8th Submarine Flotilla

The 8th Submarine Flotilla was a flotilla of the British Royal Navy consisting of submarines and their supporting depot ships and destroyers. It was established as part of the Home Fleet in 1912.[1] The flotilla brought together the newer, longer range 'overseas' submarines for the purpose of carrying out offensive operations. Composition of the flotilla varied over time. It was disestablished in 1919.[2]

8th Submarine Flotilla
Active1912–15 January 1919
1939-1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
SizeFlotilla
Part ofHome Fleet 1912-1919
Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Pacific based commands 1939-1945

The flotilla was re-established in 1939 for service in the Second World War. It was disestablished again after the close of hostilities.

August 1914

On 5 August 1914, the Eighth Submarine Flotilla was based at its war station at Harwich and was constituted as follows:[3]

Submarines

Depot ships

Attached Destroyers

Notes

HMS D.1 was also notionally part of the flotilla, but was transferred to the Dover Patrol when war broke out

February 1916

As at 1 February 1916, the flotilla had grown in size and was based at both Harwich and Yarmouth. It was constituted as follows:[4]

Submarines

Depot ships

Attached Destroyers

Notes:

HMS E.1, HMS E.8, HMS E.9, HMS E.18 and HMS E.19 were also notionally part of the flotilla, but were on detached service with the Russian Baltic Fleet

Vessels based at Harwich were transferred to the re-established 9th Submarine Flotilla in August 1916[5]

October 1916

As at 1 October 1916 the flotilla was based at Yarmouth and formed part of the Harwich Force:[6]

Submarines

Depot ship

  • HMS Alecto

January 1919

As at 1 January 1919 the flotilla remained part of the Harwich Force, but following the suspension of hostilities had moved to Dover and was constituted as follows:[7]

Submarines

Depot ship

  • HMS Alecto

Second World War

Summary of service:[8]

Re-established on the East Indies Station at Colombo September 1939, disestablished again May 1940. 4 'O' Class submarines.

Re-established for the North Atlantic Command at Gibraltar December 1940, moving to Algiers December 1943.

Moved to the Eastern Fleet February 1944.

Attached to the U.S. 7th Fleet at Fremantle, August 1944, moving to Subic Bay April 1945. Around 10 'S' Class submarines.

Commanding Officers
RankNameTermNotes
Officers Commanding, 8th Submarine Flotilla
1Captain (S)Frank Brandt15 October 1912 - 1 September 1913

Appointed for command of Submarine Flotilla[9]

2Captain (S)Arthur Kipling Waistell1 September 1913 - 9 August 1916

Appointed for command of Submarine Flotilla[10]

3Commander (S)Sir Leonard Pius Vavasour, Baronet9 August 1916 - 14 November 1918

Appointed for command of Submarine Flotilla[11]

4Commander (S)Robert Ross Turner14 November 1918 - 15 January 1919

Appointed for command of Submarine Flotilla[12]

References
  1. The Navy List July 1913. London: HMSO. 1913.
  2. The Navy List February 1919. London: HMSO. 1919.
  3. Position and Movements, H.M. Ships, War Vessels and Aircraft, British and Foreign, Parts I. and II., August 1914. London: Admiralty Records. 1914.
  4. War Vessels and Aircraft (British and foreign): monthly return showing distribution, Feb 1916. London: HMSO. 1916.
  5. Naval Staff Monographs Volume XVII. Home Waters - Part VII. June 1916 to November 1916. London: HMSO. 1927.
  6. Admiralty Pink List, October 1916. London: HMSO. 1916.
  7. The Navy List, January 1919. London: HMSO. 1919.
  8. "ORGANISATION OF THE ROYAL NAVY 1939-1945". NAVAL-HISTORY.NET. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  9. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/208.
  10. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/374.
  11. The National Archives. ADM 196/126/15.
  12. The Navy List, December 1918. London: HMSO. 1918.
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