Difference between revisions of "Third Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)"

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to: navigation, search
m (→‎December, 1914)
Line 85: Line 85:
 
|align=center|{{UK-Louis}}||align=center|{{UK-Loyal}}||align=center|{{UK-Lucifer}}||align=center|{{UK-Lydiard}}||align=center|{{UK-Lysander}}
 
|align=center|{{UK-Louis}}||align=center|{{UK-Loyal}}||align=center|{{UK-Lucifer}}||align=center|{{UK-Lydiard}}||align=center|{{UK-Lysander}}
 
|-
 
|-
−
|align=center|{{UK-Minos}}||align=center|{{UK-Mastiff}}||align=center|{{UK-Marly}}||align=center|{{UK-Milne}}
+
|align=center|{{UK-Minos}}||align=center|{{UK-Mastiff}}||align=center|{{UK-Manly}}||align=center|{{UK-Milne}}
 
|}
 
|}
  

Revision as of 09:59, 13 January 2013

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

Originally the Nore Destroyer Flotilla, composed of nucleus crew vessels, it became the Third Destroyer Flotilla in April, 1910.[1]

Operations

Based in Harwich with fifteen "L" class destroyers (soon growing to 20) under flagship scout cruiser Amphion at the start of the war,[2] Lance and Landrail fired the first shots of the war against German minelayer Konigen Luise on 5 August. Amphion was sunk as she returned to port.[3] Commodore (T) was in the third class protected cruiser Amethyst.[4]

At 7 AM of 28 August, acting in concert with First Destroyer Flotilla in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, destroyers Laertes, Laurel, Liberty, and Lysander torpedoed light cruiser Mainz. Only Lysander avoided receiving significant damage.[5]

In September 1914, it was decided that an M class destroyer (apparently, Miranda was selected[6]) 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. Additionally, Undaunted would replace Amphion as flotilla leader.[7]

In September-October, 1915, the Third Destroyer Flotilla became the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla. However, it was to return.

Composition

1 November, 1911

The flotilla was comprised of:[8]

The following year, it was largely comprised of Beagles.

July, 1914

Part of the First Fleet, the Flotilla was now comprised of sixteen "L" class destroyers (at least three very recently added) under scout cruiser Amphion with depot ship Dido. The Commodore (T) directed First Fleet's four flotillas from the flagship, third class protected cruiser Amethyst. Its composition during the Test Mobilisation of July 1914 was as follows.[9]

scout cruiser Amphion
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail
Lark Laurel Lawford Legion
Lennox Liberty Linnet Llewellyn
Louis Loyal Lydiard Lysander

September, 1914

The flotilla was one of four supporting the Home and Atlantic Waters, supported by depot ship Dido. It continued to be composed of "L" class destroyers, but was also being used as a temporary roost for newly-completed "M" class units. Faulknor has replaced Amphion, as it was lost early in August. Joining some time after July were Leonidas, Lookout, Lucifer and Miranda. Meteor was added as well, though she was not yet ready.[10]

destroyer Faulknor
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail Lark
Laurel Lawford Legion Lennox Leonidas
Liberty Linnet Llewellyn Lookout Louis
  Loyal Lucifer Lydiard
  Lysander Miranda Meteor*

This roster would change in the next month.

October, 1914

The flotilla was one of four supporting the Home and Atlantic Waters, supported by depot ship Dido. Faulknor has moved out to the First Destroyer Flotilla, replaced by Undaunted. Miranda has been promoted to the role of second-in-command, and Meteor has left, soon to provide the same service in the First Destroyer Flotilla. Laverock has joined.[11][12]

light cruiser Undaunted   Miranda, 2nd in command
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail Lark
Laurel Laverock Lawford Legion Lennox
Leonidas Liberty Linnet Llewellyn Lookout
Louis Loyal Lucifer Lydiard Lysander

December, 1914

The flotilla was one of four supporting the Home and Atlantic Waters, supported by depot ship Dido. Four "M" class destroyers have been added, though they were destined for the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla some time in January or February.[13][14]

light cruiser Undaunted   Miranda, 2nd in command
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail Lark
Laurel Laverock Lawford Legion Lennox
Leonidas Liberty Linnet Llewellyn Lookout
Louis Loyal Lucifer Lydiard Lysander
Minos Mastiff Manly Milne

This roster would apply until February or March, 1915.

