Sixth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)

The Sixth Destroyer Flotilla was a formation of destroyers of the Royal Navy. The flotilla changed composition often as ships were damaged, retired or transferred.

On 1 November, 1911, the flotilla had eight 30-knotters and four 27-knotters at the Nore, two 30 knotters and four 27-knotters at Portsmouth, and four 27-knotters at Devonport.

In Command

Dates of appointment.

• Captain Mortimer L'E. Silver, 1 August, 1912 – 8 August, 1912  (temporary)
• Captain Charles D. Johnson, 29 August, 1913 – 12 December, 1916
• Captain Percy Withers, 7 January, 1917 – 10 January, 1918
• Captain Wilfred Tomkinson, 9 January, 1918 – 17 March, 1919
• Commander Roger L'E. M. Rede, 29 May, 1918 – 31 July, 1918  (temporary, during illness of Tomkinson)
• Captain The Hon. William S. Leveson-Gower, 1 January, 1919
• Captain Charles A. Fremantle, 1 January, 1921
• Captain Sidney J. Meyrick, 4 May, 1921 – 2 May, 1922
• Captain Sir Andrew B. Cunningham, 2 May, 1922 – 19 December, 1922
• Captain Eric G. Robinson, 19 December, 1922 – July, 1923
• Captain John C. Hodgson, August, 1923 – 31 December, 1924
• Captain Richard A. A. Plowden, 31 December, 1924 – 19 April, 1926
• Captain John C. Tovey, 19 April, 1926 – 10 January, 1927
• Captain Reginald V. Holt, 10 January, 1927 – 4 September, 1928
• Captain Tom S. V. Phillips, 4 September, 1928 – 24 April, 1930
• Captain Arthur J. L. Murray, 25 April, 1930 – 24 April, 1932
• Captain Henry D. Pridham-Wippell, 24 April, 1932 – April, 1933
• Captain Marshal L. Clarke, 27 May, 1935
• Captain Victor H. Danckwerts, 3 March, 1936 – April, 1938
• Captain Charles S. Daniel, 1 April, 1938 – late 1938^[Inference]  (vice Danckwerts)
• Captain Randolph S. G. Nicholson, 1 December, 1938 – 31 May, 1940
• Captain Clifford Caslon, 29 May, 1940 – 25 July, 1941
• Captain Donald K. Bain, 15 August, 1941 – 25 March, 1942
• Captain Peter D. H. R. Pelly, 6 October, 1950

History

In November 1912, four destroyers were to be given Destroyer W/T Sets, part of an initiative to equip 26 destroyers in three patrol flotillas.

At outbreak of war, the Patrol Flotilla was operating out of Portsmouth, with eleven "Tribals" (all but Nubian, acting as a tender at Excellent), three "B"s and nine "C"s under leaders Adventure and Active. Upon taking up war station at Dover, Nubian rejoined the flotilla.

In 1916, it was comprised of a mish-mash of types. Assorted old torpedo boats ran seventeen 18-in cold torpedoes that year that were 94% likely to endanger the enemy, while some P-boats' six 14-in runnings that year resulted in shots that were 83% likely to be dangerous to the enemy. The backbone, however, was comprised of River and Tribal class destroyers, whose ten 18-in Mark VII test-fired torpedoes were 70% likely to be dangerous to the enemy.

April, 1912

The Royal Navy's flotillas 1–8 were reorganised this month, leaving 6 D.F. as one of the four patrol flotillas provided with nucleus crews only. Her strength is now twenty-three older destroyers and three cruisers based on Portsmouth.

A Patrol Flotilla based at Portsmouth
Flagship
Topaze
Flotilla Cruisers
Sentinel			Skirmisher
Depot Ship
Valiant "or Dockyard store"
Destroyers
Bat	Kangaroo	Myrmidon	Peterel	Star
Syren	Falcon	Leven	Osprey	Gipsy
Ostrich	Fairy	Albacore	Bonetta	Crane
Fawn	Flirt	Flying Fish	Mermaid	Roebuck
	Greyhound	Cheerful	Racehorse

July, 1914

In July 1914, one source claims twelve "Tribal" class destroyers joined twelve 30 knotters at Dover to comprise the flotilla, but a more detailed primary source seems to indicate one fewer destroyer (Nubian is absent) led by three scout cruisers, with Attentive seeming to be the one acting as tender to the T.B.Ds..

