Difference between revisions of "Scapa Flow"

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'''Scapa Flow''' was the chief anchorage of [[The Grand Fleet]] in World War One.  The massive body of water was enclosed by the Orkney Islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy.  Scapa Flow's position north-east of Scotland made it the perfect place to maintain the blockade of Germany and interdict and German vessels attempting to break out into the Atlantic.
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'''Scapa Flow''' was the chief anchorage of British [[Grand Fleet]] for most of the [[First World War]].  The massive body of water was enclosed by the Orkney Islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy.  Scapa Flow's position to the north-east of Scotland made it the perfect place to maintain the blockade of Germany and interdict and German vessels attempting to break out into the Atlantic.  It served as the main anchorage for the British Grand Fleet for most of the [[Great War]].
  
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The Grand Fleet moved to Scapa soon after its formation upon the outbreak of war, with vessels coming from the manning ports and the Mediterranean.  In November, 1914 however a German submarine succeeded in penetrating the defences of the anchorage.  In response, the fleet dispersed all over the United Kingdom (resulting in the loss of [[HMS Audacious (1912)|HMS ''Audacious'']]) while new measures were put in place.  Twenty-one merchant ships were sunk in the approaches.  Indicator nets were also used, albeit unsuccessfully.
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==In Command==
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On 8 August, 1914, Rear-Admiral [[Francis Spurstow Miller|Francis S. Miller]] was appointed to {{UK-Hannibal}} then ''Cyclops'' for service as Rear-Admiral at Scapa.  His position was "similar to that of admiral Superintendent of a dockyard port."<ref>Grand Fleet Orders.  "106.  Fleet base at Scapa Flow, Orkneys and Shetlands.&mdash;Administration."  {{TNA|ADM 137/4052.}}  p. 35.</ref>
  
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Two submarines sank trying to enter Scapa Flow, but one managed to pass through the sound and lay mines at Birsay to the north; one of which sank the cruiser HMS Hampshire on the 5 June, 1916 with the loss of all but twelve of her six hundred and sixty five, including the Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener.  This tragedy occurred five days after the inconclusive action at [[Battle of Jutland|Jutland]] fought by the Grand Fleet, most of whose units had sallied forth from Scapa.
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Rear-Admiral, Scapa served under the Admiral Commanding, [[Orkneys and Shetlands]] until it was merged into it after the end of the war.
  
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The disadvantages of Scapa Flow are apparent.  It had not been actively prepared as a base for the fleet before the war, and it had no docking facilites for major vessels.  100,000 tons of coal a week had to be transported by rail up to the north of Scotland and then shipped across the Pentland Firth, one of the worlds stormier seaways, and stored in ships in the anchorage.
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<div name=fredbot:office0 otitle="Rear-Admiral Commanding, Scapa" nat="UK">
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{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Francis Spurstow Miller|nick=Francis S. Miller|appt=8 August, 1914{{SMNLMar15|p. 4}}|precBy=New Command|end=7 May, 1916<ref>Miller Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 188.</ref>|note=left post due to illness}}
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{{Tenure|rank={{RearRN}}|name=Robert John Prendergast|nick=Robert J. Prendergast|appt=5 May, 1916<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 242.</ref>|end=1 March, 1919<ref>Prendergast Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 242.</ref>|succBy=Merged with [[Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands|Orkneys and Shetlands]]}}
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</div name=fredbot:office0>
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==King's Harbour Master==
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<div name=fredbot:officeKHM otitle="King's Harbour Master, Scapa Flow" nat="UK">
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{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}} (retired)|name=John Gilbert de Odingsells Coke|nick=John G. de O. Coke|appt=August, 1914<ref>Coke Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43/399.|D7602718}} f. 441.</ref>|end=29 September, 1914<ref>Coke Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43/399.|D7602718}} f. 441.</ref>}}
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{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}} (retired)|name=Arthur Gwyn Moreton Meredyth|nick=Arthur G. M. Meredyth|appt=28 October, 1914|end=27 July, 1915}}
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</div name=fredbot:officeKHM>
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==Assistant King's Harbour Master==
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<div name=fredbot:officeAKHM otitle="Assistant King's Harbour Master, Scapa Flow" nat="UK">
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{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}} (retired)|name=John Hassard-Short|nick=John Hassard-Short|appt=20 April, 1940<ref>Hassard-Short Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/230.}} f. 276.</ref>|end=27 October, 1941<ref>Hassard-Short Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/96/230.}}  f. 276.</ref>}}
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</div name=fredbot:officeAKHM>
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==Footnotes==
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{{reflist}}
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==Bibliography==
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{{refbegin}}
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*Brown, Malcolm; Meehan, Patricia (2002).  ''Scapa Flow''.  London: Pan Books.  ISBN 1-405-00785-0.
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{{refend}}
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[[Category:Royal Navy Fleets and Stations]]
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[[Category:Pages with Offices]]

Latest revision as of 21:01, 2 August 2021

Scapa Flow was the chief anchorage of British Grand Fleet for most of the First World War. The massive body of water was enclosed by the Orkney Islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. Scapa Flow's position to the north-east of Scotland made it the perfect place to maintain the blockade of Germany and interdict and German vessels attempting to break out into the Atlantic. It served as the main anchorage for the British Grand Fleet for most of the Great War.

In Command

On 8 August, 1914, Rear-Admiral Francis S. Miller was appointed to Hannibal then Cyclops for service as Rear-Admiral at Scapa. His position was "similar to that of admiral Superintendent of a dockyard port."[1]

Rear-Admiral, Scapa served under the Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands until it was merged into it after the end of the war.

King's Harbour Master

Assistant King's Harbour Master

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Grand Fleet Orders. "106. Fleet base at Scapa Flow, Orkneys and Shetlands.—Administration." The National Archives. ADM 137/4052. p. 35.
  2. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 4.
  3. ↑ Miller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 188.
  4. ↑ Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 242.
  5. ↑ Prendergast Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 242.
  6. ↑ Coke Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/399. f. 441.
  7. ↑ Coke Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/399. f. 441.
  8. ↑ Hassard-Short Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/230. f. 276.
  9. ↑ Hassard-Short Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/230. f. 276.

Bibliography

  • Brown, Malcolm; Meehan, Patricia (2002). Scapa Flow. London: Pan Books. ISBN 1-405-00785-0.

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