The Grand Fleet, 1914-1918

Contributed by Graham E Watson (easton.watson@lineone.net).


Commander in Chief: Admiral Sir John Jellicoe

11.16 - Admiral Sir David Beatty

Chief of Staff: Rear Admiral Charles Madden

11.16: Rear Admiral Osmond Brock

Fleet Flagship: Iron Duke

11.16: Queen Elizabeth

attached cruiser - Sappho

attached destroyer - Oak

1st BATTLE SQUADRON

Cmdr - Vice Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly

12.14 - Vice Admiral Sir Cecil Burney

11.16 - Vice Admiral Sir Charles Madden

2 i/c - Rear Admiral Hugh Evan Thomas

8.15 - Rear Admiral Ernest Gaunt

12.16 - Rear Admiral William Nicholson

Marlborough (F VAd)

Vanguard 7.16 to 4BS

Colossus 7.16 to 4BS

Hercules 7.16 to 4BS

St Vincent (F RAd) 7.16 to 4BS

Superb 1.15 to 4BS

Collingwood 7.16 to 4BS

Neptune 7.16 to 4BS

11.15 - Agincourt 10.18 to 2BS

3.16 - Revenge (to F VAd)

5.16 - Royal Oak

6.16 - Royal Sovereign

7.16 - Benbow

7.16 - Emperor of India

12.16 - Resolution

12.16 - Iron Duke (to Flag RAd)

9.17 - Ramillies

attached cruiser - Bellona

2nd BATTLE SQUADRON

Cmdr - Vice Admiral Sir George Warrender

12.15 - Vice Admiral Sir Martin Jerram

11.16 - Vice Admiral Sir John de Robeck

2 i/c - Rear Admiral Robert Arbuthnot

1.15 - Rear Admiral Arthur Leveson

11.16 - Rear Admiral William Goodenough

King George V (F VAd)

Ajax

Audacious lost 27.10.14

Centurion

Orion (F RAd)

Monarch

Thunderer

Conqueror

1.15 - Erin

10.18 - Agincourt

attached cruiser - Boadicea

3rd BATTLE SQUADRON [detached to Nore Command May 1916]

Cmdr - Vice Admiral Sir Edward Bradford

2 i/c - Rear Admiral Montague Browning

11.15 - Rear Admiral Sydney Fremantle

King Edward VII (F VAd) lost 6.1.16

Africa

Britannia

Commonwealth

Hibernia ( RAd) [detached Mediterranean 10.15-5.16]

Dominion

Hindustan

Zealandia [detached Mediterranean 10.15-5.16]

Attached cruiser - Blanche

4th BATTLE SQUADRON

Cmdr - Vice Admiral Sir Douglas Gamble

2.15 - Vice Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee

2.18 - Vice Admiral Sir Montague Browning

2 i/c - Rear Admiral Alexander Duff from 11.14-

1.17 - Rear Admiral Roger Keyes

6.17 - Rear Admiral Douglas Nicholson

Dreadnought (F VAd) 5.16 to 3BS

Bellerophon

Temeraire 10.18 to Mediterranean

8.14 - Agincourt 10.18 to 2BS

8.14 - Erin 1.15 to 2BS

10.14 - Benbow 7.16 to 1BS

11.14 - Emperor of India 7.16 to 1BS

1.15 - Superb 10.18 to Mediterranean

10.15 - Canada

7.16 - Collingwood

7.16 - St Vincent

7.16 - Vanguard lost 9.7.17

7.16 - Neptune

7.16 - Hercules

7.16 - Colossus

3.18 - Dreadnought 5.18 to reserve

attached cruiser - Blonde

5th BATTLE SQUADRON formed October 1915

Cmdr - Rear Admiral Hugh Evan Thomas

10.18 - Rear Admiral Arthur Leveson

3.15 - Warspite

5.15 - Queen Elizabeth 12.16 to fleet flagship

10.15 - Barham (F)

2.16 - Malaya

2.16 - Valiant

BATTLECRUISER FORCE/FLEET 2.15-

Cmdr - Vice Admiral David Beatty

11.16 - Rear Admiral William Pakenham [VAd 9.18]

