User:Hammersfan/Royal Navy order of battle (1914)
This is the order of battle of the Royal Navy on the outbreak of World War I in August 1914.
Commanders and locations of the Royal Navy
{{multiple image
| align = right
| total_width = 320
| image1 = Churchill 1904 Q 42037.jpg
| alt1 = Winston Churchill as a young man
| caption1 = Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty
| image2 = Ludwig Alexander von Battenberg.jpg
| alt2 = Prince Louis of Battenberg
| caption2 = Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg, First Sea Lord
}}
Although George V, as the monarch and thus commander-in-chief of the UK's armed forces,{{Cite web|last=Kirsty.Oram|date=2017-01-09|title=The Queen and the Armed Forces|url=https://www.royal.uk/queen-and-armed-forces-0|access-date=2020-08-19|website=The Royal Family|language=en}} was nominally the head of the Royal Navy, actual command of the service was the responsibility of the Admiralty, which was a department of the UK's government.{{cite book|last1=Hamilton|first1=C. I.|title=The Making of the Modern Admiralty: British Naval Policy-Making, 1805–1927|date=3 February 2011|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781139496544|page=56|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8S4yyAkysYgC&q=Admiralty+was+a+government+department&pg=PA56|language=en}} The King had a number of naval advisors alongside the structure of the Admiralty Board, the most senior occupying the position of First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp.
- First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp - Admiral Sir Edmund Poë{{efn|group=note|Poë retired in September and was replaced by Admiral Sir George Callaghan}}
At the top of the Admiralty was a group called the Board of Admiralty, consisting of politicians, civil servants and senior naval officers. The board consisted of a total of nine members, with its president known as the First Lord:
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- Civil Lords of the Admiralty
- First Lord of the Admiralty - Winston Churchill MP
- Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty - Thomas Macnamara MP
- Civil Lord of the Admiralty - George Lambert MP
- Additional Civil Lord of the Admiralty - Sir Francis Hopwood
- Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty{{efn|group=note|The Permanent Secretary was not one of the Lords of the Admiralty, but was instead the senior civil servant whose main role was to provide advice to the board in its decision making}} - Sir Graham Greene
- Sea Lords
- First Sea Lord - Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg{{efn|group=note|Battenburg resigned on 24 October and was replaced by Baron Fisher}}
- Second Sea Lord - Vice Admiral Sir Frederick Hamilton{{efn|name=jellicoe|group=note|Hamilton was appointed Second Sea Lord on 4 August in succession to Jellicoe, who was named as commander of the Grand Fleet in place of Admiral Sir George Callaghan}}
- Third Sea Lord - Rear Admiral Frederick Tudor
- Fourth Sea Lord - Rear Admiral Cecil Lambert
{{div col end}}
Under the Board of Admiralty were a number of departments, each headed by a senior officer:
- Naval Secretary to the First Lord - Rear Admiral Horace Hood{{efn|group=note|name=hood|Hood was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Dover Patrol upon its formation in October, and was replaced by Oliver}}
- The Admiralty War Staff was the operational planning organisation, answerable to the First Sea Lord, and formed to advise the Board of Admiralty on operational matters, and consisted of four directorates:
- Chief of the War Staff - Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Doveton Sturdee{{efn|group=note|name=sturdee|Sturdee was appointed as Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic and Pacific in December and replaced by Oliver}}
- Naval Intelligence Division - Rear Admiral Henry Oliver{{efn|name=hood|group=note}}{{efn|name=sturdee|group=note}}
- Operations Division - Rear Admiral Arthur Leveson
- Mobilisation Division - Rear Admiral Alexander Duff{{efn|group=note|name=Duff|Duff was appointed as the second-in-command of the 4th Battle Squadron in October}}
- Trade Division - Captain Richard Webb
- The Second Sea Lord had responsibility for all aspects of naval personnel, and had a number of departments reporting to him:
- Admiral Commanding Reserves - Vice Admiral Arthur Farquhar
- President, Royal Naval College, Greenwich - Vice Admiral Frederic Fisher
- The Third Sea Lord had responsibility for ordnance and materiel:
- Director, Naval Ordnance - Rear Admiral Morgan Singer
- Director, Naval Construction - Eustace Tennyson d'Eyncourt
- Engineer-in-Chief - Vice Admiral Henry Oram
- The Fourth Sea Lord had responsibility for transport and supply:
- Director, Naval Equipment - Rear Admiral Arthur Waymouth
- Director, Dockyards - Sir James Marshall
=Home Commands=
{{Location map+|United Kingdom
|width=300
|float=right
|caption=The Royal Navy's major bases on the outbreak of war were on England's south coast, with additional ones in Scotland and Ireland
|places =
{{location map~ |United Kingdom|lat=51.3968 |long=0.5294|mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label=Chatham|label_size=85 |position=left}}
{{location map~ |United Kingdom|lat=50.804419 |long=-1.102419|mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label=Portsmouth|label_size=85 |position=top}}
{{location map~ |United Kingdom|lat=50.383 |long=-4.183|mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label=Devonport|label_size=85 |position=top}}
{{location map~ |United Kingdom|lat=51.841667 |long=-8.3|mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label=Queenstown|label_size=85 |position=top}}
{{location map~ |United Kingdom|lat=56.020556 |long=-3.453333|mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label=Rosyth|label_size=85 |position=top}}
{{location map~ |United Kingdom|lat=51.442 |long=0.753|markBlue= 000080 pog.svg |label=Sheerness|label_size=85 |position=top}}
{{location map~ |United Kingdom|lat=51.69333 |long=-4.94584|markBlue= 000080 pog.svg |label=Pembroke|label_size=85 |position=top}}
{{location map~ |United Kingdom|lat=50.58738 |long=-2.44632|markBlue= 000080 pog.svg |label=Portland|label_size=85 |position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |United Kingdom|lat=57.68792 |long=-4.157042|markBlue= 000080 pog.svg |label=Cromarty|label_size=85 |position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |United Kingdom|lat=58.9 |long=-3.05|mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label=Scapa Flow|label_size=85 |position=bottom}}
}}
The British Isles were divided into three major geographical commands for the purposes of administration, with responsibility for a range of major functions, including providing divisions of ratings, training establishments for other ranks, dockyards and local defence forces.
