| 3rd Destroyer Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | December 1952 – 2001 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Size | Squadron |
| Commanders | |
| First | Hector C. D. MacLean |
| Last | Captain C. Joseph Gass |
The 3rd Destroyer Squadron [1] was a naval unit of the Royal Navy from 1952 to 2001.
After World War II, the Royal Navy reverted to its previous layout and command structure in July 1951 the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla of the Mediterranean Fleet was disbanded. [2] In February 1952 a new 3rd Destroyer Squadron was activated. The Admiralty controlled global deployment until 1964, [3] when that department was abolished and replaced by the Navy Department, Ministry of Defence. [4] Geographic commands usually consisted of fleets, squadrons, flotillas, and single ships. In 1954, major re-structuring of the navy was undertaken, leading to downsizing of administrative requirements. Warships were then rotated between the various fleets and stations. From 1954 until 1971, many naval commands were abolished or amalgamated into larger commands. In November 1971, nearly all British naval forces were brought under the command of a single fleet at Northwood Headquarters. [5] under the control of Commander-in-Chief Fleet. In 2012 that post was abolished and replaced by the Fleet Commander, who administered the fleet from Navy Command Headquarters in Portsmouth, Hampshire.
Note: Command structure organizational changes took place within Royal Navy post war period the term Flotilla was previously applied to a tactical unit until 1951 which led to the creation of three specific Flag Officers, Flotillas responsible for the Eastern, Home and Mediterranean fleets the existing destroyer flotillas were re-organized now as administrative squadrons. [6]
Deployments included: [7]
Notes:Revived as 3rd Far East Destroyer Squadron, (January 1967-January 1972)
Included: [8]
, Mediterranean Fleet 1952
3rd Destroyer Squadron
, Mediterranean Fleet 1953
3rd Destroyer Squadron
, Mediterranean Fleet 1954
3rd Destroyer Squadron
, Mediterranean Fleet 1954-1956
3rd Destroyer Squadron
, Home Fleet 1956
3rd Destroyer Squadron
, Home Fleet 1957
3rd Destroyer Squadron
, Home Fleet 1958
3rd Destroyer Squadron
, First Flotilla, Fleet 1980-1995
3rd Destroyer Squadron, Portsmouth & Rosyth
, The Fleet 1996
3rd Destroyer Squadron
, The Fleet 1997
3rd Destroyer Squadron
, The Fleet 1998
3rd Destroyer Squadron
, The Fleet 1999
3rd Destroyer Squadron
, The Fleet 2000
3rd Destroyer Squadron
, The Fleet 2001-2002
3rd Destroyer Squadron
Included: [9]
| Commander | Lead Ship | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Hector C. D. MacLean | HMS Saintes | February 1952-July 1953 |
| Captain Desmond P, Dreyer | HMS Saintes | July 1953-April 1955 |
| Captain A, A, Fitzroy Talbot | HMS Saintes/HMS Armada | April 1955-March 1957 |
| Captain Eric V. St. J. Morgan | HMS Armada | March 1957-August 1958 |
| Captain Ottoker H.M. St. J. Steiner | HMS Saintes | August 1958 – 1960 |
| Squadron | Disbanded | 1960-June 1980 |
| Captain Norman R.D. King | HMS Newcastle | June–October 1980 |
| Captain Derek A. Wallis | HMS Newcastle | October 1980-July 1982 |
| Captain Anthony D. Hutton | HMS Newcastle | July 1982-September 1984 |
| Captain Peter J. Erskine | HMS Newcastle | September 1984-February 1986 |
| Captain John R. Brigstocke | HMS York | April 1986-April 1987 |
| Captain David A.J. Blackburn | HMS York | April 1987-September 1988 |
| Captain Peter J. Cowling | HMS York | September 1988-January 1990 |
| Captain Anthony G. McEwen | HMS York | January 1990-May 1991 |
| Captain Roy A.G. Clare | HMS York | May 1991 – 1992 |
| Captain Paul D. Stone | HMS York | 1992-December 1993 |
| Captain Laurence C. Hopkins | HMS Liverpool | December 1993-July 1995 |
| Captain Roger S. Ainsley | HMS Liverpool | July 1995 – 1997 |
| Captain David G. Snelson | HMS Liverpool | 1997-1998 |
| Captain Philip L. Wilcocks | HMS Liverpool | 1998-August 1999 |
| Captain Richard C. Twitchen | HMS Liverpool | August 1999-December 2000 |
| Captain C. Joseph Gass | HMS Edinburgh | December 2000 – Nov 2001 |
| Captain Timothy P. Fraser (also Captain D5) | HMS Cardiff (in both D3 and D5) | November 2001-February 2002 |
Of note, for the last few months of its existence, Command of the 3rd Destroyer Squadron was combined with that of the 5th Destroyer Squadron, as the "Commander of the 3rd and 5th Destroyer Squadrons" prior to abolition of both squadrons and the incorporation of all the Type 42 destroyers within the newly established Portsmouth Flotilla.
The Far East Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy which existed between 1952 and 1971.
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.
The Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CINCFLEET) was the admiral responsible for the operations of the ships, submarines and aircraft of the British Royal Navy from 1971 until April 2012. The post was subordinate to the First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Naval Service. In its last years, as the Navy shrank, more administrative responsibilities were added.
The Atlantic Fleet was a naval fleet of the Royal Navy. It existed for two separate periods; 1909 until 1914, and then 1919 until 1932.
The Battle Cruiser Fleet, (BCF), later known as Battle Cruiser Force, a naval formation of fast battlecruisers of the Royal Navy, operated from 1915 to 1919.
The 4th Destroyer Squadron was a naval unit of the Royal Navy from 1951 to 1959.
The Royal Navy 5th Destroyer Squadron was a naval unit of the Royal Navy (RN) from 1952 to 2002.
The 2nd Division was a naval formation of the British Home Fleet it was formed before First World War in March 1909 until May 1912.
The 12th Cruiser Squadron also known as Cruiser Force G was a formation of cruisers of the British Royal Navy from 1914 to 1915 and then again from 1939 to 1943.
The 1st Destroyer Flotilla, also styled as the First Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the British Royal Navy from 1909 to 1940 and again from 1947 to 1951.
The British 2nd Destroyer Flotilla was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from 1909 to 1943 and again from 1945 to 1946.
The British 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, also styled as Third Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from 1909 to 1939 and again from 1945 to 1951.
The British 5th Destroyer Flotilla, or Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from 1910 to 1942 and again from 1947 to 1951.
The British 4th Destroyer Flotilla , or Fourth Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from August 1909 to July 1951.
The 9th Destroyer Flotilla, or Ninth Destroyer Flotilla, was a military formation of the British Royal Navy from January 1913 to December 1925 and again in January to July 1940.
The British 11th Destroyer Flotilla, or Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from August 1915 to September 1945.
The British 12th Destroyer Flotilla, or Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from November 1915 to March 1919 and again from September 1939 to 2 July 1943.
The Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet was a senior command appointment of the British Royal Navy from January 1947 to 1958 who also administered the 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron from 1947 to 1951. The appointment was a continuation of the Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station first established in 1861 that underwent a series of name changes due to an expansion of additional duties given to the post holder.
The Flag Officer, Second Flotilla was a senior British Royal Navy appointment from 1971 to 1992.
