2nd Battlecruiser Squadron
Active1915–1919
CountryUnited Kingdom
AllegianceBritish Empire
BranchRoyal Navy
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Rear Admiral W. C. Pakenham
HMS Indefatigable

The 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron was a Royal Navy squadron of battlecruisers that saw service as part of the Grand Fleet during the First World War.

August 1914

In August 1914, the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron was in the Mediterranean, and consisted of:[1]

1915

On 15 January 1915, HMS New Zealand became flagship of the 2nd BCS. She was replaced as flagship by the Australian battlecruiser HMAS Australia on 8 February 1915.

With the transfer of HMS Inflexible and Indomitable to the newly created 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron during 1915, the squadron was left with three ships, namely HMS New Zealand and Indefatigable, and HMAS Australia.

Battle of Jutland

HMAS Australia was damaged in collision with HMS New Zealand on 22 April 1916, and did not participate in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. The 2nd BCS therefore consisted of:[2]

HMS New Zealand sustained light damage during the engagement; however, HMS Indefatigable was sunk by the German battlecruiser Von der Tann.

After Jutland

With the loss of three battlecruisers at Jutland, the Royal Navy reverted to two Battlecruiser squadrons. For the remainder of the war, the squadron comprised:[1]

  • HMAS Australia
  • HMS New Zealand
  • HMS Inflexible
  • HMS Indomitable

Rear-Admirals commanding

Post holders included:[3]

RankFlagNameTermNotes
Rear-Admiral Commanding, 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron
1Rear-AdmiralSir Archibald G. H.W. MooreJanuary–February 1915
2Rear-AdmiralSir George Edwin PateyFebruary–March 1915
3Rear-AdmiralSir William C. Pakenham1 March 1915 – December 1916
4Rear-AdmiralSir Arthur C. LevesonDecember 1916 – September 1918
5Rear-AdmiralSir Lionel HalseySeptember 1918 – March 1919
6Rear-AdmiralHenry Oliver14 March 1918 – March 1919

References

  1. 1 2 Dittmar, F.J & Colledge J.J., British Warships 1914–1919 Ian Allan, London. 1972; ISBN 0-7110-0380-7
  2. ↑ Macintyre, Donald. Jutland Evans Brothers Ltd. 1957; ISBN 0-330-20142-5
  3. ↑ Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. pp.203–204. March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
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