Difference between revisions of "Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)"
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− | The '''Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla''' was a formation of [[Destroyer|destroyers]] of the [[Royal Navy]]. | + | The '''Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla''' was a formation of [[Destroyer|destroyers]] of the [[Royal Navy]]. |
− | |||
==Captains (D)== | ==Captains (D)== | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
+ | |||
+ | In trials from January to March 1916, 200 21-in Mark II torpedo test runs proved 90% probable to endanger the enemy.{{ARTS1916|p. 87. Data reflects runs from formation of flotilla to March 1916}} | ||
===November, 1915=== | ===November, 1915=== | ||
− | + | The flotilla appears for the first time in the ''Supplement to the Monthly Navy List'', becoming the fifth flotilla attached to the Grand Fleet. Like the {{UK-DF|11}} which had become the fourth Grand Fleet flotilla two months prior, the Twelfth would get its start with newly constructed "M" class destroyers. This first month, it would have a flotilla leader and just three destroyers and would be sharing a depot ship with two other flotillas.{{SMNLNov15|p. 12}} | |
− | + | ||
− | + | {|width=75% class=toccolours | |
− | + | |- | |
− | + | |style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Attached to the [[Grand Fleet]]''' | |
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''Flotilla Leader''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|{{UK-Marksman}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship'''<br>shared with [[Second Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Second]] and {{UK-DF|11}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|{{UK-Blake}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''"M" class Destroyers''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=2|{{UK-Maenad}}||align=center colspan=2|{{UK-Mindful}}||align=center colspan=2|{{UK-Nessus}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===December, 1915=== | ||
+ | It is noted that the three destroyers are tendered to {{UK-Blake}} temporarily, but now the flotilla has its own depot ship, on paper.{{SMNLDec15|p. 12}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | {|width=75% class=toccolours | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Attached to the [[Grand Fleet]]''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''Flotilla Leader''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|{{UK-Marksman}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|{{UK-Diligence}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''"M" class Destroyers''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=2|{{UK-Maenad}}||align=center colspan=2|{{UK-Mindful}}||align=center colspan=2|{{UK-Nessus}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===January, 1916=== | ||
+ | {{UK-Royalist}} has been added as a flotilla cruiser, and {{UK-Marvel}} and {{UK-Mischief}} have joined. As the {{UK-DF|11}} has reached a strength of 16 "M"s, allocations for the Twelfth should be speeding up from here. The {{UK-Marksman}} is marked by an unexplained asterisk in the source.{{SMNLJan16|p. 12}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | {|width=75% class=toccolours | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Attached to the [[Grand Fleet]]''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''Flotilla Cruiser''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|{{UK-Royalist}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''Flotilla Leader''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|{{UK-Marksman}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|{{UK-Diligence}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''"M" class Destroyers''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center|{{UK-Maenad}}||align=center|{{UK-Marvel}}||align=center|{{UK-Mindful}}||align=center|{{UK-Mischief}}||align=center|{{UK-Nessus}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===February, 1916=== | ||
+ | {{UK-Mameluke}}, {{UK-MaryRose}}, {{UK-Munster}}, {{UK-Napier}}, {{UK-Noble}}, {{UK-Obedient}} and {{UK-Onslaught}} have joined. | ||
+ | Strength is now a cruiser, a flotilla leader, twelve "M" class destroyers and a depot ship.{{SMNLFeb16|p. 12}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | {|width=75% class=toccolours | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |style="background:#CEDFF2" align=center colspan=6 | '''Attached to the [[Grand Fleet]]''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''Flotilla Cruiser''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|{{UK-Royalist}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''Flotilla Leader''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|{{UK-Marksman}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''Depot Ship''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|{{UK-Diligence}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center colspan=6|'''"M" class Destroyers''' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center|{{UK-Maenad}}||align=center|{{UK-Mameluke}}||align=center|{{UK-Marvel}}||align=center|{{UK-MaryRose}}||align=center|{{UK-Mindful}}||align=center|{{UK-Mischief}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |align=center|{{UK-Munster}}||align=center|{{UK-Napier}}||align=center|{{UK-Nessus}}||align=center|{{UK-Noble}}||align=center|{{UK-Obedient}}||align=center|{{UK-Onslaught}} | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |} | ||
===Battle of Jutland=== | ===Battle of Jutland=== |
Revision as of 02:36, 11 December 2013
The Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla was a formation of destroyers of the Royal Navy.
Captains (D)
- Captain Anselan Stirling, in command at the Battle of Jutland.
- Captain William Spencer Leveson-Gower, in command at the surrender of the High Sea Fleet.
