Tenth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)
The Tenth Cruiser Squadron was also known as Cruiser Force B from 1914.
Napier hauled down his flag at Sheerness on 26 July, 1914.[1]
During the course of its service the squadron intercepted 12,979 ships at sea while 2,039 ships reported to a port of examination. 642 evaded the blockade. The losses incurred were nine armed merchant cruisers sunk at the cost of 1,165 officers and men.[2]
In Command
Dates of appointment given:
- Captain Edmund R. Pears, 15 July, 1913[3] (Commodore, Second Class, for manœuvres)
- Rear-Admiral Sir Dudley R. S. de Chair, 1 August, 1914[4] – 4 December, 1914[5] (as Rear-Admiral Commanding, Cruiser Force B)
- Rear-Admiral Sir Dudley R. S. de Chair, 4 December, 1914[6] – 6 March, 1916[7] (as Rear-Admiral Commanding, Tenth Cruiser Squadron)
- Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald G. O. Tupper, 6 March, 1916[8]
Second in Command
The officers who were second in command were generally given direct control of the Second Division.
- Captain Robert E. R. Benson, 11 November, 1914[9] (appointed Commodore, Second Class in 1915)
- Captain John S. Luard, April, 1916[10] (as Commodore, Second Class)
- Rear-Admiral Morgan Singer, 2 April, 1917[11]
Third in Command
The officers who were third in command were generally given direct control of the Third Division.
- Captain Edward L. Booty, 12 November, 1914[12] (appointed Commodore, Second Class in 1915)
Composition
December, 1912
The Supplement to the Monthly Navy List shows a strength of six older Edgar class protected cruisers.[13]
Crescent | Edgar | Gibraltar | Grafton | Hawke |
Royal Arthur |
This same roster would appear in The December, 1913 list as well.[14]
July - 5 August, 1914
The formation is attached to the Third Fleet, part of the Northern Patrol. Strength has been increased to eight by the arrival of Theseus and Endymion.[15]
Crescent | Edgar | Gibraltar | Grafton | Hawke |
Royal Arthur | Theseus | Endymion |
September, 1914
The formation is listed under Home and Atlantic Waters as "Cruiser Force B". The torpedo gunboat Dryad (fitted as a minesweeper) and the Armed Merchant Cruisers Alsatian and Mantua have been attached to bring the strength to eight armoured cruisers, two A.M.Cs. and a torpedo gunboat. Crescent is designated as the flagship.[16]
In Home and Atlantic Waters | |||||
Armoured Cruisers | |||||
Crescent ![]() |
Grafton | Edgar | Hawke | Gibraltar | |
Royal Arthur | Theseus | Endymion | |||
Torpedo Gunboat / Minesweeper | |||||
Dryad | |||||
Armed Merchant Cruisers | |||||
Alsatian | Mantua |
October, 1914
Hawke has been removed, sunk by U 9 on 15 October.[17] The armed merchant cruiser Teutonic has been added, having been commissioned in Liverpool on 12 September.[18]
In Home and Atlantic Waters | |||||
Armoured Cruisers | |||||
Crescent ![]() |
Grafton | Edgar | Gibraltar | Royal Arthur | |
Theseus | Endymion | ||||
Torpedo Gunboat / Minesweeper | |||||
Dryad | |||||
Armed Merchant Cruisers | |||||
Alsatian | Mantua | Teutonic |
This roster would last only a moment, as a huge influx of newly commissioned Armed Merchant Cruisers would be assigned to the Squadron as the armoured cruisers got swapped out.[19]
December, 1914
The seven Edgars have all been removed from the formation[20] and twenty newly fitted Armed Merchant Cruisers have joined, transforming the Squadron to a format better suited to long patrols in high seas where significant opposition is expected to be the exception. The Squadron is twenty-three A.M.Cs. and a single torpedo gunboat.[21]
In Home and Atlantic Waters | |||||
Armed Merchant Cruisers | |||||
Alsatian ![]() |
Eskimo | Patia | Patuca | Bayano | |
Caribbean | Orotava | Clan MacNaughton | Viknor | Digby | |
Motagua | Mantua | Teutonic | Virginian | Cedric | |
Otway | Changuinola | Calyx | Ambrose | Oropesa | |
Columbella | Hildebrand | Hilary | |||
Torpedo Gunboat / Minesweeper | |||||
Dryad |
This roster would apply until February or March.[22]
March, 1915
Dryad has left to be refit or join a squadron, and A.M.C. strength has frittered to nineteen.[23] Eskimo and Calyx have been dropped for unknown reasons, and two have been lost to mines: Viknor on 13 January, and Clan MacNaughton on 3 February.[24]
In Home and Atlantic Waters | |||||
Armed Merchant Cruisers | |||||
Alsatian ![]() |
Patia | Patuca | Bayano | Caribbean | |
Orotava | Digby | Motagua | Mantua | Teutonic | |
Virginian | Cedric | Otway | Changuinola | Ambrose | |
Oropesa | Columbella | Hildebrand | Hilary |
April, 1915
Bayano has been lost, torpedoed on 11 March,[25] reducing the strength to eighteen A.M.Cs..[26]
Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol | |||||
Armed Merchant Cruisers | |||||
Alsatian ![]() |
Ambrose | Caribbean | Changuinola | Cedric | |
Columbella | Digby | Hilary | Hildebrand | Mantua | |
Motagua | Oropesa | Orotava | Otway | Patia | |
Patuca | Teutonic | Virginian |
This roster would apply until June.[27]
June, 1915
Caribbean has been removed, as she has been foudn unsuitable for mounting guns and been converted into an accommodation ship.[28]
Offsetting this loss, seven A.M.Cs. have arrived, increasing the strength to twenty-four. Victorian has come over from Cruiser Force I[29], and Alcantara, Arlanza, Andes, Ebro, India and Orcoma have arrived, having seemingly been freshly placed into service.[30]
Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol | |||||
Armed Merchant Cruisers | |||||
