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


Although George V, as the monarch and thus commander-in-chief of the UK's armed forces, 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. 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

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:
 * 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 - Sir Graham Greene
 * Sea Lords
 * First Sea Lord - Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg
 * Second Sea Lord - Vice Admiral Sir Frederick Hamilton
 * Third Sea Lord - Rear Admiral Frederick Tudor
 * Fourth Sea Lord - Rear Admiral Cecil Lambert

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
 * 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
 * Naval Intelligence Division - Rear Admiral Henry Oliver
 * Operations Division - Rear Admiral Arthur Leveson
 * Mobilisation Division - Rear Admiral Alexander Duff
 * 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
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) - Boys' training school, Harwich


 * Nore Home Port vessels
 * HMS Arethusa (1913)
 * HMS Sirius (1890)
 * HMS Hermes (1898)
 * Local Defence Flotilla Nore - Destroyers
 * HMS Brazen (1896)
 * HMS Coquette (1897)
 * HMS Cygnet (1898)
 * HMS Cynthia (1898)
 * HMS Electra (1896)
 * HMS Fervent (1895)
 * HMS Kestrel (1898)
 * HMS Lightning (1895)
 * HMS Porcupine (1895)
 * HMS Recruit (1896)
 * HMS Vulture (1898)
 * HMS Zephyr (1895)
 * HMS Speedy (1893) (Minesweeper)
 * Local Defence Flotilla Nore - Torpedo boats
 * HMS TB 6 (1906)
 * HMS TB 7 (1906)
 * HMS TB 8 (1906)
 * HMS TB 9 (1907)
 * HMS TB 10 (1907)
 * HMS TB 11 (1907)
 * HMS TB 12 (1907)
 * HMS TB 17 (1907)
 * HMS TB 18 (1907)
 * HMS TB 19 (1907)
 * HMS TB 20 (1907)
 * HMS TB 23 (1907)
 * HMS TB 072
 * HMS TB 079
 * HMS TB 111
 * HMS TB 112
 * HMS TB 113
 * HMS TB 114
 * HMS TB 115
 * HMS TB 117

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) - Gunnery school
 * HMS Boxer (1894) (Tender)
 * HMS Wizard (1895) (Tender)
 * HMS Vernon (shore establishment) - Torpedo school
 * HMS Conflict (1894) (Tender)
 * HMS Ringdove (1889) (Tender)
 * HMS Fisgard (shore establishment) - Mechanical engineering school
 * HMS Dolphin (shore establishment) - Submarine school
 * HMS Dryad (shore establishment) - Navigation school
 * 2nd Royal Naval Brigade
 * Commander - Captain Oliver Backhouse
 * 5th (Nelson) Battalion
 * 6th (Howe) Battalion
 * 7th (Hood) Battlion
 * 8th (Anson) Battalion


 * Portsmouth Home Port vessels
 * HMS Niger (1892)
 * HMS Dryad (1893)
 * HMS Kent (1901)
 * HMS Terrible (1895)
 * HMS King Alfred (1901)
 * HMS Queen Elizabeth (1913)
 * HMS Revenge (1892)
 * HMS Invincible (1907)
 * Local Defence Flotilla Portsmouth - Destroyers
 * HMS Roebuck (1901)
 * HMS Spiteful (1899)
 * HMS Surly (1894)
 * HMS Velox (1902)
 * HMS Angler (1897)
 * HMS Desperate (1896)
 * HMS Skipjack (1889) (Minesweeper)
 * HMS Halcyon (1894) (Minesweeper)
 * HMS Spanker (1889) (Minesweeper)
 * Local Defence Flotilla Portsmouth - Torpedo boats
 * HMS TB 025
 * HMS TB 034
 * HMS TB 042
 * HMS TB 80
 * HMS TB 81
 * HMS TB 82
 * HMS TB 85
 * HMS TB 86
 * HMS TB 87
 * HMS TB 101
 * HMS TB 116
 * HMS TB 078
 * HMS TB 98
 * 2nd Submarine Flotilla
 * HMS Dolphin (1882) (Depot ship)
 * HMS A5
 * HMS A6
 * HMS A13
 * HMS B1

