Battlecruiser Squadron

Battlecruiser Squadron
Active 1919–1941
Country United Kingdom
Allegiance British Empire
Branch Royal Navy
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Lancelot E. Holland, CB

The Battlecruiser Squadron was a Royal Navy squadron of battlecruisers that saw service from 1919 to the early part of the Second World War.

Formation

During the First World War, the Royal Navy had initially maintained three squadrons of battlecruisers, until losses at the Battle of Jutland had reduced the number of available battlecruisers sufficiently to warrant a reduction to two squadrons. Following the War, battlecruiser numbers were again reduced to three, with a fourth building.

In late 1919, the Battlecruiser Squadron was formed, consisting of HMS Tiger, flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Roger B. Keyes, KCB, KCVO, CMG, along with HMS Renown and HMS Repulse. HMS Tiger was removed from operational service with the commissioning of HMS Hood in May 1920, and relegated to a training role. HMS Hood then became the flagship of the Battlecruiser Squadron on 18 May 1920.

Special Service Squadron

In 1923, HMS Hood and HMS Repulse, along with several smaller ships of the First Light Cruiser Squadron, formed part of the Special Service Squadron, under command of Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Field.[1] The Squadron departed Devonport on 27 November 1923 and returned on 29 September 1924 after travelling around the world.

Inter-War Period

Hood was decommissioned for a major overhaul from May 1929 to May 1931. During this period, flagship duties were transferred to Renown, and Tiger was returned to active service, to maintain the three ship strength of the squadron. Following her recomissioning, Hood again became flagship of the squadron, and remained the flagship until her loss on 24 May 1941. Tiger was decommissioned on 30 March 1931 and scrapped shortly after.

Dissolution

HMS Hood was lost in action with the German battleship Bismarck at the Battle of Denmark Strait on 24 May 1941. HMS Repulse was sunk by Japanese aircraft off Singapore on 10 December 1941. With the loss of the Hood and later the Repulse, the squadron ceased to exist. HMS Renown survived the war and was scrapped in 1948.

Rear-Admiral/Vice-Admiral commanding

Included:[2]

RankFlagNameTerm
Rear-Admiral/Vice-Admiral Commanding, Battlecruiser Squadron
1Rear-AdmiralSir Roger B. Keyes, KCB, KCVO, CMG8 April, 1919 – 31 March, 1921
2Rear-AdmiralSir Walter H. Cowan, DSO31 March, 1921 – 15 May, 1923
3Vice-AdmiralSir Frederick L Field5 May, 1923 – 13 October, 1924
4Vice-AdmiralCyril T.M. Fuller, CB, CMG, DSO30 April, 1925 – 21 May, 1927
5Vice-AdmiralSir Frederic C. Dreyer, CB, CBE21 May, 1927 – 21 May, 1929
6Vice-AdmiralA. Dudley P. R. Pound21 May, 1929[ – 24 April, 1931
7Vice-AdmiralWilfred Tomkinson, CB, MVO24 April, 1931 – 15 August 1934
8Vice-AdmiralSir William M. James, CB15 August 1932 – 14 August 1934
9Vice-AdmiralSir Sidney R. Bailey14 August 1934 – 22 July 1936
10Vice-AdmiralSir Geoffrey Blake, CB, DSO22 July 1936 – 3 July 1937
11Vice-AdmiralSir Andrew B. Cunningham, CB, DSO3 July 1937 – 23 July 1938
12Rear-Admiral Geoffrey Layton, CB, DSO23 July 1938 – 1 June 1939
13Rear-AdmiralWilliam J. Whitworth, CB, DSO1 June 1939 – 11 March 1940
14Rear-AdmiralSir James Somerville, KCB, DSO30 June - 10 August 1940
15Rear-AdmiralWilliam J. Whitworth, CB, DSO10 August 1940 – 8 May 1941
16Vice-AdmiralLancelot E. Holland, CB12 May –24 May 1941

References

  1. ↑ "The "World Cruise" of the Special Service Squadron". HMS Hood Association. Archived from the original on 12 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  2. ↑ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Battle Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 28 October 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
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