Flagship - Lion

1st BATTLECRUISER SQUADRON

Cmdr - Rear Admiral David Beatty

2.15 - Rear Admiral Osmond Brock

11.16 - Rear Admiral Richard Phillimore

1.18 - Rear Admiral Henry Oliver

Lion -2.15 Flag BCF

Princess Royal

Queen Mary lost 31.5.16

11.14 - Tiger

8.16 - Repulse

9.16 - Renown

2nd BATTLECRUISER SQUADRON

1.15 - Rear Admiral Archibald Moore

2.15 - Rear Admiral William Pakenham

11.16 - Rear Admiral Arthur Leveson

6.18 - Rear Admiral Lionel Halsey

New Zealand

8.14 - Invincible -2.15 3BCS

8.14 - Inflexible -2.15 3BCS

1.15 - Indomitable -2.15 3BCS

2.15 - Australia (F)

6.16 - Inflexible

6.16 - Indomitable

3rd BATTLECRUISER SQUADRON

5.15 - Rear Admiral Horace Hood ­KIA 31.5.16

Invincible (F) lost 31.5.16

Indomitable

Inflexible

LIGHT FORCES/1ST CRUISER SQUADRON

1.17 - Rear Admiral Trevelyan Napier [VAd 10.18]

Courageous

Glorious

1st CRUISER SQUADRON

12.14 - Rear Admiral Archibald Moore

1.15 - Rear Admiral Robert Arbuthnot-KIA 31.5.16

Defence (F) lost 31.5.16

Warrior lost 1.6.16

Black Prince lost 31.5.16

Duke of Edinburgh 6.16 to 2CS

2nd CRUISER SQUADRON

Cmdr - Rear Admiral Somerset Gough-Calthorpe

5.16 - Rear Admiral Herbert Heath ­11.16

Shannon (F) - 18 to NAWI

Achilles 9.17 to NAWI

Cochrane 1.18 to NAWI

Natal lost 31.12.15

5.16 - Donegal 9.16 to NAWI

5.16 - Minotaur

5.16 - Hampshire lost 5.6.16

6.16 - Duke of Edinburgh 9.17 to NAWI

3rd CRUISER SQUADRON

Cmdr - Rear Admiral William Pakenham

3.15 - Rear Admiral Lowther Grant

11.15 - Rear Admiral Montague Browning- .16

Antrim (F) 7.16 to NAWI

Argyll lost 28.10.15

Devonshire 5.16 to Nore

Roxburgh 9.15 to repairs

6th CRUISER SQUADRON

Rear Admiral William Grant

Drake (F) lost 2.10.17

Good Hope 9.14 to S Atlantic

King Alfred 9.14 to West Africa

Leviathan 10.15 to NAWI

1.15 - Donegal 11.15 to 7CS

1.15 - Cumberland 2.15 to 7CS

1.15 - Hampshire 2.15 to 7CS

7th CRUISER SQUADRON

Rear Admiral Arthur Waymouth

4.15 - Rear Admiral Edward Tottenham

10.15 - Rear Admiral Herbert Heath-5.16

11.14 - Hampshire -5.16 to 2CS

1.15 - Minotaur (F) -5.16 to 2CS

2.15 - Cumberland -4.15 to NAWI

3.15 - Donegal -5.16 to 2CS

3.15 - Lancaster -4.16 to Pacific

1st LIGHT CRUISER SQUADRON

8.14 - Commodore William Goodenough

1.15 - Commodore Edwin Alexander-Sinclair [RAd 4.17]

7,17 - Commodore Walter Cowan [RAd 9.18]

Southampton -2.15 to 2LCS

Birmingham -2.15 to 2LCS

Lowestoft -2.15 to 2LCS

Nottingham -2.15 to 2LCS

1.15 - Inconstant

2.15 - Galatea (F)

2.15 - Caroline -11.15 to 4LCS

2.15 - Cordelia - .17 to 4LCS

9.15 - Phaeton

2.17 - Royalist

3.17 - Caledon (F)

2nd LIGHT CRUISER SQUADRON

12.14 - Rear Admiral Trevelyan Napier

1.15 - Commodore William Goodenough

12.16 - Commodore Cecil Lambert [RAd 4.17]

2.18 - Rear Admiral Michael Culme-Seymour

5.18 - Rear Admiral James Fergusson

Falmouth -2.15 to 3LCS

Gloucester -2.15 to 3LCS

Yarmouth -2.15 to 3LCS

Liverpool -2.15 to 3LCS

2.15 - Southampton (F) - .18 to 3LCS

2.15 - Birmingham

2.15 - Lowestoft - .16 to Med

2.15 - Nottingham lost 19.8.16

.16 - Dublin

.16 - Melbourne

.16 - Sydney

.18 - Yarmouth

3rd LIGHT CRUISER SQUADRON 2.15 -

2.15 - Rear Admiral Trevelyan Napier

1.17 - Rear Admiral Allan Hunt

Falmouth (F) lost 20.9.16

Gloucester -12.16 to Med

Yarmouth - .18 to 2LCS

Liverpool -12.15 to Med

5.15 - Birkenhead

5.16 - Chester

.16 - Chatham (F)