A nearly identical list of ships participating in the Test Mobilisation differs only in that it has Sentinel rather than Foresight, and notes that Firedrake, Lurcher and Nubian were to join on Mobilisation.

Amazon, Crusader, Maori and Viking were undergoing refit in Chatham Royal Dockyard until 8 July, 1914.

September, 1914

The flotilla is one of four patrol flotillas in Home and Atlantic Waters, with no attached depot ship. A mix of twenty-four Tribals and 30 knotters make up the core.

October, 1914

The destroyer roster remains unchanged, but scout cruiser Sentinel has been transferred to the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla.

This roster lasted until November or December only.

December, 1914

The destroyer roster remains unchanged, but third class protected cruiser Sapphire has left, next to appear in Fifth Destroyer Flotilla in January, 1915.

This roster lasted until February or March, 1915.

March, 1915

The destroyer roster has been augmented by River Class destroyers Exe, Teviot and Ure as well as torpedo boats T.B. 4, T.B. 13, T.B. 15 and T.B. 24.

April, 1915

The destroyer roster has lost destroyers Exe and Teviot to the Portland Local Defence Flotilla.

This roster would last through May, 1915.

June, 1915

The flotilla is now part of the Dover Patrol. The destroyer roster has lost Maori to a mine on 7 May, and cruisers Foresight and Adventure to the Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron.

July, 1915

The flotilla now enjoys the support of the Menelaus, acting as a kit balloon ship.

August, 1915

The destroyer roster has lost Mohawk to repair mine damage sustained off Dover on June 1st. She was apparently not to return to service until August, 1916.

This roster was to remain in force until November, 1915.

November, 1915

The destroyer roster has dropped Zulu, though she was to return the next month. seaplane carrier Riviera has also joined. 95}}

December, 1915

Attentive is now flying the broad pendant of Commodore Charles Duncan Johnson, who took up duty in November, Zulu has returned to service after her one month hiatus and two gunboats have joined.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Cruiser, flying broad pendant
Attentive
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Cossack	Crane	Crusader	Falcon	Fawn
Flirt	Ghurka	Gipsy	Greyhound	Kangaroo	Leven	Mermaid
Myrmidon	Nubian	Racehorse	Saracen	Syren	Tartar	Ure
		Viking		Zulu
Torpedo Boats
	T.B. 4	T.B. 13	T.B. 15	T.B. 24
Kite Balloon Ship
Menelaus
Seaplane Carrier
Riviera
Gunboats
		Bustard		Excellent

January, 1916

Two more patrol boats have joined.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Cruiser, flying broad pendant
Attentive
Flotilla Leader
Swift
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Cossack	Crane	Crusader	Falcon	Fawn
Flirt	Ghurka	Gipsy	Greyhound	Leven	Mermaid
Myrmidon	Nubian	Racehorse	Saracen	Syren	Tartar	Ure
		Viking		Zulu
Torpedo and Patrol Boats
T.B. 4	T.B. 15	T.B. 24	P11	P17	P24
Kite Balloon Ship
Menelaus
Seaplane Carrier
Riviera
Gunboats
		Bustard		Excellent

This roster would last until March, 1915.

March, 1916

A fourth patrol boat has joined.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Cruiser, flying broad pendant
Attentive
Flotilla Leader
Swift
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Cossack	Crane	Crusader	Falcon	Fawn
Flirt	Ghurka	Gipsy	Greyhound	Leven	Mermaid
Myrmidon	Nubian	Racehorse	Saracen	Syren	Tartar	Ure
		Viking		Zulu
Torpedo and Patrol Boats
T.B. 4	T.B. 15	T.B. 24	P11	P12	P17	P24
Kite Balloon Ship
Menelaus
Seaplane Carrier
Riviera
Gunboats
		Bustard		Excellent

