15th Destroyer Flotilla explained

The15th Destroyer Flotilla, or Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the British Royal Navy from August 1916 to March 1919 and again from September 1939 to May 1945.

First World War

The flotilla was first established in August 1916 and was attached to the Grand Fleet till March 1918.^[1] It was then transferred to the Battle Cruiser Force until it was disbanded in March 1919.

Second World War

At the outset of the war the flotilla was reformed under the Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth from September to October 1939.^{[2] [3]} It was then transferred to the Western Approaches Command^[4] at Plymouth until January 1941.^[5] Reassigned once again to Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth^[6] where it remained until May 1945 before it was dispersed.^[7]

Table of assignments

Assigned to	Dates	Notes
	April 1916 to March 1918
	March 1918 to March 1919	disbanded
	September to October 1939	reformed
	October 1939 to January 1941	at Plymouth
	January 1941 to May 1945	disbanded

Captains (D) 15th Destroyer Flotilla

Incomplete list of post holders included:^[8]

	Rank	Name	Term	Notes
Captain (D) afloat 15th Destroyer Flotilla
1	Captain		28 August 1916 – November, 1917	later V.Adm.
2	Captain		November, 1917 – 1 March 1919	later R.Adm.
3	Captain		31 July 1939 – 18 January 1941

Sources

• Anderson, Roger Charles; Carr Laughton, Leonard George; Perrin, William Gordon (2000). "15th Destroyer Flotilla which was part of Western Approaches Command". The Mariner's Mirror. Society for Nautical Research. 86: 321.
• Evans, A.S. (2010). Destroyer down : an account of HM destroyer losses, 1939–1945 (1. publ. ed.). Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime. .
• Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2018) "Fifteenth (Royal Navy) – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 29 May 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
• Hawkins, Ian (2003). Destroyer: An Anthology of First-hand Accounts of the War at Sea, 1939–1945. London, England: Conway Maritime Press. .
• Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, World War One 1914–1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
• Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Watson . Graham . Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914–1918 . www.naval-history.net . Gordon Smith, 27 October 2015 . 20 July 2018.
2. Book: Hawkins . Ian . Destroyer: An Anthology of First-hand Accounts of the War at Sea, 1939–1945 . 2003 . Conway Maritime Press . London, England . 9780851779478 . 367 . en.
3. Web site: Watson . Graham . Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945 . www.naval-history.net . Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015 . 20 July 2018.
4. Anderson . Roger Charles . Carr Laughton . Leonard George . Perrin . William Gordon . 15th Destroyer Flotilla which was part of Western Approaches Command. . The Mariner's Mirror . 2000 . 86 . 321 . Society for Nautical Research.
5. Web site: Watson . Graham . Royal Navy Organization in World War 2, 1939–1945 . www.naval-history.net . Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015 . 20 July 2018.
6. Book: Evans . A.S. . Destroyer down : an account of HM destroyer losses, 1939–1945 . 2010 . Pen & Sword Maritime . Barnsley . 9781848842700 . 206 . 1. publ. .
7. Web site: Watson . Graham . Royal Navy Organization in World War 2, 1939-1945 . www.naval-history.net . Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015 . 20 July 2018.
8. Web site: Harley . Simon . Lovell . Tony . Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy) – The Dreadnought Project . www.dreadnoughtproject.org . Harley and Lovell, 19 April 2018 . 20 July 2018 . en.