Adriatic Squadron (Royal Navy): Difference between revisions

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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Dartmouth has been replaced by Topaze.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

The battleship Venerable has replaced the Prince of Wales. 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	Venerable
Light Cruisers
Liverpool	Dartmouth	Sapphire	Topaze	Weymouth
Fleet Messenger
Isis
Submarines
B 6	B 7	B 8	B 9	B 10	B 11*

February, 1916

Submarines H 1, H 4, E 12 and E 14 have joined, increasing submarine strength to ten.^[9]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
	Queen	Duncan	London	Venerable
Light Cruisers
Liverpool	Dartmouth	Sapphire	Topaze	Weymouth
Fleet Messenger
Isis
Coastal Submarines
B 6	B 7	B 8	B 9	B 10	B 11*
Submarines
	E 12	E 14	H 1	H 4

March, 1916

Prince of Wales has returned and replaced Queen as flagship; Queen has left. H 3 has joined. Isis has been replaced as messenger ship by Isonzo, and light cruiser Adamant has joined.^[10] This roster would not change until some time in April.

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
	Prince of Wales	Duncan	London	Venerable
Light Cruisers
Liverpool	Dartmouth	Sapphire	Topaze	Weymouth	Adamant
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Coastal Submarines
B 6	B 7	B 8	B 9	B 10	B 11*
Submarines
E 12	E 14	H 1	H 3	H 4

May, 1916

Queen has returned resumed her role as flagship though this time Prince of Wales remains with the formation. E 12 and E 14 have left, and H 2 has arrived.^[11]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
	Queen	Duncan	London	Venerable	Prince of Wales
Light Cruisers
Liverpool	Dartmouth	Sapphire	Topaze	Weymouth	Adamant
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Coastal Submarines
B 6	B 7	B 8	B 9	B 10	B 11*
Submarines
	H 1	H 2	H 3	H 4

June, 1916

Duncan has left.^[12] This roster would not change until some time in August.

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
	Queen	London	Venerable	Prince of Wales
Light Cruisers
Liverpool	Dartmouth	Sapphire	Topaze	Weymouth	Adamant
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Coastal Submarines
B 6	B 7	B 8	B 9	B 10	B 11*
Submarines
	H 1	H 2	H 3	H 4

August, 1916

H 3 was lost to a mine on 15 July.

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
	Queen	London	Venerable	Prince of Wales
Light Cruisers
Liverpool	Dartmouth	Sapphire	Topaze	Weymouth	Adamant
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Coastal Submarines
B 6	B 7	B 8	B 9	B 10	B 11*
Submarines
		H 1	H 2	H 4

September, 1916

B 10 was lost to aerial bombing on 9 August and B 8 has been dropped from the roster.^[13]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
	Queen	London	Venerable	Prince of Wales
Light Cruisers
Liverpool	Dartmouth	Sapphire	Topaze	Weymouth	Adamant
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Coastal Submarines
	B 6	B 7	B 9	B 11*
Submarines
		H 1	H 2	H 4

October, 1916

Battleship Africa has joined. Britannia is listed in the Navy List as joining "shortly", though she would apparently not arrive during October.^[14] This roster would not change until some time in X.

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
Queen	London	Venerable	Prince of Wales	Africa
Light Cruisers
Liverpool	Dartmouth	Sapphire	Topaze	Weymouth	Adamant
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Coastal Submarines
	B 6	B 7	B 9	B 11*
Submarines
		H 1	H 2	H 4

November, 1916

London has left. Light cruisers Gloucester and {UK-Bristol}} have replaced Sapphire and Weymouth. Britannia is still listed in the Navy List as joining "shortly", and would indeed arrive during November.^[15] This roster would not change until some time in X.

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
Queen	Venerable	Prince of Wales	Africa	Britannia
Light Cruisers
Liverpool	Dartmouth	Gloucester	Topaze	Weymouth	Adamant
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Coastal Submarines
	B 6	B 7	B 9	B 11*
Submarines
		H 1	H 2	H 4

[TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]

Rear-Admirals Commanding

Dates of appointment given:

Rear-Admiral Sir Cecil F. Thursby, June, 1915^[16]
Rear-Admiral Mark E. F. Kerr, May, 1916^[17] – 27 August, 1917^[18]
Rear-Admiral Algernon W. Heneage, 27 August, 1917^[19] – March, 1918^[20]
Commodore, First Class William A. H. Kelly, 25 September, 1917 – 15 April, 1919 (also in command of Eighth Light Cruiser Squadron)

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.
↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 21.
↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 21 and Supplements through May.
↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1916). p. 21.
↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1916). p. 21 and Supplements through September.
↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1916). p. 21.
↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 21 and Supplements through X.
↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1916). p. 21 and Supplements through X.
↑ 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.

[1] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). p. 20.

[2] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 20.

[3] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). p. 20.

[4] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). p. 20.

[5] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 20.

[6] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 20.

[7] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 20.

[8] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1916). p. 21.

[9] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 21.

[10] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 21 and Supplements through May.

[11] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1916). p. 21.

[12] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1916). p. 21 and Supplements through September.

[13] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1916). p. 21.

[14] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 21 and Supplements through X.

[15] Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1916). p. 21 and Supplements through X.

[16] Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 32.

[17] Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 32.

[18] Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 30.

[19] Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 32.

[20] Heneage Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 174.

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