April, 1916

Menelaus has left, to be attached to the Grand Fleet in May and been replaced by the former fleet messenger ship, City of Oxford.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Cruiser, flying broad pendant
Attentive
Flotilla Leader
Swift
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Cossack	Crane	Crusader	Falcon	Fawn
Flirt	Ghurka	Gipsy	Greyhound	Leven	Mermaid
Myrmidon	Nubian	Racehorse	Saracen	Syren	Tartar	Ure
		Viking		Zulu
Torpedo and Patrol Boats
T.B. 4	T.B. 15	T.B. 24	P11	P12	P17	P24
Kite Balloon Ship
City of Oxford
Seaplane Carrier
Riviera
Gunboats
		Bustard		Excellent

May, 1916

Cossack, Greyhound, Saracen, Tartar, Viking have been detached for unknown purposes, though they would all eventually reattach. Kangaroo has returned.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Cruiser, flying broad pendant
Attentive
Flotilla Leader
Swift
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Crane	Crusader	Falcon	Fawn	Flirt
Ghurka	Gipsy	Kangaroo	Leven	Mermaid	Myrmidon	Nubian
	Racehorse	Syren	Ure	Zulu
Torpedo and Patrol Boats
T.B. 4	T.B. 15	T.B. 24	P11	P12	P17	P24
Kite Balloon Ship
City of Oxford
Seaplane Carrier
Riviera
Gunboats
		Bustard		Excellent

June, 1916

Cossack, Greyhound and Tartar have reattached after a one month hiatus.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Cruiser, flying broad pendant
Attentive
Flotilla Leader
Swift
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Cossack	Crane	Crusader	Falcon	Fawn
Flirt	Ghurka	Gipsy	Greyhound	Kangaroo	Leven	Mermaid
Myrmidon	Nubian	Racehorse	Syren	Tartar	Ure	Zulu
Torpedo and Patrol Boats
T.B. 4	T.B. 15	T.B. 24	P11	P12	P17	P24
Kite Balloon Ship
City of Oxford
Seaplane Carrier
Riviera
Gunboats
		Bustard		Excellent

July, 1916

Swift has been removed, to reappear in October. Falcon and P17 have been temporarily detached (they will rejoin in the coming month), and four more patrol boats have joined.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Cruiser, flying broad pendant
Attentive
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Cossack	Crane	Crusader	Fawn
Flirt	Ghurka	Gipsy	Greyhound	Kangaroo	Leven	Mermaid
Myrmidon	Nubian	Racehorse	Syren	Tartar	Ure	Zulu
Torpedo Boats
		T.B. 4	T.B. 15	T.B. 24
Patrol Boats
P11	P12	P19	P21	P23	P24	P34
Seaplane Carrier
Riviera
Gunboats
		Bustard		Excellent

August, 1916

City of Oxford has been removed, and Falcon and P17 have returned from their one month hiatus, as has Saracen, which had detached in May and Mohawk which left a considerable time ago.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Cruiser, flying broad pendant
Attentive
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Cossack	Crane	Crusader	Falcon	Fawn
Flirt	Ghurka	Gipsy	Greyhound	Kangaroo	Leven	Mermaid
Mohawk	Myrmidon	Nubian	Racehorse	Saracen	Syren	Tartar
		Ure		Zulu
Torpedo Boats
		T.B. 4	T.B. 15	T.B. 24
Patrol Boats
P11	P12	P17	P19	P21	P23	P24
P34
Seaplane Carrier
Riviera
Gunboats
		Bustard		Excellent

September, 1916

Falcon and Fawn have been removed.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Cruiser, flying broad pendant
Attentive
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Cossack	Crane	Crusader	Flirt	Ghurka
Gipsy	Greyhound	Kangaroo	Leven	Mermaid	Mohawk	Myrmidon
Nubian	Racehorse	Saracen	Syren	Tartar	Ure	Zulu
Torpedo Boats
		T.B. 4	T.B. 15	T.B. 24
Patrol Boats
P11	P12	P17	P19	P21	P23	P24
P34
Seaplane Carrier
Riviera
Gunboats
		Bustard		Excellent

October, 1916

Swift, Falcon, Fawn and Viking have returned, and it was noted that the two gunboats were "to pay off".