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) (Tender)
 * HMS Ranger (1895) (Tender)
 * HMS Sunfish (1895) (Tender)
 * The training establishments under Plymouth Command were:
 * HMS Defiance - Torpedo school
 * HMS Indus (shore establishment) - Mechanical engineering school
 * HMS Impregnable (1862 training establishment) - Boys' training school
 * HMS Powerful (1895) (Tender)
 * 1st Royal Naval Brigade
 * Commander - Captain Wilfred Henderson
 * 1st (Drake) Battalion
 * 2nd (Hawke) Battalion
 * 3rd (Benbow) Battalion
 * 4th (Collingwood) Battalion


 * Devonport Home Port vessels
 * HMS Aurora (1913)
 * HMS Donegal (1902)
 * HMS Pelorus (1896)
 * HMS Tiger (1913)
 * Local Defence Flotilla Devonport - Torpedo boats
 * HMS TB 050
 * HMS TB 052
 * HMS TB 055
 * HMS TB 058
 * 1st Submarine Flotilla
 * HMS Onyx (1892) (Depot ship)
 * HMS A8
 * HMS A9


 * Pembroke Home Port vessels
 * HMS Cordelia (1914)
 * Local Defence Flotilla Pembroke - Torpedo boats
 * HMS TB 033
 * HMS TB 041
 * HMS TB 045
 * HMS TB 049

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: 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.
 * 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
 * Commander-in-Chief, Orkneys & Shetlands - Vice Admiral Sir Stanley Colville
 * Senior Naval Officer, Scapa - Rear Admiral Francis Miller

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
 * 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
 * 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) (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.


 * Adjutant-General, Royal Marines - General Sir William Nicholls


 * Royal Marine Depot, Deal
 * Royal Marine Depot
 * Commandant - Brigadier-General Herbert White
 * Second Commandant - Colonel Ernest Chown
 * Royal Marine Artillery
 * Royal Marine Artillery Division
 * Commandant - Brigadier-General Harry Lynch Talbot
 * Second Commandant - Colonel Sir George Grey Aston
 * Royal Marine Light Infantry
 * Chatham Division
 * Commandant - Brigadier-General Charles Kennedy
 * Second Commandant - Colonel Alfred Marchant
 * Plymouth Division
 * Commandant - Brigadier-General Charles Gordon
 * Second Commandant - Colonel Charles Trotman
 * Portsmouth Division
 * Commandant - Brigadier-General Edward Roe
 * Second Commandant - Colonel Ernest Curtoys
 * Royal Marine Brigade
 * Commander - Brigadier-General Archibald Paris
 * 9th (Chatham) Battalion, RMLI
 * 10th (Portsmouth) Battalion, RMLI
 * 11th (Plymouth) Battalion, RMLI
 * A Battalion, RMA

Grand Fleet
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
 * HMS Iron Duke (1912) (Fleet Flagship)
 * HMS Sappho (1891) (Despatch vessel)
 * HMS Oak (1912) (Tender)


