Battle Cruiser Fleet

The Battle Cruiser Fleet, (BCF),^[1] later known as Battle Cruiser Force, a naval formation of fast battlecruisers of the Royal Navy, operated from 1915 to 1919.

Battle Cruiser Fleet
White Ensign
Active	1915–1919
Country	United Kingdom
Allegiance	British Empire
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Fleet
Engagements	Battle of Jutland

History

The Fleet was formed on 11 February 1915 when the Admiralty ordered the deployment of its faster Battlecruiser squadrons to the Rosyth Command^[2] and grouped them together as the new Battle Cruiser Fleet.^[3] The name 'Fleet' remained until 1916 although it was officially subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet.^[4] The fleet initially contained the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battlecruiser Squadrons but this was reduced to the 1st and 2nd BC Squadrons in June 1916. It also included two light cruiser squadrons and two destroyer flotillas, in addition the new 5th Battle Squadron that included the new fast Queen Elizabeth-class battleships operated with the fleet. On 29 November 1916 it was renamed Battle Cruiser Force. The force was disbanded in April 1919.^[5]

Vice-Admirals commanding

Post holders included:^[6][7][8]

	Rank	Flag	Name	Term	Notes
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Battle Cruiser Fleet/Force
1	Vice-Admiral		Sir David R. Beatty	8 February 1915	(acting V.Adm) [9]
2	Vice-Admiral		Sir William C. Pakenham	29 November 1916
3	Vice-Admiral		Sir Henry F. Oliver	28 February 1919 – 21 March 1919	(temporary Cdg) [10]
4	Vice-Admiral		Sir Roger J. B. Keyes	21 March 1919 – 7 April 1919	(acting V.Adm) [11]

Chiefs of staff

Post holders included:^[12]

	Rank	Flag	Name	Term	Notes
Chief of Staff, Battle Cruiser Fleet/Force
1	Captain		Rudolf W. Bentinck	February 1915-June 1916
2	Captain		the Hon. Hubert G. Brand	June–December 1916
3	Captain		Edward H. Heaton-Ellis	December 1916-August 1917
4	Captain		Hugh F. P. Sinclair	August 1917-December 1918
5	Captain		William H.D. Boyle	December 1918-March 1919

Components

Included ^[13][14]

	Unit	Elements	Notes [15]
Main components at various times attached to BCF from 8 February 1915 to 4 April 1919
1	1st Battlecruiser Squadron	4/5 Battle Cruisers [16]
2	2nd Battlecruiser Squadron	3/4 Battle Cruisers [17]
3	3rd Battlecruiser Squadron	3/4 Battle Cruisers [18]	detached 05/1916 [19]
4	5th Battle Squadron	5 fast battleships	special unit of fast battleships operating with BCF [20]
5	1st Cruiser Squadron	4 cruisers	attached 02/1915 - 06/1916 [21]
6	2nd Cruiser Squadron	4 cruisers	attached 02-1915 - 06/1916 [22]
7	3rd Cruiser Squadron	3/4 cruisers	attached 02-1915 - 09/1916 [23]
8	6th Cruiser Squadron	4/5 cruisers	attached 02/1915 - 10/1917 [24]
9	7th Cruiser Squadron	4/5 cruisers	attached 02/1915 - 05/1916 [25]
10	1st Light Cruiser Squadron	11 Town-class[26]	from 02/1915 to 09/1918
11	2nd Light Cruiser Squadron	10 Town-class replaced by C Class[27]	from 02/1915 to 05/1918 [28]
12	3rd Light Cruiser Squadron		from 02/1915 to 05/1918 [29]
13	4th Light Cruiser Squadron	5 C-class cruisers and 1 Arethusa-class cruiser	from 06/1915 to 1919 [30]
14	6th Light Cruiser Squadron	5 C-class cruisers	from 07/1917 to 1919 [31]
15	7th Light Cruiser Squadron	6 Arethusa-class cruisers/ C-class cruisers	from 03/1918 to 11/1918 [32]
16	1st Destroyer Flotilla	1 Cruiser (L) 20 destroyers	from the Harwich Force - 02/1915 to 11/1916 detached to Nore Command[33]
17	2nd Destroyer Flotilla	1 Cruiser (L) 18/22 destroyers	ditto from 02/1915 to 04/1916 detached to Devonport[34]
18	3rd Destroyer Flotilla	14 destroyers	from the Harwich Force, 02/1918 to 1918 [35]
19	4th Destroyer Flotilla	1 cruiser (FS) 2/3 cruiser (L) 20 destroyers	from 02/1915 to 09/1916 detached to Humber [36]
20	9th Destroyer Flotilla	22 L Class[37]	from 02/1915 [38]
21	11th Destroyer Flotilla	1/2 cruiser (L) 25 destroyers	formed 09/1915 [39]
22	12th Destroyer Flotilla	1/2 cruiser (L) 25 destroyers	formed 11/1915 [40]
23	13th Destroyer Flotilla	4 M Class, 10 R Class, 26 V & W Class[41]
24	14th Destroyer Flotilla	2 cruiser (L) 32 destroyers	formed 08/1916 [42]
25	15th Destroyer Flotilla	2 cruiser (L) 22 destroyers	formed 09/1916 [43]
26	20th Destroyer Flotilla	2 cruiser (L) 12 destroyers	formed 1918 initially a mine laying flotilla [44]
27	Scapa Local Flotilla	8 destroyers	formed 1918
28	1st Minesweeper Flotilla	12 minesweepers	formed 1915 [45]
29	2nd Minesweeper Flotilla	6 minesweepers	formed 1916 [46]
30	3rd Minesweeper Flotilla	14 minesweepers	formed 1918 [47]
The Fleet/Force consisted of approximately 250-300 ships[48]