Difference between revisions of "Annual Manoeuvres of 1914"

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The [[Royal Navy]]'s '''Annual Manoeuvres of 1914''' were cancelled on 20th February 1914 and replaced by a test mobilisation of the Reserve Fleet<ref>M11959/14  From Admiralty to C-in-C, Home Fleets, dated 20th February 1914.  Backhouse Papers, Naval Historical Branch.</ref>.
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The [[Royal Navy]]'s '''Annual Manoeuvres of 1914''' were cancelled on 20th February 1914 and replaced by a '''Test Mobilisation''' of the Reserve Fleet.<ref>M11959/14  From Admiralty to C-in-C, Home Fleets, dated 20th February 1914.  Backhouse Papers, Naval Historical Branch.</ref> This decision was to prove fortuitous as the international tensions of the summer made war with Germany seem increasingly possible, and finally inevitable.
  
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The schedule for this exercise was planned to be as follows:
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Though some preparations began on 13 July, the schedule for this exercise was planned to be as follows:{{ToL|Naval Mobilization|14 July 1914, p. 16}}
  
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<nowiki>Wednesday 15th July             Reserve called up
+
{|border=1
 +
|Wednesday 15th July||Reserve called up
 +
|-
 +
|16th and 17th July||Mobilise
 +
|-
 +
|Saturday 18th July||Proceed to rendezvous
 +
|-
 +
|19th to 23rd July||At rendezvous and tactical exercises at sea
 +
|-
 +
|Friday 24th July||Arrive Home Ports
 +
|-
 +
|Saturday 25th July, 9am||Discharge reserves
 +
|}
  
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16th and 17th July              Mobilise
+
On July 23, Austria presented its ultimatum to Serbia following the assassination of the Archduke at Sarajevo.  As a result the British government, at the last minute, cancelled the dispersal of the reserve fleet.  The First Fleet was ordered to remain at Portland, and those reserve ships which had begun to disperse were ordered to retain their full crews and take on coal, stores and ammunition.  These changes were achieved as quietly as possible, to avoid enflaming an already very tense political situation<ref>Sir Julian Corbett, ''Naval Operations: History of the Great War based on Official Documents, Volume 1'', (Uckfield: Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military Press, 2009 [1938]), 23-24.</ref>.  As a result, the Royal Navy was more ready for the start of the Great War than it might otherwise have been.
  
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Saturday 18th July              Proceed to rendezvous
+
An indication of the care taken to ensure that the maintenance of the Fleet remained secret is given in these orders quoted by [[Winston Churchill]]:
  
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19th to 23rd July                At rendezvous and tactical exercises at sea
+
"To-morrow, Wednesday (July 29), the First Fleet is to leave Portland for Scapa Flow.  Destination is to be kept secret except to flag and commanding officers.  As you are required at the Admiralty, Vice-Admiral [[Second Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|2nd Battle Squadron]] ([[George John Scott Warrender, Seventh Baronet|Warrender]]) is to take command.  Course from Portland is to be shaped to southward, then a middle Channel course to the Straits of Dover.  The Squadrons are to pass through the Straits without lights during the night and to pass outside the shoals on their way north.  {{UK-Agamemnon}} is to remain at Portland, where the Second fleet will assemble."<ref>Churchill.  ''The World Crisis''.  p. 225.</ref>
  
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Friday 24th July                Arrive Home Ports
 
−
 
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Saturday 25th July, 9am          Discharge reserves</nowiki>
 
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<!--
 
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A review of the ''Navy List'' and Service Records of the men involved seems to indicate that those who received the temporary command appointments often used in manoeuvres were dated 22 July, 1890.  The manoeuvres seemed to commence shortly after 29 July, with the two fleets departing Portland and to conclude around 20 August. -->
 
 
==Order of Battle==
 
==Order of Battle==
 
The ships of the reserve formed the Second and Third Fleets as follows under fleet flagship {{UK-LordNelson}}:<ref>Vice-Admiral Cecil Burney, ''Second and Third Fleets Serial Orders'', 11 June 1914, Backhouse Papers, Naval Historical Branch</ref>
 
The ships of the reserve formed the Second and Third Fleets as follows under fleet flagship {{UK-LordNelson}}:<ref>Vice-Admiral Cecil Burney, ''Second and Third Fleets Serial Orders'', 11 June 1914, Backhouse Papers, Naval Historical Branch</ref>
  
 
{|style="margin:0" width=90% class="toccolours"
 
