The 2nd Division was a naval

formation Formation may refer to: Linguistics * Back-formation, the process of creating a new lexeme by removing or affixes * Word formation, the creation of a new word by adding affixes Mathematics and science * Cave formation or speleothem, a secondar ...

of the

British Home Fleet The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy that operated from the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967. In 1967, it was merged with the Mediterranean Fleet creating the new Western Fleet. Before the First W ...

it was formed before

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 ...

in March 1909 until May 1912.

History

In March 1909 following a re-organisation of the British Fleet the

Channel Fleet The Channel Fleet and originally known as the Channel Squadron was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1854 to 1909 and 1914 to 1915. History Throughout the course of Royal Navy's history the ...

was absorbed by the

Home Fleet The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy that operated from the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967. In 1967, it was merged with the Mediterranean Fleet creating the new Western Fleet. Before the First ...

, while the former Channel Fleet became the Home Fleet's first and second divisions. These new divisions was mad up of an 8-12 ship battle squadron that included either

dreadnought battleship The dreadnought (alternatively spelled dreadnaught) was the predominant type of battleship in the early 20th century. The first of the kind, the Royal Navy's , had such an impact when launched in 1906 that similar battleships built after her ...

s or

pre-dreadnought battleship Pre-dreadnought battleships were sea-going battleships built between the mid- to late- 1880s and 1905, before the launch of in 1906. The pre-dreadnought ships replaced the ironclad battleships of the 1870s and 1880s. Built from steel, prote ...

s all remaining components of the former Home Fleet as it then stood became the third and fourth divisions that was a single command under a vice-admiral. The third and fourth division was assigned to major home commands as a reserve force. The 2nd Battle Squadron of the 2nd Division contained 10 to 12 older battleships, the 2nd Cruiser Squadron was formed using

armored cruisers The armored cruiser was a type of warship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was designed like other types of cruisers to operate as a long-range, independent warship, capable of defeating any ship apart from a battleship and fast eno ...

whilst the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla had a total of 4 scout cruiser leaders assigned to during its it plus 21 other destroyers of different classes.

Vice-Admirals Commanding 2nd Division

:Post holders included:

Rear Admirals in the 2nd Division

:''Post holders included'':Harley and Lovell. 2015

Components

:''Included:''

Footnotes

References

* * Mackie, Gordon. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie, p. 199. December 2017. * * {{Royal Navy fleets Royal Navy divisions Military units and formations established in 1909 Military units and formations disestablished in 1912