==Nore Command==
- Nore Command - The Nore covered the area from the eastern end of the English Channel to the mouth of the River Tees. The Nore's primary location was Chatham Dockyard, with additional facilities at Sheerness Dockyard
- Commander-in-Chief, Nore - Admiral Sir Richard Poore
- Admiral Superintendent, Chatham Dockyard - Rear Admiral Charles Anson
- Commodore, Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham - Commodore Ernest Gaunt
- Nore Command also had responsibility for a number of training establishments within its area:
- HMS Actaeon - Torpedo training school, Sheerness
- {{HMS|Ganges|shore establishment|6}} - Boys' training school, Harwich
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
- Nore Home Port vessels{{efn|name=homeport|group=note|Ships unassigned to any particular operational squadron}}
- {{HMS|Arethusa|1913|6}}{{efn|name=arethusa|group=note|Amethyst was replaced by Arethusa as the flagship of the Harwich Force in mid-August}}
- {{HMS|Sirius|1890|6}}
- {{HMS|Hermes|1898|6}}{{efn|group=note|Hermes was sunk on 31 October}}
- Local Defence Flotilla Nore - Destroyers
- {{HMS|Brazen|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Coquette|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Cygnet|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Cynthia|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Electra|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Fervent|1895|6}}
- {{HMS|Kestrel|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Lightning|1895|6}}
- {{HMS|Porcupine|1895|6}}
- {{HMS|Recruit|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Vulture|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Zephyr|1895|6}}
- {{HMS|Speedy|1893|6}} (Minesweeper)
- Local Defence Flotilla Nore - Torpedo boats
- {{HMS|TB 6|1906|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 7|1906|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 8|1906|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 9|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 10|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 11|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 12|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 17|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 18|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 19|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 20|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 23|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 072||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 079||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 111||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 112||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 113||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 114||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 115||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 117||6}}
{{div col end}}
==Portsmouth Command==
- Portsmouth Command - Portsmouth had responsibility for the central area of the English Channel, with its primary location being Portsmouth Dockyard, together with additional facilities at Portland Dockyard.
- Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth - Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux
- Admiral Superintendent, Portsmouth Dockyard - Rear Admiral Herbert Heath
- Commodore, Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth - Commodore Charles Vaughan-Lee
- The training establishments under Portsmouth Command were:
- {{HMS|Excellent|shore establishment|6}} - Gunnery school
- {{HMS|Boxer|1894|6}} (Tender)
- {{HMS|Wizard|1895|6}} (Tender)
- {{HMS|Vernon|shore establishment|6}} - Torpedo school
- {{HMS|Conflict|1894|6}} (Tender)
- {{HMS|Ringdove|1889|6}} (Tender)
- {{HMS|Fisgard|shore establishment|6}} - Mechanical engineering school
- {{HMS|Dolphin|shore establishment|6}} - Submarine school
- {{HMS|Dryad|shore establishment|6}} - Navigation school
- 2nd Royal Naval Brigade{{efn|group=note|name=brigade}}
- Commander - Captain Oliver Backhouse
- 5th (Nelson) Battalion
- 6th (Howe) Battalion
- 7th (Hood) Battlion
- 8th (Anson) Battalion
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
- Portsmouth Home Port vessels{{efn|name=homeport|group=note}}
- {{HMS|Niger|1892|6}}
- {{HMS|Dryad|1893|6}}
- {{HMS|Kent|1901|6}}
- {{HMS|Terrible|1895|6}}
- {{HMS|King Alfred|1901|6}}{{efn|group=note|name=kingalfred|King Alfred was recommissioned as assigned to the 6th Cruiser Squadron in mid-August}}
- {{HMS|Queen Elizabeth|1913|6}}{{efn|group=note|Queen Elizabeth was undergoing sea trials, and was commissioned on 22 December 1914}}
- {{HMS|Revenge|1892|6}}{{efn|group=note|Revenge was undergoing a refit for coastal bombardment duties as part of the Dover Patrol}}
- {{HMS|Invincible|1907|6}}{{efn|group=note|name=Invincible|Invincible had undergone a major refit from March to August 1914, and was declared operational on 12 August. She had been part of the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean, but upon her recommissioning was retained in home waters}}
- Local Defence Flotilla Portsmouth - Destroyers
- {{HMS|Roebuck|1901|6}}
- {{HMS|Spiteful|1899|6}}
- {{HMS|Surly|1894|6}}
- {{HMS|Velox|1902|6}}
- {{HMS|Angler|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Desperate|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Skipjack|1889|6}} (Minesweeper)
- {{HMS|Halcyon|1894|6}} (Minesweeper)
- {{HMS|Spanker|1889|6}} (Minesweeper)
- Local Defence Flotilla Portsmouth - Torpedo boats
- {{HMS|TB 025||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 034||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 042||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 80||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 81||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 82||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 85||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 86||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 87||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 101||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 116||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 078||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 98||6}}
- 2nd Submarine Flotilla
- {{HMS|Dolphin|1882|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|A5||6}}
- {{HMS|A6||6}}
- {{HMS|A13||6}}
- {{HMS|B1||6}}
{{div col end}}
==Plymouth Command==
- Plymouth Command - Plymouth's operating area covered the western end of the English Channel and the Bristol Channel, and included the primary facility at Devonport Dockyard, plus the smaller facilities at Pembroke Dockyard.
- Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth - Admiral Sir George Egerton
- Admiral Superintendent, Devonport Dockyard - Rear Admiral Godfrey Mundy
- Commodore, Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport - Commodore Thomas Dawson Sheppard
- {{HMS|Opossum|1895|6}} (Tender)
- {{HMS|Ranger|1895|6}} (Tender)
- {{HMS|Sunfish|1895|6}} (Tender)
- The training establishments under Plymouth Command were:
- HMS Defiance - Torpedo school
- {{HMS|Indus|shore establishment|6}} - Mechanical engineering school
- {{HMS|Impregnable|1862 training establishment|6}} - Boys' training school
- {{HMS|Powerful|1895|6}} (Tender)
- 1st Royal Naval Brigade{{efn|group=note|name=brigade|Formed from excess reservists to reinforce the Royal Marine Brigade in Belgium.{{Cite web|title=63rd (Royal Naval) Division|url=https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/63rd-royal-naval-division/|access-date=9 August 2023|website=The Long, Long Trail|language=en-GB}}}}
- Commander - Captain Wilfred Henderson
- 1st (Drake) Battalion
- 2nd (Hawke) Battalion
- 3rd (Benbow) Battalion
- 4th (Collingwood) Battalion
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
- Devonport Home Port vessels{{efn|name=homeport|group=note}}
- {{HMS|Aurora|1913|6}}{{efn|group=note|Aurora was commissioned in September 1914 and assigned as Flotilla Leader of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla}}
- {{HMS|Donegal|1902|6}}
- {{HMS|Pelorus|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Tiger|1913|6}}{{efn|name=tiger|group=note|Tiger was undergoing sea trials, and was commissioned on 3 October, when she was assigned to the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron}}
- Local Defence Flotilla Devonport - Torpedo boats
- {{HMS|TB 050||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 052||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 055||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 058||6}}
- 1st Submarine Flotilla
- {{HMS|Onyx|1892|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|A8||6}}
- {{HMS|A9||6}}
{{div col end}}
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
- Pembroke Home Port vessels{{efn|name=homeport|group=note}}
- {{HMS|Cordelia|1914|6}}{{efn|group=note|Cordelia was undertaking sea trials prior to commissioning in January 1915}}
- Local Defence Flotilla Pembroke - Torpedo boats
- {{HMS|TB 033||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 041||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 045||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 049||6}}
{{div col end}}
==Other home commands==
In addition to the three major geographical commands based around the south of England, there were two other geographical commands with responsibility for other areas of the British Isles:
- Coast of Ireland Command - based at Queenstown:
- Senior Officer on the Coast of Ireland - Vice Admiral Sir Charles Coke
- Coast of Scotland Command - based at Rosyth Dockyard
- Admiral Commanding on the Coast of Scotland - Vice Admiral Sir Robert Lowry
- Flag Officer, Cromarty - Rear Admiral Edmund Pears
A further command, Orkneys & Shetlands, was established on the outbreak of war with the primary purpose of maintaining the Grand Fleet's main operating base at Scapa Flow.
