Second Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)

The Second Destroyer Flotilla was a formation of destroyers of the Royal Navy.

History

18 May, 1906

The Flotilla had twelve destroyers, and was based at The Nore and assigned to the Channel Fleet alongside the similarly equipped First and Third Destroyer Flotillas.

Attached to the Channel Fleet
Destroyers
Earnest	Exe	Lively	Ness	Nith	Orwell
Seal	Sprightly	Swale	Thrasher	Ure	Wear

In August, 1907, the Second and the First Destroyer Flotilla transferred from the Home Fleet to the Channel Fleet.

From 1912 through at least 1916, it was comprised of Acorn class destroyers armed with the 21-in R.G.F. Mark II Torpedo. Their test runnings of the 21-in Mark II Torpedoes in the first half of 1916 resulted in 89% of the shots being dangerous to the enemy.

However, in September 1917, the flotilla ceased fleet operations and moved to Ireland where it became a sort of "Saturday Morning Breakfast Club" — its roster a large, ever-varying melange of mixed types, not of geeks, jocks and stoners, but of 30-knotters, Acorns and "R" class destroyers.

18 March, 1910

Part of the Second Division, Home Fleet. Comprised of a mixture of Rivers and older 30-knotters. Exe was temporarily reduced to nucleus crew manning.

Attached to Second Division, Home Fleet
Flagship
Bellona
Scouts
Foresight
Skirmisher
Depot Ship
Blake
Destroyers
Arab	Arun	Chelmer	Cherwell	Colne	Dee
Derwent	Doon	Erne	Ettrick	Exe	Flirt
Flying Fish	Foyle	Itchen	Jed	Kale	Kennet
Leven	Liffey	Moy	Ouse	Racehorse	Stour
Test

1 November, 1911

The flotilla was comprised of:

• Bellona (flag)
• Adventure, Attentive (scouts)
• Blake (depot ship)
• Four Beagles
• Twenty Acorns

April, 1912

The Royal Navy's flotillas 1–8 were reorganised this month, leaving the 2 D.F. with sixteen destroyers of mixed type and a pair of cruisers, all with full crews and based on Rosyth alongside the First Destroyer Flotilla.

A Flotilla at Rosyth
Flagship
Bellona
Flotilla Cruiser
Attentive
Depot Ship
Blake
Destroyers
Acorn	Alarm	Brisk	Larne	Lyra
Martin	Minstrel	Redpole	Rifleman	Ruby
Cameleon	Comet	Goldfinch	Nemesis	Nereide
Nymphe

October, 1913

The First, Second and Third Destroyer Flotillas arrived at Longhope on 30 September and departed on 6 October to participate in combined exercises with the First Fleet in the North Sea.

July, 1914

Part of the First Fleet, the Flotilla was now comprised of twenty Acorns under a cruiser. The Commodore (T) directed First Fleet's four flotillas from flagship third class protected cruiser Amethyst.

Flotilla Cruiser
Active
Depot Ship
Blake
Destroyers
Acorn	Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon	Comet
Fury	Goldfinch	Hope	Larne	Lyra
Martin	Minstrel	Nemesis	Nereide	Nymphe
Redpole	Rifleman	Ruby	Sheldrake	Staunch

September, 1914

The Flotilla is now one of four supporting the Home and Atlantic Waters under overall flotilla flagship light cruiser Arethusa.

Serving in Home and Atlantic Waters
Flotilla Cruiser
Active
Depot Ship
Blake
Destroyers
Acorn	Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon	Comet
Fury	Goldfinch	Hope	Larne	Lyra
Martin	Minstrel	Nemesis	Nereide	Nymphe
Redpole	Rifleman	Ruby	Sheldrake	Staunch

This roster would last just one month, as during the month, it was decided that Broke should join as the half-flotilla leader and be fitted with a Mark II W/T set, longer mast, No. 2 set of flags and two additional signal ratings.

October, 1914

Broke is now asterisked to join as second-in-command "when ready".

Serving in Home and Atlantic Waters
Flotilla Cruisers
	Active|	Broke*
Depot Ship
Blake
Destroyers
Acorn	Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon	Comet
Fury	Goldfinch	Hope	Larne	Lyra
Martin	Minstrel	Nemesis	Nereide	Nymphe
Redpole	Rifleman	Ruby	Sheldrake	Staunch

On 24 November, the flotilla was attached to the Grand Fleet and the leader changed to Fearless (arriving from First Destroyer Flotilla) while Active went off to undergo a refit.