.18 - Southampton

4th LIGHT CRUISER SQUADRON

6.15 Commodore le Mesurier

.18 Commodore R Bentinck

10.18 Rear Admiral Alan Everett

Royalist -2.17 to 1LCS

Comus

Carysfort -4.16 to 5LCS/Harwich

Calliope (F)

11.15 - Caroline

1.16 - Constance

5.16 - Cambrian

.17 - Cordelia

6th LIGHT CRUISER SQUADRON

7.17 - Rear Admiral Alexander-Sinclair

Cardiff (F)

Calypso

Caradoc

Ceres

Cassandra lost 5.12.18

7th LIGHT CRUISER SQUADRON

3.18 - Commodore George Borrett [RAd 8.18]

Carysfort (F)

Aurora

Penelope

Phaeton

8.18 - Cleopatra

11.18 - Undaunted

AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

1.17 - Rear Admiral Richard Phillimore (and 1BCS)

3.18 - Furious

9.18 - Argus

.18 - Campania

Destroyer Flotilla Flagship 11.15 - Castor

Submarine Flotilla Flagship 11.16 - Fearless

1st DESTROYER FLOTILLA

Served in the Grand Fleet until November 1916 when moved to Nore Command

Cruiser flagship - Fearless

Meteor (L) 9.14- Botha .15- .15

Acheron

Archer

Ariel

Attack

Badger

Beaver

Defender

Druid

Ferret

Forester

Goshawk

Hind

Hornet

Hydra

Jackal

Lapwing

Lizard

Phoenix

Sandfly

Tigress

2nd DESTROYER FLOTILLA

Served in the Grand Fleet until April 1916 when moved to Devonport

Cruiser Flagships - Active

12.14-2.15 Galatea

Acorn - .15 to Med

Alarm

Brisk

Cameleon

Comet - .15 to Med

Fury - .15 to Med

Goldfinch lost 18.2.15

Hope

Larne

Lyra

Martin

Minstrel - .15 to Med

Nemesis

Nereide

Nymphe

Redpole

Rifleman

Ruby

Sheldrake - .15 to Med

Staunch - .15 to Med

3rd DESTROYER FLOTILLA

Joined the Grand Fleet from Harwich 1918

Nimrod

Talisman

Maenad

Mameluck

Marvel

Menace

Michael

Munster

Napier

Nessus lost 8.9.18

Noble

Nonsuch

Onslaught

Petard

4th DESTROYER FLOTILLA

Served in the Grand Fleet until September 1916 when moved to the Humber

Cruiser flagship - Caroline 12.14-2.15

Swift .15 - Faulknor

Added 5.16 - Tipperary lost 31.5.16

Acasta

Achates

Ambuscade

Ardent lost 31.5.16

Christopher

Cockatrice

Contest

Fortune lost 31.5.16

Garland

Hardy

Lynx lost 9.8.15

Midge

Owl

Paragon

Porpoise

Shark lost 31.5.16

Sparrowhawk lost 31.5.16

Spitfire

Unity

Victor

11th DESTROYER FLOTILLA

formed September 1915

Kempenfelt 8.17 - Valorous

11.16 - Seymour

Moon 6.15- .18

Mons 7.15- .18

Mandate 8.15- .18

Marmion 8.15- lost 21.10.17

Marne 8.15- .18

Michael 8.15- .18

Morning Star 8.15- .18

Manners 9.15- .18

Martial 10.15- .18

Milbrook 10.15- .18

Minion 11.15- .18

Mystic 11.15- .18

Ossory 11.15- .18

Mounsey 11.15- .18

Musketeer 12.15- .18

Magic 1.16- .18

Romola 8.16-

Sarpedon 9.16-

Setter 10.16- lost 17.5.17

Tenacious 8.17-

Tormentor 8.17-

Tancred 9.17-

Tornado 11.17- lost 23.12.17

Vivacious 12.17-

Vittoria 1.18-

Vortigern 1.18-

Watchman 1.18-

Versatile 2.18-

Walker 2.18-

Vancouver 3.18-

Viscount 3.18-

Walrus 3.18-

Vanessa 4.18-

Vanity 6.18-

Voyager 6.18-

12th DESTROYER FLOTILLA

