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The '''Harwich Force''' was a [[Royal Navy]] command during the [[First World War]], based on the East Anglian port of Harwich.
The '''Harwich Force''' was a [[Royal Navy]] command during the [[First World War]], based on the East Anglian port of Harwich.


It was sometimes referred to as the '''Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron'''.
==History==
The command was founded in April, 1914 as "Destroyer Flotillas of First Fleet," an administrative name it would sporadically bear for some time in the ''Navy Lists''.{{SMNLSep14|p. 6}}
 
From the outbreak of war, the Force was comprised of the {{UK-DF|3}} (re-designated as the {{UK-DF|9}} in September 1915) and the {{UK-DF|10}} equipped with fast and modern ships and the {{UK-LCS|5}}. 
 
Around March, 1917, the {{UK-DF|9}} would leave, but by this time 10 D.F. had been increased in strength to 27 destroyers whose modernity had been continuously refreshed.  5 L.C.S. would also be over twice as strong by this time, as well.
 
===May, 1915===
By May 1915, it was given the more aggressive-sounding name, '''Harwich Striking Force''', then having the {{UK-LCS|5}} with two light cruisers (with two others being completed) and two destroyer squadrons served by depot ship {{UK-Dido}}, two light cruisers and two other leaders (one being completed), giving it a total of four light cruisers and thirty-two [["L" Class Destroyer (1913)|"L"]] and [["M" Class Destroyer (1914)|"M" class destroyers]].{{SMNLMay15|p. 13}}
 
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (two light cruisers, two others being completed)
* {{UK-DF|3}} (one light cruiser, twenty "L" class, one "M" class)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, eleven "M" class)
 
===June, 1915===
The formations are now somewhat stronger.{{SMNLJun15|p. 13}}
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (four light cruisers)
* {{UK-DF|3}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, twenty "L" class destroyers)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, thirteen "M" class)
 
===July, 1915===
The formations are now somewhat stronger.{{SMNLJul15|p. 13}}
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (four light cruisers)
* {{UK-DF|3}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, twenty "L" class destroyers)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, fifteen "M" class destroyers plus one joining shortly, and the {{UK-Hope|f=cp}})
 
===August, 1915===
The stray destroyer from last month is not longer affiliated.{{SMNLAug15|p. 13}}
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (four light cruisers)
* {{UK-DF|3}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, twenty "L" class destroyers)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, fifteen "M" class destroyers plus one joining shortly)
 
===September, 1915===
10 D.F. has gained a division leader and the lagging {{UK-Melpomene|f=p}}.{{SMNLSep15|p. 13}}
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (four light cruisers)
* {{UK-DF|3}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, twenty "L" class destroyers)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, sixteen "M" class destroyers)
 
===October, 1915===
{{UK-DF|3}} has been replaced by {{UK-DF|9}} (largely, through re-naming), with three fewer "L" destroyers.  This strength would persist through October.{{SMNLOct15|p. 13, and subsequent ''Supplements''}}
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (four light cruisers)
* {{UK-DF|9}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, seventeen "L" class destroyers)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, sixteen "M" class destroyers)
 
===November, 1915===
5 L.C.S. has gained a seaplane carrier, and 9 D.F. has gained a destroyer.{{SMNLNov15|p. 13}}
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (four light cruisers, one seaplane carrier)
* {{UK-DF|9}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, eighteen "L" class destroyers)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, sixteen "M" class destroyers)
 
===Battle of Jutland===
:{{Main|Harwich Force at the Battle of Jutland}}
 
===April, 1917===
9 D.F. has left the Force.{{SMNLApr17|p. 13}}
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (eight light cruisers, one seaplane carrier)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, one divisional leader, twenty-seven "M" and "R" class destroyers)
 
===May, 1917===
10 D.F. has gained a second divisional leader and one more destroyer.{{SMNLMay17|p. 13}}
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (eight light cruisers, one seaplane carrier)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, two divisional leaders, twenty-eight "M" and "R" class destroyers)
 
===June, 1917===
10 D.F. has lost two destroyers in aggregate.{{SMNLJun17|p. 13}}
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (eight light cruisers, one seaplane carrier)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, two divisional leaders, twenty-six "M" and "R" class destroyers)
 
===July, 1917===
10 D.F. has gained a third divisional leader and lost two more destroyers, leaving it with only "R" class.  This strength and structure would last through at least August.{{SMNLJul17|p. 13 and August's Supplement}}
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (eight light cruisers, one seaplane carrier)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, three divisional leaders, twenty-four "R" class destroyers)
 
===September, 1917===
10 D.F. has lost another destroyer, leaving it with twenty-three "Rs".  This strength and structure would last through at least October.{{SMNLSep17|p. 13 and Supplements through November}}
 
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (eight light cruisers, one seaplane carrier)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, three divisional leaders, twenty-three "R" class destroyers)
 
===December, 1917===
10 D.F. gained another flotilla leader and destroyer.{{SMNLDec17|p. 13}}
 
