View source for Channel Fleet (Royal Navy)

==History, 1903-1909==
Vice-Admiral [[Charles William de la Poer Beresford, First Baron Beresford|The Right Hon. Lord Charles Beresford]] was appointed Vice-Admiral Commanding, Channel Squadron, on 17 April, 1903.{{NLJun03|p. 216}}  On 6 May he was informed by the Admiralty "that for the future the Channel Squadron shall be known as the Channel Fleet."<ref>Letter No 743 of 6 May, 1903.  {{TNA|ADM 144/16.|}}  f. 60.</ref>  The formation was at that stage comprised of six battleships, two armoured cruisers and three smaller cruisers.{{NLMay03|p. 218}}

On 14 December, 1904, the Admiralty informed the Commander-in-Chief of the [[Home Fleet (Royal Navy)|Home Fleet]], [[Arthur Knyvet Wilson, Third Baronet|Sir Arthur K. Wilson]], that his command would forthwith be styled "The Channel Fleet", and that he would be styled "The Commander in Chief of the Channel Fleet."<ref>M.14018.  {{TNA|ADM 144/17.|}}  f. 225.</ref> 

Admiral Beresford succeeded Wilson ''in absentia'' on 4 March, 1907.{{NMI|Monday, 4 March, 1907.  Issue '''38271''', col D, p. 10}}

===Seconds-in-Command===
On 5 June, 1903, Rear-Admiral [[Hedworth Meux|The Honourable Hedworth Lambton]] succeeded Rear-Admiral [[Assheton Gore Curzon-Howe|The Honourable Assheton G. Curzon-Howe]] as Second-in-Command of the Channel Fleet.<ref>Meux Service Record.  The National Archives.  ADM 196/39.  f. 774.</ref>  He was succeeded by Rear-Admiral [[Francis Charles Bridgeman Bridgeman|Francis C. B. Bridgeman]] on 25 June, 1904.<ref>Bridgeman Service Record.  The National Archives.  ADM 196/39.  f. 167.</ref>  

Rear-Admiral [[Charles James Barlow|Charles J. Barlow]] had been Second-in-Command of the Home Fleet before it was renamed at the end of 1904.  Vice-Admiral [[Arthur William Moore|Sir Arthur W. Moore]] was appointed to succeed Barlow as Second-in-Command on 9 May of that year.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 26 April, 1905.  Issue '''37691''', col B, p. 8.</ref>  Vice-Admiral the Honourable [[Assheton Gore Curzon-Howe|Assheton G. Curzon-Howe]] succeeded Vice-Admiral Moore on 5 December.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 13 November, 1905.  Issue '''37863''', col B, p. 7.</ref>  Vice-Admiral [[Reginald Neville Custance|Sir Reginald N. Custance]] was appointed Second-in-Command dated 23 February, 1907.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 2 February, 1907.  Issue '''38246''', col F, p. 11.</ref>  Custance was succeeded by Vice-Admiral [[Archibald Berkeley Milne, Second Baronet|Sir A. Berkeley Milne]] on 12 June, 1908.<ref>Custance Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/38.}}  f. 275.</ref><ref>Milne Service Record.  The National Archives.  ADM 196/39.  p. 893.</ref>  Milne remained as Second-in-Command until the Channel Fleet was absorbed into the Home Fleet.

===Rear-Admirals in the Channel Fleet===
Rear-Admiral [[Richard Poore, Fourth Baronet|Sir Richard Poore, Bart.]], Rear-Admiral in the [[Mediterranean Fleet (Royal Navy)|Mediterranean Fleet]],<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Saturday, 8 October, 1904.  Issue '''37520''', col C, p. 8.</ref> was transferred to the Channel Fleet with four battleships from the Mediterranean in February, 1905.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 17 January, 1905.  Issue '''37606''', col B, p. 9.</ref>  Rear-Admiral [[Robert Leonard Groome|Robert L. Groome]] succeeded Rear-Admiral Poore on 16 November, 1905.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 2 November, 1905.  Issue '''37854''', col A, p. 8.</ref>  Rear-Admiral [[George Astley Callaghan|George A. Callaghan]] was appointed in succession to Groome on 16 November, 1906.<ref>Callaghan Service Record.  The National Archives.  ADM 196/38.  f. 202.</ref>  Rear-Admiral [[Robert Swinburne Lowry|Robert S. Lowry]] was appointed as Rear-Admiral in the Channel Fleet on 5 April, 1907.<ref>Lowry Service Record.  The National Archives.  ADM 196/39.  f. 800.</ref>  Lowry struck his flag on 30 September, 1907, and on 1 October Rear-Admiral [[Francis John Foley|Francis J. Foley]] hoisted his flag in the battleship [[H.M.S. Illustrious (1896)|''Illustrious'']].<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 17 September, 1907.  Issue '''38440''', col A, p. 4.</ref>  Rear-Admiral [[James Startin]] succeeded Foley on 1 October, 1908, hoisting his flag in {{UK-1London}}, and transferring it to {{UK-Hibernia}} on 28 May 1909.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 14 September, 1908.  Issue '''38751''', col E, p. 6.</ref><ref>Startin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}}  f. 502.</ref> Startin left on 9 October, 1909 and went onto half pay the following day.<ref>Startin Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}}  f. 502.</ref>

