Sixth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)
History
Vice-Admiral The Honourable Sir Alexander E. Bethell hoisted his flag at Portsmouth in the pre-dreadnought Duncan for the annual manœuvres on 15 July, 1913.[1]
Composition
December, 1912
The squadron is conspicuously absent from a seemingly comprehensive list handwritten on stationery from H.M.S. Princess Royal by Albert Francis Barclay Bridges.[2]
December, 1913
It is part of the Second Fleet. Russell, Albemarle and Duncan have just joined from the Fourth Battle Squadron[3] Russell would be made flagship on 5 December.[4]
July, 1914
Operating as part of the Second Fleet. Some handwritten notes on this source indicate flux of some kind, noted below.[5]
- Lord Nelson (Second Fleet flagship, possibly soon to be moved to Fifth Battle Squadron)
- Russell (flag)
- Albemarle (detached for Training Duties at Home Ports)
- Cornwallis (undergoing refit, part of Third Fleet for administrative purposes)
- Duncan (undergoing refit)
- Exmouth (detached for Training Duties at Home Ports)
- Vengeance (ditto, perhaps to be dropped from squadron)
Attached: third class protected cruiser Diamond
5 August, 1914
With the fleet organised under flagship Iron Duke, the squadron was based at Portland along with the Fifth Battle Squadron.[6]
- Lord Nelson
- Russell
- Agamemnon (possibly soon to go to Fifth Battle Squadron)[7]
- Albemarle
- Cornwallis
- Duncan
- Exmouth
- Vengeance
Attached: third class protected cruiser Diamond
The Sixth Battle Squadron joined the Grand Fleet on 7 August, 1914, and worked with the Third Battle Squadron until 17 August, when it was added to it, and the Sixth Battle Squadron ceased to exist.[8]
December, 1914
Russell had her last day as flagship on 30 November, handing the role temporarily to Albemarle on 1 December.[9]
January, 1915
Albemarle had her last day as flagship on 7 January, handing the role back to Russell on the 8th.[10]
March, 1915
Russell had her last day as flagship on 19 March, handing the role to Prince of Wales on the 20th.[11]
June, 1915
Prince of Wales had her last day as flagship on 4 June, handing the role to Exmouth the same day. Exmouth would serve in this capacity until some time in 1915.[12]
In December 1917, the Squadron was reconstituted as an American squadron comprised of the four dreadnoughts of the US Navy's Battleship Division Nine, increasing to five dreadnoughts in January, 1918.
Vice & Rear-Admirals Commanding
- Vice-Admiral The Hon. Sir Alexander E. Bethell, 15 July, 1913[Citation needed]
- Rear-Admiral Charles H. Dundas, 1913
- Rear-Admiral Stuart Nicholson, 5 December, 1913[13] – 12 April, 1916[14] (and as Rear-Admiral, Home Fleets at the Nore)
- Rear-Admiral Hugh Rodman, December, 1917
Footnotes
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 15 July, 1913. Issue 40264, col C, p. 5.
- ↑ The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 7.
- ↑ Printed page "Fleets and Squadrons in Commission at Home and Abroad" in Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 15.
- ↑ Printed page "Fleets and Squadrons in Commission at Home and Abroad" in Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ Naval Staff Monographs. Volume X. p. 108n.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 7.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 7.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 7.
- ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 7.
- ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 291.
- ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 291.
Bibliography
- Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division (1924). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical): Fleet Issue. Volume X. Home Waters—Part I. From the Outbreak of War to 27 August, 1914. O.U. 5528 (late C.B. 917(H)). Copy at The National Archives. ADM 186/619.
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