9th Cruiser Squadron explained
| Unit Name: | 9th Cruiser Squadron |
| Dates: | 1912-1919, 1939-1940 |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Branch: | Royal Navy |
| Notable Commanders: | Rear-Admiral Sydney R. Fremantle |
The 9th Cruiser Squadron was a formation of cruisers of the Royal Navy from 1912 to 1919 and again from 1939 to 1940. Cruiser squadrons consisted of five to six ships in wartime and in peacetime as low as two to three ships. From 1914 until 1924/25 they were designated as Light Cruiser Squadrons then after 1925 redesignated as Cruiser Squadrons.[1]
First formation
The 9th Cruiser Squadron was first formed in 1912 assigned to the Third Fleet.[2] In August 1914 it was attached to the Channel Fleet. During the war it operated in the North Atlantic and off West Africa, mostly protecting British commerce. It was disbanded in January 1919.[3]
Commanders, first formation
Post holders included:[4] [5]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes |
|---|
| Rear-Admiral Commanding, 9th Cruiser Squadron |
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | | John M. de Robeck | September, 1914 - February, 1915 | |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | | | February 1915 -August 1915 | |
| 3 | Rear-Admiral | | | August, 1916 – December, 1916 | |
| 4 | Rear-Admiral | | Thomas D. L. Sheppard | 8 December 1916 – January, 1919 | |
|
Reformation and Second World War
The squadron was reformed from July 1939 to June 1940. It was first attached to the Reserve Fleet, then it came under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic.[6] before being disbanded.[7]
Commodore/Rear-Admiral commanding
Post holders included:[8]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes |
|---|
| Commodore/Rear-Admiral, Commanding, 9th Cruiser Squadron |
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | | Allan Poland | July 1939-April 1940 | |
| 2 | Commodore | | | January, 1940 – June, 1940 | |
|
References
- Grove, Eric (2002). German Capital Ships and Raiders in World War II: From Graf Spee to Bismarck, 1931–1941. Hove, East Sussex, England: Psychology Press.
- Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2017 "Ninth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)". dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell.
- Mackie, Gordon. (2015) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie.
- Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
- Watson, Dr Graham. (2015 "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918: 6. LIST OF SQUADRONS AND FLOTILLAS 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith8.
Notes and References
- Watson 2015.
- Book: Friedman. Norman. British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. 2012. Seaforth Publishing. Barnsley, England. 9781473853126. 279. en.
- Web site: Watson. Graham. Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918: 6. LIST OF SQUADRONS AND FLOTILLAS 1914-1918. www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 27 October 2015. 23 February 2018.
- Web site: Mackie. Gordon. Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865. gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie. pp. 208-213. February 2018. 23 February 2018.
- Web site: Harley. Simon. Lovell. Tony. Ninth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy). dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 8 August 2017. 23 February 2018.
- Book: Grove. Eric. German Capital Ships and Raiders in World War II: From Graf Spee to Bismarck, 1931-1941. 2002. Psychology Press. Hove, East Sussex, England. 9780714652085. 7. en.
- Watson. 2015.
- Web site: Mackie. Gordon. Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865. gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie. pp. 208-213. February 2018. 23 February 2018.
