# 3rd Destroyer Squadron (United Kingdom)

The 3rd Destroyer Squadron was a naval unit of the Royal Navy from 1952 to 2001.

## Overview

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. In February 1952 a new 3rd Destroyer Squadron was activated. The Admiralty controlled global deployment until 1964, when that department was abolished and replaced by the Navy Department, Ministry of Defence. 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. 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.

## Organizational changes

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.

## Operational history

Deployments included:
* Assigned to Mediterranean Fleet - (1952-1956)
* Assigned to Home Fleet - (1956-1958)
* Assigned to First Flotilla, Fleet (1980- 1995)
* Assigned to the Fleet - (1996-2002)
Notes:Revived as 3rd Far East Destroyer Squadron, (January 1967-January 1972)

## Composition

Included:
, Mediterranean Fleet 1952 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* HMS Saintes (Leader)
* HMS Armada
* HMS Gravelines
* HMS Vigo
, Mediterranean Fleet 1953 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* HMS Saintes (Leader)
* HMS Armada
* HMS Gravelines
* HMS Vigo - (July 1953)
* HMS St. Kitts - (July 1953)
* HMS St. Kitts - (November 1953)
, Mediterranean Fleet 1954 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* HMS Saintes (Leader)
* HMS Barfleur
* HMS St. Kitts
, Mediterranean Fleet 1954-1956 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* HMS Saintes (Leader)
* HMS Armada (Leader)
* HMS Barfleur
* HMS St. Kitts
, Home Fleet 1956 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* HMS Armada (Leader)
* HMS Barfleur
* HMS St. Kitts
, Home Fleet 1957 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* HMS Armada (Leader)
* HMS Barfleur
* HMS St. Kitts
, Home Fleet 1958 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* HMS Armada (Leader)
* HMS Barfleur
* HMS Camperdown
, First Flotilla, Fleet 1980-1995 3rd Destroyer Squadron, Portsmouth & Rosyth
* HMS Edinburgh (Leader)
* HMS Liverpool (Leader)
* HMS Newcastle (Leader)
* HMS York - (Leader)
* HMS Sheffield
* HMS Birmingham
* HMS Glasgow
* HMS Coventry
* HMS Cardiff
* HMS Nottingham
, The Fleet 1996 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* HMS Liverpool - (Leader)
* HMS Birmingham - (December 1999)
* HMS Glasgow
* HMS Nottingham
* HMS York
* HMS Edinburgh
, The Fleet 1997 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* HMS Liverpool - (Leader)
* HMS Birmingham - (December 1999)
* HMS Glasgow
* HMS Nottingham
* HMS York
* HMS Edinburgh
, The Fleet 1998 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* HMS Liverpool - (Leader)
* HMS Birmingham - (December 1999)
* HMS Glasgow
* HMS Nottingham
* HMS York
* HMS Edinburgh
, The Fleet 1999 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* HMS Liverpool - (Leader)
* HMS Birmingham - (December 1999)
* HMS Glasgow
* HMS Nottingham
* HMS York
* HMS Edinburgh
, The Fleet 2000 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* HMS Edinburgh - (Leader)
* HMS Glasgow
* HMS Liverpool - (Lead ship)
* HMS Nottingham
* HMS York
, The Fleet 2001-2002 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* HMS Edinburgh - (Leader)
* HMS Glasgow
* HMS Liverpool
* HMS Nottingham
* HMS York

## Squadron commander

Included:
| 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.