The 6th Cruiser Squadron [1] was a formation of cruisers of the British Royal Navy from 1909 to 1915 and again from 1925 to 1945.

6th Cruiser Squadron
Active1909-1915, 1925-1945
CountryUnited Kingdom
AllegianceBritish Empire
BranchRoyal Navy
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Rear-Admiral David Beatty

The Royal Navy's cruiser squadrons usually contained a maximum of five to six ships but down but sometimes as low as two to three ships. Between 1914 and 1925, they were designated Light Cruiser Squadrons, and after 1925 re-designated Cruiser Squadrons.[2]

First formation

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The squadron was established in March 1909. In September 1910, it was attached to the Mediterranean Fleet until April 1912. In May 1912, the 6th Cruiser Squadron was renamed the Mediterranean Cruiser Squadron.[3] The squadron was then reassigned as the 6th Cruiser Squadron to the Second Fleet between May 1912 and July 1914.[4]

Rear-Admiral Commanding

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes
Rear-Admiral Commanding, 6th Cruiser Squadron[5]
1 Rear-Admiral   Henry B. Jackson March 1909-October 1910
2 Rear-Admiral   Sir Douglas A. Gamble 26 September 1910 – 3 June 1912
3 Rear-Admiral   David Beatty 2 July 1912 – 27 July 1912
4 Rear-Admiral   Dudley R. S. de Chair 15 July 1913
5 Rear-Admiral   William L. Grant 1 August 1914 – 12 March 1915

Second formation 1925 - 1945

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The squadron reformed in 1925 when it was allocated to the Commander-in-Chief, Africa until August 1939 when the post was redesignated Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic. The posts of the admiral commanding the squadron and the regional Commander-in-Chief were not usually separated. It remained attached there until 1945 when it was disbanded.[6][7]

Admirals Commanding

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes[8][9]
CinC Africa/Vice-Admiral Commanding, 6th Cruiser Squadron
1 Vice-Admiral   Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice February, 1925 -February. 1927
2 Vice-Admiral   Sir David Anderson February. 1927 - December, 1928
3 Vice-Admiral   Sir Rudolf Burmester February, 1929 - February, 1931
4 Vice-Admiral   Sir Hugh Tweedie February, 1931 - March, 1933
5 Vice-Admiral   Sir Edward Evans March, 1933 -September, 1935
6 Vice-Admiral   Sir Francis Tottenham September, 1935 - January, 1938
7 Vice-Admiral   Sir George Lyon January, 1938 - August, 1939
CinC, South Atlantic/Rear/Vice-Admiral, Commanding 6th Cruiser Squadron
8 Vice-Admiral   Sir Sir George Lyon September, 1939 - September, 1940
9 Rear-Admiral   Sir Robert Raikes September, 1940 -February, 1941 (later V.Adm)
10 Rear-Admiral   Sir Algernon Willis February, 1941 - March, 1942 (later V.Adm)
11 Rear-Admiral   W. E, Campbell Tait March, 1942 - April, 1944 (later V.Adm)
12 Vice-Admiral   Sir Robert Burnett April, 1944 - 1945

Notes

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  1. ^ Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. p. 240. ISBN 9781473853126.
  2. ^ Watson 2015.
  3. ^ Frowde, H. (1914). The New Hazell Annual and Almanack Vol 29. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. p. 148.
  4. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 8 August 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  5. ^ Mackie, Gordon. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie, p.208. February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  6. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919-1939: Cruiser Deployment 1919-1939". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 2 September 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  7. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  8. ^ Mackie, Gordon. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie, p.157. February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  9. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organization in World War 2, 1939-1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2018.

References

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  • Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 9781473853126.
  • Frowde, H. (1914). The New Hazell Annual and Almanack Vol 29. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
  • Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organization and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
  • Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organization and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919-1939: Cruiser Deployment 1919-1939". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
  • Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organization in World War 2, 1939-1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.