First Light Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)

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The First Light Cruiser Squadron was a formation of light cruisers in the Royal Navy. Founded before the Great War, during the war it was one of 3-4 such squadrons tasked with screening the Grand Fleet during operations.

The squadron operated throughout the war and beyond. At some time in perhaps September 1924 it was re-designated the First Cruiser Squadron as post-war operations suggested the wisdom of merging heavy and light cruiser operations.

In Command

Dates of appointment given:

Other Personnel

Squadron Gunnery Officer

Squadron Torpedo Officer

Squadron Navigating Officer

History

July, 1914

The squadron was:[26]

September, 1914

Two additional light cruisers have reinforced the squadron.[27]

Attached to Cruiser Force A
Light Cruisers
Southampton Com2RN.png Lowestoft Birmingham Falmouth Nottingham Liverpool

This arrangement would change some time in December, 1914.[28]

January, 1915

Falmouth and Liverpool have been sent over to join the new Second Light Cruiser Squadron, which is serving alongside 1 L.C.S..[29]

Attached to (former?) Cruiser Force A
Light Cruisers
Southampton Com2RN.png Lowestoft Birmingham Nottingham

March, 1915

The ships of the Squadron were renamed the Second Light Cruiser Squadron at some point in January or February, and a new 1 L.C.S. created as shown.[30]

Attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet
Light Cruisers
Galatea Com2RN.png Caroline Cordelia Inconstant

This arrangement would not be altered before some time in November, 1915.[31]

December, 1915

Caroline has been replaced by Phaeton.[32]

Attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet
Light Cruisers
Galatea Com2RN.png Phaeton Cordelia Inconstant

This arrangement would prove unusually stable. Squadron command under Edwyn Sinclair Alexander-Sinclair would become a Commodore, First Class on 5 December, 1916, and then to Rear-Admiral on 26 April, 1917, but affairs would not otherwise be altered before some time in May, 1917.[33]

Battle of Jutland

Main article: First L.C.S. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland

The squadron was at the battle as one of three screening the battlecruisers:[34]

June, 1917

Caledon has been added to the mix, increasing strength to five cruisers.[35]

Attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet
Light Cruisers
Galatea RAdmRN.png Phaeton Cordelia Inconstant Caledon

This arrangement would not be altered before some time in X.[36]

August, 1917

Caledon was made the flagship some time in July, and Royalist has replaced Cordelia.[37]

Attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet
Light Cruisers
Caledon RAdmRN.png Royalist Cordelia Inconstant Galatea

This arrangement would not be altered before some time in X.[38]

17 November, 1917

At the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight[39]

Screened by:

July, 1918

The Squadron is still assigned to screen the Battle Cruiser Force.[40]

November, 1918

No change since July.[41]

This roster would apply until March, 1919.[42]

March, 1919

Now attached to the Battle Cruiser Force, Cleopatra has joined,[43] coming from the Seventh Light Cruiser Squadron.[44]

April, 1919

Still attached to the Battle Cruiser Force, Comus has joined,[45] having come from the Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron,[46] bringing the strength to seven light cruisers.

May, 1919

A considerable reorganization has occurred. All the ships except Comus (which is a "miscellaneous ship in commission") have been left to embody, with Champion, the Home Fleet's Second Light Cruiser Squadron.

1 L.C.S. is now part of the Atlantic Fleet; the reinvented squadron is comprised the six very modern light cruisers that were dubbed the Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron just a month ago.[47][48]

June, 1919

Still part of the Atlantic Fleet, the squadron is now eight light cruisers.[49] Danae is on her way, having just entered service while Cleopatra has come over from the Second Light Cruiser Squadron and Canterbury has recently been recommissioned.[50]

July, 1919

Still part of the Atlantic Fleet, Delhi seems to have fully arrived and assumed flagship duties.[51]

Drill and Practice

In 1917, the squadron fired 56 practice torpedoes of which 45 or 80% were judged to be likely to endanger the enemy.[52]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 5.
  2. ↑ Goodenough Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 433.
  3. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1917). p. 6.
  4. ↑ Alexander-Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 361.
  5. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1919). p. 5.
  6. ↑ Cowan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  7. ↑ Fergusson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43 f. 199.
  8. ↑ Fergusson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88 f. 102.
  9. ↑ Brand Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 220.
  10. ↑ Brand Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 220.
  11. ↑ Paget Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/144/717. f. 718.
  12. ↑ Paget Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/144/717. f. 718.
  13. ↑ Robertson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/111. f. 468.
  14. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 747.
  15. ↑ Robertson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/111. f. 468.
  16. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 232.
  17. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 758.
  18. ↑ Handcock Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53/117. f. 116.
  19. ↑ Thomas Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/340. f. 698.
  20. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 747.
  21. ↑ Thomas Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/340. f. 698.
  22. ↑ Barratt Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/54/59. f. 59.
  23. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 232.
  24. ↑ Barratt Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/54/59. f. 59.
  25. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 232.
  26. ↑ Printed page "Fleets and Squadrons in Commission at Home and Abroad" in Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
  27. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 9.
  28. ↑ Supplements through January, 1915.
  29. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 9.
  30. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 11.
  31. ↑ Supplements through December, 1915.
  32. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 11.
  33. ↑ Supplements through June, 1917.
  34. ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 33, 46.
  35. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). p. 11.
  36. ↑ Supplements through X.
  37. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 11.
  38. ↑ Supplements through X.
  39. ↑ Naval Operations. Vol. V. pp. 168-169.
  40. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1918). p. 11.
  41. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 11.
  42. ↑ Supplements from December, 1918 through March, 1919.
  43. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 10.
  44. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 10.
  45. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1919). p. 10.
  46. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 10.
  47. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1919). pp. 10, 12, 19.
  48. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1919). p 13.
  49. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1919). p. 10.
  50. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1919). pp. 12, 20.
  51. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1919). p. 10.
  52. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917. p. 121.

Bibliography


Light Cruiser Squadrons of the Royal Navy
First Light Cruiser Squadron | Second Light Cruiser Squadron | Third Light Cruiser Squadron | Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron | Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron | Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron | Seventh Light Cruiser Squadron | Eighth Light Cruiser Squadron
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