| Royal Navy 5th Destroyer Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | January 1952 – February 2002 |
| Disbanded | 2002 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | British Armed Forces |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Squadron |
 |
| His Majesty's Naval Service of the British Armed Forces |
|---|
| Components |
|
| History and future |
| Ships |
| Personnel |
| Auxiliary services |
The Royal Navy 5th Destroyer Squadron [1] was a naval unit of the Royal Navy (RN) from 1952 to 2002.
After World War II, the British Royal Navy reverted to its previous layout and command structure in February 1947; the 5th Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet was reactivated, it was re-designated 5th Destroyer Squadron in January 1952, [2] and succeeded by the 5th Destroyer Squadron. The Admiralty controlled global deployment of the Navy until 1964, when that department was abolished and replaced by the new Navy Department, within the newly formed Ministry of Defence. These geographic commands usually comprised fleets, squadrons, flotillas, and single ships. In 1954, major re-structuring of the composition of the Royal Navy was undertaken; leading to downsizing, and warships being rotated between the various fleets and stations. Between 1954 and 1971, many commands were either abolished or amalgamated into larger geographic commands. By the end of 1966, all Royal Navy squadrons were disbanded. Squadrons remaining in the Far East Fleet were renamed, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Far East Destroyer Squadrons. No squadrons existed in the Western Fleet for the period 1967 to 1971. [3] In November 1971, nearly all British naval forces were brought under the command of a single fleet, whose headquarters was at Northwood, Middlesex, then under the control of Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CinC-Fleet). From 1981 to 2002, both Type 42 destroyers and frigates during this period were deployed to squadrons and the same ship class. [4] In peacetime, the squadron's role was usually administrative, and during the last two decades of its existence, the squadron was based at HMNB Portsmouth.
Note: Command structure organisational 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-organised now as administrative squadrons. [5]
Included: [6]
| from | to | deployed to | additional notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1952 | August 1954 | Home Fleet | on general assignments |
| September 1954 | June 1955 | Mediterranean Fleet | on general assignments |
| July 1955 | February 1956 | Home Fleet | on general assignments |
| March 1956 | January 1957 | Mediterranean Fleet | on general assignments |
| February 1957 | August 1957 | Home Fleet | on general assignments |
| September 1957 | June 1958 | Mediterranean Fleet | on general assignments |
| July 1958 | December 1958 | Home Fleet | on general assignments |
| January 1959 | December 1959 | disbanded | undergoing re-fits |
| January 1961 | August 1961 | Home Fleet | on general assignments |
| September 1961 | April 1962 | Mediterranean Fleet | on general assignments |
| May 1962 | January 1963 | Home Fleet | on general assignments |
| February 1963 | November 1980 | disbanded | |
| December 1980 | April 1992 | Second Flotilla, HMNB Portsmouth | Type 42 group |
| May 1992 | February 2002 | Fleet, HMNB Portsmouth | Type 42 group |
Included: [7]
, Home Fleet, 1952
, Home Fleet, 1953
, Home Fleet, to August 1954
, Mediterranean Fleet, September 1954 – June 1955
, Home Fleet, July 1955 – February 1956
, Mediterranean Fleet, March 1956 – January 1957
, Home Fleet, February 1957 – August 1957
, Mediterranean Fleet, September 1957 – June 1958
, Home Fleet, July 1958 – December 1958
, Home Fleet, January 1961 – August 1961
, Home Fleet, September 1961 – April 1962
, Home Fleet, May 1962 – January 1963
, Second Flotilla, Portsmouth, December 1980 – April 1992
, Fleet, Portsmouth, May 1992 – February 2002
 |
| commanders [8] | lead ship | dates |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Geoffrey Thistleton-Smith | HMS Solebay | January – April 1952 |
| Captain John G. Hamilton | HMS Solebay | April 1952 – 1953 |
| Captain John P. Scatchard and unknown | HMS Solebay / HMS Duchess | 1954 – 1957 |
| Captain Edward A.S. Bailey | HMS Duchess | September 1958 – 1959 |
| unknown | HMS Duchess | 1960 – 1963 |
| Disbanded | 1964 – 1979 | |
| Captain Jeremy C. Dreyer | HMS Exeter | December 1980 – February 1982 |
| Captain Hugh M. Balfour | HMS Exeter | February 1982 – June 1983 |
| Captain George M. Tullis | HMS Exeter | June 1983 – July 1984 |
| Captain David S. Dobson | HMS Exeter / HMS Southampton | July 1984 – October 1985 |
| Captain C. Christopher Morgan | HMS Southampton | October 1985 – 1987 |
| Captain Stephen Taylor | HMS Southampton | 1987 – January 1989 |
| Captain Nigel R. Essenhigh | HMS Exeter | April 1989 – August 1991 |
| Captain John R. Cartwright | HMS Exeter | August 1991 – May 1993 |
| Captain John R. Hance | HMS Exeter | May 1993 – 1995 |
| Captain Paul W. Herrington | HMS Exeter | 1995 – December 1996 |
| Captain Hugh A.H.G. Edleston | HMS Exeter / HMS Cardiff | December 1996 – July 1998 |
| Captain Stephen Jermy [9] | HMS Cardiff | July 1998 – December 1999 |
| Captain Neil Morisetti [10] | HMS Cardiff | December 1999 – June 2001 |
| Captain Timothy P. Fraser | HMS Cardiff | June 2001 – February 2002 (also Capt D3 from Nov 2001) |
Of note, for the last few months of its existence, Command of the 5th Destroyer Squadron was combined with that of the 3rd 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 C and D class was a group of 14 destroyers built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. As in previous years, it was originally intended to order a complete flotilla comprising eight destroyers—plus a flotilla leader as the ninth unit—in each year. However, only four ships—plus a leader—were ordered under the 1929–1930 Programme as the C class. The other four ships planned for the C class were never ordered as an economy measure and disarmament gesture by the Labour government of Ramsay MacDonald. A complete flotilla—the 'D' class—was ordered under the 1930–1931 Programme.
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 1st Destroyer Squadron was an administrative unit of the Royal Navy from 1951 to 1970.
The 3rd Destroyer Squadron was a naval unit of the Royal Navy from 1952 to 2001.
The 4th Destroyer Squadron was a naval unit of the Royal Navy from 1951 to 1959.
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 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.
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 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 3rd Frigate Squadron also known as the Third Frigate Squadron was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from February 1949 to 1963 and again from 1972 to May 1980.
The Flag Officer, Second Flotilla was a senior British Royal Navy appointment from 1971 to 1992.
