1st Cruiser Squadron


The First Cruiser Squadron was a Royal Navy squadron of cruisers that saw service as part of the Grand Fleet during the World War I then later as part of the Mediterranean during the Interwar period and World War II it first established in 1904 and existed until 1952.

History

First formation

The squadron was formed in December 1904 when Cruiser Squadron was re-designated the 1st Cruiser Squadron. In March 1909, then consisting of battlecruisers, it was assigned to the 1st Division of the Home Fleet until April 1912. When the First World War began, the squadron was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet where it participated in the pursuit of the German battlecruiser and the light cruiser. It joined then Grand Fleet in January 1915 where it participated in the battles of Dogger Bank and the Battle of Jutland. It was disbanded after the battle as three of its four ships had been sunk in June 1916. In July 1917 H.M. Ships, and were detached from the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron and named the First Cruiser Squadron, part of the newly formed Light Cruiser Force. It remained part of Light Cruiser Force until April 1919 when it was once again disbanded.

Rear/Vice Admiral commanding

Post holders included:

Composition, April–May 1907

As per:

Composition, First World War

August 1914
As of:
* - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Ernest C. T. Troubridge. Captain Fawcet Wray
  • - Captain Frederick D. Gilpin-Brown
  • - Captain Henry Blackett
  • - Captain George H. Borrett
Light cruisers
'''
As of:
As of:
As of:
As of:
As of:
In October 1924 the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron is re-designated 1st Cruiser Squadron this takes effect in November 1924 and reformed as an enlarged unit of the Mediterranean Fleet under the command Rear Admiral Arthur K.Waistell.
Louis Mountbatten served as commander of the squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet and, having been granted the substantive rank of vice admiral on 22 June 1949, he became Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet in April 1950.

Rear/Vice Admiral commanding

Post holders included:

Deployments

Included:
fromtodeployed tonotes
March 1909April 19121st Division, Home Fleet
July 1914January 1915Mediterranean Fleet
January 1915June 1916Grand Fleet
July 1917April 1919Light Cruiser Force
November 1924August 1939Mediterranean Fleet
August 19391952Home Fleet

Footnotes