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Battle Cruiser Fleet

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Battle Cruiser Fleet
White Ensign
Active1915–1919
CountryUnited Kingdom
AllegianceBritish Empire
BranchRoyal Navy
TypeFleet
EngagementsBattle of Jutland

The Battle Cruiser Fleet, (BCF),[1] later known as Battle Cruiser Force, a naval formation of fast battlecruisers of the Royal Navy, operated from 1915 to 1919.

History

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The Fleet was formed on 11 February 1915 when the Admiralty ordered the deployment of its faster Battlecruiser squadrons to the Rosyth Command[2] and grouped them together as the new Battle Cruiser Fleet.[3] The name 'Fleet' remained until 1916 although it was officially subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet.[4] The fleet initially contained the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battlecruiser Squadrons but this was reduced to the 1st and 2nd BC Squadrons in June 1916. It also included two light cruiser squadrons and two destroyer flotillas, in addition the new 5th Battle Squadron that included the new fast Queen Elizabeth-class battleships operated with the fleet. On 29 November 1916 it was renamed Battle Cruiser Force. The force was disbanded in April 1919.[5]

Vice-Admirals commanding

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Post holders included:[6][7][8]

Rank Flag Name Term Notes
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Battle Cruiser Fleet/Force
1 Vice-Admiral Sir David R. Beatty 8 February 1915 (acting V.Adm) [9]
2 Vice-Admiral Sir William C. Pakenham 29 November 1916
3 Vice-Admiral Sir Henry F. Oliver 28 February 1919 – 21 March 1919 (temporary Cdg) [10]
4 Vice-Admiral Sir Roger J. B. Keyes 21 March 1919 – 7 April 1919 (acting V.Adm) [11]

Chiefs of staff

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Post holders included:[12]

Rank Flag Name Term Notes
Chief of Staff, Battle Cruiser Fleet/Force
1 Captain Rudolf W. Bentinck February 1915-June 1916
2 Captain the Hon. Hubert G. Brand June–December 1916
3 Captain Edward H. Heaton-Ellis December 1916-August 1917
4 Captain Hugh F. P. Sinclair August 1917-December 1918
5 Captain William H.D. Boyle December 1918-March 1919

Components

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Included [13][14]
Unit Elements Notes [15]
Main components at various times attached to BCF from 8 February 1915 to 4 April 1919
1 1st Battlecruiser Squadron 4/5 Battle Cruisers [16]
2 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron 3/4 Battle Cruisers [17]
3 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron 3/4 Battle Cruisers [18] detached 05/1916 [19]
4 5th Battle Squadron 5 fast battleships special unit of fast battleships operating with BCF [20]
5 1st Cruiser Squadron 4 cruisers attached 02/1915 - 06/1916 [21]
6 2nd Cruiser Squadron 4 cruisers attached 02-1915 - 06/1916 [22]
7 3rd Cruiser Squadron 3/4 cruisers attached 02-1915 - 09/1916 [23]
8 6th Cruiser Squadron 4/5 cruisers attached 02/1915 - 10/1917 [24]
9 7th Cruiser Squadron 4/5 cruisers attached 02/1915 - 05/1916 [25]
10 1st Light Cruiser Squadron 11 Town-class[26] from 02/1915 to 09/1918
11 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron 10 Town-class replaced by C Class[27] from 02/1915 to 05/1918 [28]
12 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron from 02/1915 to 05/1918 [29]
13 4th Light Cruiser Squadron 5 C-class cruisers and 1 Arethusa-class cruiser from 06/1915 to 1919 [30]
14 6th Light Cruiser Squadron 5 C-class cruisers from 07/1917 to 1919 [31]
15 7th Light Cruiser Squadron 6 Arethusa-class cruisers/ C-class cruisers from 03/1918 to 11/1918 [32]
16 1st Destroyer Flotilla 1 Cruiser (L) 20 destroyers from the Harwich Force - 02/1915 to 11/1916 detached to Nore Command[33]
17 2nd Destroyer Flotilla 1 Cruiser (L) 18/22 destroyers ditto from 02/1915 to 04/1916 detached to Devonport[34]
18 3rd Destroyer Flotilla 14 destroyers from the Harwich Force, 02/1918 to 1918 [35]
19 4th Destroyer Flotilla 1 cruiser (FS) 2/3 cruiser (L) 20 destroyers from 02/1915 to 09/1916 detached to Humber [36]
20 9th Destroyer Flotilla 22 L Class[37] from 02/1915 [38]
21 11th Destroyer Flotilla 1/2 cruiser (L) 25 destroyers formed 09/1915 [39]
22 12th Destroyer Flotilla 1/2 cruiser (L) 25 destroyers formed 11/1915 [40]
23 13th Destroyer Flotilla 4 M Class, 10 R Class, 26 V & W Class[41]
24 14th Destroyer Flotilla 2 cruiser (L) 32 destroyers formed 08/1916 [42]
25 15th Destroyer Flotilla 2 cruiser (L) 22 destroyers formed 09/1916 [43]
26 20th Destroyer Flotilla 2 cruiser (L) 12 destroyers formed 1918 initially a mine laying flotilla [44]
27 Scapa Local Flotilla 8 destroyers formed 1918
28 1st Minesweeper Flotilla 12 minesweepers formed 1915 [45]
29 2nd Minesweeper Flotilla 6 minesweepers formed 1916 [46]
30 3rd Minesweeper Flotilla 14 minesweepers formed 1918 [47]
The Fleet/Force consisted of approximately 250-300 ships[48]

