2nd Division (Royal Navy)

2nd Division
Active	March 1909–May 1912
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Division

The 2nd Division was a naval formation of the British Home Fleet it was formed before First World War in March 1909 and was active until May 1912.

History

In March 1909 following a re-organisation of the British Fleet the Channel Fleet was absorbed by the Home Fleet, while the former Channel Fleet became the Home Fleet's first and second divisions.[1] These new divisions were made up of an 8-12 ship battle squadron that included either dreadnought battleships or pre-dreadnought battleships all remaining components of the former Home Fleet as it then stood became the third and fourth divisions that was a single command under a vice-admiral.[2] The third and fourth division was assigned to major home commands as a reserve force.[2]

The 2nd Battle Squadron of the 2nd Division contained ten to twelve older battleships, the 2nd Cruiser Squadron was formed using armored cruisers whilst the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla had four scout cruiser leaders assigned to it during its tenure plus 21 other destroyers of different classes.[1]

Vice-admirals commanding 2nd Division

Post holders included:[3][4]

	Rank	Flag	Name	Term
Vice-admirals commanding 2nd Division
1	Vice-Admiral		Sir Archibald Berkeley Milne	24 March 1909 - 9 August 1910
2	Vice-Admiral		Sir George A. Callaghan	9 August 1910 - 19 October 1911
3	Vice-Admiral		Sir John R. Jellicoe	19 October 1911 - May 1912

Rear admirals in the Second Division

Post holders included:[5]

	Rank	Flag	Name	Term
Rear admirals in the Second Division
1	Rear-Admiral		James Startin	24 March 1909 - 9 October 1909
2	Rear-Admiral		Edward E. Bradford	9 October 1909 - 19 October 1910
3	Rear-Admiral		George E. Patey	19 October 1910 - 19 October 1911
4	Rear-Admiral		Herbert G. King-Hall	19 October 1911 -May 1912

Components

Included:[1]

	Unit	Dates	Notes
1	2nd Battle Squadron, 2nd Division		(10-12, pre-dreadnought battleships)
2	2nd Cruiser Squadron		( 6, armored cruisers )
3	1st Destroyer Flotilla		(4 scout cruiser, leaders & 21 destroyers )
4	2nd Destroyer Flotilla	February 1909 to May 1912	forming in Feb

Footnotes

1. Watson 2015.
2. Friedman 2014, p. 118.
3. Mackie, Gordon. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie, p.200. December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
4. Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Home Fleet (Royal Navy) Second Division - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 12 May 2015.
5. Harley and Lovell. 2015

References

• Friedman, Norman (2014). Fighting the Great War at Sea: Strategy, Tactic and Technology. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 9781473849709.
• Mackie, Gordon. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie, p. 199. December 2017.
• Marder, Arthur J. (2013) [1961]. From Dreadnought to Scapa Flow: The Royal Navy in the Fisher Era. Vol. I: The Road to War 1904–1914. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781-59114-259-1.
• Watson, Graham (8 August 2015). "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". , www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Retrieved 29 December 2017.