The First Cruiser Squadron was a

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

squadron of cruisers that saw service as part of the

Grand Fleet The Grand Fleet was the main battlefleet of the Royal Navy during the First World War. It was established in August 1914 and disbanded in April 1919. Its main base was Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. History Formed in August 1914 from the F ...

during the

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

then later as part of the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western Europe, Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa ...

during the Interwar period and

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

it first established in 1904 and existed until 1952.

History

First formation

The squadron was formed in December 1904 when Cruiser Squadron was re-designated the 1st Cruiser Squadron. In March 1909, then consisting of battlecruisers, it was assigned to the 1st Division of the Home Fleet until April 1912. When the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

began, the squadron was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet where it participated in the pursuit of the German battlecruiser and the

light cruiser A light cruiser is a type of small or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck. Prior to th ...

. It joined then Grand Fleet in January 1915 where it participated in the battles of

Dogger Bank Dogger Bank (Dutch: ''Doggersbank'', German: ''Doggerbank'', Danish: ''Doggerbanke'') is a large sandbank in a shallow area of the North Sea about off the east coast of England. During the last ice age the bank was part of a large landmass ...

and the Battle of Jutland. It was disbanded after the battle as three of its four ships had been sunk in June 1916. In July 1917 H.M. Ships , and were detached from the

3rd Light Cruiser Squadron The 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron was a naval formation of light cruisers of the Royal Navy from 1915 to 1922. History World War One Formed in 1915 it was part of the Grand Fleet, the squadron fought at the Battle of Jutland. The squadron was attac ...

and named the First Cruiser Squadron, part of the newly formed Light Cruiser Force. It remained part of Light Cruiser Force until April 1919 when it was once again disbanded.

Rear/Vice Admiral commanding

Post holders included:

Composition, April–May 1907

As per: * * * *

Composition, First World War

=August 1914

= As of: :Armoured cruisers * - Flagship of

Rear-Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

Ernest C. T. Troubridge. Captain Fawcet Wray * - Captain Frederick D. Gilpin-Brown * - Captain Henry Blackett * - Captain George H. Borrett Light cruisers

* - Captain Sidney R. Drury-Lowe * - Captain John D. Kelly * - Captain Howard Kelly * - Captain William D. Church

=24 January 1915

= As of: * ''Duke of Edinburgh'' - Temporary flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot * ''Black Prince'' * ''Warrior''

=22 February 1915

= As of: * ''Defence'' - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot * ''Duke of Edinburgh'' * ''Black Prince'' * ''Warrior''

=30 May 1916

= As of: * ''Defence'' - Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot * ''Duke of Edinburgh'' * ''Black Prince'' * ''Warrior''

=October 1917

= As of: * * *

=17 November 1917

= As of: * ''Courageous'' * ''Glorious''

Second formation

In October 1924 the

1st Light Cruiser Squadron The 1st Light Cruiser Squadron was a naval unit of the Royal Navy from 1913 to 1924. History The 1st Light Cruiser Squadron was a Royal Navy unit of the Grand Fleet during World War I. Four of its ships ('' Inconstant'', '' Galatea'', '' Cordeli ...

is re-designated 1st Cruiser Squadron this takes effect in November 1924 and reformed as an enlarged unit of the Mediterranean Fleet under the command Rear Admiral Arthur K.Waistell. Louis Mountbatten served as commander of the squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet and, having been granted the substantive rank of vice admiral on 22 June 1949, he became Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet in April 1950.

Rear/Vice Admiral commanding

Post holders included:

Deployments

Included:

Footnotes

References

* * * * *

External links

{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 Cruiser squadrons of the Royal Navy Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War I