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Cruiser, flying broad pendant
Attentive
Flotilla Leader
Swift
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Cossack	Crane	Crusader	Falcon	Fawn
Flirt	Ghurka	Gipsy	Greyhound	Kangaroo	Leven	Mermaid
Mohawk	Myrmidon	Nubian	Racehorse	Saracen	Syren	Tartar
	Ure	Viking	Zulu
Torpedo Boats
		T.B. 4	T.B. 15	T.B. 24
Patrol Boats
P11	P12	P17	P19	P21	P23	P24
P34
Seaplane Carrier
Riviera
Gunboats
		Bustard*		Excellent*

November, 1916

The gunboats are now gone. Flirt was torpedoed and lost on 27 October.Lapwing and Phoenix, recently of the First Destroyer Flotilla have joined.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Cruiser, flying broad pendant
Attentive
Flotilla Leader
Swift
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Cossack	Crane	Crusader	Falcon	Fawn
Ghurka	Gipsy	Greyhound	Kangaroo	Lapwing	Leven	Mermaid
Mohawk	Myrmidon	Nubian	Phoenix	Racehorse	Saracen	Syren
	Tartar	Ure	Viking	Zulu
Torpedo Boats
		T.B. 4	T.B. 15	T.B. 24
Patrol Boats
P11	P12	P17	P19	P21	P23	P24
P34
Seaplane Carrier
Riviera

December, 1916

The flotilla leader Broke has joined from the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla as a second flotilla leader, and Acasta class destroyers Ambuscade, Paragon, Porpoise, Unity and Victor have joined from the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla.

Offsetting these additions, Ure has been removed, to appear in an escort flotilla operating out of Portsmouth in January. Nubian has been removed, following her torpedo damage on 27 October. P12, P19 and P34 have been removed to the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Cruiser, flying broad pendant
Attentive
Flotilla Leaders
		Swift		Broke
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Ambuscade	Cossack	Crane	Crusader	Falcon
Fawn	Ghurka	Gipsy	Greyhound	Kangaroo	Lapwing	Leven
Mermaid	Mohawk	Myrmidon	Paragon	Phoenix	Porpoise	Racehorse
Saracen	Syren	Tartar	Unity	Victor	Viking	Zulu
Torpedo Boats
		T.B. 4	T.B. 15	T.B. 24
Patrol Boats
	P11	P17	P21	P23	P24
Seaplane Carrier
Riviera

January, 1917

The flotilla receives an influx of leaders. Active has "temporarily" joined, recently of the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla. Faulknor has joined from the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla. Zulu has been removed in late reflection of her mining on 8 November; she was soon to be combined, in halves, with the Nubian to create a single replacement ship, Zubian.

March, 1917

Afridi Ghurka Greyhound have left temporarily, but would soon rejoin. Melpomene, Mentor, Meteor, and Morris have joined from the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla.

April, 1917

The flotilla gains tremendous strength with the arrival of Laertes, Landrail, Lark, Laverock, Linnet, Llewellyn, Lochinvar, Lucifer and Lydiard from the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla along with Mastiff, Mermaid, Moorsom and Myngs from the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla.

Recently detached Afridi and Greyhound have returned.

P50 has also joined.

Lapwing and Phoenix transferred out to Second Destroyer Flotilla.

Paragon and Myrmidon were removed, having been lost in a collision on 18 and 26 March, respectively. Ambuscade, Porpoise, Unity and Victor have left to join the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla.

May, 1917

Botha has joined as a fourth flotilla leader. T.B. 24 has been dropped, after a collision way back in January. Destroyer strength is now at 32. Lark and Linnet have left to join the First Destroyer Flotilla. Crusader, Llewellyn and Meteor have been dropped but would rejoin over the next two months. Tartar has been dropped, not to reappear until being attached in January to the Eleventh Submarine Flotilla. Matchless, Minos and Miranda recently of the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla have joined, as has the recently commissioned Nugent.

