| Harwich Force | |
|---|---|
 Destroyers of the Harwich Force in line ahead | |
| Active | 1914–1918 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | British Empire |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Type | Naval Fleet |
| Engagements | Battle of Heligoland Bight Battle off Texel Battle of Dogger Bank Battle off Noordhinder Bank |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Reginald Tyrwhitt |
TheHarwich Force originally calledHarwich Striking Force was a squadron of theRoyal Navy, formed during theFirst World War and based inHarwich.[1] It played a significant role in the war.
After the outbreak of the First World War, it was important for the Royal Navy was to secure the approaches to theEnglish Channel, to prevent elements of theImperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) from breaking out into the Atlantic or from interfering with British maritime trade and troop convoys to the continent.[2] Most of the big ships of theGrand Fleet had dispersed to the navy's anchorage atScapa Flow or to other north-eastern ports to watch the northern route from theNorth Sea into the Atlantic. Patrol flotillas were organised along the south and east coasts of England, with commands established at several ports in the region. TheDover Patrol was based atDover, consisting mostly ofdestroyers, while a number ofpre-dreadnoughts andcruisers were based atPortland Harbour. A large number of destroyers,flotilla leaders andlight cruisers were based atHarwich, under the command of CommodoreReginald Tyrwhitt.[2]
The Harwich Force consisted of between four and eight light cruisers, several flotilla leaders and usually between 30 and 40 destroyers inflotillas, the number varying. Also stationed at Harwich was a submarine force under CommodoreRoger Keyes.[2] In early 1917, the Harwich Force consisted of eight light cruisers, two flotilla leaders and 45 destroyers. By the end of the year, there were nine light cruisers, four flotilla leaders and 24 destroyers. The combination of light, fast ships was intended for scouting, reconnaissance, engaging German light forces and frustrating German attempts atminelaying in the Channel.[3]
Post holders included:
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-Admiral Commanding, Harwich Force | |||||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral |  | Reginald Tyrwhitt | 7 April 1914 – 1 May 1919[4] | receiving shore support from FOIC, Harwich |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | | George Holmes Borrett | 1 March 1919[5] | ditto |
| Rear-Admiral-in-Charge, Harwich | |||||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | | George Cuthbert Cayley | 2 July 1917 – 31 March 1918[6] | in charge of the base atHarwich Dockyard |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | | Cecil Spencer Hickley | 1 April 1918 – 1 March 1919[7] | ditto |
It was intended that the Harwich Force would operate when possible in conjunction with the Dover Patrol, and theAdmiralty intended that the Harwich force would also be able to support the Grand Fleet if it moved into the area. Tyrwhitt was also expected to carry out reconnaissance of German naval activities in the southern parts of the North Sea, and to escort ships sailing between theThames and theNetherlands.[3] Tyrwhitt's objectives were often complicated by the need to provide reinforcements for the Dover Patrol. The force fired the first shots of the war when a flotilla led byHMS Amphion sank theminelayerKönigin Luise on 5 August 1914.[8] During the war, the Force captured or sank 24 enemy merchants, and it escorted 520 eastbound and 511 westbound ships between Dutch and British ports.[3] Their ships also took part in theCuxhaven Raid on Christmas Day, 1914.
The force was also active in a number of clashes with theKaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy). Their ships were present at theBattles of Heligoland Bight,Texel, andDogger Bank, and were mobilised after the German raids onScarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in 1914, and onYarmouth and Lowestoft in 1916. They were called out during the prelude to theBattle of Jutland but did not take part in the battle.[8]
During the winter of 1916–1917, the force assisted the Dover Patrol in patrolling theDover Barrage, an anti-submarine steel netting barrier which required on a large number of small vessels to operate and were vulnerable to attack by German destroyers and torpedo boats. Other regular patrols were mounted inThe Downs, an anchorage in the eastern part of the Channel and another net barrage which was laid parallel to the Belgian coast. Forays along the coast of Germany sometimes resulted in the sinking or capture of German fishing vessels; on one sweep in 1915, twenty captured trawlers were brought to Harwich asprizes. Another duty was coastal bombardment of German positions in occupied Belgium; on one mission tobombard Ostend on 5 June 1917, Tyrwhitt's flagship,HMS Centaur, sank the German torpedo boatS.20 offZeebrugge.[9]
After the end of the war, Harwich was designated the port at which the remaining GermanU-boats would be surrendered and Harwich Force oversaw the operation.[10]
At the end of May 1916, at the time of the Battle of Jutland, the Harwich force consisted of:
The Harwich Force sortied to join the Grand Fleet on the initiative of Commodore Tyrwhitt early on 1 June 1916 in the hope that it might help should the action be re-joined later in the day but it was recalled by the Admiralty a few hours later and told to await orders. The following ships had sortied:[11]
