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.

Composition

May, 1912

• H.M.S. King Edward VII.
• H.M.S. Hibernia.
• H.M.S. Zealandia.
• H.M.S. Hindustan.
• H.M.S. Dominion.
• H.M.S. Britannia.
• H.M.S. Commonwealth.
• H.M.S. Africa.

August, 1914

• H.M.S. King Edward VII.
• H.M.S. Hibernia.
• H.M.S. Russell.
• H.M.S. Africa.
• H.M.S. Britannia.
• H.M.S. Commonwealth.
• H.M.S. Hindustan.
• H.M.S. Dominion.
• H.M.S. Zealandia.
• H.M.S. Albemarle.
• H.M.S. Exmouth.
• H.M.S. Duncan.

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.

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.

Bibliography

• Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.