Third Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)
The Third Battle Squadron was a battleship squadron of the Royal Navy in the period before, during, and after the First World War.
History
Rear-Admiral Sir Douglas R. M. Nicholson was appointed Rear-Admiral Commanding the Third Battle Squadron in the newly-constituted Home Fleet on 8 April, 1919.[1]
May, 1912
- H.M.S. King Edward VII, Flagship, Vice-Admiral
- Became Flagship, Vice-Admiral, on 17 May, 1912.
- H.M.S. Hibernia, Flagship, Rear-Admiral
- H.M.S. Zealandia
- Joined on 11 May, 1912.
- Joined on 11 May, 1912.
- Joined on 15 June, 1912.
- Joined on 14 May, 1912.
The composition of the Third Battle Squadron, somewhat uniquely, remained unchanged until 1915 through the First World War, when Hibernia and Zealandia were dispatched to the Dardanelles.
January, 1916
- H.M.S. King Edward VII
- H.M.S. Hindustan
- H.M.S. Dominion
- H.M.S. Britannia
- H.M.S. Commonwealth
- H.M.S. Africa
- H.M.S. Albemarle
In May, 1916, prior to the Battle of Jutland, the Third Battle Squadron was transferred to the Nore to protect the Thames Estuary. The famous Dreadnought was transferred from the Fourth Battle Squadron to provide the squadron with added firepower.
Vice-Admirals Commanding
Dates of appointment given:
- Vice-Admiral Cecil Burney, 19 December, 1911.
- Vice-Admiral Lewis Bayly, 1 July, 1913 - June, 1914.
- Vice-Admiral Sir Edward E. Bradford, 22 June, 1914 - May, 1916.
- Vice-Admiral Sir John M. de Robeck, 19 July, 1916.
- Vice-Admiral Sir Herbert L. Heath, 5 December, 1916.
- Vice-Admiral Sir Dudley R. S. de Chair, 21 April, 1917.
Rear-Admirals in the Third Battle Squadron
Dates of appointment given:
- Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher G. F. M. Cradock, 29 August, 1911.
- Rear-Admiral Cecil F. Thursby, 29 August, 1912.
- Rear-Admiral Montague E. Browning, 29 August, 1913.
- Rear-Admiral Sydney F. Fremantle, 27 July, 1915.
- Rear-Admiral Cecil F. Dampier, 13 March, 1916.
- Rear-Admiral Douglas R. L. Nicholson, 13 March, 1917.
Position abolished on 21 September, 1917.
Footnotes
- ↑ "End of Grand Fleet" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 3 April, 1919. Issue 42065, col D, pg. 13.
Bibliography
- Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
