Difference between revisions of "Battle Cruiser Force"

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[[File:P39959.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Vice-Admiral [[David Richard Beatty, First Earl Beatty|Sir David Beatty]] and Battle Cruiser Fleet staff on the fo'csle of {{UK-Lion}}, 1916.  Left to right: Unknown, Commander [[Sidney Robert Bailey|Sidney R. Bailey]], Engineer Captain Donald P. Green, Captain The Hon. [[Hubert George Brand|Hubert G. Brand]], Unknown, Paymaster Frank T. Spickernell, Brevet Major Harold M. Franks, R.M.L.I., Sir David Beatty, Lieutenant Ralph P. Seymour, Unknown, Unknown, Captain [[Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield, First Baron Chatfield|A. Ernle M. Chatfield]], Unknown, Captain The Hon. [[Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax|Reginald A. R. P-E-E-Drax]], Unknown.]]
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[[File:P39959.jpg|thumb|right|25%|Vice-Admiral [[David Richard Beatty, First Earl Beatty|Sir David Beatty]] and Battle Cruiser Fleet staff on the fo'csle of {{UK-Lion}}, 1916.  Left to right: Unknown, Commander [[Sidney Robert Bailey|Sidney R. Bailey]], Engineer Captain Donald P. Green, Captain The Hon. [[Hubert George Brand|Hubert G. Brand]], Unknown, Paymaster Frank T. Spickernell, Brevet Major Harold M. Franks, R.M.L.I., Sir David Beatty, Lieutenant Ralph P. Seymour, Unknown, Unknown, Captain [[Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield, First Baron Chatfield|A. Ernle M. Chatfield]], Unknown, Captain The Hon. [[Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax|Reginald A. R. P.-E.-E.-Drax]], Unknown.]]
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The Admiralty ordered the formation of the '''Battle Cruiser Fleet''' on 11 February, 1915.<ref>Information from John Roberts.</ref>
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It was very similar to a more diverse predecessor known as '''Cruiser Force A'''.
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The '''Battle Cruiser Force''', known as the '''Battle Cruiser Fleet''' from 1915 to 1916, was the name given to part of the reconnaissance forces of the [[Grand Fleet]].
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==Inception==
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The formation of a '''Battle Cruiser Fleet''' was mooted on 4 February, 1915, when the [[First Lord of the Admiralty]], [[Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill|Winston S. Churchill]], wrote to the Commander-in-Chief of the [[Grand Fleet]], [[John Rushworth Jellicoe, First Earl Jellicoe|Sir John R. Jellicoe]]:
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<blockquote>My proposal was to make Lion Fleet Flagship, making [[Osmond de Beauvoir Brock|Brock]] Commodore 1st Class in command of the three other cats thus not shifting from Princess Royal. Owing to absence of Inflexible and Indefatigable and repairs to Indomitable, formation of a 3rd Squadron cannot be achieved till about March 1st. Meanwhile [[George Edwin Patey|Patey]] and Brock under Beatty can divide the Battle Cruisers available. De Robeck is required temporarily for an operation of importance in the Mediterranean about which I am writing to you. As soon as he is free the three Squadrons can be formed and he can have one of them. Patey quite understands he is to serve under Beatty.<br>
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Your suggested disposition of the Light Cruiser Squadron to the B.C. Squadron will be adopted.<ref>Copy of telegram of 4 February, 1915. Churchill Papers. Churchill Archives Centre. CHAR 13/60/150.</ref></blockquote>
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The Head of M. Branch, [[Alexander Flint]], signed a confidential memorandum on 8 February which announced:
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<blockquote>The attached organisation of the Battle Cruiser Fleet, with attached Light Cruiser Squadrons, has been approved, and the appointments of the Flag Officers and Commodores shown thereon have been made.<br>Vice Admiral Patey will for the present also have under his orders the "Indomitable" and the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron.<ref>Copy of paper of 8 February, 1915. Churchill Papers. Churchill Archives Centre. CHAR 13/60/171.</ref></blockquote>
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In the same paper was the following announcement:
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<blockquote>Their Lordships have selected Vice Admiral Sir G.E.Patey,K.C.V.O., to be Vice Admiral Commanding, 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron, under the orders of the Vice Admiral Commanding,Battle Cruiser Fleet, flying his flag in H.M.S. [sic] "Australia".<ref>Ibid.</ref></blockquote>
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The organisation of the Battle Cruiser Fleet was promulgated to senior officers of the Navy in Home Waters on 15 February,<ref>Letter M.01032/15 of 15 February, 1915. {{TNA|ADM 137/1037}}, ff. 25-26.</ref> and took effect at 18:00 on 21 February.<ref>Copy of telegram of 21 February, 1915. Churchill Papers. Churchill Archives Centre. CHAR 13/61/62.</ref> It was initially planned to comprise a fleet flagship, three Battle Cruiser Squadrons (numbered one to three) and three Light Cruiser Squadrons (numbered one to three), with each Light Cruiser Squadron coming under the orders of its similarly numbered Battle Cruiser Squadron.<ref>Letter M.01032/15 of 15 February, 1915. {{TNA|ADM 137/1037}}, ff. 25-26.</ref>
  
