla, bringing the strength to four destroyers and eight torpedo boats.

This roster would apply until May, 1918, though in March, the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla arrived in Devonport with over thirty modern destroyers.

May, 1918

Bittern has been detached, reducing the flotilla's strength to three destroyers and eight torpedo boats, though the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla is still operating out of Devonport as well.

This roster would apply until X.

August, 1918

The 18th (Devonport) Fleet Sweeping Flotilla has been attached, bringing the flotilla's strength to three destroyers, eight torpedo boats and four minesweepers, though the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla is still operating out of Devonport as well.

Destroyers
	Opossum	Roebuck	Sunfish
Torpedo Boats
T.B. 054	T.B. 067	T.B. 074	T.B. 99	T.B. 104	T.B. 105
		T.B. 107	T.B. 108
18th (Devonport) Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
	Bootle	Craigie	Sutton	Fareham

This roster would last until sometime between September and November.

November, 1918

The 18th (Devonport) Fleet Sweeping Flotilla's units have changed and it has been temporarily detached to Granton, and a flotilla of submarines under Ambrose has joined in a "detached" state, bringing the strength to three destroyers, eight torpedo boats, seven submarines and four minesweepers. The Fourth Destroyer Flotilla is still operating out of Devonport as well.

Destroyers
	Opossum	Roebuck	Sunfish
Torpedo Boats
T.B. 054	T.B. 067	T.B. 074	T.B. 99	T.B. 104	T.B. 105
		T.B. 107	T.B. 108
18th (Devonport) Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
	Eglinton	Gatwick	Melton	Pontefract
Ambrose's Submarine Flotilla
L 1	L 2	L 3	L 4	L 5	L 6
L 7

December, 1918

The 18th (Devonport) Fleet Sweeping Flotilla appears to be no longer detached to Granton, an additional submarine has joined Ambrose's flotilla, which may no longer be in a "detached" state, bringing the strength to three destroyers, eight torpedo boats, eight submarines and four minesweepers. The Fourth Destroyer Flotilla is still operating out of Devonport as well.

Destroyers
	Opossum	Roebuck	Sunfish
Torpedo Boats
T.B. 054	T.B. 067	T.B. 074	T.B. 99	T.B. 104	T.B. 105
		T.B. 107	T.B. 108
18th (Devonport) Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
	Eglinton	Gatwick	Melton	Pontefract
Ambrose's Submarine Flotilla
L 1	L 2	L 3	L 4	L 5	L 6
		L 7	L 8

January, 1919

With the war over, work has shifted to mine clearing. The destroyers and torpedo boats are gone. The sweeping flotilla has been augmented by thirteen patrol boats for mine clearance and depot ship Apollo has come to help and monitor Marshal Soult is expected shortly, to be attached to H.M.S. Vivid.

Captains (D)

Dates of appointment given:

Bibliography

• Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
• March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892-1953. London: Seeley Service & Co. Limited. (on Bookfinder.com).