The British 5th Destroyer Flotilla, or Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from 1910 to 1942 and again from 1947 to 1951.
History The flotilla was formed in February 1910 and disbanded in 1942. Its first commander was Captain Herbert E. Holmes-à-Court and its final pre-war commander was Captain Llewellyn V. Morgan. It was reformed in June 1939 under the command of Captain Louis Mountbatten and was composed of new J- and K-class destroyers which were still under construction.Terraine p. 70 The flottila participated in the Norwegian campaign and Operation Medium, the bombardment of Cherbourg in October 1940, transferring to the Mediterranean in April 1941.Terraine pp. 74-75 By the end of May 1941, the ships of the "Fighting Fifth" had been either dispersed or sunk during the Battle of Crete.Smith p. 152 The flotilla was briefly reformed at Alexandria composed of s.
The flotilla was reactivated in March 1947 until December 1951. In 1951 which led to the creation of three specific Flag Officers, Flotillas responsible for the Eastern, Home and Mediterranean fleets the existing destroyer flotillas were re-organized now as administrative squadrons. In January 1952 it was re-designated 5th Destroyer Squadron.
Operational deployments Assigned to Dates Notes Home Fleet, 3rd Division, Devonport Division 1909 to 1912 Admiral of Patrols March 1909 to 1913 transferred to Mediterranean Mediterranean Fleet August 1914 to November 1918 Home Fleet April to November 1919 Atlantic Fleet 1921 to April 1925 dispersed ships to 1DF Med. Home Fleet September 1939 to April 1941 reformed detached Humber Force Western Approaches Command September 1940 to February 1941 Plymouth Command February to March 1941 Mediterranean Fleet 1 July 1941 to 1 August 1942 disbanded Levant Command 29 January 1943 to 1 October 1943 reformed Mediterranean Fleet 2 October 1943 to May 1945 Home Fleet June 1945 to 1951 re-designated 5th Destroyer Squadron
Captains (D) afloat 5th Destroyer Flotilla Incomplete list of post holders included: Captain Herbert Edward Holmes à Court, 8 February 1910 Captain Noel Grant, 20 December 1910 – 20 December 1912 Captain Edward G. Lowther-Crofton, 1 May 1912] – 27 January 1914 Captain Charles P. R. Coode, 1 February 1914 – 15 May 1917 Captain F. Clifton Brown, 30 May 1917 – 15 August 1917 Captain George Chetwode, 15 August 1917 Captain Kerrison Kiddle, 1 March 1919 – 1 October 1919 Captain Theodore E. J. Bigg, 25 June 1921 – 16 August 1922 Captain Cyril Cameron, 16 August 1922 – 30 April 1924 Captain Edward O. B. S. Osborne, 28 April 1924 Commander Reginald V. Holt, January, 1925 – 8 February 1925 Captain Edward O. B. S. Osborne, 10 February 1925 Captain Kenneth MacLeod, 1 April 1925 – 4 July 1926 Captain James V. Creagh, 11 May 1925 – 10 October 1925 Captain Lewis G. E. Crabbe, 4 July 1926 – 16 August 1927 Captain Lewis G. E. Crabbe, June, 1927 Captain Frank Elliott, 16 August 1927 – 16 August 1929 Captain Ronald H. C. Hallifax, 16 August 1929 – 16 August 1931 Captain Geoffrey R. S. Watkins, 16 August 1931 – 24 April 1933 Captain Lumley Lyster, 11 November 1932 – 30 April 1935 Captain Harold Burrough, 30 April 1935 – 16 June 1937 Captain Llewellyn V. Morgan, 16 June 1937 – 1 May 1939 Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten, 1 June 1939 - 31 May 1941
Composition Mediterranean Fleet, August 1914 to November 1918 16 x G-class destroyers Atlantic Fleet, April 1925 (Leader)
HMS Voyager
Atlantic Fleet, October 1934 (Leader)
Home Fleet, July 1939 (Leader)
Nore Command, Harwich Sub Command, June 1940
at Kingston upon Hull, repairing to complete 23 September
at Tyneside, repairing to complete 18 December
at Southampton, repairing to complete 16 July
Western Approaches Command, Plymouth, January 1941 HMS Kelly (Leader)
HMS Kipling HMS Jaguar HMS Jersey HMS Kipling
Mediterranean Fleet, Alexandria, January 1942
at Freetown
at Tobruk at Tobruk
at Freetown
Home Fleet from March 1947 5th Destroyer Flotilla: (Leader)
Home Fleet 1947 5th Destroyer Flotilla HMS Solebay (Leader) HMS Cadiz HMS Gabbard HMS St. James HMS St. Kitts HMS Sluys
Home Fleet 1948 5th Destroyer Flotilla HMS Solebay (Leader) HMS Cadiz HMS Gabbard HMS St. James HMS St. Kitts HMS Sluys
Home Fleet 1949 5th Destroyer Flotilla HMS Solebay (Leader) HMS Cadiz HMS Gabbard HMS St. James HMS St. Kitts HMS Sluys
Home Fleet 1950 5th Destroyer Flotilla HMS Solebay (Leader) HMS Cadiz HMS Gabbard - (September 1950) HMS St. James - (September 1950) HMS St. Kitts HMS Sluys
Home Fleet 1951 5th Destroyer Flotilla HMS Solebay (Leader) HMS Cadiz - later replaced by HMS Gabbard HMS St. Kitts - later replaced by HMS St. James HMS Sluys
References
Sources Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2018) "Fifth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell.
Whitby, Michael (2011). Commanding Canadians: The Second World War Diaries of A.F.C. Layard. Vancouver, Canada: UBC Press. .
The Fifth Destroyer Flotilla on Patrol and Carrying Out Gunnery Practice at Sea. January 1941, On Board HMS Kashmir. Flotilla Leader HMS KellyY with her Flotilla For The First Time Since Her Refit". Imperial War Museums. Imperial War Museum UK.