Atlantic Fleet (Royal Navy)
The Atlantic Fleet was a fleet formation of the Royal Navy in the early 20th Century, preceding and following the First World War.
In December, 1904 the new First Sea Lord, Sir John Fisher conducted a large-scale reorganisation of British naval dispositions around the world. This was largely in part due to a number of factors; the perceived sluggish response to the Dogger Bank Incident where it had proved impossible to swiftly project naval power in the North Sea against a Russian fleet, the beginning of the Entente Cordiale with France and the subsequent lesser need to guard the English Channel, and the need to concentrate force in event of war with Germany - Britain's only likely opponent for control of the sea by this time.
In British home waters, there had previously been two fleets; the Home Fleet and the Channel Fleet. The Home Fleet (previously the Home Squadron) had been composed of the Home Ports where the ships, both in commission and in reserve came under the command of the local Commander-in-Chief. The force was renamed the Channel Fleet and given a substantial total of twelve battleships.
The original Channel Fleet had been based at Gibraltar and had been equipped with a large number of battleships. With the reforms, it was renamed the Atlantic Fleet, and had its complement of battleships reduced, as did the Mediterranean Fleet to provide more resources for the Channel Fleet. The Atlantic Fleet's task was to cruise between it's base at Gibraltar and the base at Berehaven in Ireland, with the ability to reinforce either the Channel Fleet or the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1906 the fleets were reoranised again to an extent, with reserve elements of the home forces united into the Home Fleet - the active force being provided by two battleships each from the three ocean-going fleets (Channel, Atlantic and Mediterranean), with the rest of its fighting ability relying on the Nucleus-crew System instituted by Fisher.
In March, 1909 the Channel Fleet was absorbed into the Home Fleet, giving Britain her front-line naval force to face the Imperial German Navy. The Atlantic Fleet, while retaining its independent status, was now assigned to act as a fully-manned and trained adjunct to the Home Fleet in the time of war, and to reflect this its main base of operations was moved to Dover.
On 1 May, 1912 the fleets were again reorganised to completely unify the home command. The Atlantic Fleet became the British 3rd Battle Squadron and the fleet went out of existence until the name was given to the remains of the Grand Fleet in 1919.