December, 1914

Broke has finally joined as second-in-command, and Fearless has arrived from First Destroyer Flotilla.

Serving in Home and Atlantic Waters
Flotilla Cruisers
	Fearless|	Broke
Depot Ship
Blake
Destroyers
Acorn	Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon	Comet
Fury	Goldfinch	Hope	Larne	Lyra
Martin	Minstrel	Nemesis	Nereide	Nymphe
Redpole	Rifleman	Ruby	Sheldrake	Staunch

January, 1915

Galatea has joined as temporary flagship, and the assignment is more fully specified as being under the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets.

This roster would last until February or March.

March, 1915

Active is again flagship, with Broke as second-in-command. Though Goldfinch was wrecked on 19 February, she is still shown as attached.

Under Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets
Flotilla Cruisers
scout cruiser Active			flotilla leader Broke
Depot Ship
Blake
Destroyers
Acorn	Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon	Comet
Fury	Goldfinch	Hope	Larne	Lyra
Martin	Minstrel	Nemesis	Nereide	Nymphe
Redpole	Rifleman	Ruby	Sheldrake	Staunch

This roster would last just the month.

April, 1915

The Flotilla is now supporting the Grand Fleet. Goldfinch is belatedly removed following her wrecking on 19 February.

Part of the Grand Fleet
Flotilla Cruiser
Active
Flotilla Leader, Second-in-Command
Broke
Depot Ship
Blake
Destroyers
Acorn	Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon	Comet
Fury		Hope	Larne	Lyra
Martin	Minstrel	Nemesis	Nereide	Nymphe
Redpole	Rifleman	Ruby	Sheldrake	Staunch

This roster would last until September.

September, 1915

From this month, the asterisked ships are tenders to H.M.S. Vivid rather than Blake.

Part of the Grand Fleet
Flotilla Cruiser
Active
Flotilla Leader, Second-in-Command
Broke
Depot Ship
Blake
Destroyers
Acorn*	Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon	Comet*
Fury*		Hope*	Larne	Lyra
Martin	Minstrel	Nemesis	Nereide	Nymphe
Redpole*	Rifleman	Ruby	Sheldrake*	Staunch*

This roster would last just the month.

October, 1915

flotilla leader Tipperary has been slyly added to the ships tender to H.M.S. Vivid, though she is not denoted as having special status. The ships with Vivid, however, are now marked as being "detached from Grand Fleet".

Part of the Grand Fleet
Flotilla Cruiser
Active
Flotilla Leader, Second-in-Command
Broke
Depot Ship
Blake
Destroyers
Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon	Larne	Lyra	Martin
Minstrel	Nemesis	Nereide	Nymphe	Rifleman	Ruby

Temporarily Detached from Grand Fleet, tenders to H.M.S. Vivid
Tipperary
Acorn	Comet	Fury	Tipperary
Hope	Redpole	Sheldrake	Staunch

This roster would last just the month.

November, 1915

Tipperary's detached group has attracted more destroyers from the attached group, and Active has been removed for work "in Home Waters or on detached service".

Part of the Grand Fleet
Flotilla Leader, Second-in-Command
Broke
Depot Ship
Blake
Destroyers
Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon	Larne
Lyra	Martin	Nemesis	Nymphe

Temporarily Detached from Grand Fleet, tenders to H.M.S. Vivid
Flotilla Leader
Tipperary
Destroyers
Acorn	Comet	Fury	Hope	Minstrel
Nereide	Redpole	Rifleman	Ruby	Sheldrake	Staunch

This roster would last just the month.

December, 1915

The detached group has attracted two more destroyers from the attached group, and Comet, Fury, Redpole and Staunch have been transferred to the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterraean.

Part of the Grand Fleet
Flotilla Leader, Second-in-Command
Broke
Depot Ship
Blake
Destroyers
Alarm	Cameleon	Larne	Lyra	Nemesis	Nymphe

Temporarily Detached from Grand Fleet, tenders to H.M.S. Vivid
Flotilla Leader
Tipperary
Destroyers
Acorn	Brisk	Hope	Martin	Minstrel
Nereide	Rifleman	Ruby	Sheldrake

This roster would last just the month.

