Sixth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)
History
Vice-Admiral The Honourable Sir Alexander E. Bethell hoisted his flag at Portsmouth in the pre-dreadnought Duncan for the annual manœuvres on 15 July, 1913.[1]
Composition
December, 1912
The squadron is conspicuously absent from a seemingly comprehensive list handwritten on stationery from H.M.S. Princess Royal by Albert Francis Barclay Bridges.[2]
December, 1913
It is part of the Second Fleet. Russell, Albemarle and Duncan have just joined from the Fourth Battle Squadron[3] Russell would be made flagship on 5 December.[4]
July, 1914
Operating as part of the Second Fleet. Some handwritten notes on this source indicate flux of some kind, noted below.[5]
- Lord Nelson (Second Fleet flagship, possibly soon to be moved to Fifth Battle Squadron)
- Russell (flag)
- Albemarle (detached for Training Duties at Home Ports)
- Cornwallis (undergoing refit, part of Third Fleet for administrative purposes)
- Duncan (undergoing refit)
- Exmouth (detached for Training Duties at Home Ports)
- Vengeance (ditto, perhaps to be dropped from squadron)
Attached: third class protected cruiser Diamond
5 August, 1914
With the fleet organised under flagship Iron Duke, the squadron was based at Portland along with the Fifth Battle Squadron.[6]
- Lord Nelson
- Russell
- Agamemnon (possibly soon to go to Fifth Battle Squadron)[7]
- Albemarle
- Cornwallis
- Duncan
- Exmouth
- Vengeance
Attached: third class protected cruiser Diamond
The Sixth Battle Squadron joined the Grand Fleet on 7 August, 1914, and worked with the Third Battle Squadron until 17 August, when it was added to it, and the Sixth Battle Squadron ceased to exist.[8]
December, 1914
Russell had her last day as flagship on 30 November, handing the role temporarily to Albemarle on 1 December.[9]
January, 1915
Albemarle had her last day as flagship on 7 January, handing the role back to Russell on the 8th.[10]
March, 1915
Russell had her last day as flagship on 19 March, handing the role to Prince of Wales on the 20th.[11]
June, 1915
Prince of Wales had her last day as flagship on 4 June, handing the role to Exmouth the same day. Exmouth would serve in this capacity until some time in 1915.[12]
In December 1917, the Squadron was reconstituted as an American squadron comprised of the four dreadnoughts of the US Navy's Battleship Division Nine, increasing to five dreadnoughts in January, 1918.
In Command
- Vice-Admiral The Hon. Sir Alexander E. Bethell, 15 July, 1913[Citation needed]
- Rear-Admiral Charles H. Dundas, 1913
- Rear-Admiral Stuart Nicholson, 5 December, 1913[13] – 12 April, 1916[14] (and as Rear-Admiral, Home Fleets at the Nore)
- Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman, December, 1917
Footnotes
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 15 July, 1913. Issue 40264, col C, p. 5.
- ↑ The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 7.
- ↑ Printed page "Fleets and Squadrons in Commission at Home and Abroad" in Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 15.
- ↑ Printed page "Fleets and Squadrons in Commission at Home and Abroad" in Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ Naval Staff Monographs. Volume X. p. 108n.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 7.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 7.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 7.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 7.
- ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 291.
- ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 291.
Bibliography
- Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division (1924). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical): Fleet Issue. Volume X. Home Waters—Part I. From the Outbreak of War to 27 August, 1914. O.U. 5528 (late C.B. 917(H)). Copy at The National Archives. ADM 186/619.
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