 * 1st Battle Squadron
 * Commander - Vice Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly
 * Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Hugh Evan-Thomas
 * HMS Marlborough (1912) (Flagship)
 * HMS St. Vincent (1908) (Flagship)
 * HMS Hercules (1910)
 * HMS Superb (1907)
 * HMS Vanguard (1909)
 * HMS Neptune (1909)
 * HMS Collingwood (1908)
 * HMS Colossus (1910)
 * HMS Cyclops (F31) (Repair ship)
 * 2nd Battle Squadron
 * Commander - Vice Admiral Sir George Warrender
 * Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot
 * HMS King George V (1911) (Flagship)
 * HMS Orion (1910) (Flagship)
 * HMS Ajax (1912)
 * HMS Audacious (1912)
 * HMS Centurion (1911)
 * HMS Conqueror (1911)
 * HMS Monarch (1911)
 * HMS Thunderer (1911)
 * HMS Assistance (1900) (Repair ship)
 * 3rd Battle Squadron
 * Commander - Vice Admiral Sir Edward Bradford
 * Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Montague Browning
 * HMS King Edward VII (Flagship)
 * HMS Hibernia (1905) (Flagship)
 * HMS Africa (1905)
 * HMS Britannia (1904)
 * HMS Commonwealth (1903)
 * HMS Dominion (1903)
 * HMS Hindustan (1903)
 * HMS Zealandia
 * 4th Battle Squadron
 * Commander - Vice Admiral Douglas Gamble
 * HMS Dreadnought (1906) (Flagship)
 * HMS Agincourt (1913)
 * HMS Bellerophon (1907)
 * HMS Temeraire (1907)
 * Scout cruisers
 * Each battle squadron had an attached scout cruiser for signal repeating duties
 * HMS Bellona (1909) (1st Battle Squadron)
 * HMS Boadicea (1908) (2nd Battle Squadron)
 * HMS Blanche (1909) (3rd Battle Squadron)
 * HMS Blonde (1910) (4th Battle Squadron)
 * Destroyers
 * The 1st and 2nd Battle Squadrons had a force of attached destroyers for close protection
 * HMS Arun (1903) (1st Battle Squadron)
 * HMS Boyne (1904) (2nd Battle Squadron)
 * HMS Cherwell (2nd Battle Squadron)
 * HMS Dee (1903) (1st Battle Squadron)
 * HMS Erne (1903) (2nd Battle Squadron)
 * HMS Exe (1903) (2nd Battle Squadron)
 * HMS Swale (1905) (1st Battle Squadron)
 * HMS Ure (1st Battle Squadron)

Cruiser squadrons
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.


 * 1st Battlecruiser Squadron
 * Commander - Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty
 * HMS Lion (1910) (Flagship)
 * HMS Princess Royal (1911)
 * HMS Queen Mary
 * HMS New Zealand (1911)
 * 2nd Cruiser Squadron
 * Commander - Vice Admiral Somerset Gough-Calthorpe
 * HMS Shannon (1906) (Flagship)
 * HMS Achilles (1905)
 * HMS Cochrane (1905)
 * HMS Natal
 * 3rd Cruiser Squadron
 * Commander - Rear Admiral William Pakenham
 * HMS Antrim (1903) (Flagship)
 * HMS Argyll (1904)
 * HMS Devonshire (1904)
 * HMS Roxburgh (1904)
 * 6th Cruiser Squadron
 * Commander - Rear Admiral William Grant
 * HMS Drake (1901) (Flagship)
 * HMS Good Hope (1901)
 * HMS Leviathan (1901)
 * 1st Light Cruiser Squadron
 * Commander - Commodore William Goodenough
 * HMS Southampton (1912) (Flagship)
 * HMS Birmingham (1913)
 * HMS Falmouth (1910)
 * HMS Liverpool (1909)
 * HMS Lowestoft (1913)
 * HMS Nottingham (1913)

Destroyer flotillas

 * 2nd Destroyer Flotilla
 * HMS Active (1911) - Flotilla Leader
 * HMS Blake (1889) - Depot ship
 * HMS Acorn (1910)
 * HMS Alarm (1910)
 * HMS Brisk (1910)
 * HMS Cameleon (1910)
 * HMS Comet (1910)
 * HMS Fury (1911)
 * HMS Goldfinch (1910)
 * HMS Hope (1910)
 * HMS Larne (1910)
 * HMS Lyra (1910)
 * HMS Martin (1910)
 * HMS Minstrel (1911)
 * HMS Nemesis (1910)
 * HMS Nereide (1910)
 * HMS Nymphe (1911)
 * HMS Redpole (1910)
 * HMS Rifleman (1910)
 * HMS Ruby (1910)
 * HMS Sheldrake (1911)
 * HMS Staunch (1910)
 * 4th Destroyer Flotilla
 * HMS Swift (1907) - Flotilla Leader
 * HMS Hecla (1878) - Depot ship
 * HMS Ambuscade (1913)
 * HMS Shark (1912)
 * HMS Christopher (1912)
 * HMS Acasta (1912)
 * HMS Sparrowhawk (1912)
 * HMS Cockatrice (1912)
 * HMS Achates (1912)
 * HMS Spitfire (1912)
 * HMS Contest (1913)
 * HMS Lynx (1913)
 * HMS Owl (1913)
 * HMS Midge (1913)
 * HMS Paragon (1913)
 * HMS Garland (1913)
 * HMS Fortune (1913)
 * HMS Porpoise (1913)
 * HMS Ardent (1913)
 * HMS Unity (1913)
 * HMS Hardy (1912)
 * HMS Victor (1913)
 * Minesweepers
 * HMS Leda (1892)
 * HMS Jason (1892)
 * HMS Gossamer (1890)
 * HMS Circe (1892)
 * HMS Seagull (1889)
 * HMS Speedwell (1889)