===Destroyers===
At the end of August, 1907 the Second and Fourth Destroyer Flotillas and the Home Fleet flotillas under Commodore [[Lewis Bayly|Bayly]] ceased to be the responsibility of the Rear-Admiral Commanding Torpedo Boats, [[Robert Archibald James Montgomerie|Robert A. J. Montgomerie]], who with the First and Third Flotillas was transferred to the Channel Fleet.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Tuesday, 13 August, 1907.  Issue '''38410''', col B, p. 10.</ref>  Rear-Admiral Montgomerie consequently became Rear-Admiral (D) in the Channel Fleet.  It was decided in November that his appointment would lapse after his term of service was completed,<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 25 November, 1907.  Issue '''38499''', col C, p. 4.</ref> and he struck his flag at sunset on 1 January, 1908.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 19 December, 1907.  Issue '''38520''', col B, p. 10.</ref>  On that day command of the "Western Group" of destroyers, as the Channel Fleet's flotillas were now known,<ref>Friedman.  ''British Destroyers''.  p. 272.</ref> devolved upon Captain [[Walter Henry Cowan, First Baronet|Walter H. Cowan]].<ref>Cowan Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  p. 249.</ref>  On 5 January, 1909, Cowan was succeeded by Captain [[Edwyn Sinclair Alexander-Sinclair, Twelfth Laird of Freswick|Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair]],<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Thursday, 3 December, 1908.  Issue '''38820''', col C, p. 7.</ref> in command of what had become the Channel Fleet Destroyer Flotilla.<ref>Alexander-Sinclair Service Record.  The National Archives.  ADM 196/42.  p. 361.</ref>

==History, 1914-1915==
In the Royal Navy's War Orders from 1912 onwards it was decided that in the event of war with Germany the First Fleet of the [[Home Fleets (Royal Navy)|Home Fleets]] would become the [[Grand Fleet]], and the Second and Third Fleets would become the Southern Battle Fleet, known as the Channel Fleet.  In August, 1914, under Vice-Admiral [[Cecil Burney, First Baronet|Sir Cecil Burney]], it was composed of the [[Fifth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Fifth Battle Squadron]] and the [[Seventh Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Seventh Battle Squadron]], with attached light cruisers.  The Seventh Battle Squadron was quickly dispersed for other duties, and in November, the [[Sixth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Sixth Battle Squadron]] was formed from the ''Duncan'' class battleships of the [[Third Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Third Battle Squadron]] of the Grand Fleet and joined the Channel Fleet.  On 20 December, Vice-Admiral [[Lewis Bayly|Sir Lewis Bayly]] succeeded Sir Cecil Burney.  After the loss of the [[H.M.S. Formidable (1898)|''Formidable'']] to submarine attack on 1 January, 1915, Bayly was relieved by Vice-Admiral [[Alexander Edward Bethell|The Hon. Sir. Alexander E. Bethell]] on 17 January.  As 1915 wore on battleship divisions of the Fleet were dispersed, primarily to the Mediterranean for the Dardanelles Campaign, until by May only a number of battleships under the command of Vice-Admiral Bethell were left.

==Admirals and Vice-Admirals Commanding==
Dates of appointment given:

<div name=fredbot:office0 otitle="Admiral Commanding, Channel Fleet" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Charles William de la Poer Beresford, First Baron Beresford|nick=The Rt. Hon. Lord Charles Beresford|appt=6 May, 1903<ref>Letter No 743 of 6 May, 1903.  {{TNA|ADM 144/16.}}  f. 60.</ref>|precBy=Formerly the [[Channel Squadron (Royal Navy)|Channel Squadron]]|note=Formerly the [[Channel Squadron (Royal Navy)|Channel Squadron]]}}
{{Tenure|rank=Admiral|name=Arthur Knyvet Wilson, Third Baronet|nick=Sir Arthur K. Wilson|appt=14 December, 1906<ref>M.14018.  {{TNA|ADM 144/17.}}  f. 225.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Admiral|name=Charles William de la Poer Beresford, First Baron Beresford|nick=The Rt. Hon. Lord Charles Beresford|appt=4 March, 1907<ref>Beresford Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/38.}}  f. 90.</ref>|end=24 March, 1909<ref>Beresford Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/16.|D7864017}} f. 471.</ref>|succBy=Fleet Reconstituted}}
</div name=fredbot:office0>