January, 1916

The detached group has seduced four more destroyers from the attached group, leaving a mere two behind. Acorn, Minstrel, Rifleman and Sheldrake have also been transferred to the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterraean.

Part of the Grand Fleet
Flotilla Leader, Second-in-Command
Broke
Depot Ship
Blake
Destroyers
		Nemesis	Nymphe

Temporarily Detached from Grand Fleet, tenders to H.M.S. Vivid
Flotilla Leader
Tipperary
Destroyers
Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon	Hope	Larne
Lyra	Martin	Nereide	Ruby

This roster would last just the month.

February, 1916

The starvation continues, and only a single destroyer remains in the group attached to the Grand Fleet. Larne and Nemesis appear to have gone missing in some administrative sense.

Part of the Grand Fleet

Flotilla Leader, Second-in-Command

Broke

Depot Ship

Blake

Destroyers

Nymphe

Temporarily Detached from Grand Fleet, tenders to H.M.S. Vivid
Flotilla Leader
Tipperary
Destroyers
Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon	Hope
Lyra	Martin	Nereide	Ruby

March, 1916

With depot ship Blake, it appears that Broke alone is still supporting the Grand Fleet. Larne and Nemesis have re-appeared in the detached group, but Nymphe is not mentioned, and trusty Tipperary has gone off to join the Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron.

Part of the Grand Fleet

Flotilla Leader, Second-in-Command

Broke

Depot Ship

Blake

Temporarily Detached from Grand Fleet, tenders to H.M.S. Vivid
Destroyers
Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon	Hope	Lyra
Martin	Nereide	Ruby	Larne	Nemesis

April, 1916

The Flotilla has been removed from its place in the Grand Fleet, but with Nymphe back in the roster, the formation is now eleven destroyers under orders of Captain-in-Charge, Devonport with no mention of a depot ship or leaders. The format is not clear, but the flotilla may be under overall command of the Admiral of Minesweeping.

This roster would last until June. In May, it was noted that the flotilla was temporarily tender to Vernon.

June, 1916

Under orders of Commander-in-Chief, Devonport (under overall command of the Admiral of Minesweeping) with no mention of a depot ship or leaders, Nymphe has again gone missing.

This roster would last just the month.

July, 1916

The Acheron class destroyer Tigress has joined from the First Destroyer Flotilla.

This roster would last until September.

September, 1916

The second class protected cruiser Eclipse has joined, bearing a Captain (D).

Under orders of Commander-in-Charge, Devonport
Flotilla Cruiser, Captain (D)
Eclipse
Destroyers
Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon	Hope	Lyra	Martin
Nereide	Ruby	Nemesis	Larne	Tigress

October, 1916

Under orders of Commander-in-Chief, Devonport (under overall command of the Admiral of Minesweeping) with no mention of a depot ship or leaders, Hope has left for an undiscovered appointment.

Under orders of Commander-in-Charge, Devonport
Flotilla Cruiser, Captain (D)
Eclipse
Destroyers
Alarm	Brisk	Cameleon		Lyra	Martin
Nereide	Ruby	Nemesis	Larne	Tigress

November, 1916

The destroyer Hope has magically returned and seven Acheron class destroyers (Acheron, Archer, Ariel, Attack, Goshawk, Hydra and Lizard) have arrived from the First Destroyer Flotilla.

December, 1916

Cameleon, Nereide, Larne, Nemesis have been sent to join the Adriatic Squadron.

Under orders of Commander-in-Charge, Devonport
Flotilla Cruiser, Captain (D)
Eclipse
Destroyers
Acheron	Alarm	Archer	Ariel	Attack	Brisk	Lyra
Hope	Martin	Goshawk	Ruby	Hydra	Lizard	Tigress

Some blessed level of stability was finally found, as this roster would last until April, 1917.

April, 1917

Lapwing and Phoenix have joined from the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla.

Under orders of Commander-in-Charge, Devonport
Flotilla Cruiser, Captain (D)
Eclipse
Destroyers
Acheron	Alarm	Archer	Ariel	Attack	Brisk	Goshawk	Hope
Hydra	Lapwing	Lizard	Lyra	Martin	Phoenix	Ruby	Tigress

May, 1917

Hydra has been detached.