Channel Fleet
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
 * HMS Lord Nelson (1906) (Fleet Flagship)


 * 5th Battle Squadron
 * Commander - Vice Admiral Bernard Currey
 * Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Cecil Thursby
 * HMS Prince of Wales (1902) (Flagship)
 * HMS Queen (1902) (Flagship)
 * HMS Agamemnon (1906)
 * HMS Bulwark (1899)
 * HMS London (1899)
 * HMS Venerable (1899)
 * HMS Formidable (1898)
 * HMS Implacable (1899)
 * HMS Irresistible (1898)
 * 6th Battle Squadron
 * Commander - Rear Admiral Stuart Nicholson
 * HMS Russell (1901) (Flagship)
 * HMS Albemarle (1901)
 * HMS Cornwallis (1901)
 * HMS Duncan (1901)
 * HMS Exmouth (1901)
 * 8th Battle Squadron
 * Commander - Vice Admiral The Hon Alexander Bethell
 * Second-in-Command - Rear Admiral Henry Tottenham
 * HMS Prince George (1895) (Flagship)
 * HMS Albion (1898) (Flagship)
 * HMS Vengeance (1899)
 * HMS Ocean (1898)
 * HMS Caesar (1896)
 * HMS Goliath (1898)
 * HMS Canopus (1897)
 * HMS Glory (1899)
 * HMS Jupiter (1895)
 * HMS Majestic (1895)
 * HMS Illustrious (1896)
 * 9th Battle Squadron
 * Commander - Rear Admiral Francis Miller
 * HMS Hannibal (1896) (Flagship)
 * HMS Magnificent (1894)
 * HMS Mars (1896)
 * HMS Victorious (1895)
 * Scout cruisers
 * Cruisers attached to battle squadrons for signal relaying
 * HMS Topaze (1903) (5th Battle Squadron)
 * HMS Diamond (1904) (6th Battle Squadron)
 * HMS Sapphire (1904) (8th Battle Squadron)
 * HMS Proserpine (1896) (8th Battle Squadron)

Cruiser forces

 * 4th Cruiser Squadron
 * Commander - Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock
 * HMS Suffolk (1903) (Flagship)
 * HMS Berwick (1902)
 * HMS Essex (1901)
 * HMS Lancaster (1902)
 * HMS Bristol (1910)
 * 5th Cruiser Squadron
 * Commander - Rear Admiral Archibald Stoddart
 * HMS Carnarvon (Flagship)
 * HMS Cornwall (1902)
 * HMS Cumberland (1902)
 * HMS Monmouth (1901)
 * 9th Cruiser Squadron
 * Commander - Rear Admiral John de Robeck
 * HMS Amphitrite (1898) (Flagship)
 * HMS Argonaut (1898)
 * HMS Europa (1897)
 * HMS Highflyer (1898)
 * HMS Vindictive (1897)
 * HMS Challenger (1902)
 * 11th Cruiser Squadron
 * Commander - Rear Admiral Robert Phipps Hornby
 * HMS Doris (1896) (Flagship)
 * HMS Juno (1895)
 * HMS Isis (1896)
 * HMS Venus (1895)
 * HMS Minerva (1895)
 * 12th Cruiser Squadron
 * Commander - Rear Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss
 * HMS Charybdis (1893) (Flagship)
 * HMS Diana (1895)
 * HMS Eclipse (1894)
 * HMS Talbot (1895)
 * Minelayer Squadron
 * HMS Andromache (1890)
 * HMS Apollo (1891)
 * HMS Intrepid (1891)
 * HMS Iphigenia (1891)
 * HMS Latona (1890)
 * HMS Naiad (1890)
 * HMS Thetis (1890)

