| Unit Name: | Atlantic Fleet |
| Dates: | 1909–1914;1919–1932 |
| Branch: | Royal Navy |
| Type: | Fleet |
The Atlantic Fleet was a naval fleet of the Royal Navy. It existed for two periods; 1909 until 1914, and then 1919 until 1932.
On 14 December 1904 the Channel Fleet was re-styled the 'Atlantic Fleet'.[1] The Atlantic Fleet lasted until 1912 when rising tensions with Germany forced the Royal Navy to relook at fleet formations and the Atlantic Fleet became the 3rd Battle Squadron.[2] The Atlantic Fleet was based at Gibraltar to reinforce either the Channel Fleet or the Mediterranean Fleet, from January 1905 to February 1907. It remained at Gibraltar until April 1912.[3]
The Atlantic Fleet was again formed after the end of World War I, when British naval forces were reorganised to reflect the changed economic and political situation in Europe. The fleet was created upon the disbandment of the Grand Fleet in April 1919, absorbing many, but not all of its elements. It was placed under a Commander-in-Chief, who for part of that year held the title of Commander-in-Chief Atlantic and Home Fleets, before the Home Fleet became the Reserve Fleet and a totally separate command. became the Fleet's flagship and served in that capacity until 1924.[4]
The fleet never fought in a naval battle in its short history. In 1931, during the Invergordon Mutiny, sailors of the fleet openly refused to obey orders because of a dispute over pay with the government.[5] The fleet's short history ended in 1932, when the Admiralty having been shaken by the events of the Invergordon Mutiny, renamed the fleet, as the Home Fleet.[6]
The Commander-in-Chief's title was "Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet" between 1904–1910, and "Vice-Admiral Commanding, Atlantic Fleet" from 1910 to 1912.
| Fleet Structure 1st formation :[7] | |
| Subordinate: |
|
| +Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet (first formation) [8] [9] | + | Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vice-Admiral | 31 December 1904 – 1 March 1905 | Commander-in-Chief | ||||
| 2 | Vice-Admiral | 1 March 1905 – 23 February 1907 | Commander-in-Chief | ||||
| 3 | Vice-Admiral | 23 February 1907 – 19 November 1908 | Commander-in-Chief | ||||
| 4 | Vice-Admiral | 19 November 1908 – 20 December 1910 | Commander-in-Chief | ||||
| 5 | Vice-Admiral | Sir John Jellicoe | 20 December 1910 – 19 December 1911 | Vice-Admiral Commanding | |||
| 6 | Acting Vice-Admiral | 19 December 1911 – July, 1912 | Vice-Admiral Commanding | ||||
| Fleet Structure 2nd formation:[10] | |
| Subordinate: |
|
| +Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet (second formation) [11] [12] | ||||
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Admiral | 8 April 1919 – 15 August 1922 | ||
| 2 | Admiral | 15 August 1922 – 15 August 1924 | ||
| 3 | Admiral | 15 August 1924 – 15 August 1927 | ||
| 4 | Admiral | 15 August 1927 – 17 April 1929 | ||
| 5 | Admiral | Sir Ernle Chatfield | 17 April 1929 – 27 May 1930 | |
| 6 | Vice-Admiral | 27 May 1930 – 6 October 1931 | ||
| 7 | Admiral | 6 October 1931 – 1932 | ||
The post of Rear-Admiral Second-in-Command, Atlantic existed during the first formation of the Atlantic Fleet from June 1904 to August 1912.[13] There were no admirals appointed as seconds-in-command in the fleet's second iteration.
