Grand Fleet

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Grand Fleet

Grand Fleet battleships
Active 1914-1918
Country Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 John Jellicoe, David Beatty
The 2nd Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet. From left to right the ships are: King George V, Thunderer, Monarch and Conqueror.
The 2nd Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet. From left to right the ships are: King George V, Thunderer, Monarch and Conqueror.

The Grand Fleet was a fleet of the British Royal Navy during the First World War.

Contents

[edit] History

It was formed in 1914 by the British Atlantic Fleet combined with the Home Fleet and it included 35-40 state-of-the-art capital ships. It was initially commanded by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe. He was later succeeded by the commander of the Grand Fleet battlecruisers Admiral Sir David Beatty. The Grand Fleet was based in Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. The Grand Fleet only took part in one fleet action during the war, the indecisive Battle of Jutland. More British ships were sunk than German, although the German High Seas Fleet was damaged to the extent that it was unable to put to sea for a number of months. Strategically, Jutland was a British victory because the British fleet retained control of the North Sea with no further challenge from the German Navy.

After the war the Grand Fleet was disbanded with much of its strength forming a new Atlantic Fleet.


[edit] Order of battle

The Grand Fleet's order of battle in May 1916 was:

[edit] Battle fleet

[edit] 1st Battle Squadron

[edit] 2nd Battle Squadron

[edit] 4th Battle Squadron

[edit] 1st Cruiser Squadron

(Armoured Cruisers)

[edit] 2nd Cruiser Squadron

(Armoured Cruisers)

[edit] 4th Light Cruiser Squadron

[edit] Attached Light Cruisers

[edit] 4th Destroyer Flotilla

[edit] 11th Destroyer Flotilla

  • Castor (Light Cruiser) - Commodore Hawksley
  • Kempenfelt - flotilla leader
  • Magic
  • Mandate
  • Manners
  • Marne
  • Martial
  • Michael
  • Milbrook
  • Minion
  • Mons
  • Morning Star
  • Mounsey
  • Mystic
  • Ossory

[edit] 12th Destroyer Flotilla

  • Faulknor - Captain Stirling
  • Maenad
  • Marksman
  • Marvel
  • Mary Rose
  • Menace
  • Mindful
  • Mischief
  • Munster
  • Narwhal
  • Nessus
  • Noble
  • Nonsuch
  • Obedient
  • Onslaught
  • Opal

[edit] Miscellaneous

  • Abdiel (Minelayer)
  • Oak (Destroyer tender)

[edit] The Battle Cruiser Force

Known before late 1916 as the Battle Cruiser Fleet.

[edit] 1st Battlecruiser Squadron

[edit] 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron

[edit] 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron

[edit] 5th Battle Squadron

[edit] 1st Light Cruiser Squadron

[edit] 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron

[edit] 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron

[edit] Seaplane Carrier

[edit] 1st Destroyer Flotilla

[edit] 9th and 10th Destroyer Flotillas (combined)

  • Lydiard - Commander Goldsmith
  • Landrail
  • Laurel
  • Liberty
  • Moorsom
  • Morris
  • Termagant
  • Turbulent

[edit] 13th Destroyer Flotilla

  • Champion (Light Cruiser) - Captain Farie
  • Moresby
  • Narbrough
  • Nerissa
  • Nestor
  • Nicator
  • Nomad
  • Obdurate
  • Onslow
  • Pelican
  • Petard

[edit] External links