Northern Patrol

 * 10th Cruiser Squadron
 * Commander - Rear Admiral Dudley de Chair
 * HMS Crescent (1892) (Flagship)
 * HMS Edgar (1890)
 * HMS Endymion (1891)
 * HMS Gibraltar (1892)
 * HMS Grafton (1892)
 * HMS Hawke (1891)
 * HMS Royal Arthur (1891)
 * HMS Theseus (1892)

East Coast

 * Admiral of Patrols - Commodore George Ballard


 * 6th Destroyer Flotilla (Dover)
 * HMS Attentive (1904) - Flotilla Leader
 * HMS Adventure (1904) - Attached cruiser
 * HMS Foresight (1904) - Attached cruiser
 * HMS Afridi (1907)
 * HMS Amazon (1908)
 * HMS Cossack (1907)
 * HMS Crusader (1909)
 * HMS Ghurka (1907)
 * HMS Maori (1909)
 * HMS Mohawk (1907)
 * HMS Nubian (1909)
 * HMS Saracen (1908)
 * HMS Tartar (1907)
 * HMS Viking (1909)
 * HMS Zubian
 * HMS Zulu (1909)
 * HMS Myrmidon (1900)
 * HMS Syren (1900)
 * HMS Kangaroo (1900)
 * HMS Crane (1896)
 * HMS Fawn (1897)
 * HMS Flirt (1897)
 * HMS Greyhound (1900)
 * HMS Racehorse (1900)
 * HMS Falcon (1899)
 * HMS Leven (1898)
 * HMS Gipsy (1897)
 * HMS Mermaid (1898)
 * 7th Destroyer Flotilla (Humber)
 * HMS Skirmisher (1905) - Flotilla Leader
 * HMS Albatross (1898)
 * HMS Avon (1896)
 * HMS Dove (1898)
 * HMS Violet (1897)
 * HMS Sylvia (1897)
 * HMS Leopard (1897)
 * HMS Vixen (1900)
 * HMS Arab (1901)
 * HMS Bullfinch (1898)
 * HMS Earnest (1896)
 * HMS Lively (1900)
 * HMS Locust (1896)
 * HMS Orwell (1898)
 * HMS Panther (1897)
 * HMS Quail (1895)
 * HMS Seal (1897)
 * HMS Sprightly (1900)
 * HMS Success (1901)
 * HMS Thorn (1900)
 * HMS Thrasher (1895)
 * HMS Wolf (1897)
 * HMS TB 1 (1906)
 * HMS TB 2 (1906)
 * HMS TB 3 (1906)
 * HMS TB 4 (1906)
 * HMS TB 5 (1906)
 * HMS TB 13 (1907)
 * HMS TB 14 (1907)
 * HMS TB 15 (1907)
 * HMS TB 16 (1907)
 * HMS TB 21 (1908)
 * HMS TB 22 (1908)
 * HMS TB 24 (1908)
 * 8th Destroyer Flotilla (Rosyth)
 * HMS Pathfinder (1904) - Flotilla Leader
 * HMS Aquarius (1900) - Depot ship
 * HMS Tyne (1878) - Depot ship
 * HMS Albacore (1909)
 * HMS Peterel (1899)
 * HMS Express (1896)
 * HMS Cheerful (1897)
 * HMS Osprey (1897)
 * HMS Ostrich (1900)
 * HMS Vigilant (1900)
 * HMS Mallard (1896)
 * HMS Stag (1899)
 * HMS TB 25 (1909)
 * HMS TB 26 (1909)
 * HMS TB 27 (1909)
 * HMS TB 28 (1909)
 * HMS TB 29 (1909)
 * HMS TB 30 (1910)
 * HMS TB 31 (1910)
 * HMS TB 32 (1910)
 * HMS TB 34 (1910)
 * HMS TB 35 (1910)
 * HMS TB 36 (1910)
 * 9th Destroyer Flotilla (Nore)
 * HMS Patrol (1904) - Flotilla Leader
 * HMS St George (1892) - Depot ship
 * HMS Derwent (1903)
 * HMS Eden (1903)
 * HMS Waveney (1903)
 * HMS Doon (1904)
 * HMS Kale (1904)
 * HMS Ouse (1905)
 * HMS Stour (1905)
 * HMS Test (1905)
 * HMS Ness (1905)
 * HMS Nith (1905)
 * HMS Ettrick (1903)
 * HMS Rother (1904)
 * HMS Itchen (1903)
 * HMS Moy (1904)
 * HMS Foyle
 * HMS Teviot (1903)
 * Shetland Patrol Force
 * HMS Forward (1904) - Flotilla Leader
 * HMS Bat
 * HMS Fairy (1897)
 * HMS Flying Fish (1897)
 * HMS Star (1896)

