stringtranslate.com

5th Destroyer Squadron (United Kingdom)

The Royal Navy 5th Destroyer Squadron[1] was a naval unit of the Royal Navy (RN) from 1952 to 2002.

History

After World War II, the British Royal Navy reverted to its previous layout and command structure in February 1947; the 5th Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet was reactivated, it was re-designated 5th Destroyer Squadron in January 1952,[2] and succeeded by the 5th Destroyer Squadron. The Admiralty controlled global deployment of the Navy until 1964, when that department was abolished and replaced by the new Navy Department, within the newly formed Ministry of Defence. These geographic commands usually comprised fleets, squadrons, flotillas, and single ships. In 1954, major re-structuring of the composition of the Royal Navy was undertaken; leading to downsizing, and warships being rotated between the various fleets and stations. Between 1954 and 1971, many commands were either abolished or amalgamated into larger geographic commands. By the end of 1966, all Royal Navy squadrons were disbanded. Squadrons remaining in the Far East Fleet were renamed, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Far East Destroyer Squadrons. No squadrons existed in the Western Fleet for the period 1967 to 1971.[3] In November 1971, nearly all British naval forces were brought under the command of a single fleet, whose headquarters was at Northwood, Middlesex, then under the control of Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CinC-Fleet). From 1981 to 2002, both Type 42 destroyers and frigates during this period were deployed to squadrons and the same ship class.[4] In peacetime, the squadron's role was usually administrative, and during the last two decades of its existence, the squadron was based at HMNB Portsmouth.

Organisational changes

Note: Command structure organisational changes took place within Royal Navy post war period, the term Flotilla was previously applied to a tactical unit until 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-organised now as administrative squadrons.[5]

Operational deployments

Included:[6]

Composition

Included:[7]

United Kingdom, Home Fleet, 1952

United Kingdom, Home Fleet, 1953

United Kingdom, Home Fleet, to August 1954

United Kingdom, Mediterranean Fleet, September 1954 – June 1955

United Kingdom, Home Fleet, July 1955 – February 1956

United Kingdom, Mediterranean Fleet, March 1956 – January 1957

United Kingdom, Home Fleet, February 1957 – August 1957

United Kingdom, Mediterranean Fleet, September 1957 – June 1958

United Kingdom, Home Fleet, July 1958 – December 1958

United Kingdom, Home Fleet, January 1961 – August 1961

United Kingdom, Home Fleet, September 1961 – April 1962

United Kingdom, Home Fleet, May 1962 – January 1963

United Kingdom, Second Flotilla, Portsmouth, December 1980 – April 1992

United Kingdom, Fleet, Portsmouth, May 1992 – February 2002

Squadron commander

Of note, for the last few months of its existence, Command of the 5th Destroyer Squadron was combined with that of the 3rd Destroyer Squadron, as the 'Commander of the 3rd and 5th Destroyer Squadrons' prior to abolition of both squadrons and the incorporation of all the Type 42 destroyers within the newly established Portsmouth Flotilla.

See also

References

  1. ^ Jane, Frederick Thomas (1998). Jane's Fighting Ships. S. Low, Marston & Company. p. 751. ISBN 978-0-7106-1795-8.
  2. ^ Kindell, Don; Mason, Geoff; Smith, Gordon; Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Deployments, (1815 to 2013), 1815-1914, Pax Britannia, 1914-1918, World War One, 1918-1939, Interwar Years, 1939-1945, World War 2, 1945-2013, Post War". Naval-History.net. Gordon Smith, 1998-2017. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  3. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013". Naval-History.net. Graham Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  4. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013". Naval-History.net. Graham Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  5. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013: Flotillas and Squadrons 1947-1971". Naval-History.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  6. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013". Naval-History.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  7. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013". Naval-History.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  8. ^ Mackie, Colin, (2017), Royal Navy Senior Appointments, Gulabin, pp. 223-225.
  9. ^ Jermy, Steven (2011). Strategy for Action: Using Force Wisely in the 21st Century. Knightstone Publishing Ltd. pp. 1–13. ISBN 978-1-908134-00-4.
  10. ^ "Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti CB BSc, UK Climate and Energy Security Envoy" (PDF). europarl.Europa.eu. European Parliament, 2009-2014. Retrieved 24 March 2017.

Sources