2nd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)

The British 2nd Battle Squadron was a squadron consisting of Battleships. The 2nd Battle Squadron was initially part of the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. During World War I the Home Fleet was renamed the Grand Fleet. The squadron changed composition often as ships were damaged, retired or transferred.

August 1914

On 5 August 1914, the squadron was constituted as follows [Dittmar, F.J & Colledge J.J., "British Warships 1914-1919" Ian Allan, London. 1972; ISBN 0-7110-0380-7] :
** "HMS King George V"
** "HMS Ajax"
** "HMS Audacious"
** "HMS Centurion"
** "HMS Conqueror"
** "HMS Monarch"
** "HMS Orion"
** "HMS Thunderer"

Battle of Jutland, June 1916

As an element in the Grand Fleet, the Squadron participated in the Battle of Jutland. During the Battle of Jutland, the composition of the 2nd Battle Squadron was as follows [Macintyre, Donald. "Jutland" Evans Brothers Ltd. 1957; ISBN 0-330-20142-5] :
**First Division
** "HMS King George V" Flagship of Vice Admiral Sir Martyn Jerram; Captain F. L. Field;
** "HMS Ajax" Captain G. H. Baird;
** "HMS Centurion" Captain M. Culme-Seymour;
** "HMS Erin" Captain the Honourable V. A. Stanley;
**Second Division
** "HMS Orion" Flagship of Rear Admiral A. C. Leveson; Captain O. Backhouse;
** "HMS Monarch" Captain G. H. Borrett;
** "HMS Conqueror" Captain H. H. D. Tothill;
** "HMS Thunderer" Captain J. A. Fergusson;

January 1918

By 1918, "Agincourt" had been transferred from the 1st Battle Squadron.

References

External links

* [http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3940 Royal Navy History]
* [http://www.gwpda.org/naval/fdrn0004.htm Composition of the Grand Fleet]