June, 1917

Destroyer strength has grown to 35. Crusader and Llewellyn have returned after a month off the roster. Lance, recently of the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla has joined, and Manly Mansfield Milne have joined from the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla. Landrail and Lydiard have left to join the escort flotilla at Portsmouth, and Laverock has left to join the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla.

July, 1917

T.B. 4 has been removed, and destroyer strength has been reduced to 34 by six departures and five arrivals.

Amazon has been removed from the roster for just this one month. Laertes, Lance and Lochinvar have transferred to the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla while Lucifer and Llewellyn have gone over to the First Destroyer Flotilla.

Meteor has returned from a short hiatus and Murray, North Star and Phoebe have come in from the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla. Lastly, the new Zubian, fashioned from the hulks of heavily damaged former flotilla members, has joined. P49 has joined.

August, 1917

Marksman has joined from the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla.

Amazon has returned from her one month unexplained absence.

Cossack has disappeared, not to reappear until March 1918 in the First Destroyer Flotilla.^{[Fact Check]}

Riviera is not listed, but appears next month.

P23 has gone to the Nore Local Defence Flotilla.

The strength is two cruisers, five leaders, thirty-four destroyers, a T.B. and six patrol boats.

September, 1917

Kempenfelt has joined, recently from the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla.

T.B. 4 has joined, and Riviera has reappeared.

The strength is two cruisers, six flotilla leaders, thirty-four destroyers, two T.B.s, six patrol boats and a seaplane carrier.

October, 1917

Flotilla leader Lightfoot has come from the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla and seventeen monitors and nine paddle mine sweepers have been attached.

The strength is two cruisers, seven flotilla leaders, thirty-four destroyers, two T.B.s, six patrol boats, seventeen monitors, nine paddle sweepers and a seaplane carrier.

November, 1917

Flotilla cruiser Active has detached temporarily to Queenstown, but is still administratively a member of the flotilla. Flotilla leader Lightfoot is now marked as being expected to join shortly.

Miranda has left to join the Second Destroyer Flotilla, and Mohawk has left to swap places with Termagant in the Tenth Submarine Flotilla. Trident has joined from the Eleventh Submarine Flotilla (or possibly the Thirteenth Submarine Flotilla. The monitors Roberts and Prince Rupert have left after just one month. Roberts has moved under the command of the Captain-in-Charge, Lowestoft, and Prince Rupert, perversely, to the Third Submarine Flotilla off the East Coast of England.

The strength is two cruisers, seven flotilla leaders, thirty-four destroyers, two T.B.s, six patrol boats, fifteen monitors, nine paddle sweepers and a seaplane carrier.

December, 1917

Flotilla cruiser Active has been removed, following her one month temporary detachment. She is now to be the temporary flagship of Queenstown's Southern Division of the Coast of Ireland Station. Flotilla leader Lightfoot is now fully a part of the flotilla. Miranda returned from her one month assignment to the Second Destroyer Flotilla, and Minos has been dispatched there in her place.

The strength is one cruiser, seven flotilla leaders, thirty-four destroyers, two T.B.s, six patrol boats, fifteen monitors, nine paddle sweepers and a seaplane carrier.

Riviera would detach in January, 1918, but remain an administrative member of the flotilla.

Apart from the detachment of Rivera in January, the flotilla would remain unaltered until February, 1918.

February, 1918

Riviera remains detached, and paddle sweepers Eglinton, Melton, Pontefract and Gatwick have left to join the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla.

The strength is one cruiser, seven flotilla leaders, thirty-four destroyers, two T.B.s, six patrol boats, fifteen monitors, five paddle sweepers and a seaplane carrier.

March, 1918

Another patrol boat has joined, paid off: P64. Viking has also paid off. Riviera remains detached.

Crane and Fawn have left to join the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla operating out of the Humber, and three newly-commissioned destroyers have joined: Velox, Warwick and Whirlwind.

The strength is one cruiser, seven flotilla leaders, thirty-five destroyers, two T.B.s, seven patrol boats, fifteen monitors, five paddle sweepers and a seaplane carrier.

April, 1918

Lightfoot, Marksman and Kempenfelt have left to join the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla as ordinary rank-and-file destroyers. To keep the Sixth's leadership up to strength, destroyers Velox, Warwick and Whirlwind are now being promoted to flotilla leaders.