Harwich Force
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
 * HMS Amethyst (1903) (Flagship)


 * 1st Destroyer Flotilla
 * HMS Fearless (1912) - Flotilla Leader
 * HMS Woolwich (1912) - Depot ship
 * HMS Acheron (1911)
 * HMS Archer (1911)
 * HMS Ariel (1911)
 * HMS Attack (1911)
 * HMS Badger (1911)
 * HMS Beaver (1911)
 * HMS Defender (1911)
 * HMS Druid (1911)
 * HMS Ferret (1911)
 * HMS Forester (1911)
 * HMS Goshawk (1911)
 * HMS Hind (1911)
 * HMS Hornet (1911)
 * HMS Hydra (1912)
 * HMS Jackal (1911)
 * HMS Lapwing (1911)
 * HMS Lizard (1911)
 * HMS Phoenix (1911)
 * HMS Sandfly (1911)
 * HMS Tigress (1911)
 * 3rd Destroyer Flotilla
 * HMS Amphion (1911) - Flotilla Leader
 * HMS Dido (1896) - Depot ship
 * HMS Laertes (1913)
 * HMS Laforey (1913)
 * HMS Lance (1914)
 * HMS Landrail (1914)
 * HMS Lark (1913)
 * HMS Laurel (1913)
 * HMS Lawford (1913)
 * HMS Legion (1914)
 * HMS Lennox (1914)
 * HMS Liberty (1913)
 * HMS Linnet (1913)
 * HMS Llewellyn (1913)
 * HMS Louis (1913)
 * HMS Loyal (1913)
 * HMS Lydiard (1914)
 * HMS Lysander (1913)
 * 8th Submarine Flotilla
 * HMS Firedrake (1912) (Flotilla leader)
 * HMS Maidstone (1912) (Depot ship)
 * HMS Adamant (1911) (Depot ship)
 * HMS D1
 * HMS D2
 * HMS D3
 * HMS D4
 * HMS D5
 * HMS D6
 * HMS D7
 * HMS D8
 * HMS E1
 * HMS E2
 * HMS E3
 * HMS E4
 * HMS E5
 * HMS E6
 * HMS E7
 * HMS E8
 * HMS E9
 * Seaplane carriers
 * HMS Engadine (1911)
 * HMS Empress (1914)
 * HMS Riviera

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.
 * Force Commander - Rear Admiral Arthur Christian
 * HMS Euryalus (1901) (Flagship)
 * 7th Cruiser Squadron
 * Commander - Rear Admiral Henry Campbell
 * HMS Bacchante (1901) (Flagship)
 * HMS Aboukir (1900)
 * HMS Cressy (1899)
 * HMS Hogue (1900)
 * HMS Sutlej (1899)

