12th Destroyer Flotilla

The British 12th Destroyer Flotilla also known as the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from November 1915 to March 1919 and again from September 1939 to 2 July 1943.

12th Destroyer Flotilla
Active	(1915-1919), (1939-1943)
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Size	Flotilla
Commanders
First	Captain Herbert Meade

History

World War One

The flotilla was first formed in November 1915 and was assigned to the Grand Fleet.[1] Between 31 May and 1 June 1916 it was present at the Battle of Jutland then commanded by Captain Anselan J. B. Stirling.[2] It remained with the Grand Fleet until November 1918 and was disbanded in March 1919.[3]

Second World War

In September 1939 the flotilla was re-established and allocated to the Western Approaches Command and stationed at Portland till December 1939 when it was reassigned to the Home Fleet till May 1941 when its ships were dispersed among other formations.[4] It reformed again on 29 January 1943 as part of the Mediterranean Fleet and was part of forces covering the East Mediterranean area till 2 July 1943 when it was abolished.[5]

Administration

Captains (D) afloat 12th Destroyer Flotilla

Incomplete list of post holders included:[6]

	Rank	Name	Term	Notes
Captain (D) afloat 12th Destroyer Flotilla
1	Captain	The Hon. Herbert Meade	8 December 1915– 19 April 1916	later Adm.
2	Captain	Anselan Stirling	20 April 1916 – 12 October 1918	commanded at Battle of Jutland, later Adm.
3	Captain	Rowland H. Bather	12 October 1918 – 24 November 1918	later Radm.
4	Captain	William S. Leveson-Gower	24 November 1918 – 1 January 1919	later Radm.

Composition

Included:[7]
, Western Approaches Command September 1939

12th Destroyer Flotilla

• HMS Exmouth (Leader)

Division 23

• HMS Eclipse
• HMS Electra

Division 24

• HMS Encounter
• HMS Escapade
• HMS Escort

References

1. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 27 October 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
2. Willmott, H. P. (2009). The Last Century of Sea Power, Volume 1: From Port Arthur to Chanak, 1894–1922. Bloomington, Indiana, USA: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253003563.
3. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 27 October 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
4. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
5. Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
6. Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 19 April 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
7. Kindell, Don. "ROYAL NAVY SHIPS, SEPTEMBER 1939". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 9 April 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

Sources

• Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2018) "Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 29 May 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
• Kindell, Don. (2012) "ROYAL NAVY SHIPS, SEPTEMBER 1939". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
• Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. G. Smith.
• Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1919-1938". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
• Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
• Willmott, H. P. (2009). The Last Century of Sea Power, Volume 1: From Port Arthur to Chanak, 1894–1922. Bloomington, IN, USA: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253003563.