Difference between revisions of "Adriatic Squadron (Royal Navy)"
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It would be created in mid-1915 from four old battleships and light cruisers. Over time, submarines, destroyers and monitors would be featured in its moderate force count. A need to work closely with Italian and French allies would demand patience and diplomacy. | It would be created in mid-1915 from four old battleships and light cruisers. Over time, submarines, destroyers and monitors would be featured in its moderate force count. A need to work closely with Italian and French allies would demand patience and diplomacy. | ||
| + | ==Service History== | ||
| + | Much of the unit's service entailed supporting drifters which were maintaining and patrolling the [[Otranto Barrage]], which was strung across the mouth of the Adriatic, intended to prevent Austro-Hungarian submarines from gaining access to the broader Mediterranean. | ||
| + | |||
| + | After a provocative surprise night raid against the drifter force, {{UK-Dartmouth}} and {{UK-Bristol}} would sortie from the port of [[Brindisi]] to fight alongside French and Italian destroyers and cruisers in the [[Battle of the Strait of Otranto]] on 14-15 May, 1917. ''Dartmouth'' was damaged by shellfire in a running battle before being torpedoed by the submarine {{DE-UC25}} – a rare case of a submarine participating effectively in what must be considered a tactical sea battle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Composition== | ||
===June, 1915=== | ===June, 1915=== | ||
The squadron is born, but is labelled merely as a group of ships on "Detached Service" from the [[Mediterranean Fleet]]. {{UK-Queen}} is the flagship, having formerly been the second flagship in the Mediterrean Fleet. The formation's initial strength is four battleships and four light cruisers.{{SMNLJun15|p. 20}} | The squadron is born, but is labelled merely as a group of ships on "Detached Service" from the [[Mediterranean Fleet]]. {{UK-Queen}} is the flagship, having formerly been the second flagship in the Mediterrean Fleet. The formation's initial strength is four battleships and four light cruisers.{{SMNLJun15|p. 20}} | ||
Revision as of 21:24, 18 June 2020
The British Adriatic Squadron was a naval force spawned from the Mediterranean Fleet for the purpose of keeping Austro-Hungarian naval forces contained and controlled in the Adriatic Sea. It was based at Taranto.
It would be created in mid-1915 from four old battleships and light cruisers. Over time, submarines, destroyers and monitors would be featured in its moderate force count. A need to work closely with Italian and French allies would demand patience and diplomacy.
Service History
Much of the unit's service entailed supporting drifters which were maintaining and patrolling the Otranto Barrage, which was strung across the mouth of the Adriatic, intended to prevent Austro-Hungarian submarines from gaining access to the broader Mediterranean.
After a provocative surprise night raid against the drifter force, Dartmouth and Bristol would sortie from the port of Brindisi to fight alongside French and Italian destroyers and cruisers in the Battle of the Strait of Otranto on 14-15 May, 1917. Dartmouth was damaged by shellfire in a running battle before being torpedoed by the submarine UC 25 – a rare case of a submarine participating effectively in what must be considered a tactical sea battle.