Submarine flotillas

 * Commodore, Submarine Service - Commodore Roger Keyes
 * HMS Lurcher (1912) (Flagship)


 * 3rd Submarine Flotilla
 * HMS Forth (1886) (Depot ship)
 * HMS B3
 * HMS B4
 * HMS B5
 * HMS C14
 * HMS C15
 * HMS C16
 * 4th Submarine Flotilla
 * HMS Arrogant (1896) (Depot ship)
 * HMS Hazard (1894) (Depot ship)
 * HMS C17
 * HMS C18
 * HMS C31
 * HMS C32
 * HMS C33
 * HMS C34
 * HMS C35
 * 5th Submarine Flotilla
 * HMS Thames (1885) (Depot ship)
 * HMS C1
 * HMS C2
 * HMS C3
 * HMS C4
 * HMS C5
 * HMS C6
 * 6th Submarine Flotilla
 * HMS Bonaventure (1892) (Depot ship)
 * HMS Hebe (1892) (Depot ship)
 * HMS C7
 * HMS C8
 * HMS C9
 * HMS C10
 * HMS C12
 * HMS C13
 * 7th Submarine Flotilla
 * HMS Alecto (1911) (Depot ship)
 * HMS Vulcan (1889) (Depot ship)
 * HMS C19
 * HMS C20
 * HMS C21
 * HMS C22
 * HMS C23
 * HMS C24
 * HMS C25
 * HMS C26
 * HMS C27
 * HMS C28
 * HMS C29
 * HMS C30
 * 9th Submarine Flotilla
 * HMS Pactolus (1896) (Depot ship)
 * HMS Bonetta (1907) (Depot ship)
 * HMS A10
 * HMS A11
 * HMS A12

Other ships

 * Coastguard vessels
 * HMS Squirrel (1904)
 * HMS Watchful (1911)
 * HMS Thrush (1889)
 * HMS Argus (1904)
 * HMS Thrush
 * Survey ships
 * HMS Hearty (1885)
 * HMS Triton (1882)
 * HMS Research (1888)
 * HMS Endeavour (1912)
 * HMS Esther (1911)
 * HMS Daisy (1911)
 * Other ships
 * HMY Enchantress

Mediterranean Fleet

 * Commander-in-Chief - Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne
 * HMS Inflexible (1907) (Fleet Flagship)
 * HMS Hussar (1894) (Despatch vessel)
 * HMS Imogene (1882) (Despatch vessel)


 * 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron
 * HMS Indomitable (1907)
 * HMS Indefatigable (1909)
 * 1st Cruiser Squadron
 * Commander - Rear Admiral Ernest Troubridge
 * HMS Defence (1907) (Flagship)
 * HMS Duke of Edinburgh
 * HMS Black Prince (1904)
 * HMS Warrior (1905)
 * Light cruisers
 * The light cruisers assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet were not assigned to a particular squadron
 * HMS Chatham (1911)
 * HMS Dublin (1912)
 * HMS Gloucester (1909)
 * HMS Weymouth (1910)
 * 5th Destroyer Flotilla
 * HMS Blenheim (1890) (Depot ship)
 * HMS Basilisk (1910)
 * HMS Beagle (1909)
 * HMS Bulldog (1909)
 * HMS Foxhound (1909)
 * HMS Grasshopper (1909)
 * HMS Harpy (1909)
 * HMS Mosquito (1910)
 * HMS Grampus (1910)
 * HMS Pincher (1910)
 * HMS Racoon (1910)
 * HMS Rattlesnake (1910)
 * HMS Renard (1909)
 * HMS Savage (1910)
 * HMS Scorpion (1910)
 * HMS Scourge (1910)
 * HMS Wolverine (1910)
 * Torpedo Boat Flotilla
 * Stationed at Malta
 * HMS TB 043
 * HMS TB 044
 * HMS TB 046
 * HMS TB 063
 * HMS TB 064
 * HMS TB 070
 * Stationed at Gibraltar
 * HMS TB 83
 * HMS TB 88
 * HMS TB 89
 * HMS TB 90
 * HMS TB 91
 * HMS TB 92
 * HMS TB 93
 * HMS TB 94
 * HMS TB 95
 * HMS TB 96
 * Mediterranean Submarine Flotilla
 * Stationed at Gibraltar
 * HMS B6
 * HMS B7
 * HMS B8
 * Stationed at Malta
 * HMS B9
 * HMS B10
 * HMS B11

