First Light Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)
The First Light Cruiser Squadron was a formation of light cruisers in the Royal Navy. Founded before the Great War, during the war it was one of 3-4 such squadrons tasked with screening the Grand Fleet during operations.
The squadron operated throughout the war and beyond. At some time in perhaps September 1924 it was re-designated the First Cruiser Squadron as post-war operations suggested the wisdom of merging heavy and light cruiser operations.
In Command
Dates of appointment given:
- Commodore, Second Class William E. Goodenough, 5 July, 1913[1] – February, 1915[2]
- Rear-Admiral Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair, 8 February, 1915[3] – 7 July, 1917[4]
- Rear-Admiral Sir Walter H. Cowan, 7 July, 1917[5] – 5 July, 1920[6] (flag transferred to Delhi in June, 1919)
- Vice-Admiral James A. Fergusson, July, 1920[7] – April, 1922[8]
- Rear-Admiral Hubert G. Brand, 15 April, 1922[9] – 9 October, 1924[10] (after this, formation re-designated the First Cruiser Squadron)
History
July, 1914
The squadron was:[11]
September, 1914
Two additional light cruisers have reinforced the squadron.[12]
Attached to Cruiser Force A | |||||
Light Cruisers | |||||
Southampton | Lowestoft | Birmingham | Falmouth | Nottingham | Liverpool |
This arrangement would change some time in December, 1914.[13]
January, 1915
Falmouth and Liverpool have been sent over to join the new Second Light Cruiser Squadron, which is serving alongside 1 L.C.S..[14]
Attached to (former?) Cruiser Force A | |||||
Light Cruisers | |||||
Southampton | Lowestoft | Birmingham | Nottingham |
March, 1915
The ships of the Squadron were renamed the Second Light Cruiser Squadron at some point in January or February, and a new 1 L.C.S. created as shown.[15]
Attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet | |||||
Light Cruisers | |||||
Galatea | Caroline | Cordelia | Inconstant |
This arrangement would not be altered before some time in November, 1915.[16]
December, 1915
Caroline has been replaced by Phaeton.[17]
Attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet | |||||
Light Cruisers | |||||
Galatea | Phaeton | Cordelia | Inconstant |
This arrangement would prove unusually stable. Squadron command under Edwyn Sinclair Alexander-Sinclair would become a Commodore, First Class on 5 December, 1916, and then to Rear-Admiral on 26 April, 1917, but affairs would not otherwise be altered before some time in May, 1917.[18]
Battle of Jutland
- Main article: First L.C.S. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland
The squadron was at the battle as one of three screening the battlecruisers:[19]
- Galatea, Commodore, Second Class Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair
- Phaeton, Captain John E. Cameron
- Cordelia, Captain Tufton P. H. Beamish
- Inconstant, Captain Bertram S. Thesiger
June, 1917
Caledon has been added to the mix, increasing strength to five cruisers.[20]
Attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet | |||||
Light Cruisers | |||||
Galatea | Phaeton | Cordelia | Inconstant | Caledon |
This arrangement would not be altered before some time in X.[21]
August, 1917
Caledon was made the flagship some time in July, and Royalist has replaced Cordelia.[22]
Attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet | |||||
Light Cruisers | |||||
Caledon | Royalist | Cordelia | Inconstant | Galatea |
This arrangement would not be altered before some time in X.[23]
17 November, 1917
At the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight[24]
July, 1918
The Squadron is still assigned to screen the Battle Cruiser Force.[25]
November, 1918
No change since July.[26]
This roster would apply until March, 1919.[27]
March, 1919
Now attached to the Battle Cruiser Force, Cleopatra has joined,[28] coming from the Seventh Light Cruiser Squadron.[29]
April, 1919
Still attached to the Battle Cruiser Force, Comus has joined,[30] having come from the Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron,[31] bringing the strength to seven light cruisers.
May, 1919
A considerable reorganization has occurred. All the ships except Comus (which is a "miscellaneous ship in commission") have been left to embody, with Champion, the Home Fleet's Second Light Cruiser Squadron.
1 L.C.S. is now part of the Atlantic Fleet; the reinvented squadron is comprised the six very modern light cruisers that were dubbed the Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron just a month ago.[32][33]
June, 1919
Still part of the Atlantic Fleet, the squadron is now eight light cruisers.[34] Danae is on her way, having just entered service while Cleopatra has come over from the Second Light Cruiser Squadron and Canterbury has recently been recommissioned.[35]
- Cleopatra (temporarily detached)
- Coventry
- Curacoa (refitting)
- Danae
- Dauntless
- Delhi (to join "shortly", would in fact become flagship this month)
- Dragon
- Canterbury (temporarily assigned)
July, 1919
Still part of the Atlantic Fleet, Delhi seems to have fully arrived and assumed flagship duties.[36]
- Delhi
- Coventry
- Curacoa (refitting)
- Danae
- Dauntless
- Canterbury (temporarily assigned)
- Dragon
- Cleopatra (temporarily detached)
Drill and Practice
In 1917, the squadron fired 56 practice torpedoes of which 45 or 80% were judged to be likely to endanger the enemy.[37]
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 5.
- ↑ Goodenough Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 433.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1917). p. 6.
- ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1919). p. 5.
- ↑ Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
- ↑ Fergusson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43 f. 199.
- ↑ Fergusson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88 f. 102.
- ↑ Brand Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 220.
- ↑ Brand Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 220.
- ↑ Printed page "Fleets and Squadrons in Commission at Home and Abroad" in Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 9.
- ↑ Supplements through January, 1915.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 9.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 11.
- ↑ Supplements through December, 1915.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 11.
- ↑ Supplements through June, 1917.
- ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 33, 46.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). p. 11.
- ↑ Supplements through X.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 11.
- ↑ Supplements through X.
- ↑ Naval Operations. Vol. V. pp. 168-169.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1918). p. 11.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 11.
- ↑ Supplements from December, 1918 through March, 1919.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1919). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1919). pp. 10, 12, 19.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1919). p 13.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1919). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1919). pp. 12, 20.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1919). p. 10.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917. p. 121.
Bibliography
- Corbett, Sir Julian S. (1920). Naval Operations. Volume I. London: Longmans, Green and Co..
- Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations. Vol. V. London: Longmans, Green and Co..
Light Cruiser Squadrons of the Royal Navy |
First Light Cruiser Squadron | Second Light Cruiser Squadron | Third Light Cruiser Squadron | Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron | Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron | Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron | Seventh Light Cruiser Squadron | Eighth Light Cruiser Squadron |