History
In trials from January to March 1916, 200 21-in Mark II torpedo test runs proved 90% probable to endanger the enemy.[1]
November, 1915
The flotilla appears for the first time in the Supplement to the Monthly Navy List, becoming the fifth flotilla attached to the Grand Fleet. Like the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla which had become the fourth Grand Fleet flotilla two months prior, the Twelfth would get its start with newly constructed "M" class destroyers. This first month, it would have a flotilla leader and just three destroyers and would be sharing a depot ship with two other flotillas.[2]
Attached to the Grand Fleet | |||||
Flotilla Leader | |||||
Marksman | |||||
Depot Ship shared with Second and Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla | |||||
Blake | |||||
"M" class Destroyers | |||||
Maenad | Mindful | Nessus |
December, 1915
It is noted that the three destroyers are tendered to Blake temporarily, but now the flotilla has its own depot ship, on paper.[3]
Attached to the Grand Fleet | |||||
Flotilla Leader | |||||
Marksman | |||||
Depot Ship | |||||
Diligence | |||||
"M" class Destroyers | |||||
Maenad | Mindful | Nessus |
January, 1916
Royalist has been added as a flotilla cruiser, and Marvel and Mischief have joined. As the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla has reached a strength of 16 "M"s, allocations for the Twelfth should be speeding up from here. The Marksman is marked by an unexplained asterisk in the source.[4]
Attached to the Grand Fleet | |||||
Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
Royalist | |||||
Flotilla Leader | |||||
Marksman | |||||
Depot Ship | |||||
Diligence | |||||
"M" class Destroyers | |||||
Maenad | Marvel | Mindful | Mischief | Nessus |
February, 1916
Mameluke, Mary Rose, Munster, Napier, Noble, Obedient and Onslaught have joined. Strength is now a cruiser, a flotilla leader, twelve "M" class destroyers and a depot ship.[5]
Attached to the Grand Fleet | |||||
Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
Royalist | |||||
Flotilla Leader | |||||
Marksman | |||||
Depot Ship | |||||
Diligence | |||||
"M" class Destroyers | |||||
Maenad | Mameluke | Marvel | Mary Rose | Mindful | Mischief |
Munster | Napier | Nessus | Noble | Obedient | Onslaught |
Battle of Jutland
- Main article: Twelfth D.F. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland
The Flotilla screened the Grand Fleet, helped by the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla. The Twelfth's composition in the battle was 14 "M" class destroyers and two leaders, their commanders given as listed in the Official Despatches:[6][7]
- destroyer Faulknor, Captain (D) Anselan Stirling
- flotilla leader Marksman, Commander Norton A. Sulivan
- Obedient, Commander George W. McOwen Campbell
- Maenad, Commander John P. Champion
- Opal, Commander Charles G. C. Sumner
- Mary Rose, Lieutenant-Commander Edwin A. Homan
- Marvel, Lieutenant-Commander Reginald Watkins Grubb
- Menace, Lieutenant-Commander Charles A. Poignand
- Nessus, Lieutenant-Commander Eric Q. Carter
- Narwhal, Lieutenant-Commander Henry V. Hudson
- Mindful, Lieutenant-Commander John J. C. Ridley
- Onslaught, Lieutenant-Commander Arthur G. Onslow, D.S.C.
- Munster, Lieutenant-Commander Spencer F. Russell
- Nonsuch, Lieutenant-Commander Herbert I. N. Lyon
- Noble, Lieutenant-Commander Henry P. Boxer
- Mischief, Lieutenant-Commander The Hon. Cyril A. Ward, M.V.O.
July, 1918
The Flotilla is one of six attached to the Grand Fleet under overall command of Commodore (F) in Castor. The flotilla is tender to depot ship Diligence.[8]
Drill and Practice
In 1917, the flotilla undertook a practice torpedo attack on four ships of the First Battle Squadron, achieving the following results.[9] The target ships were in line ahead in this order: Marlborough, Royal Oak, Emperor of India, followed by an unidentified ship.
The six destroyers of the first half-flotilla and their leader had their torpedoes set to 15,000 yards/23 knots. The target battleships sighted them at 25,000 yards on red 20. The attackers pressed in to 15,000 yards and fired their torpedoes from red 36, four destroyers aiming at Royal Oak, and the other three ships at Emperor of India. It was thought unlikely that the target ships would observe torpedoes being fired at this range, and the torpedo tracks were hard to see. Two torpedoes passed just ahead of Marlborough, 1 passed just ahead of Royal Oak, two hit Emperor of India, and the last two appeared to run poorly.
The five destroyers of the second half-flotilla and their leader had their torpedoes set to 10,000 yards/29 knots. The target battleships sighted them at 21,000 yards on red 20. The attackers pressed in to 5,500 yards from Marlborough, and fired their torpedoes from an undisclosed bearing: three destroyers aiming at Royal Oak, and the other three at Emperor of India. These firings were observed by all target ships, and the torpedo tracks seemed clear. Three torpedoes struck Marlborough, one passed under or ahead of Marlborough, one hit Emperor of India and one passed 90 yards ahead of Royal Oak.
In all, 11 of the 13 shots were judged dangerous to the enemy (in that they crossed the enemy line), and five hit. It was felt that the torpedoes on 29 knot settings produced clear tracks that may have made them easy to avoid, and that these same torpedoes had to be fired at ranges at which their splash of entry would leave the enemy forewarned of the attack.
Footnotes
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916. p. 87. Data reflects runs from formation of flotilla to March 1916.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 12.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 12.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1916). p. 12.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 12.
- ↑ Naval Operations. Volume III. p. 432.
- ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 45.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (July, 1918). p. 12.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917. p. 122.
Bibliography
- 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 |