China Station

 * Commander-in-Chief - Vice Admiral Sir Martyn Jerram
 * HMS Minotaur (1906) (Flagship)
 * HMS Triumph (1903)


 * Cruisers
 * HMS Hampshire (1903)
 * HMS Yarmouth (1911)
 * HMS Newcastle (1909)
 * HMS Alacrity
 * Destroyers
 * HMS Colne
 * HMS Kennet
 * HMS Ribble (1904)
 * HMS Usk (1903)
 * HMS Welland
 * HMS Chelmer (1904)
 * HMS Fame (1896)
 * HMS Jed (1904)
 * Sloops
 * HMS Cadmus (1903)
 * HMS Clio (1903)
 * HMS Rosario (1898)
 * Gunboats
 * HMS Bramble (1898)
 * HMS Britomart (1899)
 * HMS Thistle (1899)
 * River gunboats
 * HMS Moorhen (1901)
 * HMS Kinsha
 * HMS Nightingale (1897)
 * HMS Snipe (1898)
 * HMS Woodcock (1898)
 * HMS Teal
 * HMS Widgeon (1904)
 * HMS Robin (1897)
 * HMS Sandpiper (1897)

East Indies Station

 * Commander-in-Chief - Rear Admiral Sir Richard Peirse
 * HMS Swiftsure (1903) (Flagship)


 * Cruisers
 * HMS Dartmouth (1911)
 * HMS Fox (1893)
 * Sloops
 * HMS Alert (1894)
 * HMS Espiegle (1900)
 * HMS Odin (1901)
 * Other vessels
 * HMS Sphinx (1882)

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.


 * New Zealand Naval Forces
 * Naval Adviser to the New Zealand Government - Captain Percival Hall-Thompson
 * HMS Philomel (1890)
 * HMS Pyramus (1897)
 * HMS Torch (1894)
 * Cape of Good Hope Station
 * Commander-in-Chief - Vice Admiral Herbert King-Hall
 * HMS Hyacinth (1898) (Flagship)
 * HMS Astraea (1893)
 * HMS Pegasus (1897)
 * West Africa and South Atlantic
 * HMS Glasgow (1909)
 * HMS Dwarf (1898)
 * West Coast of America
 * HMS Shearwater (1900)
 * HMS Algerine (1895)
 * Survey ships
 * HMS Fantome (1901)
 * HMS Merlin (1901)
 * HMS Mutine (1900)
 * HMS Sealark (1903)

Dominion naval forces
Although in peacetime the fledgling naval forces of the Dominions operated independently, during time of war they were intended to be subordinated to the command of the Admiralty in London.

Australian fleet



 * 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) (Fleet Flagship)


 * Cruisers
 * HMAS Sydney (1912)
 * HMAS Melbourne (1912)
 * HMAS Pioneer
 * HMAS Encounter (1902)
 * HMAS Psyche (1898)
 * Destroyers
 * HMAS Warrego (D70)
 * HMAS Parramatta (D55)
 * HMAS Yarra (D79)
 * Submarines
 * HMAS Protector (1884) (Depot ship)
 * HMAS AE1
 * HMAS AE2
 * Other vessels
 * HMAS Cerberus (1868)
 * HMAS Childers
 * HMAS Gordon
 * HMAS Countess of Hopetoun
 * HMAS Paluma
 * HMAS Gayundah

Canadian fleet

 * Director of the Naval Service - Rear Admiral Charles Kingsmill


 * Cruisers
 * HMCS Rainbow (1891)
 * HMCS Niobe
 * Patrol vessels
 * HMCS Canada
 * HMCS Margaret
 * Submarines
 * HMCS CC-1
 * HMCS CC-2