Battle Cruiser Fleet

The Battle Cruiser Fleet, (BCF),[1] later known as Battle Cruiser Force, a naval formation of fast battlecruisers of the Royal Navy, operated from 1915 to 1919.

Battle Cruiser Fleet
Active1915–1919
CountryUnited Kingdom
AllegianceBritish Empire
BranchRoyal Navy
TypeFleet
EngagementsBattle of Jutland

History

The Fleet was formed on 11 February 1915 when the Admiralty ordered the deployment of its faster Battlecruiser squadrons to the Rosyth Command[2] and grouped them together as the new Battle Cruiser Fleet.[3] The name 'Fleet' remained until 1916 although it was officially subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet.[4] The fleet initially contained the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battlecruiser Squadrons but this was reduced to the 1st and 2nd BC Squadrons in June 1916. It also included two light cruiser squadrons and two destroyer flotillas, in addition the new 5th Battle Squadron that included the new fast Queen Elizabeth-class battleships operated with the fleet. On 29 November 1916 it was renamed Battle Cruiser Force. The force was disbanded in April 1919.[5]

Vice-Admirals commanding

Post holders included:[6][7][8]

RankFlagNameTermNotes
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Battle Cruiser Fleet/Force
1Vice-AdmiralSir David R. Beatty8 February 1915(acting V.Adm) [9]
2Vice-AdmiralSir William C. Pakenham29 November 1916
3Vice-AdmiralSir Henry F. Oliver28 February 1919 – 21 March 1919(temporary Cdg) [10]
4Vice-AdmiralSir Roger J. B. Keyes21 March 1919 – 7 April 1919(acting V.Adm) [11]

Chiefs of staff

Post holders included:[12]

RankFlagNameTermNotes
Chief of Staff, Battle Cruiser Fleet/Force
1CaptainRudolf W. BentinckFebruary 1915-June 1916
2Captainthe Hon. Hubert G. BrandJune–December 1916
3CaptainEdward H. Heaton-EllisDecember 1916-August 1917
4CaptainHugh F. P. SinclairAugust 1917-December 1918
5CaptainWilliam H.D. BoyleDecember 1918-March 1919

Components
Included [13][14]
UnitElementsNotes [15]
Main components at various times attached to BCF from 8 February 1915 to 4 April 1919
11st Battlecruiser Squadron4/5 Battle Cruisers [16]
22nd Battlecruiser Squadron3/4 Battle Cruisers [17]
33rd Battlecruiser Squadron3/4 Battle Cruisers [18]detached 05/1916 [19]
45th Battle Squadron5 fast battleshipsspecial unit of fast battleships operating with BCF [20]
51st Cruiser Squadron4 cruisersattached 02/1915 - 06/1916 [21]
62nd Cruiser Squadron4 cruisersattached 02-1915 - 06/1916 [22]
73rd Cruiser Squadron3/4 cruisersattached 02-1915 - 09/1916 [23]
86th Cruiser Squadron4/5 cruisersattached 02/1915 - 10/1917 [24]
97th Cruiser Squadron4/5 cruisersattached 02/1915 - 05/1916 [25]
101st Light Cruiser Squadron11 Town-class[26]from 02/1915 to 09/1918
112nd Light Cruiser Squadron10 Town-class replaced by C Class[27]from 02/1915 to 05/1918 [28]
123rd Light Cruiser Squadronfrom 02/1915 to 05/1918 [29]
134th Light Cruiser Squadron5 C-class cruisers and 1 Arethusa-class cruiserfrom 06/1915 to 1919 [30]
146th Light Cruiser Squadron5 C-class cruisersfrom 07/1917 to 1919 [31]
157th Light Cruiser Squadron6 Arethusa-class cruisers/ C-class cruisersfrom 03/1918 to 11/1918 [32]
161st Destroyer Flotilla1 Cruiser (L) 20 destroyersfrom the Harwich Force - 02/1915 to 11/1916 detached to Nore Command[33]
172nd Destroyer Flotilla1 Cruiser (L) 18/22 destroyersditto from 02/1915 to 04/1916 detached to Devonport[34]
183rd Destroyer Flotilla14 destroyersfrom the Harwich Force, 02/1918 to 1918 [35]
194th Destroyer Flotilla1 cruiser (FS) 2/3 cruiser (L) 20 destroyersfrom 02/1915 to 09/1916 detached to Humber [36]
209th Destroyer Flotilla22 L Class[37]from 02/1915 [38]
2111th Destroyer Flotilla1/2 cruiser (L) 25 destroyersformed 09/1915 [39]
2212th Destroyer Flotilla1/2 cruiser (L) 25 destroyersformed 11/1915 [40]
2313th Destroyer Flotilla4 M Class, 10 R Class, 26 V & W Class[41]
2414th Destroyer Flotilla2 cruiser (L) 32 destroyersformed 08/1916 [42]
2515th Destroyer Flotilla2 cruiser (L) 22 destroyersformed 09/1916 [43]
2620th Destroyer Flotilla2 cruiser (L) 12 destroyersformed 1918 initially a mine laying flotilla [44]
27Scapa Local Flotilla8 destroyersformed 1918
281st Minesweeper Flotilla12 minesweepersformed 1915 [45]
292nd Minesweeper Flotilla6 minesweepersformed 1916 [46]
303rd Minesweeper Flotilla14 minesweepersformed 1918 [47]
The Fleet/Force consisted of approximately 250-300 ships[48]

