1st Destroyer Flotilla

1st Destroyer Flotilla 1907; formal July 1909–July 1940, 1947-1951 United Kingdom United Kingdom Flotilla World War I Battle of Heligoland Bight (1914) Battle of Dogger Bank (1915) Battle of Jutland World War II Commodore Edward F. B. Charlton First Captain Michael S. Townsend Last The 1st Destroyer Flotilla, also styled as the First Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the British Royal Navy from 1909 to 1940 and again from 1947 to 1951. History Pre-war history In May 1906, the First Destroyer Flotilla was attached to the Channel Fleet. The flotilla was attached alongside the 2nd and 3rd Destroyer Flotillas. Between February and August 1907, it was stationed in Portsmouth until being reassigned to the Channel Fleet. In February 1909 the flotilla was transferred to the 1st Division of the Home Fleet. On 27 July 1909, it was placed under the command of Commodore Edward F. B. Charlton until 1910. From May 1912 to July 1914 the flotilla was allocated to the First Fleet of the Home Fleet. World War I At the outbreak of war in July, 1914, the First Destroyer Flotilla was part of the First Fleet and was composed of 20 destroyers, 1 depot ship, and 1 scout cruiser. In August 1914 it was grouped with two other flotillas to form the Harwich Force as part of the Grand Fleet, under the command of Reginald Tyrwhitt, until November 1916. The flotilla was next assigned to the Harwich Force where it remained until April 1917. From May 1917 until December 1918 it was in the Portsmouth Command.Watson Graham Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914 https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1900-14.htm#2 www.naval-history.net G. Smith, 8 August 2015 8 July 2018Watson Graham Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918 https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1914-1918.htm#6 www.naval-history.net Gordon Smith, 8 August 2015 8 July 2018 After World War One the flotilla was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet from November 1918 to April 1925. In 1925 it was re-designated 5th Destroyer Flotilla and assigned to its first overseas station as part of the Mediterranean Fleet until 1932.Halpern Paul The Mediterranean Fleet, 1919–1929 2016 Routledge Cambridge, England 9781317024163 296 https://books.google.com/books?id=ruqqCwAAQBAJ&q=1st+destroyer+flotilla+served+in+the+mediterranean+fleet&pg=PA296 en It was renamed back to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla still with the Med Fleet until August 1938.Watson Graham Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919-1939 https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1919-39.htm#8 www.naval-history.net Gordon Smith, 2 September 2015 8 July 2018 World War II At the beginning of World War Two in September 1939, the flotilla was placed under the command of the Rear-Admiral, Destroyer Flotillas Mediterranean Fleet where it remained until July 1940 when it was moved to the Portsmouth Command, till May 1945.Watson Graham Royal Navy Orgqnisation in World War 2, 1939-1945 https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1939-45.htm#3 www.naval-history.net n Smith, 19 September 2015 8 July 2018 Post the Second World War the Flotilla was reformed again as part of the Mediterranean Fleet in July 1945 until October 1951 when it was renamed 1st Destroyer Squadron. Command structure organizational changes took place within the Royal Navy during the post-war period. The term Flotilla was previously applied to a tactical unit until 1951 which led to the creation of three specific Flag Officers, Flotillas responsible for the Eastern, Home and Mediterranean fleets. The existing destroyer flotillas were re-organized now as administrative squadrons.Watson Graham Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013: FLOTILLAS AND SQUADRONS 1947-1971 https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1947-2013.htm www.naval-history.net Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015 10 July 2018 Operational deployments Assigned to Dates Notes Channel Fleet March 1907 to February 1909 Home Fleet, 1st Division March 1909 to April 1912 Home Fleets, First Fleet May 1912 to July 1914 Grand Fleet August 1914 to November 1916 Harwich Force November 1916 to April 1917 Portsmouth Command April 1917 to November 1918 Atlantic Fleet November 1918 to- April 1925 renumbered 5DF Mediterranean Fleet September 1939 to July 1940 Portsmouth Command July 1940 to May 1945 Mediterranean Fleet July 1945 to October 1951 Administration In the Royal Navy, a Captain (D) afloat or Captain Destroyers afloat is an operational commander responsible for the command of destroyer flotilla or squadron. Captains (D) afloat 1st Destroyer Flotilla Incomplete list of post holders included:Harley Simon Lovell Tony First Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/First_Destroyer_Flotilla_(Royal_Navy) www.dreadnoughtproject.org Harley and Lovell, 17 June 2018 8 July 2018 en Rank Name Term Notes + Captain (D) afloat 1st Destroyer Flotilla1 Commodore Edward F. B. Charlton 27 July 1909 – after 27 June 1910 2 Commodore 2nd class Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot 29 November 1910 – 1 May 1912 later R.Adm.3 Captain Arthur R. Hulbert10 May 1912 – 12 January 1913Arthur Russell Hulbert - The Dreadnought Project https://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Arthur_Russell_Hulbert 2026-05-27 www.dreadnoughtproject.org4 Captain Thomas L. Shelford20 January 1913Thomas Lawrie Shelford - The Dreadnought Project https://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Thomas_Lawrie_Shelford 2026-05-27 www.dreadnoughtproject.org5 Captain William F. Blunt25 April 1913 – 25 July 1915William Frederick Blunt - The Dreadnought Project https://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/William_Frederick_Blunt 2026-05-27 www.dreadnoughtproject.org(later R.Adm)Mackie Colin Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865 https://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf Colin Mackie, July 2018 10 July 2018 224–2266 Captain Charles D. Roper 27 July 1915 – 8 June 1916 7 Captain Brien M. Money 1 March 1919 – 4 April 1919 8 Captain George W. McO. Campbell4 April 1919 – 1 December 1920 (later V. Adm)9 Captain Arthur K. Betty 1 December 1920 – 19 December 1922 10 Captain Andrew B. Cunningham 19 December 1922 – 1 July 1924 (later Adm. of the Fleet)11 Captain Kenneth MacLeod1 July 1924 – 1 April 1925Kenneth MacLeod - The Dreadnought Project https://dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Kenneth_MacLeod 2026-05-27 dreadnoughtproject.org12 Captain James V. Creagh7 July 1925 – October, 1927James Vandeleur Creagh - The Dreadnought Project https://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/James_Vandeleur_Creagh 2026-05-27 www.dreadnoughtproject.org13 Captain John H. K. Clegg 11 October 1927 – 7 December 1929 14 Captain Alan R. Dewar 6 November 1929 – 10 December 1931 (later R.Adm)15 Captain Edward B. Cloete 10 December 1931 – December, 1932 16 Captain Charles F. Harris 12 December 1932 - 18 May 1936 17 Captain Charles M. Blackman 18 May 1936 - 25 June 1940 18 Captain Augustine W. S. Agar 25 June 1940 – 13 July 1940 (later Cmdre.) flotilla disbanded19 Captain R. Dymock Watson 1947 - October 1948 flotilla reformed20 Captain John E.H. McBeath October 1948 - April 1950 21 Captain Michael S. Townsend April 1950 - October 1951 flotilla renamed 1st Destroyer Squadron References 2 Sources Halpern, Paul (2016). The Mediterranean Fleet, 1919–1929. Cambridge, England: Routledge. 9781317024163. Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2018) "First Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. G. Smith. Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. collapsed Category:Destroyer flotillas of the Royal Navy Category:Military units and formations established in 1907 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1940 Category:Military units and formations established in 1947 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1951