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First Fleet (United Kingdom)

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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

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The First Fleet was formed on 31 July 1912, with the Commander-in-Chief Home Fleets in direct command of it;[1] a vice admiral commanded 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

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Rank Flag Name Term
Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets/First Fleet[5]
1 Admiral Sir George Callaghan 31 July 1912 – December 1914

Components

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Included [6]
Unit Notes
1 1st Battle Squadron (8 battleships)[7]
2 2nd Battle Squadron (8 battleships)[8]
3 3rd Battle Squadron (8 pre-dreadnoughts)[9]
4 4th Battle Squadron (4 battleships)[10]
5 1st Cruiser Squadron (4 cruisers then to Battle-Cruiser Squadron 01.13)[11]
6 2nd Cruiser Squadron (4-5 cruisers)[12]
7 3rd Cruiser Squadron (5-7 cruisers)[13]
8 4th Cruiser Squadron (7-8 cruisers)[14]
9 1st Light Cruiser Squadron (14 cruisers assigned-reassigned between 1913 and 1914)[15]
10 1st Destroyer Flotilla (1 scout cruiser, 20 destroyers)[16]
11 2nd Destroyer Flotilla (1 scout cruiser, 20 destroyers)[17]
12 3rd Destroyer Flotilla (1 scout cruiser,16 destroyers -all to Med as 5th DF, 1913, replaced by 4 destroyers)[18]
13 4th Destroyer Flotilla (1 scout cruiser, 12 destroyers + 18 K. Class, 1912–13)[19]

References

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  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

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  • 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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