1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)

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.

August 1914

On 5 August 1914, the squadron was constituted as follows [Dittmar, F.J & Colledge J.J., "British Warships 1914-1919" Ian Allan, London. 1972; ISBN 0-7110-0380-7] :
** "HMS Marlborough"
** "HMS Collingwood"
** "HMS Colossus"
** "HMS Hercules"
** "HMS Neptune"
** "HMS St. Vincent"
** "HMS Superb"
** "HMS Vanguard"

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 [Macintyre, Donald. "Jutland" Evans Brothers Ltd. 1957; ISBN 0-330-20142-5] :
**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;

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 [Dittmar, F.J & Colledge J.J., "British Warships 1914-1919" Ian Allan, London. 1972; ISBN 0-7110-0380-7 pp20] :

** "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

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. [ibid pp24]

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. [Orbat.com/Niehorster, [http://orbat.com/site/ww2/drleo/017_britain/39_navy/med-fleet.html Mediterranean Fleet, 3 September 1939] , accessed May 2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3940 Royal Navy History]
* [http://www.gwpda.org/naval/fdrn0004.htm Composition of the Grand Fleet]