The First Cruiser Squadron was a Royal Navy squadron of armoured cruisers that saw service as part of the Mediterranean and Grand Fleets during the First World War. It was originally formed in 1909, but was renamed on 1 January 1913 to First Battle Cruiser Squadron. It was reformed afterwards.
Background[]
When the First World War began, the squadron was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet where it participated in the pursuit of the German battlecruiser SMS Goeben and the light cruiser SMS Breslau. It joined the Grand Fleet by January 1915 where it participated in the battles of Dogger Bank and the Battle of Jutland. It was disbanded after the battle as three of its four ships had been sunk.
It was reformed in 1917 with the three large light cruisers of the Courageous class. The squadron was the main British force in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight in late 1917.
Composition[]
August 1914 [1][]
Armoured cruisers[]
- Defence - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Ernest C. T. Troubridge. Captain Fawcet Wray
- Black Prince - Captain Frederick D. Gilpin-Brown
- Duke of Edinburgh - Captain Henry Blackett
- Warrior - Captain George H. Borrett
Light cruisers[]
- Chatham - Captain Sidney R. Drury-Lowe
- Dublin - Captain John D. Kelly
- Gloucester - Captain Howard Kelly
- Weymouth - Captain William D. Church
24 January 1915[2][]
- Duke of Edinburgh - Temporary flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot
- Black Prince
- Warrior
22 February 1915[3][]
- Defence - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot
- Duke of Edinburgh
- Black Prince
- Warrior
30 May 1916[4][]
- Defence - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot
- Duke of Edinburgh
- Black Prince
- Warrior
October 1917[5][]
17 November 1917[6][]
- Courageous
- Glorious
Post Second World War[]
Then-Rear Admiral Ralph Edwards, C.B.E. R.N. was Rear Admiral Commanding First Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet, and Flag Officer (Air), Mediterranean in the late 1940s. He commanded the squadron from his former command HMS Gambia.
Footnotes[]
References[]
- Corbett, Julian. Naval Operations to the Battle of the Falklands. History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents. I (2nd, reprint of the 1938 ed.). London and Nashville, TN: Imperial War Museum and Battery Press. ISBN 0-89839-256-X.
- Corbett, Julian (1997). Naval Operations. History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents. II (reprint of the 1929 second ed.). London and Nashville, TN: Imperial War Museum in association with the Battery Press. ISBN 1-870423-74-7.
- Corbett, Julian (1997). Naval Operations. History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents. III (reprint of the 1940 second ed.). London and Nashville, TN: Imperial War Museum in association with the Battery Press. ISBN 1-870423-50-X.
- Newbolt, Henry (1996). Naval Operations. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents. V (reprint of the 1931 ed.). Nashville, TN: Battery Press. ISBN 0-89839-255-1.
The original article can be found at 1st Cruiser Squadron and the edit history here.