Ninth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)
The Ninth Destroyer Flotilla was a formation of destroyers of the Royal Navy.
It was to serve as a patrol flotilla in the early part of the war before being reformed with "L" class destroyers in October, 1915 as part of the Harwich Force, where it worked with the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla. It ceased to exist in April, 1917, its ships being doled out to other formations.
History
July 1914 Test Mobilisation
The Ninth was deemed a "Patrol Flotilla" and served as part of the Nore Command with the Eighth flotilla, based out of Chatham.[1] Operating with depot ship St. George, the flotilla was to mobilise with:[2]
| Scout Cruiser | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patrol | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| River Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eden | Ettrick | Foyle | Itchen | Kale | Liffey | Moy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nith | Ouse | Rother | Stour | Test | Teviot | Waveney | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Additional Rivers to join Late | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arun | Boyne | Cherwell | Dee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Erne | Exe | Swale | Ure | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September, 1914
The flotilla is one of four patrol flotillas in Home and Atlantic Waters. The strength is two flotilla cruisers (Forward is detached), thirteen destroyers, and four torpedo boats.[3]
| A Patrol Flotilla in Home and Atlantic Waters | |||||
| Flotilla Cruisers | |||||
| Forward* | Patrol | ||||
| Depot Ship | |||||
| St. George | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Derwent | Doon | Eden | Ettrick | Itchen | Kale |
| Ness | Nith | Ouse | Rother | Stour | Test |
| Waveney | |||||
| First-class T.B.s | |||||
| T.B. 4 | T.B. 13 | T.B. 22 | T.B. 24 | ||
October, 1914
Forward has departed to join the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla. The strength is one cruiser, thirteen destroyers, and four torpedo boats.[4]
| A Patrol Flotilla in Home and Atlantic Waters | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
| Patrol | |||||
| Depot Ship | |||||
| St. George | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Derwent | Doon | Eden | Ettrick | Itchen | Kale |
| Ness | Nith | Ouse | Rother | Stour | Test |
| Waveney | |||||
| First-class T.B.s | |||||
| T.B. 4 | T.B. 13 | T.B. 22 | T.B. 24 | ||
This arrangement would last until November or December.[5]
December, 1914
The four torpedo boats have all gone over to the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla. St. George has gone with them, but the destroyers of the Ninth are still tenders to her. Moy has joined. The strength is one cruiser and fourteen destroyers.[6]
| A Patrol Flotilla in Home and Atlantic Waters | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
| Patrol | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Derwent | Doon | Eden | Ettrick | Itchen | Kale |
| Moy | Ness | Nith | Ouse | Rother | Stour |
| Test | Waveney | ||||
January, 1915
The four torpedo boats have returned from the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla. The strength is one cruiser, fourteen destroyers and four torpedo boats.[7]
| A Patrol Flotilla in Home and Atlantic Waters | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
| Patrol | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Derwent | Doon | Eden | Ettrick | Itchen | Kale |
| Moy | Ness | Nith | Ouse | Rother | Stour |
| Test | Waveney | ||||
| First-class T.B.s | |||||
| T.B. 4 | T.B. 13 | T.B. 22 | T.B. 24 | ||
This arrangement would last until February or March.[8]
March, 1915
The four torpedo boats have again disappeared, T.B. 4, T.B. 13 and T.B. 24 to the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla and T.B. 22 to the Portsmouth Defence Flotilla. St. George has rejoined, though she is being shared with the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla. The strength is one cruiser and fourteen destroyers.[9]
| A Patrol Flotilla in Home and Atlantic Waters | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
| Patrol | |||||
| Depot Ship (shared w/ D.F. 7) | |||||
| St. George | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Derwent | Doon | Eden | Ettrick | Itchen | Kale |
| Moy | Ness | Nith | Ouse | Rother | Stour |
| Test | Waveney | ||||
April, 1915
Forward has returned from the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla. Derwent and Eden have left to join the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla. Ettrick has gone to the Portsmouth Defence Flotilla and Rother has gone, and would join Ettrick in Portsmouth in May. The Ninth's strength is now two cruisers and ten destroyers.[10]
| A Patrol Flotilla in Home and Atlantic Waters | |||||
| Flotilla Cruisers | |||||
| Patrol | Forward | ||||
| Depot Ship (shared w/ D.F. 7) | |||||
| St. George | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Doon | Itchen | Kale | Moy | Ness | Nith |
| Ouse | Stour | Test | Waveney | ||
This arrangement would apply until June.[11]
June, 1915
Forward has departed to join the Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron. The Ninth's strength is now one cruisers and ten destroyers.[12]
| A Patrol Flotilla in Home and Atlantic Waters | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
| Patrol | |||||
| Depot Ship (shared w/ D.F. 7) | |||||
| St. George | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Doon | Itchen | Kale | Moy | Ness | Nith |
| Ouse | Stour | Test | Waveney | ||
This arrangement would apply until September.[13]
September, 1915
The Ninth is dissolved, all the ships except Waveney have been transferred immediately to the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla, but she, too, would appear there in the coming month.