{|style="margin:0" width=90% class="toccolours"
−
|style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=12|'''Battle Squadrons'''
+
|style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=12|'''Battle Squadrons'''<br><small>(+ denotes attached vessels)</small><!--
 
|-
 
|-
−
|style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=12|<small>(+ denotes attached vessels)</small>
+
|style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=12|<small>(+ denotes attached vessels)</small>-->
 
|-
 
|-
−
|align=center colspan=3 width=25%|'''Fifth'''||align=center colspan=3 width=25%|'''Sixth'''||align=center colspan=3 width=25%|'''Seventh'''||align=center colspan=3 width=25%|'''Eighth'''
+
|align=center colspan=3 width=25%|'''[[Fifth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Fifth]]'''||align=center colspan=3 width=25%|'''[[Sixth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Sixth]]'''||align=center colspan=3 width=25%|'''[[Seventh Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Seventh]]'''||align=center colspan=3 width=25%|'''[[Eighth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Eighth]]'''
 
|-
 
|-
−
|align=center colspan=3|{{UK-PrinceOfWales}} (flag)||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Russell}} (flag)||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-PrinceGeorge}} (flag)||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Albion}} (flag)
+
|align=center colspan=3|{{UK-PrinceOfWales}} [[File:VAdmRN.png|25px]]||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Russell}} [[File:RAdmRN.png|25px]]||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-PrinceGeorge}} [[File:VAdmRN.png|25px]]||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Albion}} [[File:RAdmRN.png|25px]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
|align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Bulwark}}||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Albemarle}}||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Hannibal}} (2nd flag)||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Ocean}} (2nd flag)
+
|align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Bulwark}}||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Albemarle}}||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Hannibal}} [[File:RAdmRN.png|25px]]||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Ocean}} [[File:RAdmRN.png|25px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Formidable}}||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-1Exmouth}}||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Illustrious}}||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Goliath}}
 
|align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Formidable}}||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-1Exmouth}}||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Illustrious}}||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Goliath}}
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|style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=12|'''Cruiser Squadrons'''
 
|style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=12|'''Cruiser Squadrons'''
 
|-
 
|-
−
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|'''Fifth'''||align=center colspan=4 width=33%|'''Sixth'''||align=center colspan=4 width=33%|'''Seventh'''
+
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|'''[[Fifth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Fifth]]'''||align=center colspan=4 width=33%|'''[[Sixth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Sixth]]'''||align=center colspan=4 width=33%|'''[[Seventh Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Seventh]]'''
 
|-
 
|-
−
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|{{UK-Carnarvon}} (flag)||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-GoodHope}} (flag)||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Euryalus}} (flag)
+
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|{{UK-Carnarvon}} [[File:RAdmRN.png|25px]]||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-GoodHope}} [[File:RAdmRN.png|25px]]||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Euryalus}} [[File:RAdmRN.png|25px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|{{UK-1Cornwall}}||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Drake}}||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Cressy}}
 
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|{{UK-1Cornwall}}||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Drake}}||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Cressy}}
Line 59: Line 63:
 
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|&nbsp;||align=center colspan=4|&nbsp;||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Venus}}
 
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|&nbsp;||align=center colspan=4|&nbsp;||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Venus}}
 
|-
 
|-
−
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|'''Eighth'''||align=center colspan=4|'''Ninth'''||align=center colspan=4|'''Tenth'''
+
|align=center colspan=12|&nbsp;
 +
|-
 +
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|'''[[Eighth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Eighth]]'''||align=center colspan=4|'''[[Ninth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Ninth]]'''||align=center colspan=4|'''[[Tenth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Tenth]]'''
 
|-
 
|-
−
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|{{UK-Aboukir}} (flag)||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Bacchante}} (flag)||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Hogue}} (flag)
+
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|{{UK-Aboukir}} [[File:RAdmRN.png|25px]]||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Bacchante}} [[File:RAdmRN.png|25px]]||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Hogue}} [[File:RAdmRN.png|25px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|{{UK-Challenger}}||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-1Diana}}||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Charybdis}}
 
|align=center colspan=4 width=33%|{{UK-Challenger}}||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-1Diana}}||align=center colspan=4|{{UK-Charybdis}}
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|style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=12|'''Other Forces'''
 
|style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=12|'''Other Forces'''
 
|-
 
|-
−
|align=center colspan=3|'''Training Squadron'''||align=center colspan=3|'''1st Light Cruiser Squadron'''||align=center colspan=3|'''Minelayer Squadron'''||align=center colspan=3|'''Unappropriated'''
+
|align=center colspan=3|'''[[Fourth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|Training Squadron]]'''||align=center colspan=3|'''[[First Light Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)|1st Light Cruiser Squadron]]'''||align=center colspan=3|'''Minelayer Squadron'''||align=center colspan=3|'''Unappropriated'''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|align=center colspan=3|{{UK-1Crescent}} (flag)||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-1Falmouth}}+||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Andromache}}||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-1Vindictive}}
 
|align=center colspan=3|{{UK-1Crescent}} (flag)||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-1Falmouth}}+||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-Andromache}}||align=center colspan=3|{{UK-1Vindictive}}
Line 96: Line 102:
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
 
* M11959/14  From Admiralty to C-in-C, Home Fleets, dated 20th February 1914.  Backhouse Papers, Naval Historical Branch, Portsmouth, UK.
 
