First World War fleet of the Royal Navy
Military unit
TheGrand Fleet was the mainbattlefleet of theRoyal Navy during the First World War . It was established in August 1914 and disbanded in April 1919. Its main base wasScapa Flow in theOrkney Islands .
Formed in August 1914 from theFirst Fleet and part of theSecond Fleet of the Home Fleets, the Grand Fleet included 25–35 moderncapital ships . It was commanded initially by Admiral SirJohn Jellicoe .[ 1]
The 10th Cruiser Squadron carried out theNorthern Patrol between Shetland and Norway and cruisers from Cromarty and Rosyth operated a second line (and screened the fleet) in enforcing theblockade of Germany . The administrative complications of the distant blockade across the northern exits of theNorth Sea overwhelmed the capacity of Vice AdmiralFrancis Miller , the Base Admiral in Chief from 7 August 1914, devolving on the commander in chief, Admiral John Jellicoe.[ 2] Admiral of the Orkneys and Shetlands was created to oversee the defence of the islands, naval bases and shore duties.[ 3] [ a] Stanley Colville was appointed to the command (7 September 1914 – 19 January 1916) with Miller under his authority.[ 3]
Admiral Jellicoe was significantly concerned about the possibility of submarine or destroyer attacks on Scapa Flow. While the Grand Fleet spent almost the first year of the war patrolling the west coast of the British Isles, their base at Scapa was defensively reinforced, beginning with over sixtyblockships sunk in the many entrance channels between the southern islands to enable the use of submarine nets andbooms . These blocked approaches were backed by minefields, artillery and concrete barriers.[ 4]
Admiral Jellicoe was succeeded by AdmiralSir David Beatty in December 1916.[ 5]
The Grand Fleet was based first atScapa Flow in theOrkney Islands , and later atRosyth on theFirth of Forth . It participated with the biggest fleet action of the war – theBattle of Jutland – in June 1916.[ 1]
After theBattle of Jutland , the German High Seas Fleet rarely ventured out of its bases atWilhelmshaven andKiel in the last two years of the war to engage with the British fleet.[ 6]
Following the German defeat, 74 ships of theHigh Seas Fleet (Hochseeflotte Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine Gutter Sound at Scapa Flow pending a decision on their future in the peaceTreaty of Versailles .[ 7]
During April 1919 the Grand Fleet was disbanded, with much of its strength forming a newAtlantic Fleet .[ 8]
Most of the interned German warships were laterscuttled despite Royal Navy attempts to save them.[ 9]
The 2nd Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet in 1914. From left to right the ships are:King George V Thunderer Monarch Conqueror Not all the Grand Fleet was available for use at any one time, because ships required maintenance and repairs. At the time of theBattle of Jutland in May 1916, it had 32 dreadnought and super-dreadnought battleships. Of these, 28 were in theorder of battle at Jutland .[ 10]
The actual strength of the fleet varied through the war as new ships were built and others were transferred or sunk but the number of battleships steadily increased, adding to the margin of superiority over the German fleet. After the USA joined the war, the USBattleship Division Nine was attached to the Grand Fleet as theSixth Battle Squadron , adding four, later five,dreadnought battleships .[ 11]
The Grand Fleet sailing in parallel columns during the First World War. The order of battle of the Grand Fleet at the end of the war in 1918 included 35 dreadnought battleships and 11 battlecruisers.[ b] United States Navy and oneHMAS Australia from theRoyal Australian Navy .[ 12] [ c] HMSQueen Elizabeth , three cruiser squadrons, the "Flying Squadron" of seaplane carriers, and six destroyer flotillas, with another destroyer flotilla and three minesweeper flotillas under its command. The Battle Cruiser Force was two battle squadrons and the flagshipHMS Lion (9 ships in total), and five cruiser squadrons (21 ships).[ 12]
^ the Admiral of the Coast of Scotland was a separate authority which excluded the islands.[ 3] ^ Two of these were the very lightly armouredCourageous -class ^ Although built for defence of the dominions and funded by New Zealand,HMS New Zealand was operated by the Royal Navy. ^a b Heathcote, p. 130 ^ Corbett 1920a , p. 74.^a b c Corbett 1920a , pp. 166–167.^ Robert K. Massie (2004).Castles of Steel ISBN 0-345-40878-0 [page needed ^ Heathcote, p. 25 ^ "Battle of Jutland, greatest naval battle of WWI, begins" . History.com. Retrieved10 July 2022 .^ Tarrant, V. E. (1995).Jutland: The German Perspective . London: Cassell Military Paperbacks. p. 282.ISBN 0-304-35848-7 ^ Heathcote, p. 26 ^ van der Vat, Dan (2007) [1987].The Grand Scuttle: The Sinking of the German Fleet at Scapa Flow in 1919 . Edinburgh: Birlinn Ltd. pp. 163– 171.ISBN 978-1-84341-038-6 ^ Corbett,Naval Operations Vol. III Appendix A Archived 6 August 2013 at theWayback Machine ^ Jones, p. 25 ^a b "Pink List: 11th November 1918" .naval-history.net . 24 March 2015.Corbett, J. S. (1920a).Naval Operations OCLC 929536844 – via The Internet Archive.Corbett, J. S. (1920b).Naval Operations OCLC 754160010 – via The Internet Archive. Corbett, J. S. (1923).Naval Operations OCLC 867968279 – via The Internet Archive. Heathcote, T. A. (2002).British Admirals of the Fleet 1734–1995: A Biographical Dictionary . Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Leo Cooper.ISBN 0-85052-835-6 Jones, Jerry (1998).U.S. Battleship Operations in World War I . Naval Institute Press.ISBN 978-1-55750-411-1