The designation of Ninth Flotilla is soon to be re-used.[14]
| Flotilla is Disestablished Ships merging into Seventh Destroyer Flotilla, Flotilla name to be given to former Third Destroyer Flotilla in October |
October, 1915
The flotilla formerly known as the Third Destroyer Flotilla was renamed the Ninth Flotilla some time in September, and was listed as the Ninth in the Navy List. The changes discussed here are, then, relative to the roster of 3DF in June, 1915.
Part of the Harwich Striking Force, 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. The strength is two leaders and seventeen destroyers.[15]
| Part of the Harwich Force | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
| Undaunted | |||||
| Flotilla Leader (2nd in command) | |||||
| Lightfoot | |||||
| Deport Ship | |||||
| Dido | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Laertes | Lance | Landrail | Lark | Lassoo | Laurel |
| Laverock | Legion | Lennox | Leonidas | Liberty | Linnet |
| Llewellyn | Lookout | Loyal | Lucifer | Lysander | |
This arrangement would apply until December.[16]
December, 1915
The newly-completed Lochinvar has been added, increasing strength to two leaders and eighteen destroyers.[17]
| Part of the Harwich Force | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
| Undaunted | |||||
| Flotilla Leader (2nd in command) | |||||
| Lightfoot | |||||
| Deport Ship | |||||
| Dido | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Laertes | Lance | Landrail | Lark | Lassoo | Laurel |
| Laverock | Legion | Lennox | Leonidas | Liberty | Linnet |
| Llewellyn | Lochinvar | Lookout | Loyal | Lucifer | Lysander |
This roster and tasking would last until April, 1916.[18]
April, 1916
Laforey has been added, having been busy on "miscellaneous" or detached service in Home Waters and Tipperary has come in from the Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron to act as a second flotilla leader, increasing strength to three leaders and nineteen destroyers.[19][20]
| Part of the Harwich Force | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
| Undaunted | |||||
| Flotilla Leaders | |||||
| Lightfoot (2nd in command) |
Tipperary | ||||
| Deport Ship | |||||
| Dido | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Laertes | Laforey | Lance | Landrail | Lark | Lassoo |
| Laurel | Laverock | Legion | Lennox | Leonidas | Liberty |
| Linnet | Llewellyn | Lochinvar | Lookout | Loyal | Lucifer |
| Lysander | |||||
May, 1916
Tipperary has been sent to lead the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla, where she would soon meet glory, and Lydiard has joined (though she is also listed as being on vague assignments in Home Waters), having been with the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean, making the Ninth's strength now two leaders and twenty destroyers.[21]
| Part of the Harwich Force | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
| Undaunted | |||||
| Flotilla Leader | |||||
| Lightfoot (2nd in command) | |||||
| Deport Ship | |||||
| Dido | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Laertes | Laforey | Lance | Landrail | Lark | Lassoo |
| Laurel | Laverock | Legion | Lennox | Leonidas | Liberty |
| Linnet | Llewellyn | Lochinvar | Lookout | Loyal | Lucifer |
| Lydiard | Lysander | ||||
Battle of Jutland
Four destroyers from the flotilla were at the Battle of Jutland:[22]
- Lydiard, Commander Malcolm L. Goldsmith
- Liberty, Lieutenant-Commander Philip W. S. King
- Landrail Lieutenant-Commander Francis E. H. G. Hobart
- Laurel, Lieutenant Henry D. C. Stanistreet
June, 1916
Lawford, recently from the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, has joined, making the Ninth's strength now two leaders and twenty one destroyers.[23]
| Part of the Harwich Force | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
| Undaunted | |||||
| Flotilla Leader | |||||
| Lightfoot (2nd in command) | |||||
| Deport Ship | |||||
| Dido | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Laertes | Laforey | Lance | Landrail | Lark | Lassoo |
| Laurel | Laverock | Lawford | Legion | Lennox | Leonidas |
| Liberty | Linnet | Llewellyn | Lochinvar | Lookout | Loyal |
| Lucifer | Lydiard | Lysander | |||
This arrangement would apply until September.[24]
September, 1916
Lassoo was mined on 13 August and has been dropped, making the Ninth's strength now two leaders and twenty destroyers.[25]
| Part of the Harwich Force | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
| Undaunted | |||||
| Flotilla Leader | |||||
| Lightfoot (2nd in command) | |||||
| Deport Ship | |||||
| Dido | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Laertes | Laforey | Lance | Landrail | Lark | Laurel |
| Laverock | Lawford | Legion | Lennox | Leonidas | Liberty |
| Linnet | Llewellyn | Lochinvar | Lookout | Loyal | Lucifer |
| Lydiard | Lysander | ||||
This arrangement would apply until December.[26]
December, 1916
Legion has been dropped, possibly as a consequence of work to convert her to minelaying work,[Inference] making the Ninth's strength now two leaders and nineteen destroyers.[27]
| Part of the Harwich Force | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
| Undaunted | |||||
| Flotilla Leader | |||||
| Lightfoot (2nd in command) | |||||
| Deport Ship | |||||
