Adriatic Squadron (Royal Navy)

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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
QueenRAdmRN.png 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Dartmouth has been replaced by Topaze.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
QueenRAdmRN.png 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
  QueenRAdmRN.png 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
  QueenRAdmRN.png 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, and a requisitioned passenger steamer named Isis had been taken on as a fleet messenger. She would eventually be renamed Isonzo, as there was already a cruiser named Isis.[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
  QueenRAdmRN.png 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
  QueenRAdmRN.png 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 renamed Isonzo, and submarine depot ship Adamant has joined.[10] This roster would not change until some time in April.

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
  Prince of WalesRAdmRN.png Duncan London Venerable
Light Cruisers
Liverpool Dartmouth Sapphire Topaze Weymouth
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Submarine Depot Ship
Adamant
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
  QueenRAdmRN.png Duncan London Venerable Prince of Wales
Light Cruisers
Liverpool Dartmouth Sapphire Topaze Weymouth
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Submarine Depot Ship
Adamant
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
  QueenRAdmRN.png London Venerable Prince of Wales
Light Cruisers
Liverpool Dartmouth Sapphire Topaze Weymouth
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Submarine Depot Ship
Adamant
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
  QueenRAdmRN.png London Venerable Prince of Wales
Light Cruisers
Liverpool Dartmouth Sapphire Topaze Weymouth
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Submarine Depot Ship
Adamant
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 while moored in Venice on 9 August and B 8 has been dropped from the roster.[13]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
  QueenRAdmRN.png London Venerable Prince of Wales
Light Cruisers
Liverpool Dartmouth Sapphire Topaze Weymouth
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Submarine Depot Ship
Adamant
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]

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

November, 1916

London has left, having paid off on 27 October. Light cruisers Gloucester and Bristol have replaced Sapphire and Weymouth. Britannia is still listed in the Navy List as joining "shortly", and would indeed arrive during November.[15]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
QueenRAdmRN.png Venerable Prince of Wales Africa Britannia
Light Cruisers
Liverpool Dartmouth Gloucester Topaze Bristol
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Submarine Depot Ship
Adamant
Coastal Submarines
  B 6 B 7 B 9 B 11*
Submarines
H 1 H 2 H 4

December, 1916

Significant changes in November would introduce the monitor Earl of Peterborough and four modern destroyers: Cameleon, Nereide, Nemesis and Larne. The four coastal submarines and the submarine tender have departed. The "B" class submarines would eventually be reconfigured as surface-confined patrol boats and return to this formation in late 1917.[16]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
QueenRAdmRN.png Venerable Prince of Wales Africa Britannia
Light Cruisers
Liverpool Dartmouth Gloucester Topaze Bristol
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Monitor
Earl of Peterborough
Torpedo Boat Destroyers
  Cameleon Nereide Nemesis Larne
Submarines
H 1 H 2 H 4

January, 1917

Brisbane has joined the light cruisers, and the pre-dreadnought Duncan has replaced Venerable. This roster change sometime before March.[17]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
QueenRAdmRN.png Duncan Prince of Wales Africa Britannia
Light Cruisers
Liverpool Dartmouth Gloucester Topaze Bristol Brisbane
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Monitor
Earl of Peterborough
Torpedo Boat Destroyers
  Cameleon Nereide Nemesis Larne
Submarines
H 1 H 2 H 4

March, 1917

Sometime in January or February, the destroyers, Brisbane and three battleships left.[18]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
QueenRAdmRN.png Prince of Wales
Light Cruisers
Liverpool Dartmouth Gloucester Topaze Bristol
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Monitor
Earl of Peterborough
Submarines
H 1 H 2 H 4

April, 1917

Sometime in January or February, the destroyers, Brisbane and three battleships left.[19]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
QueenRAdmRN.png Prince of Wales
Light Cruisers
Liverpool Dartmouth Gloucester Topaze Bristol  
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Monitor
Earl of Peterborough
Submarines
H 1 H 2 H 4

May, 1917

Prince of Wales and Topaze have left, and the monitor Sir Thomas Picton has joined, doubling the monitor strength.[20]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
QueenRAdmRN.png
Light Cruisers
  Liverpool Dartmouth Gloucester Bristol
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Monitors
Earl of Peterborough Sir Thomas Picton
Submarines
H 1 H 2 H 4

June, 1917

The light cruiser Newcastle has joined.[21]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
QueenRAdmRN.png
Light Cruisers
Liverpool Dartmouth Gloucester Bristol Newcastle
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Monitors
Earl of Peterborough Sir Thomas Picton
Submarines
H 1 H 2 H 4

July, 1917

The light cruiser Weymouth has re-joined. This roster would not change until some time in August.[22]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
QueenRAdmRN.png
Light Cruisers
Liverpool Dartmouth Gloucester Bristol Newcastle Weymouth
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Monitors
Earl of Peterborough Sir Thomas Picton
Submarines
H 1 H 2 H 4

September, 1917

Weymouth and Queen are now sporting broad pennants, with the light cruiser component now designated the Eighth Light Cruiser Squadron. Also, four of the "B" class submarines that were detached in late 1916 have returned, refashioned as "S" patrol boats and the torpedo gunboat Hussar have joined. This roster would not change until some time in November.[23]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
QueenCom1RN.png
8th Light Cruiser Squadron
Liverpool Dartmouth Gloucester Bristol Newcastle WeymouthCom2RN.png
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Monitors
Earl of Peterborough Sir Thomas Picton
Submarines
H 1 H 2 H 4
Patrol Boats
  S 6 S 7 S 9 S 11
Gunboat
Hussar

December, 1917

Seaplane carrier Manxman has joined.[24]

British Adriatic Squadron
Battleships
QueenCom1RN.png
8th Light Cruiser Squadron
Liverpool Dartmouth Gloucester Bristol Newcastle WeymouthCom2RN.png
Fleet Messenger
Isonzo
Monitors
Earl of Peterborough Sir Thomas Picton
Submarines
H 1 H 2 H 4
Patrol Boats
  S 6 S 7 S 9 S 11
Seaplane Carrier
Manxman
Gunboat
Hussar

[TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]

Rear-Admirals Commanding

Dates of appointment given:

See Also

Bibliography

Footnotes

  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.
  15. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1916). p. 21.
  16. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 21.
  17. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1917). p. 21 and March's Supplement; February was not available to us.
  18. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). p. 21.
  19. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). p. 21.
  20. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1917). p. 21.
  21. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). p. 21.
  22. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1917). p. 22 and Supplements through September.
  23. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 22 and Supplements through December.
  24. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1917). p. 22.
  25. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 32.
  26. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 32.
  27. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 30.
  28. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 32.
  29. Heneage Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 174.