Falcon was lost to a collision on 1 April and Greyhound has left to join the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla out of the Humber.

Panther and Violet have joined from the Nore Local Defence Flotilla.

Patrol boats P47, P48, P52 and P57 have joined, P48 doing so only temporarily.

P64 is no longer paid off, but Newbury is and Viking remains so. Riviera remains detached.

The strength is one cruiser, seven flotilla leaders, thirty-two destroyers, two T.B.s, eleven patrol boats, fifteen monitors, five paddle sweepers and a seaplane carrier.

May, 1918

Attentive has left and is listed as being on "miscellaneous service". Riviera has finally been removed from the formation and sent to the Mediterranean.

North Star was sunk by coastal artillery on 23 April. The newly-completed monitor Gorgon has joined.

Crusader and Racehorse have paid off, but Viking is no longer paid off. Newbury remains so.

The strength is seven flotilla leaders, thirty-one destroyers, two T.B.s, eleven patrol boats, fifteen monitors, five paddle sweepers, and a coast defence ship.

June, 1918

Cossack has joined from the First Destroyer Flotilla, and Senator and Sikh have joined, fresh from commissioning.

The paddle sweepers are now collectively referred to as the "Dover Fast Sweeping Flotilla", and they've lost Lingfield to the Coast of Ireland Station's "Kingstown Fast Sweeping Flotilla".

Mastiff and Syren have paid off. Crusader and Newbury remain paid off. Racehorse no longer is. P48's tenure here is no longer noted as being temporary.

The strength is seven flotilla leaders, thirty-four destroyers, two T.B.s, eleven patrol boats, fifteen monitors, five paddle sweepers, and a coast defence ship.

July, 1918

Mermaid has left to join the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla. P58 has joined.

Whirlwind and Manly have just paid off, and Crusader, Mastiff and Syren remain so. Newbury is no longer paid off and her sweeper flotilla seems to have a changing moniker.

The strength is seven flotilla leaders, thirty-three destroyers, two T.B.s, twelve patrol boats, fifteen monitors, four paddle sweepers, and a coast defence ship.

August, 1918

M.23 and M.25 have departed to join forces in the White Sea.

Only Warwick is paid off, newly.

The strength is seven flotilla leaders, thirty-three destroyers, two T.B.s, twelve patrol boats, thirteen monitors, four paddle sweepers, and a coast defence ship.

This arrangement would likely only last a moment, but the next Supplement available is from November, 1918.

November, 1918

The flotilla has been reduced significantly since August. Although Douglas has come in as flagship and Lingfield has returned, the rest is downsizing.

Senator and Sikh have left, slated to appear "shortly" with the Aegean Squadron.

Monitors General Craufurd, General Wolfe, Lord Clive, Prince Eugene and Marshal Soult have left to provide "miscellaneous service".

Faulknor, Meteor, M.21 and Plumpton have paid off. The other ships marked with an asterisk below are on loan to the Third Destroyer Flotilla.

The strength is a flagship, four flotilla leaders, thirty-one destroyers, two T.B.s, twelve patrol boats, eight monitors, five paddle sweepers, and a coast defence ship.

December, 1918

The flotilla is about a half of its strength a month ago.

Douglas has left after just one month to become flagship of the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla and flotilla leaders Botha and Swift have left to become leaders in the Twenty-first Destroyer Flotilla, bringing along Mansfield, Melpomene Milne, Miranda, Moorsom, Murray, Nugent and Phoebe.

Gipsy, Kangaroo, Leven, Racehorse and Syren are "on miscellaneous service" out of Portsmouth and Violet and Panther are doing so out of Devonport.

Faulknor and M.21 remain paid off.

