The 6th Cruiser Squadron was a formation of cruisers of the British Royal Navy from 1909 to 1915 and again from 1925 to 1945.
The Royal Navy's cruiser squadrons usually contained a maximum of five to six ships but down but sometimes as low as two to three ships. Between 1914 and 1925, they were designated Light Cruiser Squadrons, and after 1925 re-designated Cruiser Squadrons.Watson 2015.
First formation The squadron was established in March 1909. In September 1910, it was attached to the Mediterranean Fleet until April 1912. In May 1912, the 6th Cruiser Squadron was renamed the Mediterranean Cruiser Squadron. The squadron was then reassigned as the 6th Cruiser Squadron to the Second Fleet between May 1912 and July 1914.
Rear-Admiral Commanding Rank Flag Name Term Notes Rear-Admiral Commanding, 6th Cruiser Squadron1 Rear-Admiral Henry B. Jackson March 1909-October 1910 2 Rear-Admiral Sir Douglas A. Gamble 26 September 1910 – 3 June 1912 3 Rear-Admiral David Beatty 2 July 1912 – 27 July 1912 4 Rear-Admiral Dudley R. S. de Chair 15 July 1913 5 Rear-Admiral William L. Grant 1 August 1914 – 12 March 1915
Second formation 1925 - 1945 The squadron reformed in 1925 when it was allocated to the Commander-in-Chief, Africa until August 1939 when the post was redesignated Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic. The posts of the admiral commanding the squadron and the regional Commander-in-Chief were not usually separated. It remained attached there until 1945 when it was disbanded.
Admirals Commanding Rank Flag Name Term Notes CinC Africa/Vice-Admiral Commanding, 6th Cruiser Squadron1Vice-Admiral Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice February, 1925 -February. 1927 2Vice-Admiral Sir David Anderson February. 1927 - December, 1928 3 Vice-Admiral Sir Rudolf Burmester February, 1929 - February, 1931 4 Vice-Admiral Sir Hugh Tweedie February, 1931 - March, 1933 5Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Evans March, 1933 -September, 1935 6Vice-Admiral Sir Francis Tottenham September, 1935 - January, 1938 7Vice-Admiral Sir George Lyon January, 1938 - August, 1939 CinC, South Atlantic/Rear/Vice-Admiral, Commanding 6th Cruiser Squadron8Vice-Admiral Sir Sir George Lyon September, 1939 - September, 1940 9 Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Raikes September, 1940 -February, 1941 (later V.Adm) 10Rear-Admiral Sir Algernon WillisFebruary, 1941 - March, 1942 (later V.Adm) 11Rear-Admiral W. E, Campbell Tait March, 1942 - April, 1944 (later V.Adm) 12Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Burnett April, 1944 - 1945
Notes
References Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. . Frowde, H. (1914). The New Hazell Annual and Almanack Vol 29. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organization and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organization and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919-1939: Cruiser Deployment 1919-1939". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organization in World War 2, 1939-1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.