Difference between revisions of "Battle Cruiser Force"

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[[File:P39959.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Vice-Admiral [[David Richard Beatty, First Earl Beatty|Sir David Beatty]] and Battle Cruiser Fleet staff on the fo'csle of [[H.M.S. Lion (1910)|''Lion'']], 1916.  Left to right: Unknown, Commander [[Sidney Robert Bailey|Sidney R. Bailey]], Engineer Captain Donald P. Green, Captain The Hon. [[Hubert George Brand|Hubert G. Brand]], Unknown, Paymaster Frank T. Spickernell, Brevet Major Harold M. Franks, R.M.L.I., Sir David Beatty, Lieutenant Ralph P. Seymour, Unknown, Unknown, Captain [[Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield, First Baron Chatfield|A. Ernle M. Chatfield]], Unknown, Captain The Hon. [[Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax|Reginald A. R. P-E-E-Drax]], Unknown.]]
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[[File:P39959.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Vice-Admiral [[David Richard Beatty, First Earl Beatty|Sir David Beatty]] and Battle Cruiser Fleet staff on the fo'csle of {{UK-Lion}}, 1916.  Left to right: Unknown, Commander [[Sidney Robert Bailey|Sidney R. Bailey]], Engineer Captain Donald P. Green, Captain The Hon. [[Hubert George Brand|Hubert G. Brand]], Unknown, Paymaster Frank T. Spickernell, Brevet Major Harold M. Franks, R.M.L.I., Sir David Beatty, Lieutenant Ralph P. Seymour, Unknown, Unknown, Captain [[Alfred Ernle Montacute Chatfield, First Baron Chatfield|A. Ernle M. Chatfield]], Unknown, Captain The Hon. [[Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax|Reginald A. R. P-E-E-Drax]], Unknown.]]
The Admiralty ordered the formation of the Battle Cruiser Fleet on 11 February, 1915.<ref>Information from John Roberts.</ref>
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The Admiralty ordered the formation of the '''Battle Cruiser Fleet''' on 11 February, 1915.<ref>Information from John Roberts.</ref>
  
Its title was altered to "Battle Cruiser Force" on 29 November, 1916.<ref>"Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918, and Which Have Now Ceased to Exist."  The National Archives. ADM 6/461. p. 8.</ref> It ceased to exist on 7 April, 1919.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
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It was very similar to a more diverse predecessor known as '''Cruiser Force A'''.
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The formation was renamed the '''Battle Cruiser Force''' on 29 November, 1916.{{UKCeased|f. 8}} It ceased to exist on 7 April, 1919.{{UKCeased|f. 8}}
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==Friction==
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When Beatty tried to get his Secretary, Frank T. Spickernell, promoted to the rank of Paymaster in 1915, the [[Second Sea Lord]], [[Frederick Tower Hamilton|Sir  Frederick T. Hamilton]], sarcastically noted in a letter to the [[Admiralty War Staff|Chief of Staff]], [[Henry Francis Oliver|Henry F. Oliver]], "all I know of him is that he wants to be promoted over the heads of his top mates because he belongs to the redoubtable B.C.F."<ref>Hamilton to Oliver.  Letter of 23 July, 1915.  Hamilton Papers.  National Maritime Museum.  HTN/117/A.</ref>
  
 
==Vice-Admirals Commanding==
 
==Vice-Admirals Commanding==
 
Dates of appointment given:
 
Dates of appointment given:
  
*{{ViceRN}} (Acting) [[David Richard Beatty, First Earl Beatty|Sir David R. Beatty]], 8 February, 1915.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
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<div name=fredbot:office0 otitle="Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Force" nat="UK">
*Vice-Admiral [[William Christopher Pakenham|Sir William C. Pakenham]], 29 November, 1916.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
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{{Tenure|rank={{ViceRN}} (Acting)|name=David Richard Beatty, First Earl Beatty|nick=Sir David R. Beatty|appt=8 February, 1915{{UKCeased|f. 8}}|as=Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Fleet}}
*Vice-Admiral [[Henry Francis Oliver|Sir Henry F. Oliver]], 28 February, 1919 (Temporarily).<ref>Ibid.</ref>
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{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=William Christopher Pakenham|nick=Sir William C. Pakenham|appt=29 November, 1916{{UKCeased|f. 8}}}}
*Vice-Admiral (Acting) [[Roger John Brownlow Keyes|Sir Roger J. B. Keyes]], 21 March, 1919.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
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{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral|name=Henry Francis Oliver|nick=Sir Henry F. Oliver|appt=28 February, 1919{{UKCeased|f. 8}}|note=temporarily|end=21 March, 1919<ref>Oliver Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 319.</ref>}}
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{{Tenure|rank=Vice-Admiral (Acting)|name=Roger John Brownlow Keyes, First Baron Keyes|nick=Sir Roger J. B. Keyes|appt=21 March, 1919{{UKCeased|f. 8}}<ref>Keyes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 291.</ref>|end=7 April, 1919{{UKCeased|f. 8}}<ref>Keyes Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 291.</ref>}}
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</div name=fredbot:office0>
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==Chiefs of Staff==
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<div name=fredbot:office1 otitle="Chief of Staff to Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Force" nat="UK">
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{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=Hubert George Brand|nick=Hubert G. Brand|appt=29 June, 1916<ref>Brand Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 118.</ref>|end=29 November, 1916<ref>Brand Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}} f. 118.</ref>}}
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</div name=fredbot:office1>
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==See Also==
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{{refbegin}}
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* [[The Battle Cruiser in the Royal Navy]]
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{{refend}}
  
 
==Footnotes==
 
==Footnotes==
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{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
[[Category:Royal Navy Squadrons]]
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[[Category:Royal Navy Fleets]]
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[[Category:Pages with Offices]]

Revision as of 14:42, 3 November 2015

Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty and Battle Cruiser Fleet staff on the fo'csle of Lion, 1916. Left to right: Unknown, Commander Sidney R. Bailey, Engineer Captain Donald P. Green, Captain The Hon. Hubert G. Brand, Unknown, Paymaster Frank T. Spickernell, Brevet Major Harold M. Franks, R.M.L.I., Sir David Beatty, Lieutenant Ralph P. Seymour, Unknown, Unknown, Captain A. Ernle M. Chatfield, Unknown, Captain The Hon. Reginald A. R. P-E-E-Drax, Unknown.

The Admiralty ordered the formation of the Battle Cruiser Fleet on 11 February, 1915.[1]

It was very similar to a more diverse predecessor known as Cruiser Force A.

The formation was renamed the Battle Cruiser Force on 29 November, 1916.[2] It ceased to exist on 7 April, 1919.[3]

Friction

When Beatty tried to get his Secretary, Frank T. Spickernell, promoted to the rank of Paymaster in 1915, the Second Sea Lord, Sir Frederick T. Hamilton, sarcastically noted in a letter to the Chief of Staff, Henry F. Oliver, "all I know of him is that he wants to be promoted over the heads of his top mates because he belongs to the redoubtable B.C.F."[4]

Vice-Admirals Commanding

Dates of appointment given:

Chiefs of Staff

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Information from John Roberts.
  2. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  3. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  4. Hamilton to Oliver. Letter of 23 July, 1915. Hamilton Papers. National Maritime Museum. HTN/117/A.
  5. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  6. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  7. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  8. Oliver Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 319.
  9. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  10. Keyes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 291.
  11. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 8.
  12. Keyes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 291.
  13. Brand Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 118.
  14. Brand Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 118.

Bibliography