The 10th Cruiser Squadron, also known as Cruiser Force B, was a formation of cruisers of the British Royal Navy from 1913 to 1917 and then again from 1940 to 1946.
First formation
The squadron was established in July 1913 and allocated to the Third Fleet. In July 1914 it was reassigned to the new Grand Fleet, the squadron was also made Cruiser Force B in August 1914 but was more famously known as the Northern Patrol. It remained with the Grand Fleet until December 1917.
Rank Flag Name Term Notes+Rear-Admiral Commanding, 10th Cruiser Squadron/Cruiser Force B1 Rear-Admiral Edmund Pears15 July 1913 – 29 June 1914RAdm-Comm, 10th Cruiser Squadron2 Rear-Admiral Charles Napier 13–26 July 1914 RAdm-Comm, 10th Cruiser Squadron3 Rear-Admiral Dudley de Chair 1 August 1914 – 6 March 1916.RAdm-Comm, Cruiser Force B (the Northern Patrol)4 Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald Tupper 6 March 1916 – 8 December 1917 RAdm-Comm, Cruiser Force B (the Northern Patrol)
The squadron was disbanded from January 1918 to 1937
Second formation On 22 March 1937 the Admiralty announced the temporary formation of the squadron for the coronation fleet review by King George VI on 20 April 1937. The squadron was commanded by Rear-Admiral Arthur Dowding.
Third formation The squadron reformed in September 1940 and attached to the Home Fleet for the duration of the Second World War until September 1945. On 27 December 1942, it was engaged at the Battle of the Barents Sea as Force R. On 22 December 1943 the squadron was involved in the Battle of the North Cape where it was called Force 2. In October 1946 the squadron was renamed the 2nd Cruiser Squadron and assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet.Mackie. 2018.
Rank Flag Name Term Notes+Flag Officer Commanding, 10th Cruiser Squadron1 Rear-Admiral Harold Burrough 10 September 1940 – August 1942 FO 10th Cruiser Squadron2 Rear-Admiral Cecil HarcourtAugust 1942 – 12 January 1943(ditto)3 Rear-Admiral Robert Burnett 12 January 1943 – 3 March 1944(ditto), promoted to VAdm 09/19434 Rear-Admiral Frederick Dalrymple-Hamilton 3 March 1944 – 8 April 1945(ditto)5 Rear-Admiral Angus Cunningham-Grahame 8 April 1945 – October 1946(ditto)
Notes
References Watson, Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organization and Ship Deployments 1900–1914". www.naval-history.net. Graham Smith. Watson, Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organization in World War 2, 1939–1945: Overseas Commands and Fleets". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.