4th Destroyer Squadron (United Kingdom)

The 4th Destroyer Squadron was a naval unit of the Royal Navy from 1951 to 1959.

4th Destroyer Squadron
ActiveMarch 1951 – April 1959
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
SizeSquadron
Commanders
FirstCaptain Ralph G. Swallow
LastCaptain Erroll N. Sinclair

Overview

After World War Two, the British Navy reverted to its previous layout and command structure in 1950 the 4th Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet was disbanded [1] and succeeded by the 4th Destroyer Squadron. The Admiralty controlled global deployment of the navy until 1964 when that department was abolished and replaced by the new Navy Department, Ministry of Defence. These geographic commands usually comprised fleets, squadrons, flotillas, and single ships. In 1954, major re-structuring of the composition of the navy was undertaken, leading to downsizing and warships being rotated between the various fleets and stations. In 1954 and 1971, many of these commands were abolished or amalgamated into larger geographic commands. In November 1971, nearly all British naval forces were brought under the command of a single fleet whose headquarters was at Northwood, Middlesex then under the control of Commander-in-Chief Fleet. In 2012, that post was abolished and replaced by the Fleet Commander who now operated from Navy Command Headquarters in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

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.[2]

Deployments

Included:[3]

fromtodeployed toadditional notes
19511952Mediterranean Fleet
19531955Home Fleet
19561957Mediterranean Fleet
19581959Home Fleet

Composition

Included:[4]

, Mediterranean Fleet 1951
4th Destroyer Squadron

  • HMS Agincourt (Leader)
  • HMS Corunna
  • HMS Gabbard replaced by HMS Aisne (1951)
  • HMS St. James replaced by HMS Jutland (1951)

, Mediterranean Fleet 1952
4th Destroyer Squadron

  • HMS Agincourt (Leader)
  • HMS Aisne
  • HMS Corunna
  • HMS Jutland

, Home Fleet 1953
4th Destroyer Squadron

  • HMS Agincourt (Leader)
  • HMS Aisne
  • HMS Corunna
  • HMS Jutland

, Home Fleet 1954
4th Destroyer Squadron

  • HMS Agincourt (Leader)
  • HMS Aisne
  • HMS Barrosa
  • HMS Corunna

, Home Fleet 1955
4th Destroyer Squadron

  • HMS Agincourt (Leader)
  • HMS Aisne
  • HMS Barrosa
  • HMS Corunna

, Mediterranean 1956
4th Destroyer Squadron

  • HMS Agincourt (Leader)
  • HMS Aisne
  • HMS Barrosa
  • HMS Corunna

, Mediterranean 1957
4th Destroyer Squadron

  • HMS Agincourt (Leader)
  • HMS Alamein
  • HMS Barrosa
  • HMS Corunna

, Home Fleet 1958
4th Destroyer Squadron

  • HMS Agincourt (Leader)
  • HMS Alamein
  • HMS Barrosa
  • HMS Corunna

, Home Fleet 1959
4th Destroyer Squadron

  • HMS Agincourt (Leader)
  • HMS Alamein
  • HMS Barrosa
  • HMS Corunna

Squadron commander

Included:[5]

CommanderLead ShipDates
Captain Martin J. EvansHMS AgincourtMarch 1951-August 1952
Captain John Lee-BarberHMS AgincourtAugust 1952-April 1954
Captain Ronald G. MillsHMS AgincourtApril-December 1954
Captain Nicholas A. CopemanHMS AgincourtDecember 1954-March 1956
Captain Derick H. F. HetheringtonHMS AgincourtMarch 1956-November 1957
Captain Erroll N. SinclairHMS AgincourtNovember 1957-April 1959

References
  1. Kindell, Don; Mason, Geoff Lt-Cdr RN; Smith, Gordon; Watson, Dr, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Deployments, (1815 to 2013), 1815-1914, Pax Britannia, 1914-1918, World War One, 1918-1939, Interwar Years, 1939-1945, World War 2, 1945-2013, Post War". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 1998-2017. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  2. Watson, Dr 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.
  3. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  4. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  5. Mackie, Colin, (2017), Royal Navy Senior Appointments, Gulabin, pp. 223-225.

Source
  • Mackie. Colin (2017). Senior Royal Navy Appointments from 1865: Gulabin. http://www.gulabin.com/.
  • Smith. Gordon and Watson, Graham. Dr. (2015) The Royal Navy, post 1945. Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1947-2013. http://www.naval-history.net.

See also
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