The strength is two flotilla leaders, sixteen destroyers, two T.B.s, twelve patrol boats, eight monitors, five paddle sweepers, and a coast defence ship.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Leaders
Broke			Faulknor*
Whirlwind
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Cossack	Crusader	Manly	Mastiff
Matchless	Mentor	Meteor	Morris	Myngs	Saracen
	Termagant	Trident	Viking	Zubian
Monitors
	Erebus	Marshal Ney	Sir John Moore	Terror
	M.21*	M.24	M.26	M.27
Coast Defence Ship
Gorgon
Tenth Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
Chelmsford	Newbury	Plumpton*	Goodwood	Goodwood
Torpedo Boats
T.B. 4			T.B. 15
Patrol Boats
P11	P17	P21	P24	P47	P48
P49	P50	P52	P57	P58	P64

January, 1919

The war over, ships are being pared off and sent to their home ports. Faulknor is expected at Devonport "shortly".

Crusader is at Portsmouth "temporarily". Gorgon is just mentioned as a "miscellaneous ship in commission."

Five patrol boats have been removed to work at mine clearance P11 in Area 5, P24 in an unrecorded area, P47 in Area Z, and P48 and P49 in Area 4.

All eight monitors have been removed. Erebus, Marshal Ney, Sir John Moore and M.27 are expected at the Nore, Marshal Soult at Devonport (where she will attach to Vivid), and M.24 and M.26 at Portsmouth. M.21's disposition is not recorded.

Plumpton remains paid off.

The strength is one flotilla leader, fifteen destroyers, two T.B.s, seven patrol boats, and five paddle sweepers.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Leader
Broke
Whirlwind
Destroyers
Afridi	Amazon	Cossack	Manly	Mastiff	Matchless
Mentor	Meteor	Morris	Myngs	Saracen	Termagant
Trident		Viking		Zubian
Tenth Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
Chelmsford	Newbury	Plumpton*	Goodwood	Goodwood
Torpedo Boats
T.B. 4			T.B. 15
Patrol Boats
P17	P21	P50	P52	P57	P58
P64

February, 1919

Afridi, Cossack, Saracen, Viking and Zubian have left to join the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla in the Humber.

Mansfield, Melpomene, Murray, Milne and Moorsom have returned from the Twenty-first Destroyer Flotilla.

Plumpton remains paid off. A new flotilla of six minesweepers has been added.

The strength is one flotilla leader, sixteen destroyers, two T.B.s, seven patrol boats, and eleven paddle sweepers.

Part of the Dover Patrol
Flotilla Leader
Broke
Destroyers
Amazon	Manly	Mansfield	Mastiff	Matchless	Melpomene
Mentor	Meteor	Milne	Moorsom	Morris	Murray
	Myngs	Nugent	Termagant	Trident
Tenth Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
Chelmsford	Newbury	Plumpton*	Goodwood	Goodwood
Fifteenth Fleet Sweeping Flotilla
Ford	Gainsborough	Leamington	Munlochy	Pangbourne	Shrewsbury
Torpedo Boats
T.B. 4			T.B. 15
Patrol Boats
P17	P21	P50	P52	P57	P58
P64

March, 1919

The flotilla is disbanded in name, but a reduced set of ships are working with the "Dover Patrol Force".

The Tenth and Fifteenth Fleet Sweeping Flotillas remain at Dover in their previous form, but they not listed alongside the former Sixth D.F..

T.B. 4 and T.B. 15 have been sent into reserve at Devonport.

Amazon and P64 have been sent to the Humber for disposal.

Mansfield, Matchless, Melpomene, Milne, Myngs and Trident have been sent to the Nore.

Morris has been placed into reserve at an unspecified location.

The strength is one flotilla leader, eight destroyers and six patrol boats.

Part of the Dover Patrol Force
Flotilla Leader
Broke
Destroyers
Manly	Mastiff	Mentor	Meteor	Moorsom	Murray
Nugent			Termagant
Patrol Boats
P17	P21	P50	P52	P57	P58

April, 1919

Flotilla is Dis-established

Without a doubt, the formation is now disbanded. Only Murray, Nugent and Termagant remain at Dover engaged in active work with the six patrol boats.

Manly has been sent to the Firth of Forth Local Defence Flotilla.

Mastiff has gone to Portsmouth in unknown disposition, and Broke is there in reserve. Mentor, Meteor and Moorsom have been sent into reserve in Devonport.

January, 1921

The flotilla has been re-established at some point, as Stuart is noted as a leader.

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).