- Commander-in-Chief, Orkneys & Shetlands - Vice Admiral Sir Stanley Colville
- Senior Naval Officer, Scapa - Rear Admiral Francis Miller{{efn|name=miller|group=note}}
=Overseas commands=
In addition to the command level organisations located in the British Isles, the Royal Navy operated a number of bases overseas for the purpose of maintaining its ships deployed outside home waters.
- Mediterranean Sea
- Flag Officer, Gibraltar - Vice Admiral Frederic Brock
- Admiral Superintendent, Malta Dockyard - Rear Admiral Sackville Carden{{efn|group=note|Carden was appointed commander of the newly formed Eastern Mediterranean Squadron on 20 September and was replaced by Vice Admiral Arthur Limpus}}
- China and East Indies
- Rear Admiral-in-Charge, Hong Kong - Rear Admiral Robert Anstruther
=Other commands=
- Royal Yachts - The UK's royal yachts were administered as a separate command.
- Commodore, HM Yachts - Commodore Douglas Nicholson{{efn|group=note|Nicholson was appointed as commanding officer of {{HMS|Agincourt|1913|6}} on 8 August}}
- HMY Victoria and Albert
- HMY Alexandra
- Officer training
- Royal Naval College, Osborne - Initial two years of training conducted at Osborne on the Isle of Wight
- Commandant - Captain The Hon. Herbert Holmes à Court
- {{HMS|Racer|1884|6}} (Tender)
- Royal Naval College, Dartmouth - Following the first two years at Osborne, cadets completed their basic training at Dartmouth in Devon
- Commandant - Captain The Hon. Victor Stanley
=Royal Marines=
The Royal Marines was divided into two elements - the Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI) and the Royal Marine Artillery (RMA). The RMLI was divided into three operational divisions, each based at one of the Royal Navy's major ports in the south. A single division of the Royal Marine Artillery was based in Portsmouth, while the Royal Marines depot was at Deal in Kent. In August 1914, the Royal Marine Brigade was formed from untrained recruits from the depot, reservists and long-service marines, with each division of the RMLI forming a battalion. The brigade was planned for use as a mobile force intended to seize and protect forward naval bases.{{cite web |url=https://rmhistorical.com/files/content/Royal%20Naval%20Division%201914-1919.pdf |title=Jack and Royal in the Trenches (The Royal Naval Division 1914-1919) |last=Manning |first=Alex |date= |website=RM Historical |publisher= |access-date=3 August 2023 |quote=}}{{efn|group=note|The brigade went on to form part of the Royal Naval Division.{{cite web |url=https://www.lightinfantry.org.uk/regiments/rmli/marine_ww1.htm |title=The Royal Naval Division Badges, Units and Order of Battle 1914-19 |author= |date= |website=lightinfantry.org |publisher= |access-date=3 August 2023 |quote=}}}}
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- Royal Marine Depot, Deal
- Royal Marine Depot
- Commandant - Brigadier-General Herbert White{{efn|group=note|name=temp}}
- Second Commandant - Colonel Ernest Chown
- Royal Marine Artillery
- Royal Marine Artillery Division
- Commandant - Brigadier-General Harry Lynch Talbot{{cite web |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/91861394?mode=transcription |title=Royal Marine Artillery |author= |date=August 1914 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher= |access-date=2 August 2023 |quote=}}{{efn|group=note|name=temp}}
- Second Commandant - Colonel Sir George Grey Aston
- Royal Marine Light Infantry
- Chatham Division
- Commandant - Brigadier-General Charles Kennedy{{cite web |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/91883926?mode=transcription |title=Royal Marine Light Infantry Generals |author= |date=August 1914 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher= |access-date=2 August 2023 |quote=}}{{efn|group=note|name=temp|The colonels commandant in the Royal Marines were ranked as colonels until October 1913, when they were upgraded to the rank of brigadier-general.{{cite web |url=https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~pbtyc/genealogy/LondonGazette/RM_Officers_Promotion.html |title=Senior RM Officers - Promotion |author= |date=17 October 1913 |website=Roots Web |publisher=London Gazette |access-date=2 August 2023 |quote= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810121719/http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/LondonGazette/RM_Officers_Promotion.html |archive-date=10 August 2017}}}}
- Second Commandant - Colonel Alfred Marchant
- Plymouth Division
- Commandant - Brigadier-General Charles Gordon{{efn|group=note|name=temp}}
- Second Commandant - Colonel Charles Trotman
- Portsmouth Division
- Commandant - Brigadier-General Edward Roe{{efn|group=note|name=temp}}
- Second Commandant - Colonel Ernest Curtoys
- Royal Marine Brigade
- Commander - Brigadier-General Archibald Paris{{efn|group=note|Paris was promoted to Major-General and assigned to command the Royal Naval Division in September.}}
- 9th (Chatham) Battalion, RMLI
- 10th (Portsmouth) Battalion, RMLI
- 11th (Plymouth) Battalion, RMLI
- A Battalion, RMA{{efn|group=note|A Battalion was replaced by a new RMLI battalion formed from the depot and named as 12th (Deal) Battalion in September.}}
{{div col end}}
Grand Fleet
File:John Jellicoe, Admiral of the Fleet.jpg
The Grand Fleet was the primary strike force of the Royal Navy, and was established on the outbreak of war from the First Fleet and elements of the Second Fleet, which were two of the three major formations of the Home Fleets. The primary elements of the Grand Fleet were four battle squadrons, to which all of the Royal Navy's dreadnought battleships, plus a number of older pre-dreadnoughts were assigned. Upon its establishment, the Grand Fleet was under the command of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe.