==Seconds-in-Command==
Dates of appointment given:

<div name=fredbot:office1 otitle="Second-in-Command, Channel Fleet" nat="UK">
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Hedworth Meux|nick=The Hon. Hedworth Lambton|appt=5 June, 1903<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 774.</ref>|end=25 June, 1904<ref>Meux Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/19.}} f. 500.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Francis Charles Bridgeman Bridgeman|nick=Francis C. B. Bridgeman|appt=25 June, 1904<ref>Bridgeman Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 167.</ref>|end=25 August, 1905<ref>Bridgeman Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}} f. 167.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Rear-Admiral|name=Charles James Barlow|nick=Charles J. Barlow|appt=9 May, 1904<ref>Barlow Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/38.|D7578771}} f. 31.</ref>|end=9 May, 1905<ref>Barlow Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/38.|D7578771}} f. 31.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Arthur William Moore|nick=Sir Arthur W. Moore|appt=9 May, 1905<ref>Moore Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 915.</ref>|end=5 December, 1905<ref>Moore Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  f. 915.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Assheton Gore Curzon-Howe|nick=The Hon. Sir Assheton G. Curzon-Howe|appt=5 December, 1905<ref>Curzon-Howe Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/38.}}  f. 275.</ref>|end=22 February, 1907<ref>Curzon-Howe Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/18.}}  f. 529.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Admiral|name=Reginald Neville Custance|nick=Sir Reginald N. Custance|appt=23 February, 1907<ref>Custance Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/38.}}  f. 275.</ref>|end=12 June, 1908<ref>Custance Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/17.}}  f. 535.</ref>}}
{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Archibald Berkeley Milne, Second Baronet|nick=Sir A. Berkeley Milne, Bart.|appt=12 June, 1908<ref>Milne Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.|}}  f. 893.</ref>|ass=12 June, 1908<ref>Milne Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.|}}  p. 893.</ref>|end=24 March, 1909<ref>Milne Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/39.}}  p. 893.</ref>|succBy=Second Division of Home Fleet}}
</div name=fredbot:office1>

The contradiction between Barlow and Bridgeman is noted.  Perhaps importantly, Barlow's service record indicates "Home Fleet", crossed out and corrected, perhaps in error, to "Channel Fleet", though his last day matches the successor perfectly.  Also, Startin and Milne appear to conflict.  The relevant page in Startin's best Service Record appears to be missing from the TNA scans.

==Composition==

===18 September, 1904===
The Fleet is about the same strength as the Channel Squadron which preceded it, but there are now eight battleships rather than six, and there is one fewer cruiser.{{NLOct04|pp. 267, 269}}
{| class="collapsible wikitable" style="width: 60%"
|-
! colspan=4 | Battle Squadron
|-
| {{UK-Caesar}} [[File:VAdm.png|border|25px]]
| {{UK-Victorious}} [[File:RAdm.png|border|25px]]
| {{UK-Hannibal}}
| {{UK-Illustrious}}
|-
| {{UK-Jupiter}}
| {{UK-Magnificent}}
| {{UK-Majestic}}
| {{UK-Mars}}
|}

{| class="collapsible wikitable" style="width: 60%"
|-
! colspan=4 | Cruisers attached to Battle Squadron
|-
| {{UK-Doris}}
| {{UK-Endymion}}
| {{UK-1Hermes}}
| {{UK-Theseus}}
|}

===18 October, 1905===
The Fleet has grown considerably, now boasting thirteen battleships, five cruisers and twenty-four destroyers.{{NLNov05|pp. 267, 269}}
{| class="collapsible wikitable" style="width: 60%"
|-
! colspan=4 | Battle Squadron
|-
| {{UK-Albemarle}} [[File:RAdm.png|border|25px]]
| {{UK-Albion}}
| {{UK-Caesar}} [[File:VAdm.png|border|25px]]
| {{UK-Cornwallis}}
|-
| {{UK-1Duncan}}
| {{UK-1Exmouth}} [[File:Adm.png|border|25px]]
| {{UK-Glory}}
| {{UK-Jupiter}}
|-
| {{UK-Montagu}}
| {{UK-PrinceGeorge}}
| {{UK-Russell}}
| {{UK-Swiftsure}}
|-
| {{UK-Triumph}}
| 
| 
| 
|}

{| class="collapsible wikitable" style="width: 60%"
|-
! colspan=3 | Cruisers attached to Battle Squadron
|-
| {{UK-Dido}}
| {{UK-Juno}}
| {{UK-Topaze}}
|}

