- 1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)
The British 1st Battle Squadron was a squadron consisting of
Battleship s. The 1st Battle Squadron was initially part of the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. DuringWorld War I the Home Fleet was renamed theGrand 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,1916January 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 atAlexandria ,Egypt , under the command of Vice-AdmiralGeoffrey 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]
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