Adriatic Squadron (Royal Navy)
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Dartmouth has been replaced by Topaze.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, 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 | |||||
| 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 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 Wales |
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 | |||||
| Queen |
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 | |||||
| Queen |
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 | |||||
| Queen |
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 | |||||
| Queen |
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 | |||||
| Queen |
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 | |||||
| Queen |
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 | |||||
| Queen |
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 | |||||
| Queen |
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 | |||||
| Queen |
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 | |||||
| Queen |
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 | |||||
| Queen
| |||||
| 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 | |||||
| Queen
| |||||
| 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 | |||||
| Queen
| |||||
| 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 | |||||
Queen
| |||||
| 8th Light Cruiser Squadron | |||||
| Liverpool | Dartmouth | Gloucester | Bristol | Newcastle | Weymouth
|
| 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 | |||||
| Queen
| |||||
| 8th Light Cruiser Squadron | |||||
| Liverpool | Dartmouth | Gloucester | Bristol | Newcastle | Weymouth
|
| 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:
- Rear-Admiral Sir Cecil F. Thursby, June, 1915[25]
- Rear-Admiral Mark E. F. Kerr, May, 1916[26] – 27 August, 1917[27]
- Rear-Admiral Algernon W. Heneage, 27 August, 1917[28] – March, 1918[29]
- 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1916). p. 21.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 21.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1917). p. 21 and March's Supplement; February was not available to us.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). p. 21.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). p. 21.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1917). p. 21.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). p. 21.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1917). p. 22 and Supplements through September.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 22 and Supplements through December.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1917). p. 22.
- ↑ 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.