formed November 1915

Marksman 9.17 - Valhalla

12.16 - Saumarez

Mameluke 10.15- .18

Maenad 11.15- .18

Mindful 11.15- .18

Nessus 11.15- .18

Marvel 12.15- .18

Mischief 12.15- .18

Munster 1.16- .18

Napier 1.16- .18

Opal 1.16- lost 12.1.18

Mary Rose 2.16- lost 17.10.17

Noble 2.16- .18

Nonsuch 2.16- .18

Obedient 2.16- .18

Narwhal 3.16- .18

Onslaught 3.16- .18

Menace 4.16- .18

Prince 9.16- .18

Strongbow 11.16- lost 17.10.17

Simoon 3.18-

Winchester 3.18-

Wrestler 3.18-

Scimitar 4.18-

Torch 5.18-

Vivien 5.18-

Wolsey 5.18-

Scotsman 6.18-

Scout 6.18-

Scythe 7.18-

Tomahawk 7.18-

Waterhen 7.18-

Sepoy 8.18-

Speedy 8.18-

Sea Bear 9.18-

Sirdar 9.18-

Trinidad 9.18-

Tryphon 9.18-

13th DESTROYER FLOTILLA

formed April 1916

Cruiser flagship - Champion

Gabriel .18 - Valkyrie

6.17 - Valentine

Nepean 3.16- .18

Nestor 3.16- lost 31.5.16

Obdurate 3.16- .18

Nerissa 3.16- .18

Moresby 4.16- .18

Nicator 4.16- .18

Onslow 4.16- .18

Narborough 5.16- lost 12.1.18

Nereus 5.16- .18

Nomad 5.16- lost 31.5.16

Paladin 5.16- .18

Pelican 5.16- .18

Penn 5.16- .18

Petard 5.16- .18

Negro 6.16- lost 21.12.16

Pigeon 6.16- .18

Pasley 7.16- .18

Patrician 7.16- .18

Medway 8.16- .18

Oracle 8.16- .18

Orcadia 9.16- .18

Orpheus 9.16- .18

Rival 9.16- .18

Norseman 11.16- .18

Octavia 11.16- .18

Oriana 11.16- .18

Oriole 11.16 .18

Oberon 12.16- .18

Osiris 12.16- .18

Tristram 6.17-

Tower 8.17-

Umpire 8.17-

Urchin 8.17-

Vanoc 8.17- .18

Ursula 9.17-

Vanquisher 9.17- .18

Vehement 9.17- .18

Vimiera 9.17-

Ursa 10.17-

Vendetta 10.17-

Ulster 11.17-

Venturous 11.17- .18

Verdun 11.17-

Violent 11.17-

Wakeful 11.17-

Vectis 12.17-

Vega 12.17-

Venetia 12.17-

Verulam 12.17-

Viceroy 1.18-

Vesper 2.18-

Wolfhound 3.18-

Vidette 4.18-

Westcott 4.18-

Westminster 4.18-

Winchelsea 4.18-

Wessex 5.18-

Woolston 6.18-

Walpole 8.18-

Windsor 8.18-

Whitley 10.18-

Wryneck 11.18-

14th DESTROYER FLOTILLA

formed June 1916

Botha 9.17 - Vampire

Ithuriel 6.17 - Anzac

Ophelia 5.16-

Relentless 5.16-

Medina 6.16-

Nizam 6.16- .18

Nonpareil 6.16-

Observer 6.16-

Opportune 6.16-

Orestes 6.16-

Pellew 6.16-

Peyton 6.16-

Plover 6.16-

Patriot 6.16-

Offa 7.16-

Partridge 7.16- lost 12.12.17

Peregrine 7.16-

Plucky 7.16-

Norman 8.16-

Orford 12.16-

Pylades 12.16-

Warwick 3.18-

Velox 4.18-

Whirlwind 8.18-

Paladin .18-

Penn .18-

Octavia .18-

Patrician .18-

Tyrant .18-

Splendid 10.18-

Tobago 10.18-

Sabre 11.18-

Seafire 11.18-

Seraph 11.18-

15th DESTROYER FLOTILLA

formed September 1916

Parker

Grenville

Rapid 8.16-

Parthian 9.16- .18

Sabrina 9.16-

Radstock 9.16-

Rowena 9.16-

North Esk 10.16- .18

Portia 10.16- .18

Ready 10.16-

Raider 10.16-

Restless 10.16-

Rocket 10.16-

Rigorous 11.16-

Sable 11.16-

Pheasant 12.16- lost 1.3.17

Rob Roy 12.16-

Salmon 12.16-

Sorceress 12.16-

Rosalind 12.16-

Trenchant 4.17-

Ulysses 5.17- lost 28.10.18