Under orders of Commander-in-Charge, Devonport
Flotilla Cruiser, Captain (D)
Eclipse
Destroyers
Acheron	Alarm	Archer	Ariel	Attack	Brisk	Goshawk	Hope
	Lapwing	Lizard	Lyra	Martin	Phoenix	Ruby	Tigress

This roster would last just the month.

June, 1917

Jackal and Badger have joined from an escort flotilla in Portsmouth.

This roster would last just the month.

July, 1917

Hydra has returned.

This roster would last until September, 1917.

September, 1917

A new epoch dawned for the flotilla in September, as it has been moved to the Northern Division of Ireland Station, headquartered at Buncrana. The cruiser has left with four destroyers: Eclipse, Ariel, Attack, Goshawk, Lyra and Tigress have been sent to the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla.

A number of "M" class destroyers have arrived: Mandate, Martial, Michael and Milbrook from the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla, and Pelican from the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla, as well as Ossory and Marne which had been with the Eleventh in July. Finally, Nicator and Portia joined from a miasma of ships already puttering about Buncrana. A pair of 30-knotters and "R" class also joined, tendered to different vessels.

Northern Division, Coast of Ireland Station (Buncrana)
Depot Ship
Hecla
Destroyers
Alarm	Brisk	Badger	Hope	Jackal	Lapwing
Lizard	Martin	Ossory	Ruby	Mandate	Portia
Marne	Martial	Michael	Milbrook	Nicator	Pelican
Tenders to Sandhurst loaned from Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla
Restless			Rob Roy
Tenders to Thetis
Thorn			Wolf

October, 1917

The large roster continues to change, bringing in an even greater diversity of types — a culture conducive to patrol and escort operations but not fleet work.

Grasshopper, Beagle, Harpy, Scourge and Wolverine fresh from the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, as well as Foxhound recently of that flotilla.

A number of "M" class destroyers also joined: Moresby from the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla, Orestes from the Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla, while sister Miranda was to arrive "shortly" from the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla.

Rob Roy has bucked the trend by departing to the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla.

Northern Division, Coast of Ireland Station (Buncrana)
Depot Ship
Hecla
Destroyers
Alarm	Brisk	Badger	Beagle	Foxhound
Grasshopper	Harpy	Hope	Jackal	Lapwing
Martin	Ossory	Ruby	Mandate	Portia
Marne	Martial	Michael	Milbrook	Miranda*
Moresby	Nicator	Pelican	Scourge	Wolverine
Tenders to Greenwich loaned from Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla
Orestes
Tenders to Sandhurst loaned from Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla
Restless
Tenders to Thetis
	Thorn		Wolf

On 2 October 1917, Brisk struck a mine while moving to assist the torpedoed armoured cruiser Drake.

November, 1917

Seven destroyers have left while three joined, and Miranda still seems slow to actually join.

Destroyers Jackal, Lapwing and Ruby have moved over to the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla and Alarm and Hope would re-appear there a month later. Orestes has departed to the Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla and Restless to the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla.

Some old destroyers have come in from the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, Bulldog freshly so, and Mosquito and Racoon after two months seemingly lost in the paperwork.

Northern Division, Coast of Ireland Station (Buncrana)
Depot Ship
Hecla
Destroyers
Badger	Beagle	Brisk	Bulldog	Foxhound
Grasshopper	Harpy	Martin	Ossory	Mandate
Portia	Marne	Martial	Michael	Milbrook
Miranda*	Moresby	Mosquito	Nicator	Pelican
	Racoon	Scourge	Wolverine
Tenders to Thetis
	Thorn		Wolf

December, 1917

Three destroyers have left while five have joined.

Brisk has been removed, presumably as she is having her mine damage repaired — she would return in March, 1918. Martin has gone, to appear in January in the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla. Miranda has gone directly to the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla.

Minos will be joining "shortly" from the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla. Savage joined from the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, and Express and Osprey from the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla.

Pigeon also joined, recently of the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla.

