# 3rd Destroyer Flotilla

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.

## History

In 1907 the Channel Fleet had a large Channel Flotilla of destroyers in February 1909 when it was divided to form the 1st and 3rd Destroyer Flotillas. From March 1909 to May 1912 the formation was part of the Nore Division, 3rd Division Home Fleet. In May 1912, the Home Fleet was split into the First Fleet, with ships in full commission, and the Second and Third Fleets, composed of ships partly crewed and laid up in reserve respectively. The 3rd Destroyer Flotilla remained part of the First Fleet until July 1914.
On the outbreak of the First World War, the First Fleet became the Grand Fleet, and the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla joined the newly formed Harwich Force. In the summer of 1915 it was renumbered the 9th Destroyer Flotilla. It was reformed again from March 1918 as part of the Grand Fleet till November 1918.
After the War the Flotilla joined the Atlantic Fleet, forming part of that organisation from December 1918 until August 1923. It was then allocated to the Mediterranean Fleet until 1926 when it was temporarily assigned to the China Station until 1927. It returned to the Mediterranean until 1938. By the beginning of World War Two in September 1939 it was still in the Mediterranean Fleet. It was re-allocated to the Home Fleet in October 1939 to November 1944 under the command of the Rear-Admiral, Destroyer Flotillas Home Fleet. The flotilla was sent back to join the Mediterranean Fleet in November 1944.
Throughout this period the term Flotilla had applied to a tactical unit. In 1951, instead, three specific Flag Officers, Flotillas, were created responsible for escorts up to cruisers for the Eastern, Home and Mediterranean fleets. The previous destroyer flotillas were redesignated squadrons, and thus the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla became the 3rd Destroyer Squadron in July 1951.

## Operational deployments

| Assigned to | Dates | Notes |
| Channel Fleet | March 1907 to February 1909 | as Home Fleet Destroyer Flotilla |
| Home Fleet, 3rd Division, Nore Division | March 1909 to May 1912 | |
| Home Fleets, First Fleet | May 1912 to July 1914 | disbanded |
| Grand Fleet | March 1918 to November 1918 | reformed |
| Atlantic Fleet | December 1918 to August 1923 | |
| Mediterranean Fleet | August 1923 to 1926 | temporarily detached to China Station |
| China Station | 1926 to 1927 | returns to Med Fleet |
| Mediterranean Fleet | 1928 to October 1939 | |
| Home Fleet | October 1939 to November 1944 | Under R.Adm Destroyer Flotillas, Home Fleet |
| Mediterranean Fleet | November 1944 to July 1951 | Captain (D) appointed December 1945 |

## Flotilla commander

The commander of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla held the title of Captain (Destroyers), or 'Captain (D)'. Those officers included (incomplete list):
| | Rank | Name | Term | Notes |
| Captain (D) afloat 3rd Destroyer Flotilla |||||
| 1 | Captain | Godfrey M. Paine | 2 June, 1909 1 May, 1912 | |
| 2 | Captain | Robert K. Arbuthnot | 1 May, 1912 – 31 July, 1912 | (later R. Adm) |
| 3 | Captain | Ernest S. Carey | 1 July, 1912 – 3 April, 1913 | |
| 4 | Captain | Cecil H. Fox | 3 April, 1913 – 26 October, 1914 | |
| 5 | Captain | Francis G. St. John | 26 October, 1914 - 15 August, 1917 | |
| 6 | Captain | Harold E. Sulivan | 15 August, 1917 – 1 March, 1919 | |
| 7 | Captain | Frank F. Rose | 7 July, 1921– 6 July, 1923 | |
| 8 | Captain | Rafe G. Rowley-Conwy | 1 March, 1919 – 7 July, 1919 | (later R. Adm) |
| 9 | Captain | Francis Alexander Waddilove Buller | 7 July, 1919 – 7 July, 1921 | (later R. Adm) |
| 10 | Captain | Frank F. Rose | 7 July, 1921– 6 July, 1923 | |
| 11 | Captain | Humphrey T. Walwyn | July, 1923 – October, 1923 | (later V.Adm) |
| 12 | Captain | John C. Hodgson | 6 July, 1923 – 20 October, 1923 | |
| 13 | Captain | Dashwood F. Moir | 20 October, 1923 – January, 1925 | |
| 14 | Captain | Charles G. Ramsey | 15 January, 1925 – January, 1927 | (later Adm.) |
| 15 | Captain | Cyril G. Sedgwick | 16 October, 1928 – 21 June, 1930 | |
| 16 | Captain | Roderick B. T. Miles | 21 June, 1930 - 22 July, 1935 | |
| 17 | Captain | Geoffrey J. A. Miles | 22 July, 1935 – 25 May, 1937 | (later Adm.) |
| 18 | Captain | Arthur G. Talbot | 25 May, 1937 – 7 November, 1939 | |
| Flotilla is re-established November 1944 no Captain (D) till December 1945. |||||
| 19 | Captain | William H. Selby | December 1945 – 1947 | |
| 20 | Captain | Laurence G. Durlacher | January 1948-July 1950 | |
| 21 | Captain | Peter Dawnay | July 1950 – July 1951 | |

## Composition 1945 to 1951

Included: , Mediterranean Fleet 1945 3rd Destroyer Flotilla
* HMS Troubridge (Leader)
* HMS Venus
* HMS Verulam
* HMS Virago
* HMS Volage
* HMS Brissenden
, Mediterranean Fleet 1946 3rd Destroyer Flotilla
* HMS Troubridge (Leader)
* HMS Venus
* HMS Verulam
* HMS Virago
* HMS Volage
* HMS Brissenden
, Mediterranean Fleet 1947 3rd Destroyer Flotilla
* HMS Troubridge (Leader)
* HMS Venus
* HMS Verulam
* HMS Virago
* HMS Volage
* HMS Brissenden
* HMS Haydon - (October 1947)
* HMS Stevenstone -(October 1947)
* HMS Talybont - (October 1947)
, Mediterranean Fleet 1948 3rd Destroyer Flotilla
* HMS Troubridge (Leader)
* HMS Venus
* HMS Verulam
* HMS Virago
* HMS Volage
, Mediterranean Fleet 1949 3rd Destroyer Flotilla
* HMS Troubridge (Leader)
* HMS Venus
* HMS Verulam
* HMS Virago
* HMS Volage - (July 1949)
* HMS Saintes (Leader) (July 1949)
* HMS Armada - (July 1949)
* HMS Gravelines - (July 1949)
* HMS Vigo - (July 1949)
, Mediterranean Fleet 1950 3rd Destroyer Flotilla
* HMS Saintes (Leader)
* HMS Armada
* HMS Gravelines
* HMS Vigo
, Mediterranean Fleet 1951 3rd Destroyer Flotilla
* HMS Saintes (Leader)
* HMS Armada
* HMS Gravelines
* HMS Vigo