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5th Destroyer Flotilla

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5th Destroyer Flotilla
HMS Jersey astern of HMS Kashmir of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla in 1940 or 1941.
ActiveFebruary, 1910–1942, 1947-1951
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
SizeFlotilla
Commanders
FirstCaptain Herbert E. Holmes-à-Court
LastCaptain Llewellyn V. Morgan

The British 5th Destroyer Flotilla,[1] or Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from 1910 to 1942 and again from 1947 to 1951.

History

The flotilla was formed in February 1910 and disbanded in 1942. Its first commander was Captain Herbert E. Holmes-à-Court and its final pre-war commander was Captain Llewellyn V. Morgan.[2] It was reformed in June 1939 under the commannd of Captain Louis Mountbatten and was composed of new J- and K-class destroyers which were still under construction.[3] The flottila participated in the Norwegian campaign and Operation Medium, the bombardment of Cherbourg in October 1940, transferring to the Mediterranean in April 1941.[4] By the end of May 1941, the ships of the "Fighting Fifth" had been either dispersed or sunk during the Battle of Crete.[5] The flotilla was briefly reformed at Alexandria composed of Hunt-class destroyers.

The flotilla was reactivated in March 1947 until December 1951. In January 1952 it was re-designated 5th 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.[6]

Operational deployments

Assigned to Dates Notes
Home Fleet, 3rd Division, Devonport Division 1909 to 1912
Admiral of Patrols March 1909 to 1913 transferred to Med
Mediterranean Fleet August 1914 to November 1918
Home Fleet April to November 1919
Atlantic Fleet 1921 to April 1925 dispersed ships to 1DF Med.
Home Fleet September 1939 to April 1941 reformed detached Humber Force
Western Approaches Command September 1940 to February 1941
Plymouth Command February to March 1941
Mediterranean Fleet 1 July 1941 to 1 August 1942 disbanded
Levant Command 29 January 1943 to 1 October 1943 reformed
Mediterranean Fleet 2 October 1943 to May 1945
Home Fleet June 1945 to 1951 re-designated 5th Destroyer Squadron

Administration

Captains (D) afloat 5th Destroyer Flotilla

Incomplete list of post holders included:[7]

  • Captain Herbert Edward Holmes à Court, 8 February 1910
  • Captain Noel Grant, 20 December 1910 – 20 December 1912
  • Captain Edward G. Lowther-Crofton, 1 May 1912 ] – 27 January 1914
  • Captain Charles P. R. Coode, 1 February 1914 – 15 May 1917
  • Captain F. Clifton Brown, 30 May 1917 – 15 August 1917
  • Captain George K. Chetwode, 15 August 1917
  • Captain Kerrison Kiddle, 1 March 1919 – 1 October 1919
  • Captain Theodore E. J. Bigg, 25 June 1921 – 16 August 1922
  • Captain Cyril St. C. Cameron, 16 August 1922 – 30 April 1924
  • Captain Edward O. B. S. Osborne, 28 April 1924
  • Commander Reginald V. Holt, January, 1925 – 8 February 1925
  • Captain Edward O. B. S. Osborne, 10 February 1925
  • Captain Kenneth MacLeod, 1 April 1925 – 4 July 1926
  • Captain James V. Creagh, 11 May 1925 – 10 October 1925
  • Captain Lewis G. E. Crabbe, 4 July 1926 – 16 August 1927
  • Captain Lewis G. E. Crabbe, June, 1927
  • Captain Frank Elliott, 16 August 1927 – 16 August 1929
  • Captain Ronald H. C. Hallifax, 16 August 1929 – 16 August 1931
  • Captain Geoffrey R. S. Watkins, 16 August 1931 – 24 April 1933
  • Captain Arthur L. St. G. Lyster, 11 November 1932 – 30 April 1935
  • Captain Harold M. Burrough, 30 April 1935 – 16 June 1937
  • Captain Llewellyn V. Morgan, 16 June 1937 – 1 May 1939
  • Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten, 1 June 1939 - 31 May 1941

Composition, First World War

Mediterranean Fleet, August 1914 to November 1918

Composition, Inter-war period

Atlantic Fleet, April 1925

Atlantic Fleet, October 1934

Home Fleet, July 1939

Composition, Second World War

Nore Command, Harwich Sub Command, June 1940

Western Approches Command, Plymouth, January 1941

  • HMS Kelly (Leader)
  • HMS Jupiter
  • HMS Kipling
  • HMS Jaguar
  • HMS Jersey
  • HMS Kipling[11]

Mediterranean Fleet, Alexandria, January 1942

Composition. post-war period

Included:[13]
United Kingdom, Home Fleet from March 1947
5th Destroyer Flotilla

United Kingdom, Home Fleet 1947
5th Destroyer Flotilla

  • HMS Solebay (Leader)
  • HMS Cadiz
  • HMS Gabbard
  • HMS St. James
  • HMS St. Kitts
  • HMS Sluys

United Kingdom, Home Fleet 1948
5th Destroyer Flotilla

  • HMS Solebay (Leader)
  • HMS Cadiz
  • HMS Gabbard
  • HMS St. James
  • HMS St. Kitts
  • HMS Sluys

United Kingdom, Home Fleet 1949
5th Destroyer Flotilla

  • HMS Solebay (Leader)
  • HMS Cadiz
  • HMS Gabbard
  • HMS St. James
  • HMS St. Kitts
  • HMS Sluys

United Kingdom, Home Fleet 1950
5th Destroyer Flotilla

  • HMS Solebay (Leader)
  • HMS Cadiz
  • HMS Gabbard - (September 1950)
  • HMS St. James - (September 1950)
  • HMS St. Kitts
  • HMS Sluys

United Kingdom, Home Fleet 1951
5th Destroyer Flotilla

  • HMS Solebay (Leader)
  • HMS Cadiz - later replaced by HMS Gabbard
  • HMS St. Kitts - later replaced by HMS St. James
  • HMS Sluys

References

  1. ^ "THE FIFTH DESTROYER FLOTILLA ON PATROL AND CARRYING OUT GUNNERY PRACTICE AT SEA. JANUARY 1941, ON BOARD HMS KASHMIR. FLOTILLA LEADER HMS KELLY WITH HER FLOTILLA FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HER REFIT". Imperial War Museums. Imperial War Museum UK. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  2. ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Fifth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 19 May 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  3. ^ Terraine p. 70
  4. ^ Terraine pp. 74-75
  5. ^ Smith p. 152
  6. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013: FLOTILLAS AND SQUADRONS 1947-1971". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  7. ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Fifth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 19 May 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  8. ^ Watson, Graham (2015). "World War 1 at Sea - Organisation of the Royal Navy 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Watson, Graham (2015). "Between the Wars: Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1919-1939". www.naval-history.net. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  10. ^ Kindell, Don (2012). "Royal Navy Ships, June 1940 (Part 2 of 4)". www.naval-history.net. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  11. ^ Kindell, Don (2012). "Royal Navy Ships, January 1941 (Part 1 of 2)". www.naval-history.net. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  12. ^ Kindell, Don (2012). "Royal Navy Ships, January 1942 (Part 4 of 4)". www.naval-history.net. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  13. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2017.

Sources

  • The Fifth Destroyer Flotilla on Patrol and Carrying Out Gunnery Practice at Sea. January 1941, On Board HMS Kashmir. Flotilla Leader HMS KellyY with her Flotilla For The First Time Since Her Refit". Imperial War Museums. Imperial War Museum UK.
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