The Reserve Fleet was a Royal Navy formation of decommissioned vessels which could be brought to a state of readiness at time of war.
In the early years of the 18th century ships were "laid up in ordinary" at various British naval bases forming a repository for serviceable but decommissioned ships. Sir John Fisher's reforms made these reserve ships more ready for combat, in the lead up to the First World War.
Whilst warships had been laid up in ordinary routinely, the establishment of a Reserve Fleet as a separate, formally established naval formation dated to the change in title and appointment of Vice Admiral Henry Oliver in November 1919. With the breakup of the Grand Fleet in April 1919, Royal Navy forces in home waters was divided between a new Atlantic Fleet consisting of the most powerful naval units, and a Home Fleet consisting of ships with nucleus crews and other vessels. On 8 April Admiral Sir Charles E. Madden became Commander-in-Chief, Home and Atlantic Fleets, and Vice-Admiral Sir Henry F. Oliver was appointed in command of the Home Fleet. The Home Fleet then consisted of the 3rd Battle Squadron of six ships, and the Fourth and Fifth Destroyer Flotillas totaling 35 destroyers and destroyer leaders. This arrangement lasted until 1 October 1919, when the Fleet was reduced to a reserve basis, and "Home Fleet" was dropped from the Commander-in-Chief's title. On 1 November Vice-Admiral Oliver's title was changed to Vice-Admiral Commanding, Reserve Fleet.Heathcote 2002, p. 203
It continued to exist in the inter-war years but in 1930 the Admiralty reduced it in size on the basis that war was unlikely in the next ten years, under the Government's Ten Year Rule.Moretz, p. 82 At the start of the Second World War the Reserve Fleet, under the command of Vice Admiral Sir Max Horton, was again brought to a state of readiness. Some 15,000 men were called up in May 1939 to man the Reserve Fleet which became ready for service on 15 June 1939. During the 1950s ships were regularly 'cocooned' for the Reserve Fleet and it ceased to exist in 1960.
Commanding admirals Admirals commanding included:Senior Royal Navy Appointments 1919–1920 Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Oliver 1920–1922 Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Phillimore 1922–1923 Vice-Admiral Sir Douglas Nicholson 1923–1924 Vice-Admiral Sir William Goodenough 1924–1926 Vice-Admiral Sir Victor Stanley March–October 1926 Vice-Admiral Sir Rudolph Bentinck 1926–1928 Vice-Admiral Sir Hugh Watson 1928–1929 Vice-Admiral Sir William Boyle 1929–1930 Vice-Admiral Percival Hall-Thompson 1930–1932 Vice-Admiral Sir Frank Larken 1932–1934 Vice-Admiral Sir William Kerr 1934–1935 Vice-Admiral Edward Astley-Rushton 1935–1937 Vice-Admiral Sir Gerald Dickens 1937–1939 Vice Admiral Sir Max Horton, Vice-Admiral Commanding Reserve Fleet, flag aboard HMS Hawkins until June 1938. Hawkins was disarmed at the time.
From 1944 Included: 1944–1945 Rear-Admiral Charles Harris 1945–1947 Rear-Admiral Leslie Ashmore 1947–1948 Rear-Admiral Reginald Servaes 1948–1951 Vice-Admiral Sir Robin Bridge 1951–1953 Vice-Admiral Sir Henry McCall 1953–1954 Vice-Admiral Sir Ian Campbell 1954–1955 Vice-Admiral Sir John Eaton 1955–1956 Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Cazalet 1956–1958 Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Onslow 1958–1959 Vice-Admiral Sir Guy Sayer 1959–1960 Rear-Admiral John Grant
Reserve divisions Subordinate officers included: Portsmouth Division Rear Admiral Commanding Portsmouth Reserve Rear-Admiral Edward F. Bruen, 1 February 1919 – 23 April 1919 Rear-Admiral Cole C. Fowler, 23 April 1919 – 23 April 1920 Rear-Admiral Clement Greatorex, 23 April 1920 – 1 October 1921 Rear-Admiral Edmond H. Parker, 1 October 1921
Devonport Division Rear Admiral Commanding Devonport Reserve Rear-Admiral Douglas R. L. Nicholson, 1 February 1919 – 18 March 1919 Rear-Admiral James A. Fergusson, 18 March 1919 – 9 April 1919 Rear-Admiral Maurice Woollcombe, 9 April 1919 – 9 April 1920 Rear-Admiral Philip H. Colomb, 9 April 1920 Rear-Admiral Charles D. Johnson, 9 April 1921 Captain Commanding Captain Alfred A. Ellison, 16 May 1922 – 1 November 1922 Captain Rowland H. Bather, 15 April 1922 – 1 July 1922 (temporary) Captain John E. Cameron, 1 November 1922 – April, 1924 Captain Herbert A. Buchanan-Wollaston, 25 July 1927 – 17 April 1928 Captain Edward B. Cloete, 3 November 1929 – 4 May 1931
Nore Division Rear Admiral Commanding Nore Reserve Rear-Admiral A. Thomas Hunt, 1 February 1919 – 8 March 1919 Rear-Admiral Henry L. Mawbey, 17 March 1919 – 17 March 1920 Rear-Admiral Vivian H. G. Bernard, 17 March 1920 – 17 March 1921 Rear-Admiral William J. S. Alderson, 17 March 1921 – 15 April 1922 Captain Commanding Nore Reserve Captain Lawrence W. Braithwaite, 24 April 1925 – 17 August 1926 Captain Arthur L. Snagge, c. 1927 Captain Claude C. Dobson, 17 October 1931 – 17 October 1933 Captain Richard M. King, 17 October 1933 – 16 January 1935 (and as Captain of Cardiff) Captain Hamilton C. Allen, 16 January 1935 – 24 July 1935 Captain John H. Young, 1 October 1935 – 1 September 1936 Rosyth Division Vice-Admiral/Rear Admiral Commanding Rosyth Reserve Vice-Admiral Sir Trevylyan D. W. Napier, 1 February 1919 – 1 May 1919 Rear-Admiral Charles F. Corbett, 1 May 1919 – 1 May 1920 Rear-Admiral Crawford Maclachlan, 1 May 1920 Captain Henry P. Boxer, 28 January 1937 – 1 June 1938 Portland Division Rear Admiral Commanding Portland Reserve Rear-Admiral Sir Douglas R. L. Nicholson, 1 November 1919 – 1 April 1920
Vice-Admiral Reserve Fleet destroyers Vice-Admiral Commanding Vice-Admiral Sir R. H. T. Raikes (1939-1945) (retired)
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