The Battle Cruiser Fleet, (BCF), later known as Battle Cruiser Force, a naval formation of fast battlecruisers of the Royal Navy, operated from 1915 to 1919.
History The Fleet was formed on 11 February 1915 when the Admiralty ordered the deployment of its faster Battlecruiser squadrons to the Rosyth Command and grouped them together as the new Battle Cruiser Fleet. The name 'Fleet' remained until 1916 although it was officially subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet. The fleet initially contained the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battlecruiser Squadrons but this was reduced to the 1st and 2nd BC Squadrons in June 1916. It also included two light cruiser squadrons and two destroyer flotillas, in addition the new 5th Battle Squadron that included the new fast Queen Elizabeth-class battleships operated with the fleet. On 29 November 1916 it was renamed Battle Cruiser Force. The force was disbanded in April 1919.
Vice-Admirals commanding Post holders included:
Rank Flag Name Term Notes Vice-Admiral Commanding, Battle Cruiser Fleet/Force1 Vice-Admiral Sir David R. Beatty 8 February 1915 (acting V.Adm)Harley and Lovell. 20152 Vice-Admiral Sir William C. Pakenham29 November 1916 3 Vice-Admiral Sir Henry F. Oliver28 February 1919 – 21 March 1919 (temporary Cdg)Harley and Lovell. 20154 Vice-Admiral Sir Roger J. B. Keyes21 March 1919 – 7 April 1919 (acting V.Adm)Harley and Lovell. 2015
Chiefs of staff Post holders included:
Rank Flag Name Term Notes Chief of Staff, Battle Cruiser Fleet/Force1 Captain Rudolf W. Bentinck February 1915-June 1916 2 Captain the Hon. Hubert G. BrandJune–December 19163 Captain Edward H. Heaton-EllisDecember 1916-August 1917 4 Captain Hugh F. P. SinclairAugust 1917-December 1918 5 Captain William H.D. BoyleDecember 1918-March 1919
Components Included
Unit Elements Notes Smith. 2015: Composition of The Grand Fleet/Sub section Battle Cruiser Fleet/Force 1914-1918 by Admiral Viscount JellicoeMain components at various times attached to BCF from 8 February 1915 to 4 April 1919 11st Battlecruiser Squadron 4/5 Battle Cruisers Watson. 201522nd Battlecruiser Squadron 3/4 Battle Cruisers Watson. 201533rd Battlecruiser Squadron 3/4 Battle Cruisers Watson. 2015 detached 05/1916 Watson. 201545th Battle Squadron 5 fast battleships special unit of fast battleships operating with BCF Watson. 201551st Cruiser Squadron4 cruisers attached 02/1915 - 06/1916 Smith. 201562nd Cruiser Squadron4 cruisers attached 02-1915 - 06/1916 Smith. 201573rd Cruiser Squadron3/4 cruisers attached 02-1915 - 09/1916 Smith. 201586th Cruiser Squadron4/5 cruisers attached 02/1915 - 10/1917 Smith. 201597th Cruiser Squadron4/5 cruisers attached 02/1915 - 05/1916 Smith. 2015101st Light Cruiser Squadron11 Town-classWatson. 2015 from 02/1915 to 09/1918112nd Light Cruiser Squadron10 Town-class replaced by C ClassWatson. 2015 from 02/1915 to 05/1918 Smith. 2015123rd Light Cruiser Squadron from 02/1915 to 05/1918 Smith. 2015134th Light Cruiser Squadron 5 C-class cruisers and 1 Arethusa-class cruiser from 06/1915 to 1919 Smith. 2015146th Light Cruiser Squadron5 C-class cruisers from 07/1917 to 1919 Smith. 2015157th Light Cruiser Squadron6 Arethusa-class cruisers/ C-class cruisers from 03/1918 to 11/1918 Smith. 2015161st Destroyer Flotilla1 Cruiser (L) 20 destroyers from the Harwich Force - 02/1915 to 11/1916 detached to Nore CommandSmith. 2015172nd Destroyer Flotilla 1 Cruiser (L) 18/22 destroyers ditto from 02/1915 to 04/1916 detached to DevonportSmith. 2015183rd Destroyer Flotilla 14 destroyers from the Harwich Force, 02/1918 to 1918 Smith. 2015194th Destroyer Flotilla1 cruiser (FS) 2/3 cruiser (L) 20 destroyers from 02/1915 to 09/1916 detached to Humber Smith. 2015209th Destroyer Flotilla22 L ClassWatson. 2015 from 02/1915 Smith. 20152111th Destroyer Flotilla1/2 cruiser (L) 25 destroyers formed 09/1915 Smith. 20152212th Destroyer Flotilla 1/2 cruiser (L) 25 destroyers formed 11/1915 Smith. 20152313th Destroyer Flotilla 4 M Class, 10 R Class, 26 V & W ClassWatson. 2015 2414th Destroyer Flotilla2 cruiser (L) 32 destroyers formed 08/1916 Smith. 20152515th Destroyer Flotilla2 cruiser (L) 22 destroyers formed 09/1916 Smith. 20152620th Destroyer Flotilla2 cruiser (L) 12 destroyers formed 1918 initially a mine laying flotilla Smith. 201527Scapa Local Flotilla8 destroyers formed 1918281st Minesweeper Flotilla 12 minesweepers formed 1915 Smith. 2015292nd Minesweeper Flotilla 6 minesweepers formed 1916 Smith. 2015303rd Minesweeper Flotilla 14 minesweepers formed 1918 Smith. 2015The Fleet/Force consisted of approximately 250-300 shipsSmith. 2015
References
Sources Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2015) "Battle Cruiser Force - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell. Jordan, John. (2011). Warships after Washington: The Development of Five Major Fleets 1922–1930. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. . Mace, Martin. (2014). The Royal Navy and the War at Sea 1914–1919. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. . Mackie, Colin. (2018) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Smith, Gordon. (2015) "Royal Navy ship dispositions 1914–1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Trevor, Royle. (2007). The flowers of the forest : Scotland and the First World War. Birlinn. . Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914–1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
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