The 9th Cruiser Squadron was a formation of cruisers of the Royal Navy from 1912 to 1919 and again from 1939 to 1940. Cruiser squadrons consisted of five to six ships in wartime and in peacetime as low as two to three ships. From 1914 until 1924/25 they were designated as Light Cruiser Squadrons then after 1925 redesignated as Cruiser Squadrons.[1]

9th Cruiser Squadron
Active1912-1919, 1939-1940
CountryUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Navy
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Rear-Admiral Sydney R. Fremantle

First formation

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The 9th Cruiser Squadron was first formed in 1912 assigned to the Third Fleet.[2] In August 1914 it was attached to the Channel Fleet. During the war it operated in the North Atlantic and off West Africa, mostly protecting British commerce. It was disbanded in January 1919.[3]

Commanders, first formation

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Post holders included:[4][5]

Rank Flag Name Term Notes
Rear-Admiral Commanding, 9th Cruiser Squadron
1 Rear-Admiral   John M. de Robeck September, 1914 - February, 1915
2 Rear-Admiral   Sir A. Gordon H. W. Moore February 1915 -August 1915
3 Rear-Admiral   Sydney R. Fremantle August, 1916 – December, 1916
4 Rear-Admiral   Thomas D. L. Sheppard 8 December 1916 – January, 1919

Reformation and Second World War

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The squadron was reformed from July 1939 to June 1940. It was first attached to the Reserve Fleet, then it came under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic.[6] before being disbanded.[7]

Commodore/Rear-Admiral commanding

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Post holders included:[8]

Rank Flag Name Term Notes
Commodore/Rear-Admiral, Commanding, 9th Cruiser Squadron
1 Rear-Admiral   Allan Poland July 1939-April 1940
2 Commodore   Cyril G. B. Coltart January, 1940 – June, 1940

Notes

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  1. ^ Watson 2015.
  2. ^ Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. p. 279. ISBN 9781473853126.
  3. ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918: 6. LIST OF SQUADRONS AND FLOTILLAS 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 27 October 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  4. ^ Mackie, Gordon. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie. pp. 208-213. February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  5. ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Ninth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)". dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 8 August 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  6. ^ Grove, Eric (2002). German Capital Ships and Raiders in World War II: From Graf Spee to Bismarck, 1931-1941. Hove, East Sussex, England: Psychology Press. p. 7. ISBN 9780714652085.
  7. ^ Watson. 2015.
  8. ^ Mackie, Gordon. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie. pp. 208-213. February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.

References

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  • Grove, Eric (2002). German Capital Ships and Raiders in World War II: From Graf Spee to Bismarck, 1931–1941. Hove, East Sussex, England: Psychology Press. ISBN 9780714652085
  • Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2017 "Ninth Cruiser Squadron (Royal Navy)". dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell.
  • Mackie, Gordon. (2015) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Gordon Mackie.
  • Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
  • Watson, Dr Graham. (2015 "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918: 6. LIST OF SQUADRONS AND FLOTILLAS 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith8.