The 5th Cruiser Squadron and also known as Cruiser Force D 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 1915 and then again from 1939 to 1946.

History

First formation

The squadron was first established in 1907, it was attached to the Nore Division in home waters between March 1908 and February 1909 the squadron was assigned to 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 ...

. It was then allocated to the Atlantic Fleet in April 1909 until April 1912. From May 1912 to July 1914 it was seconded to the Second Fleet. It was disbanded just before the start of

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 ...

Second formation

The squadron reformed in April 1939, and then it came under the Commander-in-Chief, China until 1942. The squadron was then reassigned to the

Eastern Fleet Eastern or Easterns may refer to: Transportation Airlines *China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai * Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways *Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 192 ...

until October 1944. It was then attached to the East Indies Fleet. It continued to serve in the

Far East Fleet The Far East Fleet (also called the Far East Station) was a fleet of the Royal Navy from 1952 to 1971. During the Second World War, the Eastern Fleet included many ships and personnel from other navies, including the navies of the Netherlands, ...

, with its admiral also wearing the flag of Second-in-Command of the Fleet, until the late 1950s-early 1960s. After the outbreak of the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

in June 1950, William Andrewes was promoted to

vice admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to lieutenant general and air marshal. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral. Australia In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of Vice ...

on 1 December 1950. On 17 December 1950 Andrewes was appointed commander of the 5th Cruiser Squadron and Flag Officer Second in Command Far East Fleet, flying his flag in the

light cruiser A light cruiser is a type of small or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck. Prior to thi ...

. he commanded British and Commonwealth Naval Forces, with the carrier as his flagship. He had two aircraft carriers available at any one time which he worked in eighteen-day cycles. and then Task Force 95 (comprising all Blockade and Escort ships in Korean waters, affiliated with the

United Nations Command United Nations Command (UNC or UN Command) is the multinational military force established to support the South Korea, Republic of Korea (South Korea) during and after the Korean War. It was the first attempt at collective security by the U ...

) in 1951.

References

Footnotes Sources * Brown, Les (2011). County Class Cruisers. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. . * Grimes, Shawn T. (2012). Strategy and War Planning in the British Navy, 1887–1918. Martlesham, Suffolk, England: Boydell Press. . * Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Graham Smith. * Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation 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 Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War II