=Battle squadrons=
- Commander-in-Chief - Admiral Sir John Jellicoe{{efn||name=jellicoe|group=note}}
- {{HMS|Iron Duke|1912|6}} (Fleet Flagship){{efn|name=flagship|group=note|During a full mobilisation of the battle fleet, Iron Duke was attached to the 4th Battle Squadron}}
- {{HMS|Sappho|1891|6}} (Despatch vessel)
- {{HMS|Oak|1912|6}} (Tender)
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- 1st Battle SquadronDittmar, F.J & Colledge J.J., British Warships 1914–1919 Ian Allan, London. 1972; {{ISBN|0-7110-0380-7}}
- Commander - Vice Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly{{efn|name=bayly|group=note|Bayly and Burney swapped commands in December, with Bayly appointed as commander-in-chief of the Channel Fleet, and Burney assuming command of the 1st Battle Squadron}}
- Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Hugh Evan-Thomas
- {{HMS|Marlborough|1912|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|St. Vincent|1908|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Hercules|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Superb|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|Vanguard|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Neptune|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Collingwood|1908|6}}
- {{HMS|Colossus|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Cyclops|F31|6}} (Repair ship)
- 2nd Battle Squadron
- Commander - Vice Admiral Sir George Warrender
- Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot
- {{HMS|King George V|1911|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Orion|1910|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Ajax|1912|6}}
- {{HMS|Audacious|1912|6}}{{efn|name=audacious|group=note|Audacious sank having struck a mine on 27 October 1914}}
- {{HMS|Centurion|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Conqueror|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Monarch|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Thunderer|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Assistance|1900|6}} (Repair ship)
- 3rd Battle Squadron{{efn|group=note|The 3rd Battle Squadron was primarily tasked with providing heavy support to the Northern Patrol}}
- Commander - Vice Admiral Sir Edward Bradford
- Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Montague Browning
- {{HMS|King Edward VII||6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Hibernia|1905|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Africa|1905|6}}
- {{HMS|Britannia|1904|6}}
- {{HMS|Commonwealth|1903|6}}
- {{HMS|Dominion|1903|6}}
- {{HMS|Hindustan|1903|6}}
- HMS Zealandia
- 4th Battle Squadron{{efn|name=erin|group=note|{{HMS|Erin||2}} joined the 4th Battle Squadron on 5 September 1914}}{{efn|group=note|{{HMS|Benbow|1913|2}} and {{HMS|Emperor of India||2}} were working up at the start of the war and joined the 4th Battle Squadron in December}}{{efn|group=note|name=Duff}}
- Commander - Vice Admiral Douglas Gamble
- {{HMS|Dreadnought|1906|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Agincourt|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Bellerophon|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|Temeraire|1907|6}}
- Scout cruisers
- Each battle squadron had an attached scout cruiser for signal repeating duties
- {{HMS|Bellona|1909|6}} (1st Battle Squadron)
- {{HMS|Boadicea|1908|6}} (2nd Battle Squadron)
- {{HMS|Blanche|1909|6}} (3rd Battle Squadron)
- {{HMS|Blonde|1910|6}} (4th Battle Squadron)
- Destroyers
- The 1st and 2nd Battle Squadrons had a force of attached destroyers for close protection
- {{HMS|Arun|1903|6}} (1st Battle Squadron)
- {{HMS|Boyne|1904|6}} (2nd Battle Squadron)
- {{HMS|Cherwell||6}} (2nd Battle Squadron)
- {{HMS|Dee|1903|6}} (1st Battle Squadron)
- {{HMS|Erne|1903|6}} (2nd Battle Squadron)
- {{HMS|Exe|1903|6}} (2nd Battle Squadron)
- {{HMS|Swale|1905|6}} (1st Battle Squadron)
- {{HMS|Ure||6}} (1st Battle Squadron)
{{div col end}}
=Cruiser squadrons=
File:Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty.jpg
The Grand Fleet's battlecruiser and cruiser squadrons operated under the name Cruiser Force A, with Vice Admiral David Beatty in overall command of the Grand Fleet's cruisers.
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- 1st Battlecruiser Squadron{{efn|name=tiger|group=note}}
- Commander - Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty
- {{HMS|Lion|1910|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Princess Royal|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Queen Mary||6}}
- {{HMS|New Zealand|1911|6}}{{efn|group=note|New Zealand was transferred to the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron in mid-August 1914, before returning to the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron in September}}
- 2nd Cruiser Squadron
- Commander - Vice Admiral Somerset Gough-Calthorpe
- {{HMS|Shannon|1906|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Achilles|1905|6}}
- {{HMS|Cochrane|1905|6}}
- {{HMS|Natal||6}}
- 3rd Cruiser Squadron
- Commander - Rear Admiral William Pakenham
- {{HMS|Antrim|1903|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Argyll|1904|6}}
- {{HMS|Devonshire|1904|6}}
- {{HMS|Roxburgh|1904|6}}
- 6th Cruiser Squadron{{efn|group=note|name=kingalfred}}
- Commander - Rear Admiral William Grant
- {{HMS|Drake|1901|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Good Hope|1901|6}}{{efn|name=goodhope|group=note|Good Hope was transferred to the 4th Cruiser Squadron on 14th August, and assumed the role of flagship from Suffolk}}
- {{HMS|Leviathan|1901|6}}
- 1st Light Cruiser Squadron
- Commander - Commodore William Goodenough
- {{HMS|Southampton|1912|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Birmingham|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Falmouth|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Liverpool|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Lowestoft|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Nottingham|1913|6}}
{{div col end}}
=Destroyer flotillas=
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- 2nd Destroyer Flotilla
- {{HMS|Active|1911|6}} - Flotilla Leader
- {{HMS|Blake|1889|6}} - Depot ship
- {{HMS|Acorn|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Alarm|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Brisk|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Cameleon|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Comet|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Fury|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Goldfinch|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Hope|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Larne|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Lyra|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Martin|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Minstrel|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Nemesis|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Nereide|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Nymphe|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Redpole|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Rifleman|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Ruby|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Sheldrake|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Staunch|1910|6}}
- 4th Destroyer Flotilla
- {{HMS|Swift|1907|6}} - Flotilla Leader
- {{HMS|Hecla|1878|6}} - Depot ship
- {{HMS|Ambuscade|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Shark|1912|6}}
- {{HMS|Christopher|1912|6}}
- {{HMS|Acasta|1912|6}}
- {{HMS|Sparrowhawk|1912|6}}
- {{HMS|Cockatrice|1912|6}}
- {{HMS|Achates|1912|6}}
- {{HMS|Spitfire|1912|6}}
- {{HMS|Contest|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Lynx|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Owl|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Midge|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Paragon|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Garland|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Fortune|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Porpoise|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Ardent|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Unity|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Hardy|1912|6}}
- {{HMS|Victor|1913|6}}
- Minesweepers
- {{HMS|Leda|1892|6}}
- {{HMS|Jason|1892|6}}
- {{HMS|Gossamer|1890|6}}
- {{HMS|Circe|1892|6}}
- {{HMS|Seagull|1889|6}}
- {{HMS|Speedwell|1889|6}}
{{div col end}}
Channel Fleet
File:Vice Admiral Cecil Burney (7307714298).jpg
File:HMS Lord Nelson IWM Q 021459.jpg
The Channel Fleet was formed from the remaining vessels of the Home Fleets that were not turned over to the Grand Fleet. The intention of the Channel Fleet was to serve as a defensive formation to protect the lines of communication between the United Kingdom and France for the British Expeditionary Force, and deny the German Navy access into the English Channel. The Channel Fleet also had a number of attached cruiser squadrons responsible for patrolling to the west of the British Isles.
