Battle Cruiser Fleet (Redirected from Battle Cruiser Force)

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

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

History

The Fleet was formed on 11 February 1915 when the Admiralty ordered the deployment of its faster Battlecruiser squadrons to the Rosyth Command and grouped them together as the new Battle Cruiser Fleet. The name 'Fleet' remained until 1916 although it was officially subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet. 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.

Vice-Admirals commanding

Post holders included:

Rank Flag Name Term Notes
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Battle Cruiser Fleet/Force
1 Vice-Admiral Sir David R. Beatty 8 February 1915 (acting V.Adm)
2 Vice-Admiral Sir William C. Pakenham 29 November 1916
3 Vice-Admiral Sir Henry F. Oliver 28 February 1919 – 21 March 1919 (temporary Cdg)
4 Vice-Admiral Sir Roger J. B. Keyes 21 March 1919 – 7 April 1919 (acting V.Adm)

Chiefs of staff

Post holders included:

Rank Flag Name Term Notes
Chief of Staff, Battle Cruiser Fleet/Force
1 Captain Rudolf W. Bentinck February 1915-June 1916
2 Captain the Hon. Hubert G. Brand June–December 1916
3 Captain Edward H. Heaton-Ellis December 1916-August 1917
4 Captain Hugh F. P. Sinclair August 1917-December 1918
5 Captain William H.D. Boyle December 1918-March 1919

Components

Included
Unit Elements Notes
Main components at various times attached to BCF from 8 February 1915 to 4 April 1919
1 1st Battlecruiser Squadron 4/5 Battle Cruisers
2 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron 3/4 Battle Cruisers
3 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron 3/4 Battle Cruisers detached 05/1916
4 5th Battle Squadron 5 fast battleships special unit of fast battleships operating with BCF
5 1st Cruiser Squadron 4 cruisers attached 02/1915 - 06/1916
6 2nd Cruiser Squadron 4 cruisers attached 02-1915 - 06/1916
7 3rd Cruiser Squadron 3/4 cruisers attached 02-1915 - 09/1916
8 6th Cruiser Squadron 4/5 cruisers attached 02/1915 - 10/1917
9 7th Cruiser Squadron 4/5 cruisers attached 02/1915 - 05/1916
10 1st Light Cruiser Squadron 11 Town-class from 02/1915 to 09/1918
11 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron 10 Town-class replaced by C Class from 02/1915 to 05/1918
12 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron from 02/1915 to 05/1918
13 4th Light Cruiser Squadron 5 C-class cruisers and 1 Arethusa-class cruiser from 06/1915 to 1919
14 6th Light Cruiser Squadron 5 C-class cruisers from 07/1917 to 1919
15 7th Light Cruiser Squadron 6 Arethusa-class cruisers/ C-class cruisers from 03/1918 to 11/1918
16 1st Destroyer Flotilla 1 Cruiser (L) 20 destroyers from the Harwich Force - 02/1915 to 11/1916 detached to Nore Command
17 2nd Destroyer Flotilla 1 Cruiser (L) 18/22 destroyers ditto from 02/1915 to 04/1916 detached to Devonport
18 3rd Destroyer Flotilla 14 destroyers from the Harwich Force, 02/1918 to 1918
19 4th Destroyer Flotilla 1 cruiser (FS) 2/3 cruiser (L) 20 destroyers from 02/1915 to 09/1916 detached to Humber
20 9th Destroyer Flotilla 22 L Class from 02/1915
21 11th Destroyer Flotilla 1/2 cruiser (L) 25 destroyers formed 09/1915
22 12th Destroyer Flotilla 1/2 cruiser (L) 25 destroyers formed 11/1915
23 13th Destroyer Flotilla 4 M Class, 10 R Class, 26 V & W Class
24 14th Destroyer Flotilla 2 cruiser (L) 32 destroyers formed 08/1916
25 15th Destroyer Flotilla 2 cruiser (L) 22 destroyers formed 09/1916
26 20th Destroyer Flotilla 2 cruiser (L) 12 destroyers formed 1918 initially a mine laying flotilla
27 Scapa Local Flotilla 8 destroyers formed 1918
28 1st Minesweeper Flotilla 12 minesweepers formed 1915
29 2nd Minesweeper Flotilla 6 minesweepers formed 1916
30 3rd Minesweeper Flotilla 14 minesweepers formed 1918
The Fleet/Force consisted of approximately 250-300 ships

This page was last updated at 2024-01-16 01:40 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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