5th Destroyer Flotilla


The British 5th Destroyer Flotilla [1] also known as the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from 1910 to 1942 and again from 1947 to 1951.

5th Destroyer Flotilla
ActiveFebruary, 1910–1942, 1947-1951
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
SizeFlotilla
Commanders
FirstCaptain Herbert E. Holmes-à-Court
LastCaptain Llewellyn V. Morgan

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 commander was Captain Llewellyn V. Morgan.[2] The flotilla was reactivated in March 1947 until December 1951. In January 1952 it was re-designated 5th Destroyer Squadron.

Organizational Changes

Note: Command structure organizational changes took place within Royal Navy post war period the term Flotilla was previously applied to a tactical unit until 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.[3]

Operational deployments
Assigned toDatesNotes
Home Fleet, 3rd Division, Devonport Division 1909 to 1912
Admiral of PatrolsMarch 1909 to 1913transferred to Med
Mediterranean FleetAugust 1914 to November 1918
Home FleetApril to November 1919
Atlantic Fleet1921 to April 1925dispersed ships to 1DF Med.
Home FleetSeptember 1939 to April 1941reformed detached Humber Force
Western Approaches CommandSeptember 1940 to February 1941
Plymouth CommandFebruary to March 1941
Mediterranean Fleet1 July 1941 to 1 August 1942disbanded
Levant Command29 January 1943 to 1 October 1943reformed
Mediterranean Fleet2 October 1943 to May 1945
Home FleetJune 1945 to 1951re-designated 5th Destroyer Squadron

Administration

Captains (D) afloat 5th Destroyer Flotilla

Incomplete list of post holders included:[4]

  • 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 K. 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 St. C. 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 Arthur L. St. G. Lyster, 11 November, 1932 – 30 April, 1935
  • Captain Harold M. Burrough, 30 April, 1935 – 16 June, 1937
  • Captain Llewellyn V. Morgan, 16 June, 1937 – 1 May, 1939

Composition post war period

Included:[5]
, Home Fleet from March 1947
5th Destroyer Flotilla

, 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
  1. "THE FIFTH DESTROYER FLOTILLA ON PATROL AND CARRYING OUT GUNNERY PRACTICE AT SEA. JANUARY 1941, ON BOARD HMS KASHMIR. FLOTILLA LEADER HMS KELLY WITH HER FLOTILLA FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HER REFIT". Imperial War Museums. Imperial War Museum UK. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  2. Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Fifth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 19 May 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  3. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013: FLOTILLAS AND SQUADRONS 1947-1971". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  4. Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Fifth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 19 May 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  5. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2017.

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. ISBN 9780774840378.
  • 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.
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