=Battle squadrons=
- Commander-in-Chief - Vice Admiral Sir Cecil Burney{{efn|name=bayly|group=note}}
- {{HMS|Lord Nelson|1906|6}} (Fleet Flagship){{efn|name=flagship1|group=note|During a full mobilisation, Lord Nelson was attached to the 5th Battle Squadron}}
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- 5th Battle Squadron
- Commander - Vice Admiral Bernard Currey
- Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Cecil Thursby
- {{HMS|Prince of Wales|1902|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Queen|1902|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Agamemnon|1906|6}}
- {{HMS|Bulwark|1899|6}}
- {{HMS|London|1899|6}}
- {{HMS|Venerable|1899|6}}
- {{HMS|Formidable|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Implacable|1899|6}}
- {{HMS|Irresistible|1898|6}}
- 6th Battle Squadron{{efn|name=sixth|group=note|The ships of the 6th Battle Squadron were transferred to the Grand Fleet in August 1914 to reinforce the Northern Patrol}}
- Commander - Rear Admiral Stuart Nicholson
- {{HMS|Russell|1901|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Albemarle|1901|6}}
- {{HMS|Cornwallis|1901|6}}
- {{HMS|Duncan|1901|6}}
- {{HMS|Exmouth|1901|6}}
- 8th Battle Squadron{{efn|name=eighth1|group=note|The 8th Battle Squadron was formed at the beginning of August 1914 by the amalgamation of the 7th and 8th Battle Squadrons}}{{efn|name=eighth2|group=note|The 8th Battle Squadron was broken up in late August 1914 with the majority of its ships sent to reinforce cruiser squadrons on trade protection duties}}
- Commander - Vice Admiral The Hon Alexander Bethell
- Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Henry Tottenham
- {{HMS|Prince George|1895|6}}{{efn|name=seventhb|group=note}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Albion|1898|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Vengeance|1899|6}}
- {{HMS|Ocean|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Caesar|1896|6}}{{efn|name=seventhb|group=note|Formerly part of 7th Battle Squadron}}
- {{HMS|Goliath|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Canopus|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Glory|1899|6}}
- {{HMS|Jupiter|1895|6}}
- {{HMS|Majestic|1895|6}}{{efn|name=seventhb|group=note}}
- {{HMS|Illustrious|1896|6}}{{efn|name=seventhb|group=note}}{{efn|name=illustrious|group=note|Illustrious was sent to serve as guard ship at Loch Ewe at the end of August}}
- 9th Battle Squadron{{efn|name=ninth1|group=note|The 9th Battle Squadron was disbanded as a formation in early August 1914, and its ships used operationally as guard ships}}
- Commander - Rear Admiral Francis Miller{{efn|name=miller|group=note|Miller, as Rear Admiral in Command at Scapa Flow, took responsibility for the guard ships of the 9th Battle Squadron with his flag in Hannibal}}
- {{HMS|Hannibal|1896|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Magnificent|1894|6}}
- {{HMS|Mars|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Victorious|1895|6}}
- Scout cruisers
- Cruisers attached to battle squadrons for signal relaying
- {{HMS|Topaze|1903|6}} (5th Battle Squadron)
- {{HMS|Diamond|1904|6}} (6th Battle Squadron)
- {{HMS|Sapphire|1904|6}}{{efn|name=seventhb|group=note}} (8th Battle Squadron)
- {{HMS|Proserpine|1896|6}} (8th Battle Squadron)
{{div col end}}
=Cruiser forces=
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- 4th Cruiser Squadron{{efn|name=fourth|group=note|Although nominally attached to the Channel Fleet, the 4th Cruiser Squadron was primarily responsible for the former North America and West Indies Station}}
- Commander - Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock
- {{HMS|Suffolk|1903|6}} (Flagship){{efn|name=goodhope|group=note}}
- {{HMS|Berwick|1902|6}}
- {{HMS|Essex|1901|6}}
- {{HMS|Lancaster|1902|6}}
- {{HMS|Bristol|1910|6}}
- 5th Cruiser Squadron{{efn|name=fifth|group=note|The 5th Cruiser Squadron was redesignated as Cruiser Force D and assigned to patrol the Atlantic off north-west Africa}}
- Commander - Rear Admiral Archibald Stoddart
- {{HMS|Carnarvon||6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Cornwall|1902|6}}
- {{HMS|Cumberland|1902|6}}
- {{HMS|Monmouth|1901|6}}
- 9th Cruiser Squadron{{efn|name=ninth|group=note|The 9th Cruiser Squadron was redesignated as Cruiser Force I and assigned to patrol the Atlantic off north-west Africa}}
- Commander - Rear Admiral John de Robeck
- {{HMS|Amphitrite|1898|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Argonaut|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Europa|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Highflyer|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Vindictive|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Challenger|1902|6}}
- 11th Cruiser Squadron{{efn|name=eleventh|group=note|The 11th Cruiser Squadron was redesignated as Cruiser Force E and assigned to patrol off the west coast of Ireland}}
- Commander - Rear Admiral Robert Phipps Hornby
- {{HMS|Doris|1896|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Juno|1895|6}}
- {{HMS|Isis|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Venus|1895|6}}
- {{HMS|Minerva|1895|6}}
- 12th Cruiser Squadron{{efn|name=twelfth|group=note|The 12th Cruiser Squadron was redesignated as Cruiser Force G and assigned to patrol the Western Channel}}
- Commander - Rear Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss
- {{HMS|Charybdis|1893|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Diana|1895|6}}
- {{HMS|Eclipse|1894|6}}
- {{HMS|Talbot|1895|6}}
- Minelayer Squadron
- {{HMS|Andromache|1890|6}}
- {{HMS|Apollo|1891|6}}
- {{HMS|Intrepid|1891|6}}
- {{HMS|Iphigenia|1891|6}}
- {{HMS|Latona|1890|6}}
- {{HMS|Naiad|1890|6}}
- {{HMS|Thetis|1890|6}}
{{div col end}}
Other forces in home waters
=Northern Patrol=
- 10th Cruiser Squadron{{efn|name=tenth|group=note|The 10th Cruiser Squadron was formed by redesignating the Training Squadron stationed at Queenstown}}{{efn|name=tenth2|group=note|All ships were replaced by Armed Merchant Cruisers in December 1914}}
- Commander - Rear Admiral Dudley de Chair
- {{HMS|Crescent|1892|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Edgar|1890|6}}
- {{HMS|Endymion|1891|6}}
- {{HMS|Gibraltar|1892|6}}
- {{HMS|Grafton|1892|6}}
