Black Sea and Caspian Squadron
| Black Sea and Caspian Squadron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1918-1919 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | British Empire |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Part of | |
| Garrison/HQ | HMS Emperor of India |
| Engagements | Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War |
The Black Sea and Caspian Squadron,[1] also known as the Black Sea and Marmora Force and the Black Sea and Marmora Division,[2] was a naval formation of the British Mediterranean Fleet from 1918 to 1919.
History
[edit]On 19 December 1918 the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet instructed Rear-Admiral Michael Culme-Seymour, then commanding British Aegean Squadron, that he was to be re-assigned to a new command appointment. On 1 January he transferred his current command to Commodore Maurice Fitzmaurice and assumed authority for the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Sea of Azov and Sea of Marmora.[1] The squadron was involved in the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. In October 1919 Rear-Admiral Seymour was appointed Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet, and the squadron was disbanded. The squadron's flagship was HMS Emperor of India.[3]
A component of the squadron was the British Caspian Flotilla.
Rear-Admirals, commanding
[edit]Post holders included:
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-Admiral Commanding, Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Sea of Marmora | ||||
| Rear-Admiral |  |
Michael Culme-Seymour | 1 January – October 1919[3] | |
Components
[edit]As of December 1918 included:[4]
| # | units | notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Battleships | |
| 7 | Cruisers | |
| 3 | Sea Plane Carriers | |
| 7 | Monitors | |
| 8 | Destroyers | from 5th Destroyer Flotilla |
| 6 | Sloops | |
| 1 | British Caspian Flotilla |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Halpern, Paul (2016). The Mediterranean Fleet, 1919–1929. Cambridge: Routledge. p. 19. ISBN 9781317024163.
- ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (5 September 2018). "H.M.S. Heliotrope (1915) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ Watson, Graham (27 October 2015). "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918: Mediterranean Fleet". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
Sources
[edit]- Admiralty, Great Britain (October 1919). "Flag Officers in Commission". Navy List. London England: HM Stationery Office.
- Halpern, Paul (2016). The Mediterranean Fleet, 1919–1929. Cambridge England: Routledge. ISBN 9781317024163.
- Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (5 September 2018). "H.M.S. Heliotrope (1915) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org.
- Watson, Dr Graham (2015). "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918: Mediterranean Fleet". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