Direction and control Boards and offices under Direction of Secretariat and staff under Operational planning, policy Divisions and sections Offices of the Sea Lords Admiralty civil departments Admiralty Area Cash Offices Admiralty Central Dockyard Laboratory Admiralty Central Metallurgical Laboratory Admiralty Civilian Shore Wireless Service Admiralty Compass Observatory Admiralty Constabulary Admiralty Constabulary Headquarters Admiralty Engineering Laboratory Admiralty Experimental Station Admiralty Experiment Works Admiralty Gunnery Establishment Admiralty Interview Board Admiralty Labour Department Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment Admiralty Materials Laboratory Admiralty Mine Design Department Admiralty Mining Establishment Admiralty Naval Aircraft Materials Laboratory Admiralty Record Office Admiralty Regional Offices Admiralty Research Laboratory Admiralty Signal Establishment Admiralty Signals and Radar Establishment Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment Admiralty Surveying Service Admiralty Torpedo Experimental Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Launching Establishment Architectural and Engineering Works Department Air Equipment and Naval Photography Department Air Department Air Materiel Department Air Personnel Department Amphibious Warfare Headquarters Armament Supply Department Board of Invention and Research Board of Longitude Boom Defence Department Boom Defence and Marine Salvage Department Britannia Royal Naval College Chemical Board Chemical Department Civil Catering Department Civil Engineer in Chiefs Department Coastguard and Reserves Branch Combined Operations Headquarters Commissioner for Property and Income-tax for the Naval Department Compass Department Contract and Purchase Department Council of Naval Education Dental Examining Board Department of Radio Equipment Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy Department of Aeronautical and Engineering Research Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development Department of Naval Assistant (Foreign) to Second Sea Lord Department of Naval Education Operational Research Department of Personal Services and Officer Appointments Department of Physical Research Department of Physical Training & Sports Department of Radio Equipment Department of Research Programmes and Planning Department of Superintendent of de-magnetisation Department of the Admiral of the Training Service Department of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance Department of the Chief of Naval Information Department of the Chief Scientist Department of the Civil Engineer-in-Chief Department of the Comptroller of Steam Machinery Department of the Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services Department of the Controller of the Navy Department of the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding Department of the Controller for Navy Pay Department of the Deputy Controller for Auxiliary Shipbuilding Department of the Deputy Controller for Dockyards and Shipbuilding Department of the Director Contract-Built Ships Department of the Director-General Aircraft Department of the Director-General of Manpower Department of the Director-General, Supply and Secretariat Branch Department of the Director of Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Department of the Director of Contract Labour Department of the Director of Dockyards Department of the Director of Electrical Engineering Department of the Director of Manning Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs Department of the Director of Merchant Ship Repairs Department of the Director of Naval Construction Department of the Director of Naval Equipment Department of the Director of Naval Recruiting Department of the Director of Naval Weather Service Department of the Director of Personal Services Department of the Director of Physical Training and Sports Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining Department of the Director of Transports Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Materials Department of the Director of Unexploded Bombs Department of the Director of Warship Production Department of the Director of Welfare and Service Conditions Department of the Director of Wreck Dispersal Department of the Flag Officer Sea Training Department of the Engineer in Chief Department of the Paymaster Director-General Department of the Inspector of Anti-Aircraft Weapons Department of the Inspector of Dockyard Expense Accounts Department of the Inspector-General of Naval Hospitals and Fleets Department of the Medical Director-General of the Navy Department of the Physician of the Navy Department of the Physician General of the Navy Department of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy Department of the Surveyor of Buildings Department of the Surveyor of Dockyards Directorate-General, (Naval Manpower and Training) Directorate General Training Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Department Dockyards Branch Dockyard Expense Accounts Department Dockyard Schools Electrical Engineering Department Engineer Branch Engineering Department Experimental Department Fire Control Group Greenwich Hospital Department Inspector of Telegraphs Inspector of Repairs Joint Warfare Establishment Medical Consultative Board Medical Examining Board Historical Section Hydrographic Department Marine Department Marine Pay Department Materials and Priority Department