- {{HMS|Hawke|1891|6}}{{efn|name=hawke|group=note|Hawke was sunk on 15 October}}
- {{HMS|Royal Arthur|1891|6}}
- {{HMS|Theseus|1892|6}}
=East Coast=
- Admiral of Patrols - Commodore George Ballard
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- 6th Destroyer Flotilla (Dover){{efn|group=note|The 6th Destroyer Flotilla was removed from the command of the Admiral of Patrols and transferred to the newly established Dover Patrol in October 1914}}
- {{HMS|Attentive|1904|6}} - Flotilla Leader
- {{HMS|Adventure|1904|6}} - Attached cruiser
- {{HMS|Foresight|1904|6}} - Attached cruiser
- {{HMS|Afridi|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|Amazon|1908|6}}
- {{HMS|Cossack|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|Crusader|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Ghurka|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|Maori|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Mohawk|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|Nubian|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Saracen|1908|6}}
- {{HMS|Tartar|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|Viking|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Zubian||6}}
- {{HMS|Zulu|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Myrmidon|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Syren|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Kangaroo|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Crane|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Fawn|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Flirt|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Greyhound|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Racehorse|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Falcon|1899|6}}
- {{HMS|Leven|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Gipsy|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Mermaid|1898|6}}
- 7th Destroyer Flotilla (Humber)
- {{HMS|Skirmisher|1905|6}} - Flotilla Leader
- {{HMS|Albatross|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Avon|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Dove|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Violet|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Sylvia|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Leopard|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Vixen|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Arab|1901|6}}
- {{HMS|Bullfinch|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Earnest|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Lively|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Locust|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Orwell|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Panther|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Quail|1895|6}}
- {{HMS|Seal|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Sprightly|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Success|1901|6}}
- {{HMS|Thorn|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Thrasher|1895|6}}
- {{HMS|Wolf|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 1|1906|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 2|1906|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 3|1906|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 4|1906|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 5|1906|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 13|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 14|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 15|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 16|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 21|1908|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 22|1908|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 24|1908|6}}
- 8th Destroyer Flotilla (Rosyth)
- {{HMS|Pathfinder|1904|6}} - Flotilla Leader{{efn|name=pathfinder|group=note|Pathfinder was sunk on 5 September 1914}}
- {{HMS|Aquarius|1900|6}} - Depot ship
- {{HMS|Tyne|1878|6}} - Depot ship
- {{HMS|Albacore|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Peterel|1899|6}}
- {{HMS|Express|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Cheerful|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Osprey|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Ostrich|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Vigilant|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Mallard|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Stag|1899|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 25|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 26|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 27|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 28|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 29|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 30|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 31|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 32|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 34|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 35|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|TB 36|1910|6}}
- 9th Destroyer Flotilla (Nore)
- {{HMS|Patrol|1904|6}} - Flotilla Leader
- {{HMS|St George|1892|6}} - Depot ship
- {{HMS|Derwent|1903|6}}
- {{HMS|Eden|1903|6}}
- {{HMS|Waveney|1903|6}}
- {{HMS|Doon|1904|6}}
- {{HMS|Kale|1904|6}}
- {{HMS|Ouse|1905|6}}
- {{HMS|Stour|1905|6}}
- {{HMS|Test|1905|6}}
- {{HMS|Ness|1905|6}}
- {{HMS|Nith|1905|6}}
- {{HMS|Ettrick|1903|6}}
- {{HMS|Rother|1904|6}}
- {{HMS|Itchen|1903|6}}
- {{HMS|Moy|1904|6}}
- {{HMS|Foyle||6}}
- {{HMS|Teviot|1903|6}}
- Shetland Patrol Force{{efn|group=note|The Shetland Patrol Force was administered as part of the 9th Destroyer Flotilla}}
- {{HMS|Forward|1904|6}} - Flotilla Leader
- {{HMS|Bat||6}}
- {{HMS|Fairy|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Flying Fish|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Star|1896|6}}
{{div col end}}
=Harwich Force=
File:Adm. Sir R. Tyrwhitt LCCN2014716217.jpg
File:HMS Amethyst 1906 IWM Q 20944.jpg
The Harwich Force was formed in April 1914 and was intended to serve as a southern wing of the Grand Fleet, primarily consisting of light forces. In the first few months of the war, elements of the Harwich Force were subordinated to the Southern Force.
