The Harwich Force originally called Harwich Striking Force was a squadron of the Royal Navy, formed during the First World War and based in Harwich. It played a significant role in the war.
History
After the outbreak of the First World War, it was important for the Royal Navy was to secure the approaches to the
English Channel, to prevent elements of the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) from breaking out into the Atlantic or from interfering with British maritime trade and troop convoys to the continent. Most of the big ships of the
Grand Fleet had dispersed to the navy's anchorage at
Scapa Flow or to other north-eastern ports to watch the northern route from the
North Sea into the Atlantic. Patrol flotillas were organised along the south and east coasts of England, with commands established at several ports in the region. The
Dover Patrol was based at
Dover, consisting mostly of
, while a number of
and
were based at
Portland Harbour. A large number of destroyers,
and
were based at
Harwich, under the command of Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt.
Composition
The Harwich Force consisted of between four and eight light cruisers, several flotilla leaders and usually between 30 and 40 destroyers in
, the number varying. Also stationed at Harwich was a submarine force under Commodore Roger Keyes. In early 1917, the Harwich Force consisted of eight light cruisers, two flotilla leaders and 45 destroyers. By the end of the year, there were nine light cruisers, four flotilla leaders and 24 destroyers. The combination of light, fast ships was intended for scouting, reconnaissance, engaging German light forces and frustrating German attempts at
minelaying in the Channel.
Rear-Admirals
Post holders included:
|
| Rear-Admiral Commanding, Harwich Force |
| receiving shore support from FOIC, Harwich |
| ditto |
| Rear-Admiral-in-Charge, Harwich |
| in charge of the base at Harwich Dockyard |
| ditto |
Service
It was intended that the Harwich Force would operate when possible in conjunction with the Dover Patrol, and the Admiralty intended that the Harwich force would also be able to support the Grand Fleet if it moved into the area. Tyrwhitt was also expected to carry out reconnaissance of German naval activities in the southern parts of the North Sea, and to escort ships sailing between the
Thames and the
Netherlands. Tyrwhitt's objectives were often complicated by the need to provide reinforcements for the Dover Patrol. The force fired the first shots of the war when a flotilla led by sank the
minelayer on 5 August 1914. During the war, the Force captured or sank 24 enemy merchants, and it escorted 520 eastbound and 511 westbound ships between Dutch and British ports. Their ships also took part in the
Cuxhaven Raid on Christmas Day, 1914.
The force was also active in a number of clashes with the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy). Their ships were present at the Battles of Heligoland Bight, Texel, and Dogger Bank, and were mobilised after the German raids on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in 1914, and on Yarmouth and Lowestoft in 1916. They were called out during the prelude to the Battle of Jutland but did not take part in the battle.
During the winter of 1916–1917, the force assisted the Dover Patrol in patrolling the Dover Barrage, an anti-submarine steel netting barrier which required on a large number of small vessels to operate and were vulnerable to attack by German destroyers and torpedo boats. Other regular patrols were mounted in The Downs, an anchorage in the eastern part of the Channel and another net barrage which was laid parallel to the Belgian coast. Forays along the coast of Germany sometimes resulted in the sinking or capture of German fishing vessels; on one sweep in 1915, twenty captured trawlers were brought to Harwich as prizes. Another duty was coastal bombardment of German positions in occupied Belgium; on one mission to bombard Ostend on 5 June 1917, Tyrwhitt's flagship, , sank the German torpedo boat S.20 off Zeebrugge.
After the end of the war, Harwich was designated the port at which the remaining German would be surrendered and Harwich Force oversaw the operation.
Battle of Jutland
At the end of May 1916, at the time of the Battle of Jutland, the Harwich force consisted of:
-
5th Light Cruiser Squadron:
-
9th Destroyer Flotilla
-
light cruiser (Capt. Francis G. St.John)
-
destroyer leader
-
17 (L-class) destroyers ( Laforey, Lance, Lark, Lassoo, Laverock, Lawford, Leonidas, Lookout, Loyal, Lysander; detached to the Battlecruiser Fleet: Landrail, Laurel, Liberty, Lydiard; in repairs or refitting: Laertes, Lennox, Lucifer)
-
10th Destroyer Flotilla
-
light cruiser (Capt. Wilmot S. Nicholson)
-
destroyer leader
-
15 M-class and 3 Talisman-class destroyers. Manly, Mentor, Miranda, Murray, Milne, Myngs; attached to the 3rd Battle Squadron at The Nore: Mastiff, Matchless; detached to the Battlecruiser fleet: Moorsom, Morris, Termagant, Turbulent; in repairs or refit: Melpomene, Medea, Meteor, Trident, Mansfield, Minos.
The Harwich Force sortied to join the Grand Fleet on the initiative of Commodore Tyrwhitt early on 1 June 1916 in the hope that it might help should the action be re-joined later in the day but it was recalled by the Admiralty a few hours later and told to await orders. The following ships had sortied:
- light cruisers: Carysfort, Cleopatra, Conquest, Aurora, Undaunted
- flotilla leaders Nimrod, Lightfoot
- destroyers:
- :1st Division: Laforey, Lookout, Lawford, Laverock
- :2nd Division: Lance, Lassoo, Lysander, Lark
- :3rd Division: Loyal, Leonidas, Mentor, Miranda
- :4th Division: Manly, Murray, Milne, Myngs
See also
-
Seaplane Experimental Station
Footnotes
Further reading
External links
