6th Cruiser Squadron

The 6th Cruiser Squadron ^[1] was a formation of cruisers of the British Royal Navy from 1909 to 1915 and again from 1925 to 1945.

6th Cruiser Squadron
Active	1909-1915, 1925-1945
Country	United Kingdom
Allegiance	British Empire
Branch	Royal Navy
Commanders
Notable commanders	Rear-Admiral David Beatty

The Royal Navy's cruiser squadrons usually contained a maximum of five to six ships but down but sometimes as low as two to three ships. Between 1914 and 1925, they were designated Light Cruiser Squadrons, and after 1925 re-designated Cruiser Squadrons.^[2]

First formation

The squadron was established in March 1909. In September 1910, it was attached to the Mediterranean Fleet until April 1912. In May 1912, the 6th Cruiser Squadron was renamed the Mediterranean Cruiser Squadron.^[3] The squadron was then reassigned as the 6th Cruiser Squadron to the Second Fleet between May 1912 and July 1914.^[4]

Rear-Admiral Commanding

	Rank	Flag	Name	Term	Notes
Rear-Admiral Commanding, 6th Cruiser Squadron[5]
1	Rear-Admiral		Henry B. Jackson	March 1909-October 1910
2	Rear-Admiral		Sir Douglas A. Gamble	26 September 1910 – 3 June 1912
3	Rear-Admiral		David Beatty	2 July 1912 – 27 July 1912
4	Rear-Admiral		Dudley R. S. de Chair	15 July 1913
5	Rear-Admiral		William L. Grant	1 August 1914 – 12 March 1915

Second formation 1925 - 1945

The squadron reformed in 1925 when it was allocated to the Commander-in-Chief, Africa until August 1939 when the post was redesignated Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic. The posts of the admiral commanding the squadron and the regional Commander-in-Chief were not usually separated. It remained attached there until 1945 when it was disbanded.^[6][7]

Admirals Commanding

	Rank	Flag	Name	Term	Notes[8][9]
CinC Africa/Vice-Admiral Commanding, 6th Cruiser Squadron
1	Vice-Admiral		Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice	February, 1925 -February. 1927
2	Vice-Admiral		Sir David Anderson	February. 1927 - December, 1928
3	Vice-Admiral		Sir Rudolf Burmester	February, 1929 - February, 1931
4	Vice-Admiral		Sir Hugh Tweedie	February, 1931 - March, 1933
5	Vice-Admiral		Sir Edward Evans	March, 1933 -September, 1935
6	Vice-Admiral		Sir Francis Tottenham	September, 1935 - January, 1938
7	Vice-Admiral		Sir George Lyon	January, 1938 - August, 1939
CinC, South Atlantic/Rear/Vice-Admiral, Commanding 6th Cruiser Squadron
8	Vice-Admiral		Sir Sir George Lyon	September, 1939 - September, 1940
9	Rear-Admiral		Sir Robert Raikes	September, 1940 -February, 1941	(later V.Adm)
10	Rear-Admiral		Sir Algernon Willis	February, 1941 - March, 1942	(later V.Adm)
11	Rear-Admiral		W. E, Campbell Tait	March, 1942 - April, 1944	(later V.Adm)
12	Vice-Admiral		Sir Robert Burnett	April, 1944 - 1945