| Dido | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Laertes | Laforey | Lance | Landrail | Lark | Laurel |
| Laverock | Lawford | Lennox | Leonidas | Liberty | Linnet| |
| Llewellyn | Lochinvar | Lookout | Loyal | Lucifer | Lydiard |
| Lysander | |||||
January, 1917
Undaunted is now shared with the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla, and Lucifer has been dropped until February or March, making the Ninth's strength now one (or two, depending on accounting) leaders and eighteen destroyers.[28]
| Part of the Harwich Force | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser | |||||
| Undaunted | |||||
| Flotilla Leader | |||||
| Lightfoot (2nd in command) | |||||
| Deport Ship | |||||
| Dido | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Laertes | Laforey | Lance | Landrail | Lark | Laurel |
| Laverock | Lawford | Lennox | Leonidas | Liberty | Linnet| |
| Llewellyn | Lochinvar | Lookout | Loyal | Lydiard | Lysander |
March, 1917
Lucifer is back on the roster, making the Ninth's strength now one (or two, depending on accounting) leaders and nineteen destroyers.[29]
| Part of the Harwich Force | |||||
| Flotilla Cruiser shared with Tenth Destroyer Flotilla | |||||
| Undaunted | |||||
| Flotilla Leader | |||||
| Lightfoot (2nd in command) | |||||
| Deport Ship | |||||
| Dido | |||||
| Destroyers | |||||
| Laertes | Laforey | Lance | Landrail | Lark | Laurel |
| Laverock | Lawford | Lennox | Leonidas | Liberty | Linnet |
| Llewellyn | Lochinvar | Lookout | Loyal | Lucifer | Lydiard |
| Lysander | |||||
April, 1917
The flotilla is disbanded and the ships parceled out to other formations. Lightfoot and Undaunted are now serving in the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla, and the destroyers have been sent to a variety of new formations. Laertes, Landrail, Lark, Laverock, Linnet, Llewellyn, Lochinvar, Lucifer and Lydiard have gone to join the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla as part of the Dover Patrol. Lance has disappeared, but would reappear in the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla in June.
Lawford and Lysander have been sent to the Seventh Destroyer Flotilla, with Legion and Loyal to follow "shortly".
Laurel, Lennox and Leonidas have been sent to the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla, to be joined by Legion and Liberty upon their recommissioning. Lookout has gone missing, but would likewise appear in the Fourth D.F. in May.
Laforey has been dropped from the Navy List, as she was mined on 25 March.[30]
| Flotilla is disestablished not to be re-established in the Dreadnought Era. |
Drill
In 1916, the destroyers' torpedoes proved only 64% likely to be dangerous to the enemy in limited test runs of that year.[31]
Captains (D)
Dates of appointment given:
- Captain Alan C. Bruce, 27 January, 1914.[32]
- Captain Sidney Robert Bailey,
- Captain Edward George Lowther-Crofton,
Footnotes
- ↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 164.
- ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 109 of 10 July, 1914.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 12.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 12.
- ↑ There was no Monthly Supplement to the Navy List printed for November, 1914.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 12.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 12.
- ↑ No Monthly Supplement to the Navy List was consulted for February, 1915.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). pp. 15, 16.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1915). pp. 15, 16.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1915). p. 15, and Supplements through June, 1915.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). p. 16.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 15, and Supplements through September.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). p. 16.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). pp. 13, 20.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 13.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 13.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1916). p. 13 and Supplements through April, 1916.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1916). p. 13.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 14.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1916). pp. 12-14.
- ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 47.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1916). p. 13.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1916). p. 13, and Supplements through September, 1916.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1916). p. 13.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 13, and Supplements through December, 1916.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 13.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1917). p. 13.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). p. 13.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). pp. 13-16.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916. p. 87.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 21 January, 1914. Issue 40426, col G, p. 10.
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).
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 | |||
