The Atlantic Fleet was a naval fleet of the Royal Navy. It existed for two periods; 1909 until 1914, and then 1919 until 1932.

History On 14 December 1904 the Channel Fleet was re-styled the 'Atlantic Fleet'.National Archives records The Atlantic Fleet lasted until 1912 when rising tensions with Germany forced the Royal Navy to relook at fleet formations and the Atlantic Fleet became the 3rd Battle Squadron. The Atlantic Fleet was based at Gibraltar to reinforce either the Channel Fleet or the Mediterranean Fleet, from January 1905 to February 1907. It remained at Gibraltar until April 1912.

The Atlantic Fleet was again formed after the end of World War I, when British naval forces were reorganised to reflect the changed economic and political situation in Europe. The fleet was created upon the disbandment of the Grand Fleet in April 1919, absorbing many, but not all of its elements. It was placed under a Commander-in-Chief, who for part of that year held the title of Commander-in-Chief Atlantic and Home Fleets, before the Home Fleet became the Reserve Fleet and a totally separate command. became the Fleet's flagship and served in that capacity until 1924.

The fleet never fought in a naval battle in its short history. In 1931, during the Invergordon Mutiny, sailors of the fleet openly refused to obey orders because of a dispute over pay with the government. The fleet's short history ended in 1932, when the Admiralty having been shaken by the events of the Invergordon Mutiny, renamed the fleet, as the Home Fleet.

Senior officers Commanders-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet The Commander-in-Chief's title was "Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet" between 1904 and 1910, and "Vice-Admiral Commanding, Atlantic Fleet" from 1910 to 1912.

+Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet (first formation)Senior Royal Navy Appointments + Rank Flag Name Term Title1 Vice-Admiral Lord Charles Beresford 31 December 1904 – 1 March 1905 Commander-in-Chief2 Vice-Admiral Sir William May 1 March 1905 – 23 February 1907 Commander-in-Chief3 Vice-Admiral Sir Assheton Curzon-Howe 23 February 1907 – 19 November 1908 Commander-in-Chief4 Vice-Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg 19 November 1908 – 20 December 1910 Commander-in-Chief5 Vice-Admiral Sir John Jellicoe20 December 1910 – 19 December 1911 Vice-Admiral Commanding6 Acting Vice-Admiral Sir Cecil Burney 19 December 1911 – July, 1912 Vice-Admiral Commanding

+Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet (second formation)Whitaker's Almanacks 1919–1932 Rank Flag Name Term 1 Admiral Sir Charles Madden, 1st Baronet 8 April 1919 – 15 August 19222 Admiral Sir John de Robeck 15 August 1922 – 15 August 19243 Admiral Sir Henry Oliver 15 August 1924 – 15 August 19274 Admiral Sir Hubert Brand 15 August 1927 – 17 April 19295 Admiral Sir Ernle Chatfield17 April 1929 – 27 May 19306 Vice-Admiral Sir Michael Hodges 27 May 1930 – 6 October 19317 Admiral Sir John Kelly 6 October 1931 – 1932

Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Atlantic Fleet The post of Rear-Admiral Second-in-Command, Atlantic existed during the first formation of the Atlantic Fleet from June 1904 to August 1912. There were no admirals appointed as seconds-in-command in the fleet's second iteration.

Rank Flag Name Term +Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Atlantic Fleet1 Rear-Admiral Francis Bridgeman 25 June 1904 – 25 August 19052 Rear-Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne 25 August 1905 – 25 August 19063 Rear-Admiral George Egerton 25 August 1906 – 28 August 19074 Rear-Admiral Sir John Jellicoe 28 August 1907 – 25 August 19085 Rear-Admiral William Fisher 25 August 1908 – 26 August 19096 Rear-Admiral Sir Colin Keppel 26 August 1909 – 12 September 19107 Rear-Admiral Sackville Carden12 September 1910 – 29 August 1911 (co-assigned)8 Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock 29 August 1911 – 29 August 1912

Commodore/Rear-Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Atlantic Fleet Post holders included:

Rank Flag Name Term +Commodore(D) Atlantic Fleet/Rear-Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Atlantic Fleet1 Commodore 2nd Class Hugh Tweedie 1919 - May 19202 Rear-Admiral Michael HodgesMay 1920-July 19223 Rear-Admiral Arthur WaistellJuly 1922-April 19234 Rear-Admiral Sir George BairdApril 1923-September 1924 5 Rear-Admiral Colin MacleanSeptember 1924–September 1926 6 Rear-Admiral Wion EgertonSeptember 1926-July 19287 Commodore 2nd Class Robin DalglishJuly 1928-August 19308 Commodore 2nd Class Edward OsborneAugust 1930-March 1932 continued as R.Adm (D) HF till July 1932.

