Tenth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)

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The Tenth Cruiser Squadron was also known as Cruiser Force B from 1914.

Napier hauled down his flag at Sheerness on 26 July, 1914.[1]

During the course of its service the squadron intercepted 12,979 ships at sea while 2,039 ships reported to a port of examination. 642 evaded the blockade. The losses incurred were nine armed merchant cruisers sunk at the cost of 1,165 officers and men.[2]

In Command

Dates of appointment given:

Second in Command

The officers who were second in command were generally given direct control of the Second Division.

Third in Command

The officers who were third in command were generally given direct control of the Third Division.

Composition

December, 1912

The Supplement to the Monthly Navy List shows a strength of six older Edgar class protected cruisers.[13]

Crescent Edgar Gibraltar Grafton Hawke
Royal Arthur

This same roster would appear in The December, 1913 list as well.[14]


July - 5 August, 1914

The formation is attached to the Third Fleet, part of the Northern Patrol. Strength has been increased to eight by the arrival of Theseus and Endymion.[15]

Crescent Edgar Gibraltar Grafton Hawke
  Royal Arthur Theseus Endymion

September, 1914

The formation is listed under Home and Atlantic Waters as "Cruiser Force B". The torpedo gunboat Dryad (fitted as a minesweeper) and the Armed Merchant Cruisers Alsatian and Mantua have been attached to bring the strength to eight armoured cruisers, two A.M.Cs. and a torpedo gunboat. Crescent is designated as the flagship.[16]

In Home and Atlantic Waters
Armoured Cruisers
Crescent RAdmRN.png Grafton Edgar Hawke Gibraltar
  Royal Arthur Theseus Endymion
Torpedo Gunboat / Minesweeper
Dryad
Armed Merchant Cruisers
  Alsatian   Mantua

October, 1914

Hawke has been removed, sunk by U 9 on 15 October.[17] The armed merchant cruiser Teutonic has been added, having been commissioned in Liverpool on 12 September.[18]

In Home and Atlantic Waters
Armoured Cruisers
Crescent RAdmRN.png Grafton Edgar Gibraltar Royal Arthur
  Theseus   Endymion
Torpedo Gunboat / Minesweeper
Dryad
Armed Merchant Cruisers
  Alsatian Mantua Teutonic

This roster would last only a moment, as a huge influx of newly commissioned Armed Merchant Cruisers would be assigned to the Squadron as the armoured cruisers got swapped out.[19]

December, 1914

The seven Edgars have all been removed from the formation[20] and twenty newly fitted Armed Merchant Cruisers have joined, transforming the Squadron to a format better suited to long patrols in high seas where significant opposition is expected to be the exception. The Squadron is twenty-three A.M.Cs. and a single torpedo gunboat.[21]

In Home and Atlantic Waters
Armed Merchant Cruisers
Alsatian RAdmRN.png Eskimo Patia Patuca Bayano
Caribbean Orotava Clan MacNaughton Viknor Digby
Motagua Mantua Teutonic Virginian Cedric
Otway Changuinola Calyx Ambrose Oropesa
  Columbella Hildebrand Hilary
Torpedo Gunboat / Minesweeper
Dryad

This roster would apply until February or March.[22]

March, 1915

Dryad has left to be refit or join a squadron, and A.M.C. strength has frittered to nineteen.[23] Eskimo and Calyx have been dropped for unknown reasons, and two have been lost to mines: Viknor on 13 January, and Clan MacNaughton on 3 February.[24]

In Home and Atlantic Waters
Armed Merchant Cruisers
Alsatian RAdmRN.png Patia Patuca Bayano Caribbean
Orotava Digby Motagua Mantua Teutonic
Virginian Cedric Otway Changuinola Ambrose
Oropesa Columbella   Hildebrand Hilary

April, 1915

Bayano has been lost, torpedoed on 11 March,[25] reducing the strength to eighteen A.M.Cs..[26]

Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol
Armed Merchant Cruisers
Alsatian RAdmRN.png Ambrose Caribbean Changuinola Cedric
Columbella Digby Hilary Hildebrand Mantua
Motagua Oropesa Orotava Otway Patia
  Patuca Teutonic Virginian

This roster would apply until June.[27]

June, 1915

Caribbean has been removed, as she has been foudn unsuitable for mounting guns and been converted into an accommodation ship.[28]

Offsetting this loss, seven A.M.Cs. have arrived, increasing the strength to twenty-four. Victorian has come over from Cruiser Force I[29], and Alcantara, Arlanza, Andes, Ebro, India and Orcoma have arrived, having seemingly been freshly placed into service.[30]

Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol
Armed Merchant Cruisers
Alcantara Arlanza Alsatian RAdmRN.png Ambrose Andes
Changuinola Cedric Columbella Digby Ebro
Hilary Hildebrand India Mantua Motagua
Orcoma Oropesa Orotava Otway Patia
Patuca Teutonic   Victorian Virginian

This roster would apply until August.[31]

August, 1915

The membership has not changed, but the organization has. There are now three divisions, with Alsatian retaining her flagship role at the head of the First Division, with Cedric now sporting the Broad Pendant of Commodore, Second Class Robert E. R. Benson as head of the Second Division.[32]

Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol
First Division
Alsatian RAdmRN.png Arlanza Alcantara Andes
Teutonic Columbella Virginian India
Second Division
Cedric Com2RN.png Motagua Victorian Patia
Mantua Changuinola Patuca Ebro
Third Division
Otway Orcoma Oropesa Orotava
Hildebrand Hilary Digby Ambrose

September, 1915

India has left, and Otway now flies the Broad Pendant of Commodore, Second Class Edward L. Booty as leader of the Third Division. The strength is twenty-three A.M.Cs..[33]

Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol
First Division
Alsatian RAdmRN.png Arlanza Alcantara Andes
Teutonic Columbella Virginian
Second Division
Cedric Com2RN.png Motagua Victorian Patia
Mantua Changuinola Patuca Ebro
Third Division
Otway Com2RN.png Orcoma Oropesa Orotava
Hildebrand Hilary Digby Ambrose

October, 1915

Ambrose has been dropped from the Third Division, paid off. The strength is twenty-two A.M.Cs..[34]

Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol
First Division
Alsatian RAdmRN.png Arlanza Alcantara Andes
Teutonic Columbella Virginian
Second Division
Cedric Com2RN.png Motagua Victorian Patia
Mantua Changuinola Patuca Ebro
Third Division
Otway Com2RN.png Orcoma Oropesa Orotava
Hildebrand Hilary Digby

November, 1915

Almanzora has joined the First Division, increasing the strength to twenty-three A.M.Cs..[35] Booty and Benson have apparently now been made Commodore, First Class.[36]

Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol
First Division
Alsatian RAdmRN.png Almanzora Arlanza Alcantara
Andes Teutonic Columbella Virginian
Second Division
Cedric Com1RN.png Motagua Victorian Patia
Mantua Changuinola Patuca Ebro
Third Division
Otway Com1RN.png Orcoma Oropesa Orotava
Hildebrand Hilary Digby

December, 1915

Oropesa and Digby have been dropped from the Third Division for unknown reasons. They would rejoin it in March, 1916 under their new names, Champagne and Artois, respectively. The strength is now twenty-one A.M.Cs..[37]

Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol
First Division
Alsatian RAdmRN.png Almanzora Arlanza Alcantara
Andes Teutonic Columbella Virginian
Second Division
Cedric Com1RN.png Motagua Victorian Patia
Mantua Changuinola Patuca Ebro
Third Division
Otway Com1RN.png Orcoma Orotava Hildebrand
Hilary

This roster would apply through January, 1916.[38]

February, 1916

Second Division leader Cedric has been decommissioned to begin service as a troop ship. Accordingly, Teutonic moved over to the Second Division, where she is now bearing Commodore, First Class Benson. Moldavia and Gloucestershire are expected, but will not arrive until the coming month.

The strength is now twenty A.M.Cs., with two expected to join shortly.[39]

Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol
First Division
Alsatian RAdmRN.png Almanzora Arlanza Alcantara
Andes Columbella Virginian
Second Division
Teutonic Com1RN.png Motagua Victorian Patia
Mantua Changuinola Patuca Ebro
Third Division
Otway Com1RN.png Orcoma Orotava Hildebrand
Hilary
Expected to Join
Template:UK-Modavia Gloucestershire

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 27 July, 1914. Issue 40586, col B, p. 4.
  2. ↑ Osborne. Britain's Economic Blockade of Germany, 1914-1919. p. 166.
  3. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 1 July, 1913. Issue 40252, col D, p. 6.
  4. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 7.
  5. ↑ De Chair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 259.
  6. ↑ De Chair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 259.
  7. ↑ De Chair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 259.
  8. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 401jj.
  9. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 401h.
  10. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 398oo.
  11. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 7.
  12. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 401v.
  13. ↑ Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
  14. ↑ Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
  15. ↑ Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
  16. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 9.
  17. ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 66.
  18. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 9.
  19. ↑ There was no edition of the Supplement issued in November 1914.
  20. ↑ TODO: determine where the Edgars went.
  21. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 9.
  22. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 9. No Supplement was found for February, 1915.
  23. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). pp. 11, 13.
  24. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. pp. 119, 121.
  25. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 119.
  26. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 10.
  27. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1915). p. 10.
  28. ↑ Wikipedia.
  29. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 12.
  30. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). p. 10.
  31. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 10.
  32. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). p. 10.
  33. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). p. 10.
  34. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). pp. 10, 14.
  35. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 10.
  36. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 7.
  37. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 10.
  38. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1916). p. 10.
  39. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 10.

Bibliography


Cruiser Squadrons of the Royal Navy
First Cruiser Squadron | Second Cruiser Squadron | Third Cruiser Squadron | Fourth Cruiser Squadron | Fifth Cruiser Squadron
Sixth Cruiser Squadron | Seventh Cruiser Squadron | Eighth Cruiser Squadron | Ninth Cruiser Squadron | Tenth Cruiser Squadron
Eleventh Cruiser Squadron | Twelfth Cruiser Squadron | Fifteenth Cruiser Squadron | Eighteenth Cruiser Squadron
Cruiser Force F
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