5th Destroyer Flotilla

5th Destroyer Flotilla
HMS Jersey astern of HMS Kashmir of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla in 1940 or 1941.
Active	February, 1910–1942, 1947-1951
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Size	Flotilla
Commanders
First	Captain Herbert E. Holmes-à-Court
Last	Captain Llewellyn V. Morgan
Notable commanders	Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten

The British 5th Destroyer Flotilla, or Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from 1910 to 1942 and again from 1947 to 1951.

History

The flotilla was formed in February 1910 and disbanded in 1942. Its first commander was Captain Herbert E. Holmes-à-Court and its final pre-war commander was Captain Llewellyn V. Morgan. It was reformed in June 1939 under the command of Captain Louis Mountbatten and was composed of new J- and K-class destroyers which were still under construction. The flottila participated in the Norwegian campaign and Operation Medium, the bombardment of Cherbourg in October 1940, transferring to the Mediterranean in April 1941. By the end of May 1941, the ships of the "Fighting Fifth" had been either dispersed or sunk during the Battle of Crete. The flotilla was briefly reformed at Alexandria composed of Hunt-class destroyers.

The flotilla was reactivated in March 1947 until December 1951. In 1951 which led to the creation of three specific Flag Officers, Flotillas responsible for the Eastern, Home and Mediterranean fleets the existing destroyer flotillas were re-organized now as administrative squadrons. In January 1952 it was re-designated 5th Destroyer Squadron.

Operational deployments

Captains (D) afloat 5th Destroyer Flotilla

Incomplete list of post holders included:

• Captain Herbert Edward Holmes à Court, 8 February 1910
• Captain Noel Grant, 20 December 1910 – 20 December 1912
• Captain Edward G. Lowther-Crofton, 1 May 1912] – 27 January 1914
• Captain Charles P. R. Coode, 1 February 1914 – 15 May 1917
• Captain F. Clifton Brown, 30 May 1917 – 15 August 1917
• Captain George Chetwode, 15 August 1917
• Captain Kerrison Kiddle, 1 March 1919 – 1 October 1919
• Captain Theodore E. J. Bigg, 25 June 1921 – 16 August 1922
• Captain Cyril Cameron, 16 August 1922 – 30 April 1924
• Captain Edward O. B. S. Osborne, 28 April 1924
• Commander Reginald V. Holt, January, 1925 – 8 February 1925
• Captain Edward O. B. S. Osborne, 10 February 1925
• Captain Kenneth MacLeod, 1 April 1925 – 4 July 1926
• Captain James V. Creagh, 11 May 1925 – 10 October 1925
• Captain Lewis G. E. Crabbe, 4 July 1926 – 16 August 1927
• Captain Lewis G. E. Crabbe, June, 1927
• Captain Frank Elliott, 16 August 1927 – 16 August 1929
• Captain Ronald H. C. Hallifax, 16 August 1929 – 16 August 1931
• Captain Geoffrey R. S. Watkins, 16 August 1931 – 24 April 1933
• Captain Lumley Lyster, 11 November 1932 – 30 April 1935
• Captain Harold Burrough, 30 April 1935 – 16 June 1937
• Captain Llewellyn V. Morgan, 16 June 1937 – 1 May 1939
• Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten, 1 June 1939 - 31 May 1941

Composition

References

Sources

• Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2018) "Fifth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell.
• Smith, Adrian (2010). Mountbatten: Apprentice War Lord. London: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1848853744.
• Terraine, John (1980). The life and times of Lord Mountbatten. New York: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston. ISBN 0-03-056899-4.
• Whitby, Michael (2011). Commanding Canadians: The Second World War Diaries of A.F.C. Layard. Vancouver, Canada: UBC Press. ISBN 9780774840378.

• The Fifth Destroyer Flotilla on Patrol and Carrying Out Gunnery Practice at Sea. January 1941, On Board HMS Kashmir. Flotilla Leader HMS KellyY with her Flotilla For The First Time Since Her Refit". Imperial War Museums. Imperial War Museum UK.