| First Fleet | |
|---|---|
| Active | 31 July 1912 – August 1914 |
| Country | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Fleet |
TheFirst Fleet was aformation of theRoyal Navy that briefly existed before theFirst World War from 1912 to 1914.
The First Fleet was formed on 31 July 1912, with theCommander-in-Chief Home Fleets in direct command of it;[1] avice admiral commanded theSecond andThird Fleets. The numbered fleets during this period had different levels of battle readiness; ships of the First Fleet ships were in full commission.[2]
The First Fleet included four destroyer flotillas underCaptainCecil Lambert.[3] CaptainReginald Tyrwhitt took over the command of the destroyer flotillas in December 1913.[4]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets/First Fleet[5] | ||||
| 1 | Admiral | Sir George Callaghan | 31 July 1912 – December 1914 | |
| Unit | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Battle Squadron | (8 battleships)[7] |
| 2 | 2nd Battle Squadron | (8 battleships)[8] |
| 3 | 3rd Battle Squadron | (8 pre-dreadnoughts)[9] |
| 4 | 4th Battle Squadron | (4 battleships)[10] |
| 5 | 1st Cruiser Squadron | (4 cruisers then to Battle-Cruiser Squadron 01.13)[11] |
| 6 | 2nd Cruiser Squadron | (4-5 cruisers)[12] |
| 7 | 3rd Cruiser Squadron | (5-7 cruisers)[13] |
| 8 | 4th Cruiser Squadron | (7-8 cruisers)[14] |
| 9 | 1st Light Cruiser Squadron | (14 cruisers assigned-reassigned between 1913 and 1914)[15] |
| 10 | 1st Destroyer Flotilla | (1 scout cruiser, 20 destroyers)[16] |
| 11 | 2nd Destroyer Flotilla | (1 scout cruiser, 20 destroyers)[17] |
| 12 | 3rd Destroyer Flotilla | (1 scout cruiser,16 destroyers -all to Med as 5th DF, 1913, replaced by 4 destroyers)[18] |
| 13 | 4th Destroyer Flotilla | (1 scout cruiser, 12 destroyers + 18 K. Class, 1912–13)[19] |