User:From Hill To Shore/sandbox/Crete order of battle (revised)

Page purpose
This page is to collect notes to reformat the Allied Naval Forces section of Battle of Crete order of battle. The Battle took place over several days and ships were transferred between units to cover losses or to support a change in tactics/strategy by allied commanders. This is not reflected in the current article, which shows a confusing mixture of the initial formations and later formations; some ships are shown in multiple formations. This is likely a reflection of editors finding sources that ships were in one formation for the battle (perhaps on day 1) and then other editors finding sources saying the same ship was in another formation for the battle (perhaps on day 5).

This page will be based primarily on the official despatches from the allied naval commander, Admiral Cunningham. While this is a primary source, it is the authorative account of which ships were ordered into different formations at different times. Use of primary sources is consistent with WP:PRIMARY where statements of fact can be supported; primary sources can't be used to justify interpretations of the source material.

Mediterranean Fleet
Composition of Mediterranean fleet, May 1941.

Source, D A Thomas, pp. 122-123

Battleships
 * Warspite
 * Valiant
 * Queen Elizabeth
 * Barham

Aircraft Carrier
 * Formidable (with 4 aircraft)

Cruisers
 * Orion
 * Dido
 * Gloucester
 * Fiji
 * Ajax
 * Perth
 * Naiad
 * Phoebe

AA Cruisers
 * Coventry
 * Calcutta
 * Carlisle

Destroyers
 * Napier
 * Nizam
 * Kelly
 * Kandahar
 * Kingston
 * Kipling
 * Kashmir
 * Kelvin
 * Kimberly
 * Juno
 * Janus
 * Jervis
 * Jackal
 * Jaguar
 * Nubian
 * Isis
 * Imperial
 * Ilex
 * Hero
 * Hotspur
 * Hereward
 * Hasty
 * Havock
 * Griffin
 * Greyhound
 * Decoy
 * Defender
 * Stuart
 * Voyager
 * Vendetta

Sloops
 * Aukland
 * Flamingo

Minelayer
 * Abdiel

Assault ships
 * Glenroy
 * Glengyle
 * Glenearn

Oiler
 * Brambleleaf

15 to 18 May
These are the initial formations for battle ordered by Cunningham on 15 May. They are recorded as the Admiral's "intentions" rather than statements of fact. Cunningham notes these formations operated until 18 May.

Force A
Listed as being under the command of Vice Admiral, 1st Battle Squadron (Henry Pridham-Wippell)
 * Queen Elizabeth
 * Barham
 * 5 destroyers (unnamed)

Force B

 * Gloucester
 * Fiji

Force C

 * Dido
 * Kandahar
 * Nubian
 * Kingston
 * Juno
 * Coventry

Force D
Listed as being under the command of RAD (Rear Admiral Irvine Glennie)
 * Naiad
 * Pheobe
 * 2 destroyers (unnamed)

Other units
These are vessels operating independently of the main Forces.
 * Rorqual (submarine) - operating near Lemnos
 * Flottilla of motor torpedo boats stationed at Suda Bay
 * Abdiel to lay mines between Cephalonia and Levkas

Reserve (at Alexandria)

 * Warspite
 * Valiant
 * Formidable
 * Orion
 * Ajax
 * Remaining destroyers (unnumbered and unnamed)

18 and 19 May
Reserve units were ordered to relieve the ships at sea, to allow refuelling. Reserve units departed Alexandria under the designation of "Force A1."

Force A
Cunningham isn't clear on the membership of Force A at this point. Other sources will be required to confirm the membership.
 * Unspecified units to return to Alexandria after rendezvous with Force A1 (The interpretation being that this included the two ships named on 15 May but we can't interpret a primary source).
 * Hotspur - to be transferred from Force A to Force A1
 * Imperial - to be transferred from Force A to Force A1

Force A1
Listed under the command of CS7 (Rear Admiral Rawlings). Departed Alexandria at 20:00 on 18 May.
 * Warspite, flagship.
 * Valiant.
 * Napier.
 * Kimberley.
 * Janus.
 * Isis.
 * Decoy.
 * Griffin.
 * Ajax - to transfer from Force A1 to Glennie's unnamed force after rendezvous on 20 May.
 * Hero - to transfer from Force A1 to Glennie's unnamed force after rendezvous on 20 May.
 * Hereward - to transfer from Force A1 to Glennie's unnamed force after rendezvous on 20 May.
 * Hotspur - to be transferred from Force A to Force A1.
 * Imperial - to be transferred from Force A to Force A1.

Force B
Ordered to return to Alexandria to refuel then to redezvous with Force A1.
 * Gloucester.
 * Fiji.

Unnamed force (CS15)
This force contains ships previously designated as parts of Forces C and D. Listed under the command of CS15 (Rear Admiral King). Ordered to return to Alexandria, refuel then sail again early on 19 May.
 * Naiad, flagship.
 * Perth.
 * Kandahar.
 * Nubian.
 * Kingston.
 * Juno.

Unnamed force (RAD)
This unnamed force records only Glennie's flagship with orders to return to Alexandria, refuel and depart with reserve units on 19 May.
 * Dido.
 * Greyhound - reserve unit at Alexandria, to sail with Dido on 19 May.
 * Hasty - reserve unit at Alexandria, to sail with Dido on 19 May.
 * Orion - reserve unit at Alexandria, to sail with Dido on 19 May.
 * Ajax - to transfer from Force A1 to Glennie's unnamed force after rendezvous on 20 May.
 * Hero - to transfer from Force A1 to Glennie's unnamed force after rendezvous on 20 May.
 * Hereward - to transfer from Force A1 to Glennie's unnamed force after rendezvous on 20 May.

Reserve (at Alexandria)

 * Greyhound.
 * Hasty.
 * Orion.

20 May
Fleet reorganised following confirmation of German attack on Crete.

Force A1 (Initial)
Not detailed in Cunningham's despatch. Details provided by Thomas p. 130. Note:these are the pre-rearranged assignments.


 * Warspite (flag - Rawlings)
 * Valiant
 * Napier
 * Kimberley
 * Isis
 * Janus
 * Griffin
 * Imperial

Force B

 * Gloucester
 * Fiji

Force C (King)

 * Naiad (Flag)
 * Perth
 * Kandahar
 * Nubian
 * Kingston
 * Juno

Force D (Glennie)

 * Dido (flag)
 * Orion
 * Ajax
 * Isis
 * Kimberley
 * Imperial
 * Janus

Force E

 * Jervis (lead, Captain Mack)
 * Nizam
 * Ilex

Reserve

 * Calcutta - ordered to pass through the Kaso strait after Force C and rendezvous with Force C off Heraklion on 21 May 07:00.
 * Carlisle - ordered to sail from Alexandria and rendezvous with Force E on 21 May 07:00

21 May
Thomas p. 134

Force A1
Not specified by Thomas.

Force B

 * Gloucester
 * Fiji

Force C
Not specified by Thomas except noting that they were joined by Calcutta at 06:00.
 * Calcutta

Others

 * Abdiel - returning to Alexandria after completing minelaying operation
 * Carlisle - Instructed to join Force C rather than Force E

Force D
Not specified by Thomas.

Force E
Not specified by Thomas; noted had withdrawn south of Crete following attack, per original orders.