1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)
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The British 1st Battle Squadron was a squadron consisting of Battleships. The 1st Battle Squadron was initially part of the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. During World War I the Home Fleet was renamed the Grand Fleet. The squadron changed composition often as ships were damaged, retired or transferred.
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[edit] August 1914
On 5 August 1914, the squadron was constituted as follows[1]:
[edit] Battle of Jutland, June 1916
As an element in the Grand Fleet, the Squadron participated in the Battle of Jutland. During the Battle of Jutland, the composition of the 1st Battle Squadron was as follows[2]:
-
- Sixth Division
- HMS Marlborough Flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir Cecil Burney; Captain G. P. Ross;
- HMS Revenge Captain E. B. Kiddle;
- HMS Hercules Captain L. Clinton-Baker;
- HMS Agincourt Captain H. M. Doughty;
- Fifth Division
- HMS Colossus Flagship of Rear Admiral E. F. A. Gaunt; Captain A. D. P. R. Pound;
- HMS Collingwood Captain J. C. Ley;
- HMS St. Vincent Captain W. W. Fisher;
- HMS Neptune Captain V. H. G. Bernard;
[edit] January 1917
Following the Battle of Jutland, the 1st Battle Squadron was reorganized, with Colossus, Hercules, St. Vincent, Collingwood and Neptune all transferred to the 4th Battle Squadron. In January 1917, the squadron was constituted as follows[3]:
-
- HMS Marlborough
- HMS Agincourt
- HMS Benbow - Joined July,1916
- HMS Canada
- HMS Emperor of India - Joined July, 1916
- HMS Revenge
- HMS Royal Oak - Joined May,1916
- HMS Royal Sovereign - Joined June,1916
[edit] January 1918 and Second World War
By 1918, Agincourt had been transferred to the 2nd Battle Squadron, and HMS Resolution, HMS Ramillies and HMS Iron Duke had joined the squadron on completion.[4]
On 3 September 1939 the 1st Battle Squadron, serving in the Mediterranean Fleet, consisted of Barham, Warspite, and Malaya, headquartered at Alexandria, Egypt, under the command of Vice-Admiral Geoffrey Layton.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Dittmar, F.J & Colledge J.J., British Warships 1914-1919 Ian Allan, London. 1972; ISBN 0-7110-0380-7
- ^ Macintyre, Donald. Jutland Evans Brothers Ltd. 1957; ISBN: 0-330-20142-5
- ^ Dittmar, F.J & Colledge J.J., British Warships 1914-1919 Ian Allan, London. 1972; ISBN 0-7110-0380-7 pp20
- ^ ibid pp24
- ^ Orbat.com/Niehorster, Mediterranean Fleet, 3 September 1939, accessed May 2008
