Home Fleet

The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy that operated from the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967. In 1967, it was merged with the Mediterranean Fleet creating the new Western Fleet.

This article is about the British naval formation. For the American naval formation of 1838–1861, see Home Squadron. For the American naval formation of 1865–1902 sometimes called the "Home Squadron", see North Atlantic Squadron.

Home Fleet
HMS Neptune leading the Home Fleet before the First World War
Active1902–1904, 1907–1914, 1932–1967
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet
Commanders
Notable
commanders		George Callaghan, John Tovey, Bruce Fraser

Before the First World War, it consisted of the four Port Guard ships. In 1905 it was disestablished, and from 1905 to 1907 remaining ships at a lesser state of readiness were split into the reserve divisions (Devonport Division, Nore Division, and Portsmouth Division).[1] During the First World War, it comprised some of the older ships of the Royal Navy. During the Second World War, it was the Royal Navy's main battle force in European waters.

Pre-First World War

In the first years of the 20th century, the Royal Navy had four 'Port Guard' ships, stationed in the major naval bases, partially to act as flagships for the admirals commanding at those ports.[3] These vessels appear to have been stationed at the Nore, Portsmouth, and Plymouth, as well as one other major base.

On 1 October 1902, the Admiral Superintendent Naval Reserves, then Vice-Admiral Gerard Noel, was given the additional appointment of Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, and allotted a rear-admiral to serve under him as commander of the Home Squadron.[4] "... the nucleus of the Home Fleet would consist of the four Port Guard ships, which would be withdrawn from their various scattered dockyards and turned into a unified and permanent sea-going command – the Home Squadron – based on Portland. Also under the direction of the commander-in-chief of the Home Fleet would be the Coast Guard ships, which would continue to be berthed for the most part in their respective district harbours in order to carry out their local duties, but would join the Home Squadron for sea work at least three times per year, at which point the assembled force – the Home Squadron and the Coast Guard vessels – would be known collectively as the Home Fleet."[5] Rear-Admiral George Atkinson-Willes was Second-in-Command of the Home Fleet, with his flag in the battleship HMS Empress of India, at this time.[6] In May 1903 Noel was succeeded as Commander-in-Chief by Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson.[7]

On 14 December 1904, the Channel Fleet was re-styled the Atlantic Fleet and the Home Fleet became the Channel Fleet.[8] In 1907, the Home Fleet was reformed with Vice-Admiral Francis Bridgeman in command, succeeded by Admiral Sir William May in 1909. Bridgeman took command again in 1911, and in the same year was succeeded by Admiral Sir George Callaghan. On 29 March 1912, a new structure of the fleet was announced, which came into force on 1 May 1912. The former Home Fleet, which was organised into four divisions, was divided into the First, Second and Third Fleets as Home Fleets.[9] The Home Fleets were the Navy's unified home commands in British waters from 1912 to 1914.[9] On 4 August 1914, as the First World War was breaking out, John Jellicoe was ordered to take command of the Fleet, which by his appointment order was renamed the Grand Fleet.

Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet

Post holders during the pre-war period were:'[10]

RankFlagNameTerm
Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet[11]
1Vice-AdmiralSir Gerard Noel1 October 1902 – 21 May 1903
2Vice-AdmiralSir Arthur Wilson21 May 1903 – 31 December 1904
RankFlagNameTerm
Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet[11]
1Vice-AdmiralSir Francis Bridgeman5 March 1907 – 24 March 1909
2Vice-AdmiralSir William May24 March 1909 – 1911
3Vice-AdmiralSir Francis Bridgeman25 March 1911 – 5 December 1911
4Vice-AdmiralSir George Callaghan5 December 1911 – 31 July 1912

Second in command

Post holders included:[12]

RankFlagNameTerm
Second-in-Command, Home Fleet
1Rear-AdmiralGeorge L. Atkinson-WillesOctober 1902 – May 1903
2Rear-AdmiralEdmund S. PoeMay 1903 – June 1904
3Rear-AdmiralCharles J. BarlowJune – December 1904
4Vice-AdmiralSir Archibald Berkeley5 December 1911 – 31 July 1912
5Vice-AdmiralSir George A. CallaghanAugust 1910 – December 1911
6Vice-AdmiralSir John R. JellicoeDecember 1911 – 31 July 1912

Chief of staff

Post holders included:[13]

RankFlagNameTerm
Chief of Staff, Home Fleet
1Rear-Admiralthe Hon. Alexander E. BethellJanuary 1908 – March 1909

Three Home Fleets, 1912–1914

The Home Fleets were a new organisation of the Royal Navy's unified home commands (First, Second and Third Fleets) instituted on 31 July 1912 to December 1914. The Commander-in-Chiefs of the three home commands reported to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets.

Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets
RankFlagNameTerm
Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets/First Fleet[11]
1AdmiralSir George Callaghan31 July 1912 – December 1914

Second in command

Post holders included:[14]

RankFlagNameTerm
Second-in-Command, Home Fleets
1Vice-AdmiralSir John R. Jellicoe31 July – December 1912
2Vice-Admiralthe Hon. Sir Stanley C. J. ColvilleJune 1912 – June 1914
3Vice-AdmiralSir Lewis BaylyJune – August 1914

On 8 August 1914 units of the Home Fleets were distributed in accordance with Admiralty Fleet Order the majority of elements formed the new Grand Fleet others were assigned to the following units: Channel Fleet, Northern Patrol-Cruiser Force B, 7th Cruiser Squadron-Cruiser Force, 11th Cruiser Squadron-Cruiser Force E, Dover Patrol, Harwich Flotillas, 7th Destroyer Flotilla, 8th Destroyer Flotilla, 9th Destroyer Flotilla, 5th Submarine Flotilla, 6th Submarine Flotilla, 7th Submarine Flotilla and the 8th Submarine Flotilla.[15]

Inter-war period

When the Grand Fleet was disbanded in April 1919, the more powerful ships were grouped into the Atlantic Fleet and the older ships became the "Home Fleet"; this arrangement lasted until late 1919, when the ships of the Home Fleet became the Reserve Fleet.

The name "Home Fleet" was resurrected in March 1932, as the new name for the Atlantic Fleet, following the Invergordon Mutiny.[17] The Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet in 1933 was Admiral Sir John Kelly. The Home Fleet comprised the flagship Nelson leading a force that included the 2nd Battle Squadron (five more battleships), the Battlecruiser Squadron (Hood and Renown), the 2nd Cruiser Squadron (Vice-Admiral Edward Astley-Rushton) aboard Dorsetshire (three cruisers), three destroyer flotillas (27), a submarine flotilla (six), two aircraft carriers and associated vessels.[18]

Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet

Post holders during the inter-war period were:[19]

RankFlagNameTerm
Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet
1AdmiralSir John KellyOctober 1931 – September 1933
2AdmiralSir William BoyleSeptember 1933 – August 1935
3AdmiralSir Roger BackhouseAugust 1935 – April 1938

Second World War

History

The Home Fleet was the Royal Navy's main battle force in European waters during the Second World War. On 3 September 1939, under Admiral Forbes flying his flag in Nelson at Scapa Flow, it consisted of the 2nd Battle Squadron, the Battle Cruiser Squadron, 18th Cruiser Squadron, Rear-Admiral, Destroyers, Rear-Admiral, Submarines (2nd Submarine Flotilla, Dundee, 6th Submarine Flotilla, Blyth, Northumberland), Vice-Admiral, Aircraft Carriers (Vice-Admiral L. V. Wells, with Ark Royal, Furious, and Pegasus), and the Orkney and Shetlands force.[21] Its chief responsibility was to keep Germany's Kriegsmarine from breaking out of the North Sea. For this purpose, the First World War base at Scapa Flow was reactivated as it was well placed for interceptions of ships trying to run the blockade.

King George VI visiting the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow in March 1943

The two most surprising losses of the Home Fleet during the early part of the war were the sinking of the old battleship Royal Oak by the German submarine U-47 while supposedly safe in Scapa Flow, and the loss of the pride of the Navy, the battlecruiser Hood, to the German battleship Bismarck. 2nd Battle Squadron under Admiral Blagrove was effectively disestablished when he died in the sinking of Royal Oak.

The operational areas of the Home Fleet were not circumscribed, and units were detached to other zones quite freely. However, the southern parts of the North Sea and the English Channel were made separate commands for light forces, and the growing intensity of the Battle of the Atlantic led to the creation of Western Approaches Command. Only with the destruction of the German battleship Tirpitz in 1944 did the Home Fleet assume a lower priority, and most of its heavy units were withdrawn to be sent to the Far East.