Undine 5.17-

Tirade 6.17-

20th DESTROYER FLOTILLA

A minelaying flotilla formed in 1918 but based at Immingham

Abdiel

Gabriel

Ariel lost 2.8.18

Ferret

Sandfly

Lawford

Legion

Prine

Tarpon

Telemachus

Vanquisher

Vanoc

Vehement lost 2.8.18

Venturous

SCAPA LOCAL FLOTILLA 1914

Arun Boyne Cherwell Dee Erne

Exe Swale Ure

1st MINESWEEPER FLOTILLA

formed 1915

Godetia Carnation Dahlia Daphne Iris

Lilac Marigold Myrtle Pansy Sunflower

Quorn Zetland

2nd MINESWEEPER FLOTILLA

formed 1916

Lupin Foxglove Gentian Larkspur

Bicester Croome

3rd MINESWEEPER FLOTILLA

formed 1918

Belvoir Cotswold Cottesmore Dartmoor Garth Gretna

Hambledon Heythrop Holderness Meynell Muskerry Oakley

Pytchley Tedworth

THE HARWICH FORCE

Cmdr - Commodore Reginald Tyrrwhitt

[ Rear Admiral 1919]

CRUISERS [later 5th Light Cruiser Squadron]

Amphion lost 4.8.14

Arethusa (F) lost 10.2.16

Aurora

Undaunted 9.14-3.18

Penelope 12.14-3.18

Adventure 5-7.15

Cleopatra 6.15-8.18

Conquest 6.15-7.18

Carysfort (F) 4.16-3. 18

Canterbury 5.16-9.18

Centaur 8.16-

Concord 12.16-

Curacoa (F) 12.17-

Curlew 12.17-

Coventry 2.18-

Danae 6.18-

Dragon 8.18-

Carlisle 11.18-

Dauntless 12.18-

3rd DESTROYER FLOTILLA

served at Harwich from August 1914 until dispersed April 1917

renumbered 9th DESTROYER FLOTILLA during 1915

Laertes

Laforey temp det to Med 15/16

Lance

Landrail

Lark

Laurel

Lawford temp det to Med 15/16

Legion

Lennox

Linnet

Llewellyn

Louis temp det to Med 1915 and lost there

Loyal

Lydiard

Lysander

Leonidas 8.14-

Lookout 8.14-

Lucifer 8.14-

Liberty .15-

Laverock 10.15-

Lassoo 10.15- lost 13.8.16

Lochinvar 12.15-

10th DESTROYER FLOTILLA

formed August 1914

Nimrod 2.18 - Scott -lost 15.8.18 9.18 - Montrose

Valkyrie 6.17-

Shakespeare 10.17-

Spenser 12.17-

Miranda 8.14- .17

Meteor 9.14- .18

Minos 10.14- .17

Mastiff 11.14- 1.16

Manly 11.14- .17

Matchless 12.14- .17

Milne 12.14- .17

Morris 12.14- .17

Murray 12.14- .17

Mentor 1.15- .17

Mansfield 2.15- .17

Moorsom 2.15- .17

Myngs 2.15- .17

Medea 5.15-

Melampus 6.15-

Medusa 7.15- lost 27.3.15

Melpomene 8.15- .17

Talisman 1.16- .17

Trident 2.16- .17

Termagent 3.16- .17

Phoebe 12.16- .17

Simoon 12.16- lost 23.1.17

Starfish 12.16-

Surprise 1.17- lost 23.12.17

North Star 2.17- .17

Sybille 2.17-

Redgauntlet 2.17-

Satyr 2.17-

Skate 2.17-

Stork 2.17-

Sturgeon 2.17-

Sylph 2.17-

Torrent 2.17- lost 23.12.17

Radiant 2.17-

Redoubt 3.17-

Skilful 3.17-

Tempest 3.17-

Thruster 3.17-

Retriever 3.17-

Nugent 4.17- .17

Sharpshooter 4.17-

Springbok 4.17-

Tarpon 4.17- .18

Truculent 5.17-

Recruit 5.17- lost 9.8.17

Sceptre 5.17-

Torrid 5.17-

Taurus 5.17-

Telemachus 6.17- .18

Tetrarch 6.17-

Thisbe 6.17-

Teazer 7.17-

Ulleswater 10.17- lost 15.8.18

Sparrowhawk 9.18-

Swallow 9.18-

Tactician 10.18-


Last Updated: 30 December, 2000.

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