The 4th Cruiser Squadron and (also known as Cruiser Force H) was a formation of

cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles. The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...

s of the British

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 F ...

from 1907 to 1914 and then again from 1919 to 1946. The squadron was first established in 1907, replacing the

North America and West Indies Station The North America and West Indies Station was a formation or command of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy stationed in North American waters from 1745 to 1956. The North American Station was separate from the Jamaica Station until 1830 when the t ...

. It became a training squadron based in Home waters but which was to make three cruises annually, including to the West Indies. In April 1907 it comprised , , and . On 1 May 1912, the Fourth Cruiser Squadron was renamed the Training Squadron. With the appointment in 1913 of Rear Admiral Christopher Cradock the squadron ceased to be a training squadron and became part of the

First Fleet The First Fleet was a fleet of 11 ships that brought the first European and African settlers to Australia. It was made up of two Royal Navy vessels, three store ships and six convict transports. On 13 May 1787 the fleet under the command ...

. During

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 ...

, the 4th Cruiser Squadron was commanded by Rear Admiral

Christopher Cradock Rear Admiral (Royal Navy), Rear Admiral Sir Christopher "Kit" George Francis Maurice Cradock (2 July 1862 – 1 November 1914) was an English senior officer of the Royal Navy. He earned a reputation for great gallantry. Appointed to the royal ...

; the squadron was effectively annihilated at the

Battle of Coronel The Battle of Coronel was a First World War Imperial German Navy victory over the Royal Navy on 1 November 1914, off the coast of central Chile near the city of Coronel. The East Asia Squadron (''Ostasiengeschwader'' or ''Kreuzergeschwader'') ...

1 November 1914. From April 1919 to 1939, it was in the

East Indies The East Indies (or simply the Indies), is a term used in historical narratives of the Age of Discovery. The Indies refers to various lands in the East or the Eastern hemisphere, particularly the islands and mainlands found in and around t ...

, and comprised , , , (Flagship) until July 1925; (January 1922-January 1926; June 1932-February 1936); (June 1922-December 1926); and (October 1924-January 1926) assigned from the Navy's old light cruisers; (Flag) (July 1925 – 1933); (1935-August 1938); (January 1926 – 1935; February 1936 – 1939); and (1933-March 1935) from the E-Class cruisers and ''Frobishers''; plus from the newer cruiser , and the ''Town''-class cruisers , , and .

Ships on 1 November 1914

Notes

References

* Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. . * * * Cruiser squadrons of the Royal Navy Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War II {{UK-navy-stub