Second Light Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)

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History

It was announced in an Admiralty Weekly Order of 6 February, 1914, that the ships of the Second Light Cruiser Squadron would, as a temporary measure, form part of the Fifth Cruiser Squadron.[1]

Rear-Admirals and Commodores Commanding

Dates of appointment given:

Second-in-Command

History

In November 1914, it was anticipated that when Active returned from refit a second L.C.S. would be formed of Active, Blanche and Liverpool, and that by February, newly completed vessels might permit the composition to become Cordelia (available by end of December), Inconstant and Phaeton (available by end of January) and Comus and Carysfort (February).[23]

January, 1915

The squadron appears for the first time in the Supplement to the Monthly Navy List, assigned to screen the Battlecruiser Fleet alongside the First Light Cruiser Squadron.[24] Falmouth and Liverpool have come from 1 L.C.S., Dartmouth has come from the Cape,[25] and Gloucester having recently been in the Mediterranean and Yarmouth recently from the China Station.[26]

This arrangement would last but a month or two.[27]

March, 1915

Still attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet. Falmouth and Yarmouth have been siphoned off to the newly formed Third Light Cruiser Squadron. Dartmouth has gone to the Mediterranean, and Gloucester and Liverpool to the South East Coast of America.[28] The four new cruisers have come over from the First Light Cruiser Squadron.[29]

This roster would apply until.[30]

February, 1916

Still attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet. Lowestoft has been moved out to join the Mediterranean Fleet, replaced by the newly-commissioned Champion.[31]

This roster would apply until April.[32]

April, 1916

Still attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet. Dublin is expected to join "shortly", having recently been puttering around Home Waters.[33][34]

May, 1916

Still attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet. Dublin has joined and Champion has been transferred out to lead the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla[35]

This roster would be the one the Squadron took to the Battle of Jutland and would apply until September, 1916.[36]

Battle of Jutland

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

The Squadron was extremely active, screening and scouting for the Battlecruisers.[37]

September, 1916

Still attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet. Nottingham has been dropped, lost to torpedo on August 19.[38][39]

This weakened roster would last until November.[40]

November, 1916

Still attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet. Three light cruisers have reinforced the formation. Weymouth has come in from recent service in the Adriatic Squadron and Melbourne and Sydney fresh from miscellaneous service in Home Waters.[41][42][43]

December, 1916

Still attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet. Weymouth has gone to the new Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron which will be serving alongside L.C.S. 1-3, being for now its only ship. Birmingham has been sent off for miscellaneous duties in Home Waters.[44]

This roster would apply until either February or March, 1917.[45]

March, 1917

Still attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet. Birmingham has rejoined following her two-three months of unspecified service.[46]

This roster would apply until June, 1917[47]

June, 1917

Still attached to Battle Cruiser Fleet. The roster has the same membership, but Birmingham has "temporarily" relieved Southampton of duties as flagship.[48]

In September, 1917, Birmingham's status as flagship would no longer be noted as being temporary. In February, 1918, she is not clearly marked as a flagship, but her position in the order has been altered to be the topmost. This roster would otherwise apply until May, 1918.[49]

May, 1918

The Squadron is still assigned to screen the Battle Cruiser Force. Southampton has been sent to the Third Light Cruiser Squadron. Presumably, Birmingham is still flagship, but this has not been explicitly noted since February.[50]

June, 1918

The Squadron is still assigned to screen the Battle Cruiser Force. Birmingham is now clearly labelled as flagship.[51]

This roster would remain in effect until August.[52]

August, 1918

The Squadron is still assigned to screen the Battle Cruiser Force. It has been bolstered by the addition of Yarmouth, transferring in from the Third Light Cruiser Squadron.[53]

This roster would remain in effect through December.[54]

January, 1919

The Squadron is still assigned to screen the Battle Cruiser Force. Melbourne has been sent off to Portsmouth.[55]

This roster would remain in effect through February.[56]

March, 1919

The Squadron has been disbanded, and all four ships are listed as being "miscellaneous ships in commission." This condition would last two months.[57]

May, 1919

A new 2 L.C.S. has been formed as part of the Home Fleet, where it will screen the new Third Battle Squadron.

June, 1919

Still part of the Home Fleet, where it will screen the new Third Battle Squadron. Inconstant has paid off. Champion has gone to join the torpedo school at Portsmouth, and Cleopatra has gone to the First Light Cruiser Squadron as the new flagship.[58]

July, 1919

Still part of the Home Fleet. Caledon has resumed her role as flagship.[59]

Drill and Practice

In 1917, the squadron fired 21 practice torpedoes of which 19 or 90% were judged to be likely to endanger the enemy.[60]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Orders. "860.—Second Light Cruiser Squadron." M. 11652/14—6.2.1914. The National Archives. ADM 182/5.
  2. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 440.
  3. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 440.
  4. ↑ "Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 1 December, 1913. Issue 40383, col F, p. 72.
  5. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 440.
  6. ↑ Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 440.
  7. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. p. 26.
  8. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). p. 6.
  9. ↑ Goodenough Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 433.
  10. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 25.
  11. ↑ Lambert Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 279.
  12. ↑ Lambert Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 279.
  13. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 25.
  14. ↑ "News in Brief" (News in Brief). The Times. Monday, 5 May, 1919. Issue 42091, col B, p. 20.
  15. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 738.
  16. ↑ "Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 19 March, 1921. Issue 42673, col C, p. 8.
  17. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  18. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
  19. ↑ Gilbert Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 19643/164. ff. 164, 248.
  20. ↑ "Flag Changes" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 16 March, 1923. Issue 43291, col E, p. 14.
  21. ↑ Gilbert Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 19643/164. ff. 164, 248.
  22. ↑ Dumaresq Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 340.
  23. ↑ Grand Fleet Conferences, 1914. facing p. 219.
  24. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 9.
  25. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 9, 10.
  26. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1914). p. 15, 16.
  27. ↑ No February Supplement was found.
  28. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1915). pp. 11, 12, 18.
  29. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 9.
  30. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 12 and Supplements through January, 1916.
  31. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). pp. 11, 20.
  32. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1916). p. 11.
  33. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1916). p. 11.
  34. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1916). p. 14.
  35. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1916). pp. 11, 12.
  36. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1916). p. 11 and Supplements through September.
  37. ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. pp. 33, 46.
  38. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September, 1916). p. 11.
  39. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 46.
  40. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 11.
  41. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1916). p. 11.
  42. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1916). p. 21.
  43. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 14.
  44. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1916). pp. 11, 14.
  45. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1917). p. 11. No February Supplement was located.
  46. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1917). p. 11.
  47. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1917). p. 11 and May's Supplement.
  48. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1917). p. 11.
  49. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 11 and Supplements through April, 1918.
  50. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1918). p. 11.
  51. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1918). p. 11.
  52. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1918). p. 11.
  53. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1918). p. 11.
  54. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 11. December's Supplement agrees, too, but September and October editions were not found.
  55. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1919). pp. 11, 20.
  56. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 11.
  57. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 21.
  58. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1919). pp. 10, 12, 13, 20.
  59. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1919). p. 12.
  60. ↑ 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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