The 4th Cruiser Squadron and (also known as Cruiser Force H) 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 1907 to 1914 and then again from 1919 to 1946. The squadron was first established in 1907, replacing the

North America and West Indies Station The North America and West Indies Station was a formation or command of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy stationed in North American waters from 1745 to 1956, with main bases at the Imperial fortresses of Bermuda and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ...

. It became a training squadron based in Home waters but which was to make three cruises annually, including to the West Indies. In April 1907 it comprised , , and . On 1 May 1912, the Fourth Cruiser Squadron was renamed the Training Squadron. With the appointment in 1913 of Rear Admiral Christopher Cradock the squadron ceased to be a training squadron and became part of the

First Fleet The First Fleet were eleven British ships which transported a group of settlers to mainland Australia, marking the beginning of the History of Australia (1788–1850), European colonisation of Australia. It consisted of two Royal Navy vessel ...

. During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, the 4th Cruiser Squadron was commanded by Rear Admiral Christopher Cradock; the squadron was effectively annihilated at the

Battle of Coronel The Battle of Coronel was a First World War naval battle that led to an Imperial German Navy victory over the Royal Navy on 1 November 1914, off the coast of central Chile near the city of Coronel. The East Asia Squadron (''Ostasiengeschwader ...

1 November 1914. From April 1919 to 1939, it was in the

East Indies The East Indies (or simply the Indies) is a term used in historical narratives of the Age of Discovery. The ''Indies'' broadly referred to various lands in Eastern world, the East or the Eastern Hemisphere, particularly the islands and mainl ...

, and comprised , , , (Flagship) until July 1925; (January 1922-January 1926; June 1932-February 1936); (June 1922-December 1926); and (October 1924-January 1926) assigned from the Navy's old light cruisers; (Flag) (July 1925 – 1933); (1935-August 1938); (January 1926 – 1935; February 1936 – 1939); and (1933-March 1935) from the E-Class cruisers and ''Frobishers''; plus from the newer cruiser , and the ''Town''-class cruisers , , and .

Ships on 1 November 1914

Notes

References

* Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. . * * * {{Cruiser squadrons of the Royal Navy, state=collapsed Cruiser squadrons of the Royal Navy Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War II