Northern Division, Coast of Ireland Station (Buncrana)
Depot Ship
Hecla
Destroyers
Badger	Beagle	Bulldog	Foxhound	Grasshopper
Harpy	Ossory	Mandate	Portia	Marne
Martial	Michael	Milbrook	Minos*	Moresby
Mosquito	Nicator	Pelican	Pigeon	Racoon
	Savage	Scourge	Wolverine
Tenders to Thetis
Express	Thorn		Wolf	Osprey

January, 1918

Wolverine has been removed after being sunk in a collision in December, and Pincher and Rattlesnake have joined from the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, although Rattlesnake's arrival will occur "shortly".

Northern Division, Coast of Ireland Station (Buncrana)
Depot Ship
Hecla
Destroyers
Badger	Beagle	Bulldog	Foxhound	Grasshopper
Harpy	Ossory	Mandate	Portia	Marne
Martial	Michael	Milbrook	Minos*	Moresby
Mosquito	Nicator	Pelican	Pigeon	Pincher
Racoon	Rattlesnake*	Savage	Scourge
Tenders to Thetis
Express	Thorn		Wolf	Osprey

February, 1918

Rattlesnake has detached, eventually to re-appear in the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla in April, while Grampus and Scorpion have joined from the Mediterranean Fleet, although Grampus will actually join "shortly" (although Minos has now joined).

March, 1918

Brisk has rejoined in a paid off condition following her mining, and Grampus still has yet to join. Mosquito has paid off, and Racoon has been detached as she wrecked on 9 January. The second depot ship has changed, as well.

April, 1918

Badger has disappeared, not to re-appear until August in the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla at Brindisi. Basilisk will soon be joining from the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, Manners from the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla and Mons from the Third Destroyer Flotilla. The resulting flotilla was as follows.

May, 1918

Six more "M" class destroyers have joined: Magic, Medway, Mounsey and Mystic from the Third Destroyer Flotilla, Mindful from the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla and Musketeer from the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla. Basilisk is now marked as paid off, and also still yet to actually join. Brisk remains paid off and Grampus has still not actually joined.

June, 1918

Eleven destroyers have departed: Beagle, Bulldog, Foxhound, Grasshopper, Harpy, Mosquito, Pincher, Savage, Scorpion and Scourge to the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla, and Brisk to the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla. Basilisk, Grampus and Magic are paid off.

Northern Division, Coast of Ireland Station (Buncrana)
Depot Ship
Hecla
Destroyers
Basilisk*	Grampus*	Magic*	Mandate	Manners
Marne	Martial	Medway	Michael	Milbrook
Mindful	Minos	Mons	Moresby	Mounsey
Mystic	Musketeer	Nicator	Ossory	Pelican
	Pigeon		Portia
Tenders to Template:UK-Vigorous
Express	Thorn		Wolf	Osprey

July, 1918

Astonishingly, the roster remains unchanged. Basilisk and Grampus are no longer paid off; Magic remains so.

Northern Division, Coast of Ireland Station (Buncrana)
Depot Ship
Hecla
Destroyers
Basilisk	Grampus	Magic*	Mandate	Manners
Marne	Martial	Medway	Michael	Milbrook
Mindful	Minos	Mons	Moresby	Mounsey
Musketeer	Mystic	Nicator	Ossory	Pelican
	Pigeon		Portia
Tenders to Template:UK-Vigorous
Express	Thorn		Wolf	Osprey

August, 1918

Magic remains paid off. Renard from the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla is added, to join "shortly".

Northern Division, Coast of Ireland Station (Buncrana)
Depot Ship
Hecla
Destroyers
Basilisk	Grampus	Magic*	Mandate	Manners
Marne	Martial	Medway	Michael	Milbrook
Mindful	Minos	Mons	Moresby	Mounsey
Musketeer	Mystic	Nicator	Ossory	Pelican
	Pigeon	Portia	Renard*
Tenders to Template:UK-Vigorous
Express	Thorn		Wolf	Osprey

Given the variability of this flotilla, this roster likely changed in September, but the next Supplement available to me is for November.

November, 1918

Magic remains paid off; Milbrook is, also. Sometime after August, Beagle and Foxhound joined from the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla, and Rattlesnake from the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla. Additionally, Marne, Medway, Michael, Mystic, Nicator and Pelican are marked as being on loan to the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla which is operating with the Grand Fleet.