{| class="collapsible wikitable" style="width: 60%"
|-
! colspan="2" | Attached Cruisers
|-
| {{UK-Patrol}}
| {{UK-Sapphire}} [[File:RAdm.png|border|25px]]
|}

{| class="collapsible wikitable" style="width: 60%"
|-
! colspan="3" | Destroyer Flotilla
|-
| ''First Division''
| ''Second Division''
| ''Third Division''
|-
| {{UK-Flirt}}
| {{UK-Gala}}
| {{UK-Blackwater}}
|-
| {{UK-Kestrel}}
| {{UK-1Greyhound}}
| {{UK-1Express}}
|-
| {{UK-1Peterel}}
| {{UK-Mermaid}}
| {{UK-Kennet}}
|-
| {{UK-1Recruit}}
| {{UK-Racehorse}}
| {{UK-Leopard}}
|-
| {{UK-Thorn}}
| {{UK-Ribble}}
| {{UK-Osprey}}
|-
| {{UK-1Tiger}}
| {{UK-Roebuck}}
| {{UK-Ostrich}}
|-
| {{UK-Vigilant}}
| {{UK-Teviot}}
| {{UK-Vixen}}
|-
| {{UK-Wizard}}
| {{UK-Wolf}}
| {{UK-Waveney}}
|}

===18 May, 1906===
Sixteen battleships, eight cruisers, thirty-six destroyers.{{NLJun06|pp. 267, 269}}
{| class="collapsible wikitable" style="width: 60%"
|-
! colspan=4 | Battle Squadron
|-
| {{UK-Albemarle}} [[File:RAdm.png|border|25px]]
| {{UK-Caesar}} [[File:VAdm.png|border|25px]]
| {{UK-Canopus}}
| {{UK-1Duncan}}
|-
| {{UK-1Exmouth}} [[File:Adm.png|border|25px]]
| {{UK-Glory}}
| {{UK-Goliath}}
| {{UK-Illustrious}}
|-
| {{UK-Jupiter}}
| {{UK-Montagu}}
| {{UK-Ocean}}
| {{UK-PrinceGeorge}}
|-
| {{UK-Russell}}
| {{UK-Swiftsure}}
| {{UK-Triumph}}
| {{UK-Vengeance}}
|}

{| class="collapsible wikitable" style="width: 60%"
|-
! colspan=3 | Cruisers attached to Battle Squadron
|-
| {{UK-Dido}}
| {{UK-Juno}}
| {{UK-Topaze}}
|}

{| class="collapsible wikitable" style="width: 60%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Attached Cruisers
|-
| {{UK-Pathfinder}} || {{UK-Patrol}} || {{UK-Sapphire}} [[File:RAdm.png|border|25px]] || {{UK-1Sentinel}} || {{UK-Tyne}}
|}

{| class="collapsible wikitable" style="width: 60%"
|-
! colspan="3" | Destroyer Flotillas
|-
| [[First Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|First Flotilla]]
| [[Second Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Second Flotilla]]
| [[Third Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Third Flotilla]]
|-
| {{UK-Boyne}}
| {{UK-Earnest}}
| {{UK-Arab}}
|-
| {{UK-Crane}}
| {{UK-Exe}}
| {{UK-Arun}}
|-
| {{UK-Derwent}}
| {{UK-Lively}}
| {{UK-Cheerful}}
|-
| {{UK-Doon}}
| {{UK-Ness}}
| {{UK-1Express}}
|-
| {{UK-Fawn}}
| {{UK-Nith}}
| {{UK-Foyle}}
|-
| {{UK-Flirt}}
| {{UK-Orwell}}
| {{UK-1Greyhound}}
|-
| {{UK-Garry}}
| {{UK-1Seal}}
| {{UK-Itchen}}
|-
| {{UK-Kangaroo}}
| {{UK-Sprightly}}
| {{UK-Liffey}}
|-
| {{UK-Myrmidon}}
| {{UK-Swale}}
| {{UK-Moy}}
|-
| {{UK-1Peterel}}
| {{UK-Thrasher}}
| {{UK-Ouse}}
|-
| {{UK-Ribble}}
| {{UK-Ure}}
| {{UK-Racehorse}}
|-
| {{UK-Waveney}}
| {{UK-Wear}}
| {{UK-Roebuck}}
|}

===18 February, 1907===
Sixteen battleships, three attached cruisers and the separate {{UK-CS|1}} of six armoured cruisers.  The destroyers seem to be gone entirely, First sent to Portsmouth, Second to the Nore, and Third to Devonport.{{NLMar07|pp. 267-269}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
{{refend}}

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Fleet}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Royal Navy Fleets and Stations]]
[[Category:Pages with Offices]]