| 3rd Destroyer Flotilla | |
|---|---|
| Active | June 1909–November 1939, December 1945- July 1951 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 Royal Navy |
| Size | Flotilla |
| Commanders | |
| First | Captain Godfrey M. Paine |
| Ceremonial chief | Captain Peter Dawnay |
The British 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, also styled as Third Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from 1909 to 1939 and again from 1945 to 1951.
History[]
In 1907 the Channel Fleet had a large Channel Flotilla of destroyers in February 1909 when it was divided to form the 1st and 3rd Destroyer Flotillas. From March 1909 to May 1912 the formation was part of the Home Fleet, 3rd Division-Nore Division.[1] In May 1912, the Home Fleet was split into the 1st Fleet, with ships in full commission, and the Second and Third Fleets, composed of ships partly manned and laid up in reserve respectively. The 3rd Destroyer Flotilla remained part of the First Fleet until July 1914.[1] On the outbreak of the First World War, the First Fleet became the Grand Fleet, and the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla joined the newly formed Harwich Force.[2] In the summer of 1915 it was renumbered the 9th Destroyer Flotilla.[3] It was reformed again from March 1918 as part of the Grand Fleet till November 1918.[4] After the War the Flotilla joined the Atlantic Fleet, forming part of that organisation from December 1918 until August 1923. It was then allocated to the Mediterranean Fleet until 1926 when it was temporarily assigned to the China Station until 1927. It returned to the Mediterranean Station until 1938.[5] By the beginning of World War Two in September 1939 it was still in the Mediterranean Fleet. It was re-allocated to the Home Fleet in October 1939 to November 1944 under the command of the Rear-Admiral, Destroyer Flotillas Home Fleet.[6] The flotilla was sent back to join the Mediterranean Fleet in November 1944 till July 1951 when it was re-designated 3rd Destroyer Squadron.
Organizational Changes[]
Note: Command structure organizational changes took place within Royal Navy post war period the term Flotilla was previously applied to a tactical unit until 1951 which led to the creation of three specific Flag Officers, Flotillas responsible for the Eastern, Home and Mediterranean fleets the existing destroyer flotillas were re-organized now as administrative squadrons.[7]
Operational deployments[]
| Assigned to | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Fleet | March 1907 to February 1909 | as Home Fleet Destroyer Flotilla |
| Home Fleet, 3rd Division, Nore Division | March 1909 to May 1912 | |
| Home Fleets, First Fleet | May 1912 to July 1914 | disbanded |
| Grand Fleet | March 1918 to November 1918 | reformed |
| Atlantic Fleet | December 1918 to August 1923 | |
| Mediterranean Fleet | August 1923 to 1926 | temporarily detached to China Station |
| China Station | 1926 to 1927 | returns to Med Fleet |
| Mediterranean Fleet | 1928 to October 1939 | |
| Home Fleet | October 1939 to November 1944 | Under R.Adm Destroyer Flotillas, Home Fleet |
| Mediterranean Fleet | November 1944 to July 1951 | Captain (D) appointed December 1945 |
Administration[]
Captains (D) afloat 3rd Destroyer Flotilla[]
Incomplete list of post holders included:[8][9]
| Rank | Name | Term | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain (D) afloat 3rd Destroyer Flotilla | |||||
| 1 | Captain | Godfrey M. Paine | 2 June 1909 1 May 1912 | ||
| 2 | Captain | Robert K. Arbuthnot | 1 May 1912 – 31 July 1912 | (later R. Adm) | |
| 3 | Captain | Ernest S. Carey | 1 July 1912 – 3 April 1913 | ||
| 4 | Captain | Cecil H. Fox | 3 April 1913 – 26 October 1914 | ||
| 5 | Captain | Francis G. St. John | 26 October 1914 - 15 August 1917 | ||
| 6 | Captain | Harold E. Sulivan | 15 August 1917 – 1 March 1919 | ||
| 7 | Captain | Frank F. Rose | 7 July 1921– 6 July 1923 | ||
| 8 | Captain | Rafe G. Rowley-Conwy | 1 March 1919 – 7 July 1919 | (later R. Adm) | |
| 9 | Captain | Francis Alexander Waddilove Buller | 7 July 1919 – 7 July 1921 | (later R. Adm) | |
| 10 | Captain | Frank F. Rose | 7 July 1921– 6 July 1923 | ||
| 11 | Captain | Humphrey T. Walwyn | July, 1923 – October, 1923 | (later V.Adm) | |
| 12 | Captain | John C. Hodgson | 6 July 1923 – 20 October 1923 | ||
| 13 | Captain | Dashwood F. Moir | 20 October 1923 – January, 1925 | ||
