11th Destroyer Flotilla

The British 11th Destroyer Flotilla, or Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from August 1915 to September 1945.

11th Destroyer Flotilla
ActiveAugust 1915 – September 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
SizeFlotilla
Commanders
FirstCommodore James R. P. Hawksley
LastCaptain Philip Louis Vian

History edit

World War One edit

The 11th Destroyer Flotilla was formed in August 1915 and was assigned to the Grand Fleet. It took part in the Battle of Jutland,[1] and then remained with Grand Fleet until November 1918. Initially the formation consisted of sixteen M class destroyers, some of which were replaced by R class destroyers. For most of 1918 the flotilla was mainly using V and W-class destroyers.[2] The flotilla was disbanded in March 1919, but was briefly reformed during the Interwar period.[3]

Interwar period edit

The flotilla was briefly reformed from 1 July 1935 to 30 August 1935 under the command of Captain Ernest R. Archer (later Vice-Admiral).

Second World War edit

The flotilla was reformed in 1939 and was attached to the Plymouth Command until 1940 when its ships were dispersed among various escort groups. It was re-established again in August 1942 as part of the Mediterranean Fleet until January 1943. It was reassigned to the Indian Ocean area as part of the Battle Fleet of the Eastern Fleet until September 1945.[4]

Administration edit

Captains (D) afloat 11th Destroyer Flotilla edit

Incomplete list of post holders included:[5]

Rank Name Term Notes
Captain (D) afloat 11th Destroyer Flotilla
1 Commodore James R. P. Hawksley 1915 – 31 May 1916 later Vadm.
2 Captain Edward O. Gladstone 30 June 1916 – January, 1918
3 Captain Brien M. Money January, 1918 – 1 March 1919 later Vadm.
4 Captain Ernest R. Archer 1 July 1935 – 30 August 1935 later Adm.
5 Captain Philip L. Vian June, 1939 – 13 December 1939 later Adm. of the Fleet.

Composition edit

Included:[6]
 , Plymouth Command September 1939
11th Destroyer Flotilla

Division 21

Division 22

References edit

  1. ^ Willmott, H. P. (2009). The Last Century of Sea Power, Volume 1: From Port Arthur to Chanak, 1894–1922. Bloomington, Indiana, USA: Indiana University Press. p. 242. ISBN 978-0253003560.
  2. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914–1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 27 October 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  3. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919–1939". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 2 September 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  4. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  5. ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 19 April 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  6. ^ Kindell, Don. "ROYAL NAVY SHIPS, SEPTEMBER 1939". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 9 April 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

Sources edit

  • Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2018) "Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 29 May 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  • Kindell, Don. (2012) "ROYAL NAVY SHIPS, SEPTEMBER 1939". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
  • Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900–1914". www.naval-history.net. G. Smith.
  • Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919–1938". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
  • Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
  • Willmott, H. P. (2009). The Last Century of Sea Power, Volume 1: From Port Arthur to Chanak, 1894–1922. Bloomington, IN, USA: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253003563.