Alcantara | Arlanza | Alsatian ![]() |
Ambrose | Andes | |
Changuinola | Cedric | Columbella | Digby | Ebro | |
Hilary | Hildebrand | India | Mantua | Motagua | |
Orcoma | Oropesa | Orotava | Otway | Patia | |
Patuca | Teutonic | Victorian | Virginian |
This roster would apply until August.[31]
August, 1915
The membership has not changed, but the organization has. There are now three divisions, with Alsatian retaining her flagship role at the head of the First Division, with Cedric now sporting the Broad Pendant of Commodore, Second Class Robert E. R. Benson as head of the Second Division.[32]
Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol | |||||
First Division | |||||
Alsatian ![]() |
Arlanza | Alcantara | Andes | ||
Teutonic | Columbella | Virginian | India | ||
Second Division | |||||
Cedric ![]() |
Motagua | Victorian | Patia | ||
Mantua | Changuinola | Patuca | Ebro | ||
Third Division | |||||
Otway | Orcoma | Oropesa | Orotava | ||
Hildebrand | Hilary | Digby | Ambrose |
September, 1915
India has left, and Otway now flies the Broad Pendant of Commodore, Second Class Edward L. Booty as leader of the Third Division. The strength is twenty-three A.M.Cs..[33]
Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol | |||||
First Division | |||||
Alsatian ![]() |
Arlanza | Alcantara | Andes | ||
Teutonic | Columbella | Virginian | |||
Second Division | |||||
Cedric ![]() |
Motagua | Victorian | Patia | ||
Mantua | Changuinola | Patuca | Ebro | ||
Third Division | |||||
Otway ![]() |
Orcoma | Oropesa | Orotava | ||
Hildebrand | Hilary | Digby | Ambrose |
October, 1915
Ambrose has been dropped from the Third Division, paid off. The strength is twenty-two A.M.Cs..[34]
Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol | |||||
First Division | |||||
Alsatian ![]() |
Arlanza | Alcantara | Andes | ||
Teutonic | Columbella | Virginian | |||
Second Division | |||||
Cedric ![]() |
Motagua | Victorian | Patia | ||
Mantua | Changuinola | Patuca | Ebro | ||
Third Division | |||||
Otway ![]() |
Orcoma | Oropesa | Orotava | ||
Hildebrand | Hilary | Digby |
November, 1915
Almanzora has joined the First Division, increasing the strength to twenty-three A.M.Cs..[35] Booty and Benson have apparently now been made Commodore, First Class.[36]
Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol | |||||
First Division | |||||
Alsatian ![]() |
Almanzora | Arlanza | Alcantara | ||
Andes | Teutonic | Columbella | Virginian | ||
Second Division | |||||
Cedric 25px | Motagua | Victorian | Patia | ||
Mantua | Changuinola | Patuca | Ebro | ||
Third Division | |||||
Otway 25px | Orcoma | Oropesa | Orotava | ||
Hildebrand | Hilary | Digby |
December, 1915
Oropesa and Digby have been dropped from the Third Division for unknown reasons. They would rejoin it in March, 1916 under their new names, Champagne and Artois, respectfully. The strength is now twenty-one A.M.Cs..[37]
Part of the Grand Fleet, conducting the Northern Patrol | |||||
First Division | |||||
Alsatian ![]() |
Almanzora | Arlanza | Alcantara | ||
Andes | Teutonic | Columbella | Virginian | ||
Second Division | |||||
Cedric 25px | Motagua | Victorian | Patia | ||
Mantua | Changuinola | Patuca | Ebro | ||
Third Division | |||||
Otway 25px | Orcoma | Orotava | Hildebrand | ||
Hilary |
Footnotes
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 27 July, 1914. Issue 40586, col B, p. 4.
- ↑ Osborne. Britain's Economic Blockade of Germany, 1914-1919. p. 166.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 1 July, 1913. Issue 40252, col D, p. 6.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 7.
- ↑ De Chair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 259.
- ↑ De Chair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 259.
- ↑ De Chair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 259.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 401jj.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 401h.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 398oo.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1917). p. 7.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 401v.
- ↑ Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ Albert Francis Barclay Bridges papers at The Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum. [BRG 1/1]
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 9.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 66.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 9.
- ↑ There was no edition of the Supplement issued in November 1914.
- ↑ TODO: determine where the Edgars went.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 9.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 9. No Supplement was found for February, 1915.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). pp. 11, 13.
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. pp. 119, 121.
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 119.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1915). p. 10.
- ↑ Wikipedia.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 12.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1915). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1915). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1915). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1915). pp. 10, 14.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1915). p. 7.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1915). p. 10.
Bibliography