| 14 | Captain | Charles G. Ramsey | 15 January 1925 – January, 1927 | (later Adm.) | |
| 15 | Captain | Cyril G. Sedgwick | 16 October 1928 – 21 June 1930 | ||
| 16 | Captain | Roderick B. T. Miles | 21 June 1930 - 22 July 1935 | ||
| 17 | Captain | Geoffrey J. A. Miles | 22 July 1935 – 25 May 1937 | (later Adm.) | |
| 18 | Captain | Arthur G. Talbot | 25 May 1937 – 7 November 1939 | ||
| Flotilla is re-established November 1944 no Captain (D) till December 1945. | |||||
| 19 | Captain | William H. Selby | December 1945 – 1947 | ||
| 20 | Captain | Laurence G. Durlacher | January 1948-July 1950 | ||
| 21 | Captain | Peter Dawnay | July 1950 – July 1951 | ||
Composition 1945 to 1951[]
Included:[10]
, Mediterranean Fleet 1945
3rd Destroyer Flotilla
- HMS Troubridge (Leader)
- HMS Venus
- HMS Verulam
- HMS Virago
- HMS Volage
- HMS Brissenden
, Mediterranean Fleet 1946
3rd Destroyer Flotilla
- HMS Troubridge (Leader)
- HMS Venus
- HMS Verulam
- HMS Virago
- HMS Volage
- HMS Brissenden
, Mediterranean Fleet 1947
3rd Destroyer Flotilla
- HMS Troubridge (Leader)
- HMS Venus
- HMS Verulam
- HMS Virago
- HMS Volage
- HMS Brissenden
- HMS Haydon - (October 1947)
- HMS Stevenstone -(October 1947)
- HMS Talybont - (October 1947)
, Mediterranean Fleet 1948
3rd Destroyer Flotilla
- HMS Troubridge (Leader)
- HMS Venus
- HMS Verulam
- HMS Virago
- HMS Volage
, Mediterranean Fleet 1949
3rd Destroyer Flotilla
- HMS Troubridge (Leader)
- HMS Venus
- HMS Verulam
- HMS Virago
- HMS Volage - (July 1949)
- HMS Saintes (Leader) (July 1949)
- HMS Armada - (July 1949)
- HMS Gravelines - (July 1949)
- HMS Vigo - (July 1949)
, Mediterranean Fleet 1950
3rd Destroyer Flotilla
- HMS Saintes (Leader)
- HMS Armada
- HMS Gravelines
- HMS Vigo
, Mediterranean Fleet 1951
3rd Destroyer Flotilla
- HMS Saintes (Leader)
- HMS Armada
- HMS Gravelines
- HMS Vigo
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Watson, Graham (8 August 2015). "From Imperial Policeman to North Sea Battle Fleet: The Evolution of British Naval Deployment 1900–1914". Royal Navy, "Pax Britannica", 1815-1914. www.naval-history.net. https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1900-14.htm#2. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ↑ Manning 1961, p. 25
- ↑ Manning 1961, p. 26
- ↑ Watson, Graham (8 August 2015). "Organisation of the Royal Navy 1914-1918: 6. List of Squadrons and Flotillas 1914-1918". World War 1 at Sea. www.naval-history.net. https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1914-1918.htm#6. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ↑ Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919-1939". Gordon Smith, 2 September 2015. https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1919-39.htm#8. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ↑ Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945". n Smith, 19 September 2015. https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1939-45.htm#3. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ↑ Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013: FLOTILLAS AND SQUADRONS 1947-1971". Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1947-2013.htm. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ↑ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Third Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project" (in en). Harley and Lovell, 29 May 2018. http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Third_Destroyer_Flotilla_(Royal_Navy)#In_Command. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865". Colin Mackie, July 2018. pp. 224–226. http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ↑ Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013: Fleet Organization 1947 to 1954". Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. https://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1947-2013.htm#1. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
Sources[]
- Manning, T. D. (1961). The British Destroyer. London: Putnam.
- Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2018) "Third Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 29 May 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. G. Smith.
- Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
- Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
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