Medical Consultative Board Medical Department Medical Examining Board Movements Department Nautical Almanac Office Naval Artillery and Torpedo Department Naval Engineering College Naval Equipment Department Naval Historical Branch Naval Construction Department Naval Intelligence Department Naval Medical Service Naval Law Division Naval Manpower Department Naval Mobilisation Department Naval Ordnance Department Naval Ordnance Inspection Department Naval Ordnance Stores Department Naval Personnel Services and Officer Appointments Department Naval Publicity Department Naval Regional Offices Naval Reserve Department Naval Security Department Naval Stores Department Naval Training Department Naval Works Department Navy, Army and Air Force Institute Navy and Army Canteen Board Navy Works Department Navigation Department Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope Office of the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves Office of the Admiralty Chemist Office of the Adviser on the Naval Construction to the Board of Admiralty Office of the Assistant Controller Office of the Assistant Controller Research and Development Office of the Clerk of the Journals Office of the Chief Polaris Executive Office of the Deputy Controller of Navy Office of the Deputy Controller Production Office of Extra Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord Office of the Inspector Gun Mountings Office of the Keeper of Records Office of the Senior Psychologist (Naval) Office of the Senior Psychologist of the Navy Office of the Translator of French and Spanish Languages Office of the Vice Controller Air Office of the Vice Controller of the Navy Organisation and Methods Department Packet Service Regional Organisation for Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs Royal Corps of Naval Constructors Royal Flying Corps Royal Marine Police Royal Marines Office Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet Royal Naval Academy Royal Naval Aircraft Workshops Royal Naval Air Service Royal Naval Air Stations Royal Naval Armaments Depot Royal Naval Auxiliary Service Royal Naval Cordite Factories Royal Naval Propellant Factory Royal Naval College Royal Naval College and the School for Naval Architecture Royal Naval College, Dartmouth Royal Naval College, Greenwich Royal Naval College, Keyham Royal Naval College, Osborne Royal Naval Engineering College Royal Naval Film Corporation Royal Naval Hospital Royal Naval Medical Depot Royal Naval Minewatching Service Royal Naval Mine Depot Royal Naval Patrol Service Royal Naval Scientific Service Royal Naval Sick Quarters Royal Naval Torpedo Depot Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal Naval War College Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth Royal Navy Dockyard Royal Navy Medical Service Royal Navy Shore Signal Service Royal Observatory, Greenwich Royal School of Naval Architecture Salvage Department School of Mathematics and Naval Construction Scientific Research and Experiment Department Sea Transport Branch Sea Transport Department Sea Transport Division Ship Department Ship Design Department Signal Department Signal School Sixpenny Office Statistics Department Steam Department Superintendent of De-magnetisation Torpedo Experimental Establishment Transport Department Undersurface Warfare Department Victualling Department Volunteer Boys and Cadet Corps Weapons Department Weapons Department (Naval) Women's Royal Naval Service Wireless Telegraphy Board Direction/Command of the Fleet Naval formations after 1707 1st Fleet 2nd Fleet 3rd Fleet Commander-in-Chief, Africa Atlantic Fleet Commodore, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf Australia Station Cape of Good Hope Station Cape and West Africa Station Battle Cruiser Fleet Battle Cruiser Force Caspian Flotilla Channel Fleet Channel Squadron Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland Cork Station Coast of Scotland Commander-in-Chief, China Commander-in-Chief, Dover Flag Officer, East Africa East Indies Station East Indies and China Station Eastern Fleet Far East Fleet English Channel Grand Fleet Flag Officer Gibraltar Harwich Force Home Fleet Jamaica Station Leith Station Commander-in-Chief, Levant Levant and East Mediterranean Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands Mediterranean Fleet Medway Newfoundland Station New Zealand Division New Zealand Naval Forces Nore North America and West Indies Station Commander-in-Chief, North Sea Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands Pacific Fleet Pacific Station Admiral of Patrols Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Queenstown Station Royal East African Navy Royal Indian Navy Flag Officer Submarines Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth Reserve Fleet Scotland and Northern Ireland Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic South East Coast of America Station Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway West Africa Squadron Flag Officer, West Africa Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches Naval formations before 1707 Direction of Naval Finance Departments under the Direction of Naval Administration Branches and offices under the Civil Administration Departments under the Legal
Historic fleets and naval commands of the
Royal Navy North and Irish Seas and English Channel Atlantic Ocean Baltic, Black, Caspian, and Mediterranean Seas Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean
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United Kingdom
Royal Navy