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (eight light cruisers, one seaplane carrier)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, four divisional leaders, twenty-four "R" class destroyers)
 
===January, 1918===
5 L.C.S. gained another light cruiser and 10 D.F. lost three destroyers.{{SMNLJan18|p. 13}}
 
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (nine light cruisers, one seaplane carrier)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (one light cruiser, four divisional leaders with another expected to join soon, twenty-one "R" class destroyers)
 
===1 December, 1918===
 
* {{UK-LCS|5}} (ten light cruisers, one of which is paid off)
* {{UK-DF|10}} (four leaders, twenty-four modern destroyers)
* {{UK-FSF|6}} (four sweepers, operating out of Harwich)
* {{UK-FSF|20}} (four sweepers, operating out of Felixstowe)
 
==Rear-Admirals and Commodores Commanding==
The command was almost unique in having a single commander throughout the conflict.
 
Dates of appointment given:
<div name=fredbot:office0 otitle="Rear-Admiral Commanding, Harwich Force" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt, First Baronet|nick=Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt|appt=27 April, 1914{{SMNLJan15|p. 6}}|precBy=New Command|end=1 May, 1919<ref>Tyrwhitt Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 125.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=George Holmes Borrett|nick=George H. Borrett|appt=1 March, 1919<ref>Borrett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 505.</ref>|ass=1 May, 1919<ref>Predecessor struck his flag that day.  Tyrwhitt Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.|}}  f. 125.</ref>|end=23 August, 1919<ref>Borrett Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/88.}}  f. 134.</ref>}}
</div name=fredbot:office0>


==See Also==
==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harwich_Force}}
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harwich_Force}}
{{refend}}


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
Line 13: Line 120:
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


{{RNLightCruiserSquadrons|sort=5}}
{{CatNat|Naval Command|UK}}
[[Category:Pages with Offices]]

Latest revision as of 16:38, 4 May 2021

The Harwich Force was a Royal Navy command during the First World War, based on the East Anglian port of Harwich.

History

The command was founded in April, 1914 as "Destroyer Flotillas of First Fleet," an administrative name it would sporadically bear for some time in the Navy Lists.[1]

From the outbreak of war, the Force was comprised of the Third Destroyer Flotilla (re-designated as the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla in September 1915) and the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla equipped with fast and modern ships and the Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron.

Around March, 1917, the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla would leave, but by this time 10 D.F. had been increased in strength to 27 destroyers whose modernity had been continuously refreshed. 5 L.C.S. would also be over twice as strong by this time, as well.

May, 1915

By May 1915, it was given the more aggressive-sounding name, Harwich Striking Force, then having the Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron with two light cruisers (with two others being completed) and two destroyer squadrons served by depot ship Dido, two light cruisers and two other leaders (one being completed), giving it a total of four light cruisers and thirty-two "L" and "M" class destroyers.[2]

June, 1915

The formations are now somewhat stronger.[3]

July, 1915

The formations are now somewhat stronger.[4]

August, 1915

The stray destroyer from last month is not longer affiliated.[5]

September, 1915

10 D.F. has gained a division leader and the lagging H.M.S. Melpomene.[6]

October, 1915

Third Destroyer Flotilla has been replaced by Ninth Destroyer Flotilla (largely, through re-naming), with three fewer "L" destroyers. This strength would persist through October.[7]

November, 1915

5 L.C.S. has gained a seaplane carrier, and 9 D.F. has gained a destroyer.[8]

Battle of Jutland

Main article: Harwich Force at the Battle of Jutland

April, 1917

9 D.F. has left the Force.[9]

May, 1917

10 D.F. has gained a second divisional leader and one more destroyer.[10]

June, 1917

10 D.F. has lost two destroyers in aggregate.[11]

July, 1917

10 D.F. has gained a third divisional leader and lost two more destroyers, leaving it with only "R" class. This strength and structure would last through at least August.[12]

September, 1917

10 D.F. has lost another destroyer, leaving it with twenty-three "Rs". This strength and structure would last through at least October.[13]

December, 1917

10 D.F. gained another flotilla leader and destroyer.[14]

January, 1918

5 L.C.S. gained another light cruiser and 10 D.F. lost three destroyers.[15]

1 December, 1918

Rear-Admirals and Commodores Commanding

The command was almost unique in having a single commander throughout the conflict.

Dates of appointment given:

See Also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 6.
  2. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1915). p. 13.
  3. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). p. 13.
  4. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 13.
  5. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). p. 13.
  6. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). p. 13.
  7. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 13, and subsequent Supplements.
  8. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 13.
  9. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). p. 13.
  10. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1917). p. 13.
  11. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). p. 13.
  12. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1917). p. 13 and August's Supplement.
  13. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 13 and Supplements through November.
  14. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1917). p. 13.
  15. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1918). p. 13.
  16. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 6.
  17. ↑ Tyrwhitt Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 125.
  18. ↑ Borrett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 505.
  19. ↑ Borrett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 134.

Bibliography

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