First Fleet
Active31 July 1912–August 1914
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet

The First Fleet was a formation of the Royal Navy that briefly existed before the First World War from 1912 to 1914.

History

The First Fleet was formed on 31 July 1912, with the Commander-in-Chief Home Fleets in direct command of it;[1] a vice admiralcommanded the Second and Third Fleets. The numbered fleets during this period had different levels of battle readiness; ships of the First Fleet ships were in full commission.[2]

The First Fleet included four destroyer flotillas under Captain Cecil Lambert.[3] Captain Reginald Tyrwhitt took over the command of the destroyer flotillas in December 1913.[4]

Commanders

RankFlagNameTerm
Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets/First Fleet [5]
1AdmiralSir George Callaghan31 July 1912-December 1914

Components

Included [6]
UnitNotes
11st Battle Squadron(8 battleships) [7]
22nd Battle Squadron(8 battleships) [8]
33rd Battle Squadron(8 pre-dreadnoughts) [9]
44th Battle Squadron(4 battleships) [10]
51st Cruiser Squadron(4 cruisers then to Battle-Cruiser Squadron 01.13) [11]
62nd Cruiser Squadron(4-5 cruisers) [12]
73rd Cruiser Squadron(5-7 cruisers) [13]
84th Cruiser Squadron(7-8 cruisers) [14]
91st Light Cruiser Squadron(14 cruisers assigned-reassigned between 1913 and 1914) [15]
101st Destroyer Flotilla(1 scout cruiser, 20 destroyers) [16]
112nd Destroyer Flotilla(1 scout cruiser, 20 destroyers) [17]
123rd Destroyer Flotilla(1 scout cruiser,16 destroyers -all to Med as 5th DF, 1913, replaced by 4 destroyers) [18]
134th Destroyer Flotilla(1 scout cruiser, 12 destroyers + 18 K. Class, 1912–13) [19]

References

  1. Government, H.M. (October 1913). "List of officers on active list of the Royal Navy with the dates of their seniority". The Navy List. H.M Stationery Office. p. 86.
  2. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". naval-history.net. Gordom Smith, 8 August 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  3. The Times. Monday, 29 July 1912. Issue 39963, col D, p. 3.
  4. The Times. Monday, 24 November 1913. Issue 40377, col B, p. 5.
  5. Government, H.M. (October 1913). "Flag Officers - Vice Admirals". The Navy List. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 87.
  6. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 8 August 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  7. Smith. 2015
  8. Smith. 2015
  9. Smith. 2015
  10. Smith. 2015
  11. Smith. 2015
  12. Smith. 2015
  13. Smith. 2015
  14. Smith. 2015
  15. Smith. 2015
  16. Smith. 2015
  17. Smith. 2015
  18. Smith. 2015
  19. Smith. 2015

Sources

  • Government, H.M. (October 1913). "List of officers on active list of the Royal Navy with the dates of their seniority". The Navy List. H.M Stationery Office.
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