- Commander, Destroyer Flotillas - Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt{{efn|name=Tyrwhitt|group=note|Commodore Tyrwhitt was in overall command of the Grand Fleet's destroyers}}
- {{HMS|Amethyst|1903|6}}{{efn|name=arethusa|group=note}} (Flagship)
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- 1st Destroyer Flotilla{{efn|name=138harwich|group=note|The 1st and 3rd Destroyer Flotillas and 8th Submarine Flotilla were detached for operations with the Southern Force}}
- {{HMS|Fearless|1912|6}} - Flotilla Leader
- {{HMS|Woolwich|1912|6}} - Depot ship
- {{HMS|Acheron|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Archer|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Ariel|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Attack|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Badger|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Beaver|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Defender|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Druid|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Ferret|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Forester|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Goshawk|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Hind|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Hornet|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Hydra|1912|6}}
- {{HMS|Jackal|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Lapwing|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Lizard|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Phoenix|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Sandfly|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Tigress|1911|6}}
- 3rd Destroyer Flotilla{{efn|name=138harwich|group=note}}
- {{HMS|Amphion|1911|6}} - Flotilla Leader
- {{HMS|Dido|1896|6}} - Depot ship
- {{HMS|Laertes|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Laforey|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Lance|1914|6}}
- {{HMS|Landrail|1914|6}}
- {{HMS|Lark|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Laurel|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Lawford|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Legion|1914|6}}
- {{HMS|Lennox|1914|6}}
- {{HMS|Liberty|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Linnet|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Llewellyn|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Louis|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Loyal|1913|6}}
- {{HMS|Lydiard|1914|6}}
- {{HMS|Lysander|1913|6}}
- 8th Submarine Flotilla{{efn|name=138harwich|group=note}}
- {{HMS|Firedrake|1912|6}} (Flotilla leader)
- {{HMS|Maidstone|1912|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|Adamant|1911|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|D1||6}}
- {{HMS|D2||6}}
- {{HMS|D3||6}}
- {{HMS|D4||6}}
- {{HMS|D5||6}}
- {{HMS|D6||6}}
- {{HMS|D7||6}}
- {{HMS|D8||6}}
- {{HMS|E1||6}}
- {{HMS|E2||6}}
- {{HMS|E3||6}}
- {{HMS|E4||6}}
- {{HMS|E5||6}}
- {{HMS|E6||6}}
- {{HMS|E7||6}}
- {{HMS|E8||6}}
- {{HMS|E9||6}}
- Seaplane carriers{{efn|name=carrier|group=note|In August 1914, three passenger steamers belonging to the South Eastern and Chatham Railway were requisitioned and converted for use as seaplane tenders; these were subsequently assigned to the Harwich Force}}
- {{HMS|Engadine|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Empress|1914|6}}
- {{HMS|Riviera||6}}
{{div col end}}
=Southern Force=
The Southern Force (also known as the "Combined Force") was formed in August 1914 around a cruiser squadron, with support from elements of the Harwich Force, and was intended to operate off the East Coast, protecting the coast of Belgium and communication channels to France.Corbett. Naval Operations. I. pp. 81-82.{{efn|name=138harwich|group=note}}
- Force Commander - Rear Admiral Arthur Christian
- {{HMS|Euryalus|1901|6}} (Flagship)
- 7th Cruiser Squadron{{efn|group=note|The 7th Cruiser Squadron was divided into two separate "cruiser forces" - Cruiser Force C consisted of Euryalus, Bacchante, Aboukir and Cressy, while Cruiser Force F consisted of Hogue and Sutlej}}{{efn|name=seventh|group=note|The 7th Cruiser Squadron was disbanded following the loss of Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue in September 1914}}
- Commander - Rear Admiral Henry Campbell
- {{HMS|Bacchante|1901|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Aboukir|1900|6}}{{efn|name=livebait|group=note|Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue were sunk on 22 September}}
- {{HMS|Cressy|1899|6}}{{efn|name=livebait|group=note}}
- {{HMS|Hogue|1900|6}}{{efn|name=livebait|group=note}}
- {{HMS|Sutlej|1899|6}}
=Submarine flotillas=
- Commodore, Submarine Service - Commodore Roger Keyes
- {{HMS|Lurcher|1912|6}} (Flagship)
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- 3rd Submarine Flotilla
- {{HMS|Forth|1886|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|B3||6}}
- {{HMS|B4||6}}
- {{HMS|B5||6}}
- {{HMS|C14||6}}
- {{HMS|C15||6}}
- {{HMS|C16||6}}
- 4th Submarine Flotilla
- {{HMS|Arrogant|1896|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|Hazard|1894|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|C17||6}}
- {{HMS|C18||6}}
- {{HMS|C31||6}}
- {{HMS|C32||6}}
- {{HMS|C33||6}}
- {{HMS|C34||6}}
- {{HMS|C35||6}}
- 5th Submarine Flotilla
- {{HMS|Thames|1885|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|C1||6}}
- {{HMS|C2||6}}
- {{HMS|C3||6}}
- {{HMS|C4||6}}
- {{HMS|C5||6}}
- {{HMS|C6||6}}
- 6th Submarine Flotilla
- {{HMS|Bonaventure|1892|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|Hebe|1892|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|C7||6}}
- {{HMS|C8||6}}
- {{HMS|C9||6}}
- {{HMS|C10||6}}
- {{HMS|C12||6}}
- {{HMS|C13||6}}
- 7th Submarine Flotilla
- {{HMS|Alecto|1911|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|Vulcan|1889|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|C19||6}}
- {{HMS|C20||6}}
- {{HMS|C21||6}}
- {{HMS|C22||6}}
- {{HMS|C23||6}}
- {{HMS|C24||6}}
- {{HMS|C25||6}}
- {{HMS|C26||6}}
- {{HMS|C27||6}}
- {{HMS|C28||6}}
- {{HMS|C29||6}}
- {{HMS|C30||6}}
- 9th Submarine Flotilla
- {{HMS|Pactolus|1896|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|Bonetta|1907|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|A10||6}}
- {{HMS|A11||6}}
- {{HMS|A12||6}}
{{div col end}}
=Other ships=
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- Coastguard vessels
- {{HMS|Squirrel|1904|6}}
- {{HMS|Watchful|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Thrush|1889|6}}
- {{HMS|Argus|1904|6}}
- HMS Thrush
- Survey ships
- {{HMS|Hearty|1885|6}}
- {{HMS|Triton|1882|6}}
- {{HMS|Research|1888|6}}
- {{HMS|Endeavour|1912|6}}
- {{HMS|Esther|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Daisy|1911|6}}
- Other ships
- HMY Enchantress
{{div col end}}
Overseas units
=Mediterranean Fleet=
{{main|Mediterranean Fleet}}
File:AdmiralArchibaldMilne.jpg
File:HMSInflexibleQ 039249.jpg
- Commander-in-Chief - Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne
- {{HMS|Inflexible|1907|6}} (Fleet Flagship){{efn|group=note|Inflexible operated as part of the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron}}
- {{HMS|Hussar|1894|6}} (Despatch vessel)
- {{HMS|Imogene|1882|6}} (Despatch vessel)
