The 4th Cruiser Squadron [1] and (also known as Cruiser Force H) [2] was a formation of cruisers of the British Royal Navy from 1907 to 1914 and then again from 1919 to 1946.
| 4th Cruiser Squadron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1907–1914, 1919-1946 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Garrison/HQ | Halifax, Nova Scotia (1907-1915) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Rear-Admiral Frederick S. Inglefield |
The squadron was first established in 1907, replacing the North America and West Indies Station. It became a training squadron based in Home waters but which was to make three cruises annually, including to the West Indies.[2] In April 1907 it comprised Euryalus, Hogue, and Sutlej.[3]
On 1 May 1912, the Fourth Cruiser Squadron was renamed the Training Squadron. With the appointment in 1913 of Rear Admiral Christopher Cradock the squadron ceased to be a training squadron and became part of the First Fleet. During World War I, the 4th Cruiser Squadron was commanded by Rear Admiral Christopher Cradock; the squadron was effectively annihilated at the Battle of Coronel 1 November 1914.[2]
From April 1919 to 1939, it was in the East Indies, and comprised HMS Highflyer, HMS Caroline, HMS Comus, HMS Southampton (Flagship) until July 1925; HMS Colombo (January 1922-January 1926; June 1932-February 1936); HMS Cairo (June 1922-December 1926); and HMS Chatham (October 1924-January 1926) assigned from the Navy's old light cruisers; HMS Effingham (Flag) (July 1925 – 1933); HMS Emerald (1935-August 1938); HMS Enterprise (January 1926 – 1935; February 1936 – 1939); and HMS Hawkins (1933-March 1935) from the E-Class cruisers and Frobishers; plus from the newer cruiser HMS Norfolk, and the Town-class cruisers HMS Manchester, Liverpool, and Gloucester.[4]
Ships on 1 November 1914 edit
| Name | Type[5] | Guns[5] | Speed[5] | Displacement[5] | Crew[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMS Good Hope | Armored cruiser | 2 × 9.2 in (230 mm) guns 16 × 6 in (150 mm) guns |
23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) | 14,100 t (13,900 long tons; 15,500 short tons) | 900 |
| HMS Monmouth | Armored cruiser | 14 × 6 in guns | 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) | 9,800 t (9,600 long tons; 10,800 short tons) | 690 |
| HMS Glasgow | Light cruiser | 2 × 6 in guns 16 × 4 in (100 mm) guns |
25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) | 5,300 t (5,200 long tons; 5,800 short tons) | 411 |
| HMS Otranto | Armed merchantman | 4 × 4.7 in (120 mm) guns | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) | 12,124 t (11,933 long tons; 13,364 short tons) | 350 |
Notes edit
- ^ Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. p. 288. ISBN 9781473853126.
- ^ a b c Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Fourth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell,10 November 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ Sieche 1990, p. 146.
- ^ "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919-1939".
- ^ a b c d e McNally, pp. 39–40
References edit
- Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 9781473853126.
- Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Fourth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell,10 November 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- McNally, Michael (2012). Coronel and Falklands 1914: Duel in the South Atlantic. Campaign. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84908-674-5.
- Sieche, Erwin F. (1990). "Austria-Hungary's Last Visit to the USA". Warship International. XXVII (2): 142–164. ISSN 0043-0374.