Composition
June, 1915
The squadron is born, but is labelled merely as a group of ships on "Detached Service" from the Mediterranean Fleet. Queen is the flagship, having formerly been the second flagship in the Mediterrean Fleet. The formation's initial strength is four battleships and four light cruisers.[1]
| Detached from Mediterranean Fleet | |||||
| Battleships | |||||
Queen |
Implacable | London | Prince of Wales | ||
| Light Cruisers | |||||
| Dartmouth | Dublin | Amethyst | Sapphire | ||
July, 1915
Dartmouth has been replaced by Topaze. Strength remains as four battleships and four light cruisers.[2]
| British Adriatic Squadron | |||||
| Battleships | |||||
| Queen |
Implacable | London | Prince of Wales | ||
| Light Cruisers | |||||
| Dublin | Amethyst | Sapphire | Topaze | ||
August, 1915
The light cruisers Weymouth and Bristol have joined. Strength is now four battleships and six light cruisers.[3]
| British Adriatic Squadron | |||||
| Battleships | |||||
| Queen |
Implacable | London | Prince of Wales | ||
| Light Cruisers | |||||
| Amethyst | Bristol | Dublin | Sapphire | Topaze | Weymouth |
September, 1915
The pre-dreadnought Duncan has joined. Strength is now five battleships and six light cruisers.[4]
| British Adriatic Squadron | ||||||
| Battleships | ||||||
| Queen |
Duncan | Implacable | London | Prince of Wales | ||
| Light Cruisers | ||||||
| Amethyst | Bristol | Dublin | Sapphire | Topaze | Weymouth | |
October, 1915
A submarine component has been added with B 7, B 8 and B 9 joining from the Mediterranean Submarine Flotilla. Dartmouth has joined as a seventh light cruiser.[5]
| British Adriatic Squadron | ||||||
| Battleships | ||||||
| Queen | Duncan | Implacable | London | Prince of Wales | ||
| Light Cruisers | ||||||
| Amethyst | Bristol | Dartmouth | Dublin | Sapphire | Topaze | Weymouth |
| Fleet Messenger | ||||||
| Isis | ||||||
| Submarines | ||||||
| B 7 | B 8 | B 9 | ||||
November, 1915
"B" class boats B 6, B 10 and B 11 have also joined from the Mediterranean Submarine Flotilla, increasing strength to five battleships, seven light cruisers and six coastal submarines.[6]
| British Adriatic Squadron | ||||||
| Battleships | ||||||
| Queen | Duncan | Implacable | London | Prince of Wales | ||
| Light Cruisers | ||||||
| Amethyst | Bristol | Dartmouth | Dublin | Sapphire | Topaze | Weymouth |
| Fleet Messenger | ||||||
| Isis | ||||||
| Submarines | ||||||
| B 6 | B 7 | B 8 | B 9 | B 10 | B 11 | |
December, 1915
Implacable has left to some undiscovered assignment, leaving four battleships, seven light cruisers and six coastal submarines.[7]
| British Adriatic Squadron | ||||||
| Battleships | ||||||
| Queen | Duncan | London | Prince of Wales | |||
| Light Cruisers | ||||||
| Amethyst | Bristol | Dartmouth | Dublin | Sapphire | Topaze | Weymouth |
| Fleet Messenger | ||||||
| Isis | ||||||
| Submarines | ||||||
| B 6 | B 7 | B 8 | B 9 | B 10 | B 11 | |
January, 1916
Light cruiser Liverpool has joined, and Bristol, Amethyst and Dublin have left, leaving four battleships, five light cruisers and six coastal submarines. B 11 is now being designated the "parent" sub.[8]
| British Adriatic Squadron | ||||||
| Battleships | ||||||
| Queen | Duncan | London | Prince of Wales | |||
| Light Cruisers | ||||||
| Liverpool | Dartmouth | Sapphire | Topaze | Weymouth | ||
| Fleet Messenger | ||||||
| Isis | ||||||
| Submarines | ||||||
| B 6 | B 7 | B 8 | B 9 | B 10 | B 11* | |
[TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]
Rear-Admirals Commanding
Dates of appointment given:
- Rear-Admiral Sir Cecil F. Thursby, June, 1915[9]
- Rear-Admiral Mark E. F. Kerr, May, 1916[10] – 27 August, 1917[11]
- Rear-Admiral Algernon W. Heneage, 27 August, 1917[12] – March, 1918[13]
- Commodore, First Class William A. H. Kelly, 25 September, 1917 – 15 April, 1919 (also in command of Eighth Light Cruiser Squadron)
See Also
Bibliography
Footnotes
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). p. 20.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 20.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). p. 20.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). p. 20.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 20.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 20.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 20.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1916). p. 21.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 32.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 32.
- ↑ Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 30.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 32.
- ↑ Heneage Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 174.