 
The formation was renamed the '''Battle Cruiser Force''' on 29 November, 1916.{{UKCeased|f. 8}}  It ceased to exist on 7 April, 1919.{{UKCeased|f. 8}}
 
The formation was renamed the '''Battle Cruiser Force''' on 29 November, 1916.{{UKCeased|f. 8}}  It ceased to exist on 7 April, 1919.{{UKCeased|f. 8}}

Revision as of 04:14, 31 July 2021

Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty and Battle Cruiser Fleet staff on the fo'csle of Lion, 1916. Left to right: Unknown, Commander Sidney R. Bailey, Engineer Captain Donald P. Green, Captain The Hon. Hubert G. Brand, Unknown, Paymaster Frank T. Spickernell, Brevet Major Harold M. Franks, R.M.L.I., Sir David Beatty, Lieutenant Ralph P. Seymour, Unknown, Unknown, Captain A. Ernle M. Chatfield, Unknown, Captain The Hon. Reginald A. R. P.-E.-E.-Drax, Unknown.

The Battle Cruiser Force, known as the Battle Cruiser Fleet from 1915 to 1916, was the name given to part of the reconnaissance forces of the Grand Fleet.

Inception

The formation of a Battle Cruiser Fleet was mooted on 4 February, 1915, when the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston S. Churchill, wrote to the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet, Sir John R. Jellicoe:

My proposal was to make Lion Fleet Flagship, making Brock Commodore 1st Class in command of the three other cats thus not shifting from Princess Royal. Owing to absence of Inflexible and Indefatigable and repairs to Indomitable, formation of a 3rd Squadron cannot be achieved till about March 1st. Meanwhile Patey and Brock under Beatty can divide the Battle Cruisers available. De Robeck is required temporarily for an operation of importance in the Mediterranean about which I am writing to you. As soon as he is free the three Squadrons can be formed and he can have one of them. Patey quite understands he is to serve under Beatty.
Your suggested disposition of the Light Cruiser Squadron to the B.C. Squadron will be adopted.[1]

The Head of M. Branch, Alexander Flint, signed a confidential memorandum on 8 February which announced:

The attached organisation of the Battle Cruiser Fleet, with attached Light Cruiser Squadrons, has been approved, and the appointments of the Flag Officers and Commodores shown thereon have been made.
Vice Admiral Patey will for the present also have under his orders the "Indomitable" and the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron.[2]

In the same paper was the following announcement:

Their Lordships have selected Vice Admiral Sir G.E.Patey,K.C.V.O., to be Vice Admiral Commanding, 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron, under the orders of the Vice Admiral Commanding,Battle Cruiser Fleet, flying his flag in H.M.S. [sic] "Australia".[3]

The organisation of the Battle Cruiser Fleet was promulgated to senior officers of the Navy in Home Waters on 15 February,[4] and took effect at 18:00 on 21 February.[5] It was initially planned to comprise a fleet flagship, three Battle Cruiser Squadrons (numbered one to three) and three Light Cruiser Squadrons (numbered one to three), with each Light Cruiser Squadron coming under the orders of its similarly numbered Battle Cruiser Squadron.[6]

The formation was renamed the Battle Cruiser Force on 29 November, 1916.[7] It ceased to exist on 7 April, 1919.[8]

Friction

When Beatty tried to get his Secretary, Frank T. Spickernell, promoted to the rank of Paymaster in 1915, the Second Sea Lord, Sir Frederick T. Hamilton, sarcastically noted in a letter to the Chief of Staff, Henry F. Oliver, "all I know of him is that he wants to be promoted over the heads of his top mates because he belongs to the redoubtable B.C.F."[9]

Vice-Admirals Commanding

Dates of appointment given:

Chiefs of Staff

See Also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Copy of telegram of 4 February, 1915. Churchill Papers. Churchill Archives Centre. CHAR 13/60/150.
  2. ↑ Copy of paper of 8 February, 1915. Churchill Papers. Churchill Archives Centre. CHAR 13/60/171.
  3. ↑ Ibid.
  4. ↑ Letter M.01032/15 of 15 February, 1915. The National Archives. ADM 137/1037, ff. 25-26.
  5. ↑ Copy of telegram of 21 February, 1915. Churchill Papers. Churchill Archives Centre. CHAR 13/61/62.
  6. ↑ Letter M.01032/15 of 15 February, 1915. The National Archives. ADM 137/1037, ff. 25-26.
  7. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  8. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  9. ↑ Hamilton to Oliver. Letter of 23 July, 1915. Hamilton Papers. National Maritime Museum. HTN/117/A.
  10. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  11. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  12. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  13. ↑ Oliver Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 319.
  14. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  15. ↑ Keyes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 291.
  16. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  17. ↑ Keyes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 291.
  18. ↑ Brand Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 118.
  19. ↑ Brand Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 118.

Bibliography

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