Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)


The Atlantic Fleet was a naval fleet of the Royal Navy. It existed for two separate periods; 1909 until 1914, and then 1919 until 1932.

History

On 14 December 1904 the Channel Fleet was re-styled the 'Atlantic Fleet'. The Atlantic Fleet lasted until 1912 when rising tensions with Germany forced the Royal Navy to relook at fleet formations and the Atlantic Fleet became the 3rd Battle Squadron. The Atlantic Fleet was based at Gibraltar to reinforce either the Channel Fleet or the Mediterranean Fleet, from January 1905 to February 1907. It remained at Gibraltar until April 1912.
The Atlantic Fleet was again formed after the end of World War I, when British naval forces were reorganised to reflect the changed economic and political situation in Europe. The fleet was created upon the disbandment of the Grand Fleet in April 1919, absorbing many, but not all of its elements. It was placed under a Commander-in-Chief, who for part of that year held the title of Commander-in-Chief Atlantic and Home Fleets, before the Home Fleet became the Reserve Fleet and a totally separate command. became the Fleet's flagship and served in that capacity until 1924.
The fleet never fought in a naval battle in its short history. The fleet's only point of note in history was in 1931, during the Invergordon Mutiny. Sailors of the fleet openly refused to obey orders over a dispute on pay sparked by the government at the time. The fleet's short history ended in 1932, when the Admiralty having been shaken by the events of the Invergordon Mutiny, renamed the fleet, as the Home Fleet.

Senior officers

Commanders-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet

The Commander-in-Chief's title was "Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet" between 1910-1912, however, the post was also sometimes styled as "Vice-Admiral Commanding, Atlantic Fleet".

Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Atlantic Fleet

The post of Rear-Admiral Second-in-Command, Atlantic existed during the first formation of the Atlantic Fleet from June 1904 to August 1912. There were no admirals appointed as seconds-in-command in the fleet's second iteration.
Postholders included:

Commodore/Rear-Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Atlantic Fleet

Post holders included:

Chief of Staff, Atlantic Fleet

Components

First formation

UnitDateNotes
12nd Cruiser SquadronJanuary 1905 – March 1909replaced by 5th CSQ
25th Cruiser SquadronMarch 1909 – April 1912
3Atlantic Fleet Flotilla1906–1907no destroyers after 1907
48 battleshipsJanuary 1905 – March 1909distributed
47 pre-dreadnoughtsMarch 1909 – April 1912distributed

Second formation

UnitDateNotes
11st Battle Squadron1919 – November 1924re-titled 2nd BS
22nd Battle Squadron1919 – May 1924absorbed into 1st BS
33rd Battle SquadronMarch 1926 – May 1930ex Mediterranean Fleet
4Battlecruiser Squadron1919 – September 1936to Med, 4.39-returned to Home Fleet
5Aircraft Carriers1919 – September 1931
6Aircraft Carrier SquadronSeptember 1931 – 1932
71st Light Cruiser Squadron1919 – November 1924to Mediterranean Fleet
82nd Light Cruiser Squadron1919–1920re-designated 2nd CSQ
92nd Cruiser Squadron1920–1932
101st Destroyer Flotilla1919 – April 1925
102nd Destroyer Flotilla1919 – November 1924to Mediterranean Fleet
113rd Destroyer Flotilla1919 – August 1923to Mediterranean Fleet
124th Destroyer Flotilla1919 – August 1923to Mediterranean Fleet
135th Destroyer Flotilla1919 – April 1925to Mediterranean Fleet as 1DF
146th Destroyer Flotilla1919–1921absorbed 8th DF
157th Destroyer Flotilla1925 – August 1928
168th Destroyer Flotilla1925 – August 1927to China Station
179th Destroyer Flotilla1925 – August 1927absorbed 7th DF
181st Submarine Flotilla1919–1927Rosyth Command to 1926 then to Nore Command till 1927
192nd Submarine Flotilla1919–1924Plymouth Command to 1924, after to FO, Malta
203rd Submarine Flotilla1919–1927Portsmouth Command to 1922 Plymouth Command till 1927 then to 2nd SF
215th Submarine Flotilla1919–1932Portsmouth Command
226th Submarine Flotilla1919–1932FO, Portland