3rd Destroyer Flotilla

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.

3rd Destroyer Flotilla
ActiveJune 1909–November 1939, December 1945- July 1951
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
SizeFlotilla
Commanders
FirstCaptain Godfrey M. Paine
LastCaptain Peter Dawnay

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 Nore Division, 3rd Division Home Fleet.[1] In May 1912, the Home Fleet was split into the First Fleet, with ships in full commission, and the Second and Third Fleets, composed of ships partly crewed 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 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.

Throughout this period the term Flotilla had applied to a tactical unit. In 1951, instead, three specific Flag Officers, Flotillas, were created responsible for escorts up to cruisers for the Eastern, Home and Mediterranean fleets. The previous destroyer flotillas were redesignated squadrons,[7] and thus the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla became the 3rd Destroyer Squadron in July 1951.

Operational deployments
Assigned toDatesNotes
Channel FleetMarch 1907 to February 1909as Home Fleet Destroyer Flotilla
Home Fleet, 3rd Division, Nore DivisionMarch 1909 to May 1912
Home Fleets, First FleetMay 1912 to July 1914disbanded
Grand FleetMarch 1918 to November 1918reformed
Atlantic FleetDecember 1918 to August 1923
Mediterranean FleetAugust 1923 to 1926temporarily detached to China Station
China Station1926 to 1927returns to Med Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet1928 to October 1939
Home FleetOctober 1939 to November 1944Under R.Adm Destroyer Flotillas, Home Fleet
Mediterranean FleetNovember 1944 to July 1951Captain (D) appointed December 1945

Flotilla commander

The commander of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla held the title of Captain (Destroyers), or 'Captain (D)'. Those officers included (incomplete list):[8][9]

RankNameTermNotes
Captain (D) afloat 3rd Destroyer Flotilla
1CaptainGodfrey M. Paine2 June, 1909 1 May, 1912
2CaptainRobert K. Arbuthnot1 May, 1912 – 31 July, 1912(later R. Adm)
3CaptainErnest S. Carey1 July, 1912 – 3 April, 1913
4CaptainCecil H. Fox3 April, 1913 – 26 October, 1914
5CaptainFrancis G. St. John26 October, 1914 - 15 August, 1917
6CaptainHarold E. Sulivan15 August, 1917 – 1 March, 1919
7CaptainFrank F. Rose7 July, 1921– 6 July, 1923
8CaptainRafe G. Rowley-Conwy1 March, 1919 – 7 July, 1919(later R. Adm)
9CaptainFrancis Alexander Waddilove Buller7 July, 1919 – 7 July, 1921(later R. Adm)
10CaptainFrank F. Rose7 July, 1921– 6 July, 1923
11CaptainHumphrey T. WalwynJuly, 1923 – October, 1923(later V.Adm)
12CaptainJohn C. Hodgson6 July, 1923 – 20 October, 1923
13CaptainDashwood F. Moir20 October, 1923 – January, 1925
14CaptainCharles G. Ramsey15 January, 1925 – January, 1927(later Adm.)
15CaptainCyril G. Sedgwick16 October, 1928 – 21 June, 1930
16CaptainRoderick B. T. Miles21 June, 1930 - 22 July, 1935
17CaptainGeoffrey J. A. Miles22 July, 1935 – 25 May, 1937(later Adm.)
18CaptainArthur G. Talbot25 May, 1937 – 7 November, 1939
Flotilla is re-established November 1944 no Captain (D) till December 1945.
19CaptainWilliam H. SelbyDecember 1945 – 1947
20CaptainLaurence G. DurlacherJanuary 1948-July 1950
21CaptainPeter DawnayJuly 1950 – July 1951

Composition 1945 to 1951

Included: [10] United Kingdom, Mediterranean Fleet 1945
3rd Destroyer Flotilla

United Kingdom, Mediterranean Fleet 1946
3rd Destroyer Flotilla

  • HMS Troubridge (Leader)
  • HMS Venus
  • HMS Verulam
  • HMS Virago
  • HMS Volage
  • HMS Brissenden

United Kingdom, Mediterranean Fleet 1947
3rd Destroyer Flotilla

United Kingdom, Mediterranean Fleet 1948
3rd Destroyer Flotilla

  • HMS Troubridge (Leader)
  • HMS Venus
  • HMS Verulam
  • HMS Virago
  • HMS Volage

United Kingdom, Mediterranean Fleet 1949
3rd Destroyer Flotilla

United Kingdom, Mediterranean Fleet 1950
3rd Destroyer Flotilla

  • HMS Saintes (Leader)
  • HMS Armada
  • HMS Gravelines
  • HMS Vigo

United Kingdom, Mediterranean Fleet 1951
3rd Destroyer Flotilla

  • HMS Saintes (Leader)
  • HMS Armada
  • HMS Gravelines
  • HMS Vigo

References
  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. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  2. Manning 1961, p. 25
  3. Manning 1961, p. 26
  4. 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. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  5. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919-1939". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 2 September 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  6. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945". www.naval-history.net. n Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  7. 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.
  8. Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Third Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 29 May 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  9. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, July 2018. pp. 224–226. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  10. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013: Fleet Organization 1947 to 1954". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. 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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