References
  1. Mace, Martin (2014). The Royal Navy and the War at Sea 1914-1919. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. p. 53. ISBN 9781781593172.
  2. Jordan, John (2011). Warships after Washington: The Development of Five Major Fleers 1922-1930. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. p. 2. ISBN 9781848321175.
  3. Trevor, Royle (2007). The flowers of the forest : Scotland and the First World War. Birlinn. p. 161. ISBN 9781843410300.
  4. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  5. Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Battle Cruiser Force - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 3 November 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  6. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. p.139. March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  7. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 27 October 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  8. Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Battle Cruiser Force - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 3 November 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  9. Harley and Lovell. 2015
  10. Harley and Lovell. 2015
  11. Harley and Lovell. 2015
  12. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointmnets" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. p.203. March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  13. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 20 October 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  14. Smith, Gordon. "Royal Navy ship dispositions 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 6 January 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  15. Smith. 2015: Composition of The Grand Fleet/Sub section Battle Cruiser Fleet/Force 1914-1918 by Admiral Viscount Jellicoe
  16. Watson. 2015
  17. Watson. 2015
  18. Watson. 2015
  19. Watson. 2015
  20. Watson. 2015
  21. Smith. 2015
  22. Smith. 2015
  23. Smith. 2015
  24. Smith. 2015
  25. Smith. 2015
  26. Watson. 2015
  27. Watson. 2015
  28. Smith. 2015
  29. Smith. 2015
  30. Smith. 2015
  31. Smith. 2015
  32. Smith. 2015
  33. Smith. 2015
  34. Smith. 2015
  35. Smith. 2015
  36. Smith. 2015
  37. Watson. 2015
  38. Smith. 2015
  39. Smith. 2015
  40. Smith. 2015
  41. Watson. 2015
  42. Smith. 2015
  43. Smith. 2015
  44. Smith. 2015
  45. Smith. 2015
  46. Smith. 2015
  47. Smith. 2015
  48. Smith. 2015

Sources
  • Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2015) "Battle Cruiser Force - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell.
  • Jordan, John (2011). Warships after Washington: The Development of Five Major Fleers 1922-1930. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 9781848321175.
  • Mace, Martin (2014). The Royal Navy and the War at Sea 1914–1919. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. ISBN 9781781593172.
  • Mackie, Colin. (2018) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie.
  • Smith, Gordon. (2015) "Royal Navy ship dispositions 1914–1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
  • Trevor,, Royle, (2007). The flowers of the forest : Scotland and the First World War. Birlinn. ISBN 9781843410300.
  • Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914–1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
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