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron{{efn|name=Invincible|group=note}}{{efn|group=note|Rear Admiral Gordon Moore was appointed as commander of the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron from 1 September 1914, but raised his flag in Invincible on 12 August. The 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron was transferred from the Mediterranean Fleet to Cruiser Force A, initially with Invincible and New Zealand, in mid-August 1914; Inflexible replaced New Zealand from September, while Indomitable and Indefatigable were retained in the Mediterranean until November}}
- {{HMS|Indomitable|1907|6}}
- {{HMS|Indefatigable|1909|6}}
- 1st Cruiser Squadron
- Commander - Rear Admiral Ernest Troubridge
- {{HMS|Defence|1907|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Duke of Edinburgh||6}}
- {{HMS|Black Prince|1904|6}}
- {{HMS|Warrior|1905|6}}
- Light cruisers
- The light cruisers assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet were not assigned to a particular squadron
- {{HMS|Chatham|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Dublin|1912|6}}
- {{HMS|Gloucester|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Weymouth|1910|6}}{{efn|group=note|Weymouth was detached from the Mediterranean Fleet in August and sent to the East Indies station to assist in the hunt for the German light cruiser {{SMS|Emden||2}}}}
- 5th Destroyer Flotilla
- {{HMS|Blenheim|1890|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMS|Basilisk|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Beagle|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Bulldog|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Foxhound|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Grasshopper|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Harpy|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Mosquito|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Grampus|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Pincher|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Racoon|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Rattlesnake|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Renard|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Savage|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Scorpion|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Scourge|1910|6}}
- {{HMS|Wolverine|1910|6}}
- Torpedo Boat Flotilla
- Stationed at Malta
- {{HMS|TB 043||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 044||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 046||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 063||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 064||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 070||6}}
- Stationed at Gibraltar
- {{HMS|TB 83||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 88||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 89||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 90||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 91||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 92||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 93||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 94||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 95||6}}
- {{HMS|TB 96||6}}
- Mediterranean Submarine Flotilla
- Stationed at Gibraltar
- {{HMS|B6||6}}
- {{HMS|B7||6}}
- {{HMS|B8||6}}
- Stationed at Malta
- {{HMS|B9||6}}
- {{HMS|B10||6}}
- {{HMS|B11||6}}
{{div col end}}
=China Station=
{{main|China Station}}
File:The Royal Navy on the China Station, 1912-1914. HU64343.jpg
File:Armoured cruiser HMS Minotaur - IWM Q 75288.jpg
- Commander-in-Chief - Vice Admiral Sir Martyn Jerram
- {{HMS|Minotaur|1906|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Triumph|1903|6}}
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- Cruisers
- {{HMS|Hampshire|1903|6}}
- {{HMS|Yarmouth|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Newcastle|1909|6}}
- HMS Alacrity
- Destroyers
- {{HMS|Colne||6}}
- {{HMS|Kennet||6}}
- {{HMS|Ribble|1904|6}}
- {{HMS|Usk|1903|6}}
- {{HMS|Welland||6}}
- {{HMS|Chelmer|1904|6}}
- {{HMS|Fame|1896|6}}
- {{HMS|Jed|1904|6}}
- Sloops
- {{HMS|Cadmus|1903|6}}
- {{HMS|Clio|1903|6}}
- {{HMS|Rosario|1898|6}}
- Gunboats
- {{HMS|Bramble|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Britomart|1899|6}}
- {{HMS|Thistle|1899|6}}
- River gunboats
- {{HMS|Moorhen|1901|6}}
- {{HMS|Kinsha||6}}
- {{HMS|Nightingale|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Snipe|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Woodcock|1898|6}}
- {{HMS|Teal||6}}
- {{HMS|Widgeon|1904|6}}
- {{HMS|Robin|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Sandpiper|1897|6}}
{{div col end}}
=East Indies Station=
{{main|East Indies Station}}
- Commander-in-Chief - Rear Admiral Sir Richard Peirse
- {{HMS|Swiftsure|1903|6}} (Flagship)
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- Cruisers
- {{HMS|Dartmouth|1911|6}}
- {{HMS|Fox|1893|6}}
- Sloops
- {{HMS|Alert|1894|6}}
- {{HMS|Espiegle|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Odin|1901|6}}
- Other vessels
- {{HMS|Sphinx|1882|6}}
{{div col end}}
=Other overseas stations=
In addition to the major overseas forces, the Royal Navy had a number of other smaller stations with two or three ships assigned.
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- New Zealand Naval Forces
- Naval Adviser to the New Zealand Government - Captain Percival Hall-Thompson
- {{HMS|Philomel|1890|6}}
- {{HMS|Pyramus|1897|6}}
- {{HMS|Torch|1894|6}}
- Cape of Good Hope Station
- Commander-in-Chief - Vice Admiral Herbert King-Hall
- {{HMS|Hyacinth|1898|6}} (Flagship)
- {{HMS|Astraea|1893|6}}
- {{HMS|Pegasus|1897|6}}{{efn|group=note|Pegasus was sunk on 20 September 1914}}
- West Africa and South Atlantic
- {{HMS|Glasgow|1909|6}}
- {{HMS|Dwarf|1898|6}}
- West Coast of America
- {{HMS|Shearwater|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Algerine|1895|6}}
- Survey ships
- {{HMS|Fantome|1901|6}}{{efn|group=note|Fantome was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in November 1914}}
- {{HMS|Merlin|1901|6}}
- {{HMS|Mutine|1900|6}}
- {{HMS|Sealark|1903|6}}
{{div col end}}
=Australian fleet=
{{main|Royal Australian Navy}}
- First Naval Member, Australian Commonwealth Naval Board - Rear Admiral Sir William Creswell
- Rear Admiral Commanding HM Australian Fleet - Rear Admiral Sir George Patey
- {{HMAS|Australia|1911|6}} (Fleet Flagship)
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- Cruisers
- {{HMAS|Sydney|1912|6}}
- {{HMAS|Melbourne|1912|6}}
- {{HMAS|Pioneer||6}}
- {{HMAS|Encounter|1902|6}}
- {{HMAS|Psyche|1898|6}}{{efn|group=note|Psyche was attached to the New Zealand Naval Forces on the outbreak of war}}
- Destroyers
- {{HMAS|Warrego|D70|6}}
- {{HMAS|Parramatta|D55|6}}
- {{HMAS|Yarra|D79|6}}
- Submarines
- {{HMAS|Protector|1884|6}} (Depot ship)
- {{HMAS|AE1||6}}
- {{HMAS|AE2||6}}
- Other vessels
- {{HMAS|Cerberus|1868|6}}
- HMAS Childers
- HMAS Gordon
- HMAS Countess of Hopetoun
- HMAS Paluma
- HMAS Gayundah
{{div col end}}
=Canadian fleet=
{{main|Royal Canadian Navy}}
- Director of the Naval Service - Rear Admiral Charles Kingsmill
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
- Cruisers
- {{HMCS|Rainbow|1891|6}}
- HMCS Niobe
- Patrol vessels
- {{HMCS|Canada||6}}{{efn|name=cgs|group=note|Transferred from the Fisheries Protection Service to the Royal Canadian Navy in August 1914}}
- {{HMCS|Margaret||6}}{{efn|name=cgs|group=note}}
- Submarines
- {{HMCS|CC-1||6}}
- {{HMCS|CC-2||6}}
{{div col end}}
Notes
{{reflist|group=note}}
References
{{Reflist}}