RankFlagNameTerm
Commanders-in-Chief, Home Fleet, 1938–1945
1AdmiralSir Charles ForbesApril 1938 – December 1940
2AdmiralSir John ToveyDecember 1940 – May 1943
3AdmiralSir Bruce FraserMay 1943 – June 1944
4AdmiralSir Henry Moore14 June 1944 – 24 November 1945

Post holder sources for the Second World War:[22][23][24]

Second in command

Post holders included:[25]

RankFlagNameTerm
Second-in-Command, Home Fleet
1Vice-AdmiralSir Alban T. B. Curteis1941 – June 1942
2Vice-AdmiralSir Bruce A. FraserJune 1942 – June 1943
3Vice-AdmiralSir Henry R. MooreJune 1943 – June 1944
4Vice-AdmiralSir Frederick H. G. Dalrymple-HamiltonJune 1944 – April 1945
5Vice-AdmiralSir Rhoderick R. McGrigorApril – July 1945
6Vice-AdmiralSir Angus E. M. B. Cunninghame GrahamJuly 1945 – October 1946

Post-Second World War

As the Cold War began, greater emphasis was placed on protecting the North Atlantic sea lanes from the Soviet Union in concert with other Western countries. Admiral Sir Rhoderick McGrigor supervised combined Western Union exercises involving ships from the British, French, and Dutch navies in June–July 1949. Admiral McGrigor flew his flag from the aircraft carrier Implacable. Also taking part in the exercises were Victorious and Anson, along with cruisers and destroyers. During the exercise, the combined force paid a visit to Mount's Bay in Cornwall from 30 June – 4 July 1949.[27]

Admiral Sir Philip Vian, Commander-in-Chief from 1950 to 1952, flew his flag in Vanguard.[28] In late 1951, Theseus joined the fleet as flagship of the 3rd Aircraft Carrier Squadron.[29]

From 1947 to 1957 superfluous battleships and aircraft carriers were assigned to the Training Squadron, Home Fleet headquartered at Portland to provide basic training. The carriers stationed here were mobilised as helicopter carriers for the Suez operation in 1956. In December 1951 the Admiralty authorised the creation of a new Heavy Squadron to be assigned to the Home Fleet, consisting of the battleship Vanguard, aircraft carriers, and cruisers.[30] Its commanding officer was known as Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers who had administrative responsibility for all the operational carriers; the squadron was disbanded in October 1954.[26]

After the Second World War, the Royal Navy's geographic commands were gradually merged into fewer but larger formations (1954 to 1971).[31] After 1951 the term flotilla applied to the higher command organisation of squadrons in the Home and Mediterranean Fleets. The squadrons of the Home Fleet were grouped under a Flag Officer, Flotillas, Home Fleet, who became the main seagoing flag officer. A similar arrangement applied to the Flag Officer, Flotillas, Mediterranean Fleet.[31] In the Far East the Flag Officer 5th Cruiser Squadron became Flag Officer Second in Command Far East Fleet with similar seagoing duties.[31] Increasingly the term 'Submarine Flotilla' was used to describe the squadrons under command of the Flag Officer Submarines.[31]

The Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, gained an additional NATO responsibility as Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic (CINCEASTLANT), as part of Allied Command Atlantic, when the NATO military command structure was established in 1953. CINCEASTLANT was set up at the Northwood Headquarters in northwest London. The Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet still flew his flag however in Tyne at Portsmouth. During Exercise Mainbrace in 1952, NATO naval forces came together for the first time to practice the defence of northern Europe, Denmark and Norway. The resulting McMahon Act difficulties caused by potential British control of the United States Navy's attack carriers armed with nuclear weapons led to the creation of a separate Striking Fleet Atlantic, directly responsible to the commander of the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Fleet, in his NATO position as SACLANT, by the end of 1952.[32] The submarine tender Maidstone was the fleet's flagship in 1956.

In the spring of 1960, C-in-C Home Fleet moved permanently ashore to Northwood, while Flag Officer, Flotillas, Home, retained effective control at sea as the C-in-C's deputy.[33] Cecil Hampshire writes that the ships with the fleet in 1960 included the flagship Tyne, a destroyer depot ship which by then was more than 20 years old; carriers Victorious and HMS Albion; fast minelayer Apollo; seventeen destroyers and frigates; and sixteen submarines. Another aircraft carrier, cruisers Lion and Blake; the first four guided missile destroyers, and other ships were under construction.

In February 1963 all remaining frigate and destroyer squadrons in the Home, Mediterranean and Far East Fleets were merged into new Escort Squadrons.[34] In April 1963, the naval unit at the Northwood Headquarters, in northwest London, was commissioned as HMS Warrior under the command of the then Captain of the Fleet.

