2nd Destroyer Flotilla
ActiveJanuary 1909–1943, 1945-1946
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
SizeFlotilla
Commanders
FirstCaptain Edwyn Alexander-Sinclair
LastCaptain Bernard Armitage Warburton Warburton-Lee

The British 2nd Destroyer Flotilla (also styled as Second Destroyer Flotilla) was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from 1909 to 1943 and again from 1945 to 1946.

History

The 2nd Destroyer Flotilla originated in early 1907 as a part of a Home Fleet Flotilla within the Home Fleet. In February 1909, that Home Fleet Flotilla was split into the 2nd and 4th Destroyer Flotillas. The new flotilla was then assigned to the 2nd Division of the Home Fleet from February 1909 to May 1912.[1] From May 1912 to July 1914 the flotilla was part of the Home Fleet's First Fleet. It was then transferred to the Grand Fleet from August 1914 to April 1916.[1] After its stay with the Grand Fleet the flotilla was assigned to the Plymouth Command from April 1916 to November 1917 and was stationed at Devonport. It was next assigned to the Coast of Ireland Station from November 1917 to November 1918 based at Derry.[2] After World War One the flotilla was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet from December 1918 to November 1924. In December 1924 it was sent to join the Mediterranean Fleet where it stayed until June 1932. It was recalled back to home waters as part of the Home Fleet between from June 1932 to August 1936. It was sent back to join the Mediterranean Fleet from August 1936 until September 1939.[3] The flotilla was gradually dispersed to the South Atlantic and West Indies, and in January 1940 it was reformed once more as part of the Home Fleet until May 1940. On 1 June 1940 it was sent to join the Mediterranean Fleet until 1 August 1942. It was next transferred to the Eastern Fleet where it remained until June 1943 when it was disbanded.[4] The flotilla was re-established in July 1944 and assigned to the Home Fleet until 1947. Its final posting was with the Mediterranean Fleet until 1951 when it was re-designated as the 2nd Destroyer Squadron.[5]

Operational deployments

Assigned to Dates Notes
Home Fleet March 1907 to February 1909 as a Home Fleet Destroyer Flotilla
Home Fleet, 2nd Division February 1909 to May 1912
Home Fleets, First Fleet May 1912 to July 1914
Grand Fleet August 1914 to April 1916
Plymouth Command April 1916 to November 1917 stationed at Devonport
Coast of Ireland Station November 1917 to November 1918 stationed at Derry
Atlantic Fleet December 1918 to November 1924
Mediterranean Fleet November 1924 to June 1932
Home Fleet June 1932 to August 1936
Mediterranean Fleet August 1936 to December 1939 flotilla is split up with ships sent to West Indies and South Atlantic Station
Home Fleet January 1940 to May 1940 reformed
Mediterranean Fleet 1 June 1940 to 1 August 1942
Eastern Fleet August 1942 to June 1943
Home Fleet July 1944 to 1947
Mediterranean Fleet 1948 to 1951 renamed 2nd Destroyer Squadron

Administration

A Captain (D) afloat or Captain Destroyers afloat is an operational commander responsible for the command of a destroyer flotilla or squadron.

Captains (D) afloat 2nd Destroyer Flotilla

Incomplete list of post holders included:[6]

Rank Name Term Notes
Captain (D) afloat 2nd Destroyer Flotilla
1 Captain Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair 5 January, 1909 – 7 February, 1911 (later Adm.)
2 Captain The Hon. Hubert G. Brand 7 February, 1911 - 10 August 1912 (later Adm.)
3 Captain Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt 10 August, 1912 – 1 December, 1913 (later Adm.of the Fleet)
4 Captain James U. Farie 1 December, 1913 – 11 March, 1914
4 Captain John B. Sparks 12 October, 1915 – 1 March, 1919
4 Captain Colin K. MacLean 1 March, 1919 – 29 April, 1920 (later V. Adm)
5 Captain Humphrey T. Walwyn 29 April, 1920 – 9 May, 1922
6 Captain Roger L'E. M. Rede 9 May, 1922 – 1 November, 1923
7 Captain Eric G. Robinson 1 November, 1923 – 30 May, 1925
8 Captain George H. D'O. Lyon 30 May, 1925 – 7 May, 1927 (later Adm.)
9 Captain Montague G. B. Legge 2 May, 1927 – 19 December, 1928
10 Captain William J. Whitworth 19 December, 1928 – February, 1931 (later Adm.)
11 Captain Alfred H. Taylor 5 July, 1931 – 12 May, 1932
12 Captain Edye K. Boddam-Whetham 26 May, 1932 – August, 1934
13 Captain Cedric S. Holland August, 1934 – 12 January, 1937
14 Captain Denis W. Boyd 7 October, 1936 – 25 February, 1938
15 Captain Ralph Kerr 25 February, 1938 - 28 July, 1939
16 Captain Bernard A. W. Warburton-Lee 28 July, 1939 – 10 April, 1940

References

  1. ^ a b Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. G. Smith, 8 August 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  2. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 8 August 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  3. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919-1939". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 2 September 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  4. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945". www.naval-history.net. n Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  5. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013". www.naval-history.net. Graham Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  6. ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Second Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 17 June 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.

Sources

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