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Atlantic Fleet[14] | ||||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | Francis Bridgeman | 25 June 1904 – 25 August 1905 | |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | Sir Berkeley Milne | 25 August 1905 – 25 August 1906 | |
| 3 | Rear-Admiral | George Le C. Egerton | 25 August 1906 – 28 August 1907 | |
| 4 | Rear-Admiral | Sir John R. Jellicoe | 28 August 1907 – 25 August 1908 | |
| 5 | Rear-Admiral | William B. Fisher | 25 August 1908 – 26 August 1909 | |
| 6 | Rear-Admiral | Sir Colin R. Keppel | 26 August 1909 – 12 September 1910 | |
| 7 | Rear-Admiral | Sackville Carden | 12 September 1910 – 29 August 1911 (co-assigned) | |
| 8 | Rear-Admiral | Sir Christopher Cradock | 29 August 1911 – 29 August 1912 | |
Post holders included:[15]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +Commodore(D) Atlantic Fleet/Rear-Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Atlantic Fleet | ||||
| 1 | Commodore 2nd Class | Hugh J.Tweedie | 1919 - May 1920 | |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | Michael H. Hodges | May 1920-July 1922 | |
| 3 | Rear-Admiral | Arthur K. Waistell | July 1922-April 1923 | |
| 4 | Rear-Admiral | Sir George H.Baird | April 1923-September 1924 | |
| 5 | Rear-Admiral | Colin K. Maclean | September 1924–September 1926 | |
| 6 | Rear-Admiral | Wion de M. Egerton | September 1926-July 1928 | |
| 7 | Commodore 2nd Class | Robin C. Dalglish | July 1928-August 1930 | |
| 8 | Commodore 2nd Class | Edward O.B.S.Osborne | August 1930-March 1932 continued as R.Adm (D) HF till July 1932. | |
Second Formation included [16]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief of Staff, Atlantic Fleet | ||||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | Michael H.Hodges | April 1919 - May 1920 [17] | |
| 2 | Commodore 1st Class | Cyril T. M. Fuller | 1 May 1920 – 14 August 1922[18] | |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | William W. Fisher | 14 August 1922 – 14 August 1924 [19] | |
| 3 | Rear-Admiral | Arthur J. Davies | 14 August 1924 – October 1927 (initially-Cdre, 1.Cls)[20] | |
| 4 | Rear-Admiral | The Hon.Matthew R.Best | October 1927 – December 1927[21] | |
| 5 | Commodore 2nd Class | Geoffrey Blake | December 1927 – April 1929 [22] | |
Distribution of the Fleet first formation included:[23]
| Unit | Date | Notes | ||
| 1 | 2nd Cruiser Squadron | January 1905 – March 1909 | replaced by 5th CSQ [24] | |
| 2 | 5th Cruiser Squadron | March 1909 – April 1912 | [25] | |
| 3 | Atlantic Fleet Flotilla | 1906–1907 | no destroyers after 1907 [26] | |
| 4 | 8 battleships | January 1905 – March 1909 | distributed [27] | |
| 4 | 7 pre-dreadnoughts | March 1909 – April 1912 | distributed [28] |
Distribution of the Fleet second formation included:[29]
| Unit | Date | Notes | |
| 1 | 1st Battle Squadron | 1919 – November 1924 | re-titled 2nd BS [30] |
| 2 | 2nd Battle Squadron | 1919 – May 1924 | absorbed into 1st BS [31] |
| 3 | 3rd Battle Squadron | March 1926 – May 1930 | ex Mediterranean Fleet[32] |
| 4 | Battlecruiser Squadron | 1919 – September 1936 | to Med, 4.39-returned to Home Fleet[33] |
| 5 | Aircraft Carriers | 1919 – September 1931 [34] | |
| 6 | Aircraft Carrier Squadron | September 1931 – 1932 [35] | |
| 7 | 1st Light Cruiser Squadron | 1919 – November 1924 | to Mediterranean Fleet[36] |
| 8 | 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron | 1919–1920 | re-designated 2nd CSQ [37] |
| 9 | 2nd Cruiser Squadron[38] | 1920–1932 | [39] |
| 10 | 1st Destroyer Flotilla | 1919 – April 1925 | [40] |
| 10 | 2nd Destroyer Flotilla | 1919 – November 1924 | to Mediterranean Fleet[41] |
| 11 | 3rd Destroyer Flotilla | 1919 – August 1923 | to Mediterranean Fleet[42] |
| 12 | 4th Destroyer Flotilla | 1919 – August 1923 | to Mediterranean Fleet[43] |
| 13 | 5th Destroyer Flotilla | 1919 – April 1925 | to Mediterranean Fleet as 1DF [44] |
| 14 | 6th Destroyer Flotilla | 1919–1921 | absorbed 8th DF [45] |
| 15 | 1925 – August 1928 | [46] | |
| 16 | 8th Destroyer Flotilla | 1925 – August 1927 | to China Station[47] |
| 17 | 9th Destroyer Flotilla | 1925 – August 1927 | absorbed 7th DF [48] |
| 18 | 1st Submarine Flotilla | 1919–1927 | Rosyth Command to 1926 then to Nore Command till 1927 [49] |
| 19 | 2nd Submarine Flotilla | 1919–1924 | Plymouth Command to 1924, after to FO, Malta[50] |
| 20 | 3rd Submarine Flotilla | 1919–1927 | Portsmouth Command to 1922 Plymouth Command till 1927 then to 2nd SF [51] |
| 21 | 5th Submarine Flotilla | 1919–1932 | Portsmouth Command[52] |
| 22 | 6th Submarine Flotilla | 1919–1932 | FO, Portland[53] |