The First Fleet was a formation of the Royal Navy that briefly existed before the First World War from 1912 to 1914.
History The First Fleet was formed on 31 July 1912, with the Commander-in-Chief Home Fleets in direct command of it; a vice admiral commanded the Second and Third Fleets. The numbered fleets during this period had different levels of battle readiness; ships of the First Fleet ships were in full commission.
The First Fleet included four destroyer flotillas under Captain Cecil Lambert.The Times. Monday, 29 July 1912. Issue 39963, col D, p. 3. Captain Reginald Tyrwhitt took over the command of the destroyer flotillas in December 1913.The Times. Monday, 24 November 1913. Issue 40377, col B, p. 5.
Commanders
Rank Flag Name Term Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets/First Fleet1 Admiral Sir George Callaghan 31 July 1912 – December 1914
Components Included
Unit Notes 11st Battle Squadron(8 battleships)Smith. 201522nd Battle Squadron (8 battleships)Smith. 201533rd Battle Squadron(8 pre-dreadnoughts)Smith. 201544th Battle Squadron (4 battleships)Smith. 201551st Cruiser Squadron(4 cruisers then to Battle-Cruiser Squadron 01.13)Smith. 201562nd Cruiser Squadron (4-5 cruisers)Smith. 201573rd Cruiser Squadron (5-7 cruisers)Smith. 201584th Cruiser Squadron (7-8 cruisers)Smith. 201591st Light Cruiser Squadron (14 cruisers assigned-reassigned between 1913 and 1914)Smith. 2015101st Destroyer Flotilla (1 scout cruiser, 20 destroyers)Smith. 2015112nd Destroyer Flotilla (1 scout cruiser, 20 destroyers)Smith. 2015123rd Destroyer Flotilla (1 scout cruiser,16 destroyers -all to Med as 5th DF, 1913, replaced by 4 destroyers)Smith. 2015134th Destroyer Flotilla (1 scout cruiser, 12 destroyers + 18 K. Class, 1912–13)Smith. 2015
References
Sources Government, H.M. (October 1913). "List of officers on active list of the Royal Navy with the dates of their seniority". The Navy List. H.M Stationery Office.
External links