In December 1966, all remaining squadrons in the Home Fleet were disbanded.[26] In 1967 the Home Fleet was amalgamated with the Mediterranean Fleet. With its area of responsibility greatly increased, the amalgamated formation was redesignated the Western Fleet.

Commanders-in-Chief
RankFlagNameTerm
Commanders-in-Chief, Home Fleet 1945–67
1AdmiralSir Edward SyfretNovember 1945 – January 1948
2AdmiralSir Rhoderick McGrigorJanuary 1948 – January 1950
3AdmiralSir Philip VianJanuary 1950 – June 1952
4AdmiralSir George CreasyJanuary 1952 – January 1954
5AdmiralSir Michael DennyJanuary 1954 – January 1956
6AdmiralSir John EcclesJanuary 1956 – January 1958
7AdmiralSir William DavisJanuary 1958 – July 1960
8AdmiralSir Wilfrid WoodsJuly 1960 – January 1963
9AdmiralSir Charles MaddenJanuary 1963 – July 1965
10AdmiralSir John FrewenJuly 1965 – October 1967

Source for post holders after the Second World War:[35]

Notes
  1. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900–1914: January 1905 – February 1907". www.naval-history.net. Graham Smith, 8 August 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. Smith.2015.
  3. Seligmann 2010, 508.
  4. Seligmann 2010.
  5. Seligmann 2010, drawing upon T.N.A.: P.R.O., ADM 1/7606, docket Coast Guard, 24 March 1902, proposal by Sir Gerard Noel, 14 May 1902, and memorandum by Lord Walter Kerr, 17 May 1902.
  6. Seligmann 2009
  7. Heathcote, p. 195
  8. National Archives record searches; Massie, Robert K. Dreadnought: Britain, Germany and the Coming of the Great War. Pimlico, London, 2004. ISBN 978-1-84413-528-8.
  9. Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Home Fleets (Royal Navy) – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley & Lovell, 22 August 2017.
  10. Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Home Fleet (Royal Navy) – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley & Lovell, 12 May 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  11. Government, H.M. (October 1913). "Flag Officers – Vice Admirals". The Navy List. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 87.
  12. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie December 2107. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  13. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. p.134. December 2107. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  14. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie December 2107. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  15. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914–1918: The Home Fleets were distributed in accordance with Admiralty Fleet Order dated 8th August 1914". www.naval-history.net. Graham Smith, 27 October 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  16. Smith, Gordon. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919–1939". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 2 September 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  17. Marder, Arthur (2015). From the Dardanelles to Oran: Studies of the Royal Navy in War and Peace 1915–1914. Seaforth Publishing. p. 48. ISBN 9781473849273.
  18. Home Fleet listing for 1933
  19. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  20. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". www.naval-history.net. Graham Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  21. Leo Niehorster, Home Fleet, 3 September 1939, accessed January 2009
  22. Whitaker's Almanacks 1939–1945
  23. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  24. Unit Histories, accessed July 2009
  25. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, p.133, December 2107. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  26. Watson 2015.
  27. Visit of the Combined Western Union Fleet to Mount’s Bay 30 June to 4 July
  28. Biography: Philip Vian Archived 15 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine Royal Naval Museum, accessed November 2009
  29. Naval-history.net, HMS Theseus, accessed October 2011
  30. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947–2013". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  31. Smith, Gordon (12 July 2015). "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947–2013: Summary of Fleet Organization 1972–1981". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  32. Sean Maloney, Securing Command of the Sea, Masters' thesis, University of New Brunswick, 1992, p.234-247
  33. A. Cecil Hampshire (1975). The Royal Navy Since 1945. London: William Kimber & Co. Ltd. pp. 204–05. ISBN 0718300343.
  34. Watson.2015.
  35. Whitaker's Almanacks 1945–1963; Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin. Colin Mackie December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.

Sources
  • Heathcote, Tony (2002). The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995. Pen & Sword Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-835-6.
  • Lovell. Tony and Harley, Simon; (2015) "Home Fleet (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org.
  • Mackie, Colin. (2017) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com.
  • Maloney, Sean. (1992), Securing Command of the Sea, Masters' thesis, University of New Brunswick. Canada.
  • Seligmann, Matthew S. (August 2010). "A prelude to the reforms of Admiral Sir John Fisher: the creation of the Home Fleet, 1902–3". Historical Research. 83 (221).

Further reading
  • Levy, J (2003). The Royal Navy's Home Fleet in World War 2. Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 9780230511569.
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