March, 1915

Now the flotilla was one of three supporting the Home and Atlantic Waters, supported by depot ship Dido. With the departure of the "M class ships, the roster is again the same as in October/November.[15]

light cruiser Undaunted   Miranda, 2nd in command
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail Lark
Laurel Laverock Lawford Legion Lennox
Leonidas Liberty Linnet Llewellyn Lookout
Louis Loyal Lucifer Lydiard Lysander

April, 1915

The flotilla has been moved en masse to join the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla as part of the Harwich Striking Force, both flotillas sharing the depot ship Dido and under the command of Commodore (T) in light cruiser Arethusa. The roster is otherwise the same.[16]

light cruiser Undaunted   Miranda, 2nd in command
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail Lark
Laurel Laverock Lawford Legion Lennox
Leonidas Liberty Linnet Llewellyn Lookout
Louis Loyal Lucifer Lydiard Lysander

This roster and tasking would last until June, 1915.[17]

June, 1915

Part of the Harwich Striking Force, with the depot ship Dido and under the command of Commodore (T) in light cruiser Arethusa. Miranda has been replaced as second-in-command and gone to the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla, replaced by Tipperary, which either just completed or bounced over from a very brief tenure with the Tenth.[18]

light cruiser Undaunted flotilla leader Tipperary, 2nd in command
Laertes Laforey Lance Landrail Lark
Laurel Laverock Lawford Legion Lennox
Leonidas Liberty Linnet Llewellyn Lookout
Louis Loyal Lucifer Lydiard Lysander

This roster and tasking would last until October, 1915.[19][20][21]

October, 1915

Part of the Harwich Striking Force, with the depot ship Dido and under the command of Commodore (T) in light cruiser Arethusa. Tipperary has been replaced as second-in-command, eventually to go to the Second Destroyer Flotilla. She has been replaced by flotilla leader Lightfoot, which probably just entered service.Laforey, Lawford, Louis and Lydiard have been sent over to the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, and the newly-completed Lassoo has been added.[22]

light cruiser Undaunted flotilla leader Lightfoot, 2nd in command
Laertes Lance Landrail Lark Lassoo
Laurel Laverock Legion Lennox Leonidas
Liberty Linnet Llewellyn Lookout Loyal
  Lucifer   Lysander

This roster and tasking would last until X.

[TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]

July, 1918

The Flotilla appears quite small at this point, one of six attached to the Grand Fleet under overall command of Commodore (F) in Castor. The flotilla is tender to depot ship Woolwich, in which the Captain (D) was posted.[23]

Captains (D)

Dates of appointment given:

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 20 April, 1910. Issue 39251, col A, p. 9.
  2. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 15.
  3. ↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 141.
  4. ↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 164.
  5. ↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 141.
  6. ↑ Grand Fleet Conferences, 1914. p. 218.
  7. ↑ Grand Fleet Conferences, 1914. p. 104.
  8. ↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 160.
  9. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 109 of 10 July 1914.
  10. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 11.
  11. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 11.
  12. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 11.
  13. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 11.
  14. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 11.
  15. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 11.
  16. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 13.
  17. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1915). p. 13.
  18. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). p. 13.
  19. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 13.
  20. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). p. 13.
  21. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). p. 13.
  22. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). pp. 13, 20.
  23. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (July, 1918). p. 12.
  24. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 2 June, 1909. Issue 38975, col B, p. 9.
  25. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 26 July, 1912. Issue 39961, col C, p. 12.
  26. ↑ "Movements of Ships" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 28 March, 1913. Issue 40171, col E, p. 6.
  27. ↑ Navy List (October, 1915). p. 398s.
  28. ↑ Navy List (November, 1917). p. 395a.

Bibliography

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

See Also


British Destroyer Flotillas
First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth | Sixth | Seventh | Eighth | Ninth | Tenth
Eleventh | Twelfth | Thirteenth | Fourteenth | Fifteenth | Sixteenth | Seventeenth | Eighteenth | Nineteenth
Twentieth | Twenty-first
Local Defence Flotillas
Clyde | Devonport | Devonport & Falmouth | Falmouth | Firth of Forth | Gibraltar
Liverpool | Mersey | Newhaven | Nore | North Channel | Milford & Pembroke | Pembroke
Portland | Portsmouth | Queenstown
[[Category:Royal Navy {{{1}}}]][[Category:{{{1}}}]]
Retrieved from "http://dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php?title=Third_Destroyer_Flotilla_(Royal_Navy)&oldid=66724"