Chief of Staff, Atlantic Fleet Second Formation included

Rank Flag Name Term Chief of Staff, Atlantic Fleet1 Rear-Admiral Michael H.HodgesApril 1919 - May 1920 2 Commodore 1st Class Cyril Fuller1 May 1920 – 14 August 1922Mackie RN Appointments p.1342 Rear-Admiral William Fisher14 August 1922 – 14 August 1924 Mackie RN Appointments p.1343 Rear-Admiral Arthur Davies14 August 1924 – October 1927 (initially-Cdre, 1.Cls)Mackie RN Appointments p.1344 Rear-Admiral Matthew R.BestOctober 1927 – December 1927Mackie RN Appointments p.1345 Commodore 2nd Class Geoffrey BlakeDecember 1927 – April 1929 Mackie RN Appointments p.134

Components

First formation Distribution of the Fleet first formation included:

UnitDate Notes 12nd Cruiser SquadronJanuary 1905 – March 1909 replaced by 5th CSQ Watson. 201525th Cruiser SquadronMarch 1909 – April 1912 Watson. 20153 Atlantic Fleet Flotilla1906–1907 no destroyers after 1907 Watson. 201548 battleshipsJanuary 1905 – March 1909 distributed Watson. 201547 pre-dreadnoughtsMarch 1909 – April 1912 distributed Watson. 2015

Second formation Distribution of the Fleet second formation included: UnitDate Notes 11st Battle Squadron1919 – November 1924 re-titled 2nd BS Watson. 201522nd Battle Squadron1919 – May 1924 absorbed into 1st BS Watson. 201533rd Battle SquadronMarch 1926 – May 1930 ex Mediterranean FleetWatson. 2015 4Battlecruiser Squadron1919 – September 1936to Med, 4.39-returned to Home FleetWatson. 20155Aircraft Carriers1919 – September 1931 Watson. 2015 6Aircraft Carrier Squadron September 1931 – 1932 Watson. 2015 71st Light Cruiser Squadron1919 – November 1924 to Mediterranean FleetWatson. 201582nd Light Cruiser Squadron1919–1920 re-designated 2nd CSQ Watson. 201592nd Cruiser SquadronWatson. 20151920–1932 Watson. 2015101st Destroyer Flotilla 1919 – April 1925 Watson. 2015102nd Destroyer Flotilla 1919 – November 1924 to Mediterranean FleetWatson. 2015113rd Destroyer Flotilla 1919 – August 1923 to Mediterranean FleetWatson. 2015124th Destroyer Flotilla 1919 – August 1923 to Mediterranean FleetWatson. 2015135th Destroyer Flotilla 1919 – April 1925 to Mediterranean Fleet as 1DF Watson. 2015146th Destroyer Flotilla 1919–1921 absorbed 8th DF Watson. 2015157th Destroyer Flotilla 1925 – August 1928 Watson. 2015168th Destroyer Flotilla1925 – August 1927 to China StationWatson. 2015179th Destroyer Flotilla1925 – August 1927 absorbed 7th DF Watson. 2015181st Submarine Flotilla1919–1927 Rosyth Command to 1926 then to Nore Command till 1927 Watson. 2015192nd Submarine Flotilla1919–1924 Plymouth Command to 1924, after to FO, MaltaWatson. 2015203rd Submarine Flotilla1919–1927 Portsmouth Command to 1922 Plymouth Command till 1927 then to 2nd SF Watson. 2015215th Submarine Flotilla1919–1932 Portsmouth CommandWatson. 2015226th Submarine Flotilla1919–1932 FO, PortlandWatson. 2015

References

External links Fleet Organisation Accessed March 2010