Northern Division, Coast of Ireland Station (Buncrana)
Depot Ship
Hecla
Destroyers
Basilisk	Beagle	Foxhound	Grampus	Magic*
Mandate	Manners	Marne*	Martial	Medway*
Michael*	Milbrook	Mindful	Minos	Mons
Moresby	Mounsey	Musketeer	Mystic*	Nicator*
	Ossory	Pelican*	Pigeon
	Portia	Rattlesnake	Renard
Tenders to Template:UK-Vigorous
Express	Thorn		Wolf	Osprey

December, 1918

Magic and Milbrook remain paid off; Mounsey now is, also. The six destroyers on loan to the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla appear to be back. Wolf has been dropped, and seemingly has vanished from the Navy List for undiscovered reasons.

January, 1919

With the war over, the ships have been ordered to Home Ports, though a few remain here. Magic and Mounsey remain paid off, though Milbrook does not. Depot ship Hecla, Basilisk, Beagle, Foxhound, Renard, Manners, Moresby and Pigeon have gone to the Nore, Rattlesnake, Medway, Nicator have gone to Portsmouth, Mandate, Marne, Martial, Mindful, Mons, Musketeer, Ossory and Portia to Devonport.

Northern Division, Coast of Ireland Station (Buncrana)
Destroyers
Grampus	Minos	Magic*	Mounsey*	Michael
	Mystic*	Milbrook	Pelican
Tenders to Template:UK-Vigorous
	Express	Thorn	Osprey

February, 1919

The Flotilla no longer appears in the Navy List. Presumably, the other ships have also been ordered to Home Ports. Express and Grampus went to the Nore, Minos to Portsmouth, and Milbrook, Mounsey, Mystic to Devonport, with Magic, Michael and Pelican soon to follow them. The wartime history of the flotilla was at an end.

March, 1919

The formation has returned to life as one of seven new Grand Fleet flotillas for the post-war navy, crafted from a pair of leaders, a depot ship and 16 ultra-modern destroyers.

Supporting the Grand Fleet one of seven modern flotillas
Flotilla Leader, Captain (D)
Spenser
Division Leader
Shakespeare
Depot Ship
Sandhurst
Destroyers
Vidette	Valentine	Vectis	Vega	Venetia	Verulam
Vesper	Vimiera	Violent	Walpole	Windsor	Wessex
	Wolfhound	Westminster	Winchelsea	Westcott

[TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]

In Command

Dates of appointment given:

• Captain Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair, 5 January, 1909 – 7 February, 1911
• Captain The Hon. Hubert G. Brand, 7 February, 1911
• Captain Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, 10 August, 1912 – 1 December, 1913
• Captain James U. Farie, 1 December, 1913 – 11 March, 1914
• Captain James R. P. Hawksley, 11 March, 1914 – 1915
• Captain John B. Sparks, 12 October, 1915 – October, 1919
• Captain Colin K. MacLean, 1 March, 1919 – 29 April, 1920
• Captain Humphrey T. Walwyn, 29 April, 1920 – 9 May, 1922
• Captain Roger L'E. M. Rede, 9 May, 1922 – 1 November, 1923
• Captain Eric G. Robinson, 1 November, 1923 – 30 May, 1925
• Captain George H. D'O. Lyon, 30 May, 1925 – 7 May, 1927
• Captain Montague G. B. Legge, 2 May, 1927 – 19 December, 1928
• Captain William J. Whitworth, 19 December, 1928 – February, 1931
• Captain Alfred H. Taylor, 5 July, 1931 – 12 May, 1932
• Captain Edye K. Boddam-Whetham, 26 May, 1932 – August, 1934
• Captain Cedric S. Holland, August, 1934 – 12 January, 1937
• Captain Denis W. Boyd, 7 October, 1936 – 25 February, 1938
• Captain Ralph Kerr, 25 February, 1938 – 28 July, 1939
• Captain Bernard A. W. Warburton-Lee, 28 July, 1939 – 10 April, 1940  (killed while in this post)
• Commander Arthur N. Rowell,  – c. 1940  (temporary?)
• Captain Hugh St. L. Nicolson, c. 1940 – 19 October, 1942  (vice Rowell)
• Captain James A. McCoy, 6 September, 1942 – 12 March, 1943  (vice Nicolson)

Second in Command

Dates of appointment given:

• Captain Richard J. R. Scott, February, 1930

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).
• Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations. Vol. V. London: Longmans, Green and Co..