The 12th Cruiser Squadron also known as Cruiser Force G was a formation of

cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several operational roles from search-and-destroy to ocean escort to sea ...

s of the British

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

from 1914 to 1915 and then again from 1939 to 1943.

History

First formation

The squadron was first formed 1 August 1914 and was initially assigned to the

Channel Fleet The Channel Fleet and originally known as the Channel Squadron was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1854 to 1909 and 1914 to 1915. History Throughout the course of Royal Navy's history th ...

as ''Cruiser Force G'' patrolling the western Channel until February 1915. The squadron was then reassigned to the

Grand Fleet The Grand Fleet was the main battlefleet of the Royal Navy during the First World War. It was established in August 1914 and disbanded in April 1919. Its main base was Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. History Formed in August 1914 from th ...

where it remained before being disbanded in February 1915.

Rear-Admiral Commanding

Included:

Second and Third formations

The squadron reformed in August 1939 initially part of the

Northern Patrol The Northern Patrol, also known as Cruiser Force B and the Northern Patrol Force, was a naval force of the Royal Navy during the world wars. The Northern Patrol was part of the British "distant" Blockade of Germany (1914–1919). Its main task wa ...

of the

Home Fleet The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy that operated from the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967. In 1967, it was merged with the Mediterranean Fleet creating the new Western Fleet. Before the First ...

based at

Scapa Flow Scapa Flow (; ) is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray,S. C. George, ''Jutland to Junkyard'', 1973. South Ronaldsay and Hoy. Its sheltered waters have played an impor ...

but was re-designated 11th Cruiser Squadron in October 1939. It re-formed as part of the

Mediterranean Fleet The British Mediterranean Fleet, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was a formation of the Royal Navy. The Fleet was one of the most prestigious commands in the navy for the majority of its history, defending the vital sea link between ...

in July 1942. It was reassigned from 29 January 1943 to 2 July 1943 when it became a component of

Force H Force H was a British naval formation during the Second World War. It was formed in late-June 1940, to replace French naval power in the western Mediterranean removed by the French armistice with Nazi Germany. The force occupied an odd place ...

and again from 1 October 1943 to December 1943.

Rear/Vice-Admiral Commanding

Included:

References

Footnotes

Sources

* Elleman, Bruce A.; Paine, S. C. M. (2007). "9: World War One: The Blockade". Naval Blockades and Seapower: Strategies and Counter-Strategies, 1805–2005. Oxford, England: Routledge. . * Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. . * Jellicoe, Viscount (2014). The Grand Fleet (1914–1916): Its Creation, Development and Work. BoD – Books on Demand. . * Mackie, Gordon. (2018) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie. * Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organization and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914–1918: The Grand Fleet". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. * Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organization in World War 2, 1939–1945: Overseas Commands and Fleets". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. {{Cruiser squadrons of the Royal Navy, state=collapsed Cruiser squadrons of the Royal Navy Ship squadrons of the Royal Navy in World War I Squadrons of the Royal Navy in World War II