References

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  1. ^ Mace, Martin (2014). The Royal Navy and the War at Sea 1914-1919. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. p. 53. ISBN 9781781593172.
  2. ^ Jordan, John (2011). Warships after Washington: The Development of Five Major Fleets 1922-1930. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. p. 2. ISBN 9781848321175.
  3. ^ Trevor, Royle (2007). The flowers of the forest : Scotland and the First World War. Birlinn. p. 161. ISBN 9781843410300.
  4. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  5. ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Battle Cruiser Force - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 3 November 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  6. ^ Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. p.139. March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  7. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 27 October 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  8. ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Battle Cruiser Force - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 3 November 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  9. ^ Harley and Lovell. 2015
  10. ^ Harley and Lovell. 2015
  11. ^ Harley and Lovell. 2015
  12. ^ Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointmnets" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. p.203. March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  13. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 20 October 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  14. ^ Smith, Gordon. "Royal Navy ship dispositions 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 6 January 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  15. ^ Smith. 2015: Composition of The Grand Fleet/Sub section Battle Cruiser Fleet/Force 1914-1918 by Admiral Viscount Jellicoe
  16. ^ Watson. 2015
  17. ^ Watson. 2015
  18. ^ Watson. 2015
  19. ^ Watson. 2015
  20. ^ Watson. 2015
  21. ^ Smith. 2015
  22. ^ Smith. 2015
  23. ^ Smith. 2015
  24. ^ Smith. 2015
  25. ^ Smith. 2015
  26. ^ Watson. 2015
  27. ^ Watson. 2015
  28. ^ Smith. 2015
  29. ^ Smith. 2015
  30. ^ Smith. 2015
  31. ^ Smith. 2015
  32. ^ Smith. 2015
  33. ^ Smith. 2015
  34. ^ Smith. 2015
  35. ^ Smith. 2015
  36. ^ Smith. 2015
  37. ^ Watson. 2015
  38. ^ Smith. 2015
  39. ^ Smith. 2015
  40. ^ Smith. 2015
  41. ^ Watson. 2015
  42. ^ Smith. 2015
  43. ^ Smith. 2015
  44. ^ Smith. 2015
  45. ^ Smith. 2015
  46. ^ Smith. 2015
  47. ^ Smith. 2015
  48. ^ Smith. 2015

Sources

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  • Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2015) "Battle Cruiser Force - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell.
  • Jordan, John. (2011). Warships after Washington: The Development of Five Major Fleets 1922–1930. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 9781848321175.
  • Mace, Martin. (2014). The Royal Navy and the War at Sea 1914–1919. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. ISBN 9781781593172.
  • Mackie, Colin. (2018) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie.
  • Smith, Gordon. (2015) "Royal Navy ship dispositions 1914–1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
  • Trevor, Royle. (2007). The flowers of the forest : Scotland and the First World War. Birlinn. ISBN 9781843410300.
  • Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914–1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
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