* M11959/14  From Admiralty to C-in-C, Home Fleets, dated 20th February 1914.  Backhouse Papers, Naval Historical Branch, Portsmouth, UK.
−
* Vice-Admiral Cecil Burney, ''Second and Third Fleets Serial Orders'', 11 June 1914, Backhouse Papers, Naval Historical Branch, Portsmouth, UK
+
* Vice-Admiral Cecil Burney. ''Second and Third Fleets Serial Orders'', 11 June 1914, Backhouse Papers, Naval Historical Branch, Portsmouth, UK
 +
* Churchill, Winston."The World Crisis.", London: Macmillan, 1923
 +
* Corbett, J S. ''Naval Operations: History of the Great War based on Official Documents'', Uckfield: Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military Press, 2009 [1938],
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  

Latest revision as of 12:04, 19 December 2021

The Royal Navy's Annual Manoeuvres of 1914 were cancelled on 20th February 1914 and replaced by a Test Mobilisation of the Reserve Fleet.[1] This decision was to prove fortuitous as the international tensions of the summer made war with Germany seem increasingly possible, and finally inevitable.

Though some preparations began on 13 July, the schedule for this exercise was planned to be as follows:[2]

Wednesday 15th July Reserve called up
16th and 17th July Mobilise
Saturday 18th July Proceed to rendezvous
19th to 23rd July At rendezvous and tactical exercises at sea
Friday 24th July Arrive Home Ports
Saturday 25th July, 9am Discharge reserves

On July 23, Austria presented its ultimatum to Serbia following the assassination of the Archduke at Sarajevo. As a result the British government, at the last minute, cancelled the dispersal of the reserve fleet. The First Fleet was ordered to remain at Portland, and those reserve ships which had begun to disperse were ordered to retain their full crews and take on coal, stores and ammunition. These changes were achieved as quietly as possible, to avoid enflaming an already very tense political situation[3]. As a result, the Royal Navy was more ready for the start of the Great War than it might otherwise have been.

An indication of the care taken to ensure that the maintenance of the Fleet remained secret is given in these orders quoted by Winston Churchill:

"To-morrow, Wednesday (July 29), the First Fleet is to leave Portland for Scapa Flow. Destination is to be kept secret except to flag and commanding officers. As you are required at the Admiralty, Vice-Admiral 2nd Battle Squadron (Warrender) is to take command. Course from Portland is to be shaped to southward, then a middle Channel course to the Straits of Dover. The Squadrons are to pass through the Straits without lights during the night and to pass outside the shoals on their way north. Agamemnon is to remain at Portland, where the Second fleet will assemble."[4]

Order of Battle

The ships of the reserve formed the Second and Third Fleets as follows under fleet flagship Lord Nelson:[5]

Battle Squadrons
(+ denotes attached vessels)
Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth
Prince of Wales VAdmRN.png Russell RAdmRN.png Prince George VAdmRN.png Albion RAdmRN.png
Bulwark Albemarle Hannibal RAdmRN.png Ocean RAdmRN.png
Formidable Exmouth Illustrious Goliath
Implacable Vengeance Magnificent Jupiter
Irresistible Topaze+ Majestic Canopus
London   Mars Glory
Queen   Victorious Sapphire+
Diamond+   Doris+  
Cruiser Squadrons
Fifth Sixth Seventh
Carnarvon RAdmRN.png Good Hope RAdmRN.png Euryalus RAdmRN.png
Cornwall Drake Cressy
Cumberland Leviathan Minerva
    Venus
 
Eighth Ninth Tenth
Aboukir RAdmRN.png Bacchante RAdmRN.png Hogue RAdmRN.png
Challenger Diana Charybdis
Isis Sutlej Eclipse
Juno Talbot Highflyer
Other Forces
Training Squadron 1st Light Cruiser Squadron Minelayer Squadron Unappropriated
Crescent (flag) Falmouth+ Andromache Vindictive
Edgar Liverpool+ Apollo
Endymion   Intrepid
Gibraltar   Iphigenia
Grafton   Latona
Royal Arthur   Naiad
Theseus   Thetis

Footnotes

  1. ↑ M11959/14 From Admiralty to C-in-C, Home Fleets, dated 20th February 1914. Backhouse Papers, Naval Historical Branch.
  2. ↑ "Naval Mobilization." The Times (London, England), 14 July 1914, p. 16.
  3. ↑ Sir Julian Corbett, Naval Operations: History of the Great War based on Official Documents, Volume 1, (Uckfield: Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military Press, 2009 [1938]), 23-24.
  4. ↑ Churchill. The World Crisis. p. 225.
  5. ↑ Vice-Admiral Cecil Burney, Second and Third Fleets Serial Orders, 11 June 1914, Backhouse Papers, Naval Historical Branch

Bibliography

  • M11959/14 From Admiralty to C-in-C, Home Fleets, dated 20th February 1914. Backhouse Papers, Naval Historical Branch, Portsmouth, UK.
  • Vice-Admiral Cecil Burney. Second and Third Fleets Serial Orders, 11 June 1914, Backhouse Papers, Naval Historical Branch, Portsmouth, UK
  • Churchill, Winston."The World Crisis.", London: Macmillan, 1923
  • Corbett, J S. Naval Operations: History of the Great War based on Official Documents, Uckfield: Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military Press, 2009 [1938],


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