British North Russia Squadron
The British North Russia Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Navy based at Murmansk from 1917 to 1919.[1][2]
| British North Russia Squadron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1917–1919 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Thomas Kemp |
History
The squadron was formed as part of an initiative by the Entente Powers to keep the Russian Empire in the First World War. One goal was to protect the large stockpiles of Allied material that had begun stockpiling at the ice-free port at Murmansk. Russia's continued involvement in the war was challenged externally by German advances into the East and internally by a strong antipathy to the war amongst the Russian population. This later factor had led to support for the Bolshevik Revolution and had resulted in the Russian Civil War. The squadron would remain in Russia throughout most of the Allied North Russia Intervention, though it served no real role in this.[2]
The squadron was originally placed under the command of Rear Admiral Thomas Kemp with the Canopus-class predreadnought HMS Glory as his flagship. This battleship had been refitted, with some guns being removed to allow for more accommodation for marines. There was also the cruiser HMS Vindictive (1897),[3] a depot ship, an armed boarding vessel and a variety of trawlers and drifters which had been converted to function as minesweepers.[2]
In October 1918 Rear-Admiral John F.E. Green became senior British naval officer in northern Russia, relieving Admiral Kemp, who returned home.[4] Rear-Admiral Green did not object to the withdrawal of American ships from Murmansk after July 1918, as the U.S. naval ships had been logistically dependent on the British, to whom they had been a burden.[5]
The squadron returned to England in September 1919, shortly after the ratification of peace with Germany, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.
Admiral commanding
Post holders included:[6]
| Rank | Name | Appointment | Term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | Thomas W. Kemp | Rear-Admiral-in-Charge, Murmansk | Flagship HMS Glory (1899) | |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | John Green | Rear-Admiral Commanding, White Sea | 30 Oct[7] or 15 Nov 1918 onwards | Flagship "Glory" |
| 3 | Commodore | Richard Hyde | Senior Naval Officer, White Sea / Archangel | 8 August 1918 – 1 December 1919 | [8] |
References
- Burt, R. A. (2013). "Acknowledgements". British Battleships 1889-1904: New Revised Edition. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 9781473826953.
- Clifford Kinvig (23 November 2007), Churchill's Crusade, Hambledon & London, ISBN 9781847250216, OCLC 747256147, OL 9819337M, 1847250211
- Kennan 1989, p. 25.
- Beers 1943, p. 18.
- William Still, "Victory without Peace: The United States Navy in European Waters, 1919-1924."
- Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Thomas Webster Kemp - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 7 October 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 7.
- Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (23 August 2018). "Archangel - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- Beers, Henry P. (1943). U.S. Naval Forces in Northern Russia (Archangel and Murmansk), 1918-1919. Administrative Reference Series Report No. 5 (November 1943). United States Navy Department.
- Kennan, George F. (1989). The Decision to Intervene. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691008426.