Channel Fleet
Encyclopedia
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy
formation of warship
s that defended the waters of the English Channel
from 1690 to 1909.
against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford
who was then the Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet. By 1801 its main role was still to stop French ships from the French naval bases
at Brest
, Le Havre
and elsewhere in the Bay of Biscay
from entering the English Channel.
During the 19th century, as the French developed Cherbourg as a base for steam-powered ships, the Royal Navy developed Portland Harbour
as a base for the fleet. The harbour was built between 1849 and 1872 when the Royal Navy created a breakwater made of blocks from local quarries on the Isle of Portland
. The Channel Squadron only became a permanent formation in 1858.
With the amelioration of Anglo-French relations, and the rise of German
militarism towards 1900, the need for the Channel Fleet diminished and the main European naval arena shifted to the North Sea
.
On 14 December 1904 the Channel Fleet was re-styled the 'Atlantic Fleet' and the Home Fleet became the 'Channel Fleet'. At some point afterwards during the leadup to the First World War, the Eighth Battle Squadron was operating with the Fleet. The Channel Fleet was absorbed into the Home Fleet after the end of World War I
. Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson was officially "Senior Officer in Command of the Channel Squadron" from 1901 to 1903. His subordinate flag officer in that squadron was the Second-in-Command, who commanded a division of battleships. At some point afterwards during the leadup to the First World War, the Eighth Battle Squadron was operating with the Fleet.
On 24 March 1909, under a fleet re-organisation, the Channel Fleet became the 2nd Division of the Home Fleet.
s about the Royal Navy, notably Hornblower and the Hotspur
by C. S. Forester
, in which Forester's fictional hero becomes a favourite of the real Channel Fleet commander, Admiral William Cornwallis
. The fleet also features in several of the Aubrey-Maturin novels by Patrick O'Brian
.
The novel Billy Budd by Herman Melville
is set on board ships of the Channel Fleet, in the immediate aftermath of the Spithead and Nore mutinies
of 1797.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
formation of warship
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
s that defended the waters of the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
from 1690 to 1909.
History
The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford
Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford
Admiral of the Fleet Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford, PC was the First Lord of the Admiralty under King William III.-Naval career:...
who was then the Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet. By 1801 its main role was still to stop French ships from the French naval bases
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
at Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
, Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
and elsewhere in the Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
from entering the English Channel.
During the 19th century, as the French developed Cherbourg as a base for steam-powered ships, the Royal Navy developed Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, off Dorset, on the south coast of England. It is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world. Grid reference: .-History:...
as a base for the fleet. The harbour was built between 1849 and 1872 when the Royal Navy created a breakwater made of blocks from local quarries on the Isle of Portland
Isle of Portland
The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. Portland is south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A tombolo over which runs the A354 road connects it to Chesil Beach and the mainland. Portland and...
. The Channel Squadron only became a permanent formation in 1858.
With the amelioration of Anglo-French relations, and the rise of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
militarism towards 1900, the need for the Channel Fleet diminished and the main European naval arena shifted to the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
.
On 14 December 1904 the Channel Fleet was re-styled the 'Atlantic Fleet' and the Home Fleet became the 'Channel Fleet'. At some point afterwards during the leadup to the First World War, the Eighth Battle Squadron was operating with the Fleet. The Channel Fleet was absorbed into the Home Fleet after the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson was officially "Senior Officer in Command of the Channel Squadron" from 1901 to 1903. His subordinate flag officer in that squadron was the Second-in-Command, who commanded a division of battleships. At some point afterwards during the leadup to the First World War, the Eighth Battle Squadron was operating with the Fleet.
On 24 March 1909, under a fleet re-organisation, the Channel Fleet became the 2nd Division of the Home Fleet.
Channel Fleet in literature
The Channel Fleet features in several historical novelHistorical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
s about the Royal Navy, notably Hornblower and the Hotspur
Hornblower and the Hotspur
Hornblower and the Hotspur is a Horatio Hornblower novel written by C. S. Forester.It is the third book in the series chronologically, but the tenth by order of publication.-Plot summary:...
by C. S. Forester
C. S. Forester
Cecil Scott "C.S." Forester was the pen name of Cecil Louis Troughton Smith , an English novelist who rose to fame with tales of naval warfare. His most notable works were the 11-book Horatio Hornblower series, depicting a Royal Navy officer during the Napoleonic era, and The African Queen...
, in which Forester's fictional hero becomes a favourite of the real Channel Fleet commander, Admiral William Cornwallis
William Cornwallis
Admiral the Honourable Sir William Cornwallis GCB was a Royal Navy officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He was the brother of Charles Cornwallis, the 1st Marquess Cornwallis, governor-general of India...
. The fleet also features in several of the Aubrey-Maturin novels by Patrick O'Brian
Patrick O'Brian
Patrick O'Brian, CBE , born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series of novels set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and centred on the friendship of English Naval Captain Jack Aubrey and the Irish–Catalan physician Stephen...
.
The novel Billy Budd by Herman Melville
Herman Melville
Herman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....
is set on board ships of the Channel Fleet, in the immediate aftermath of the Spithead and Nore mutinies
Spithead and Nore mutinies
The Spithead and Nore mutinies were two major mutinies by sailors of the Royal Navy in 1797. There were also discontent and minor incidents on ships in other locations in the same year. They were not violent insurrections, being more in the nature of strikes, demanding better pay and conditions...
of 1797.
Commanding officers
Commanders-in-Chief have included:- Vice Admiral Lord AnsonGeorge Anson, 1st Baron AnsonAdmiral of the Fleet George Anson, 1st Baron Anson PC, FRS, RN was a British admiral and a wealthy aristocrat, noted for his circumnavigation of the globe and his role overseeing the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War...
(1746–1747)
- Vice Admiral Augustus KeppelAugustus Keppel, 1st Viscount KeppelAdmiral Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel PC was an officer of the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the War of American Independence...
(1778–1779) - Vice Admiral Charles HardyCharles HardyAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Hardy was a Royal Navy officer and colonial governor of New York.-Early career:Born at Portsmouth, the son of a vice admiral, Charles Hardy joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1731....
(1779–1780) - Vice Admiral Sir Francis GearySir Francis Geary, 1st BaronetSir Francis Geary was an officer of the Royal Navy. He served during the War of the Austrian Succession, the Seven Years' War, and the American War of Independence, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral.-Family and early life:...
(May 1780-September 1780) - Vice Admiral George DarbyGeorge DarbyVice Admiral George Darby was an officer in the Royal Navy. He was the second son of Jonathan Darby III Esq. , of Leap Castle, in King's County, Ireland.-Early career:Darby joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer...
(1780–1782) - Vice Admiral Earl HoweRichard Howe, 1st Earl HoweAdmiral of the Fleet Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe KG was a British naval officer, notable in particular for his service during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars. He was the brother of William Howe and George Howe.Howe joined the navy at the age of thirteen and served...
(1782–1783)
- Vice Admiral Earl HoweRichard Howe, 1st Earl HoweAdmiral of the Fleet Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe KG was a British naval officer, notable in particular for his service during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars. He was the brother of William Howe and George Howe.Howe joined the navy at the age of thirteen and served...
(1793–1795) - Vice Admiral Lord BridportAlexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport|-...
(1795–1800) - Vice Admiral Lord St VincentJohn Jervis, 1st Earl of St VincentAdmiral of the Fleet John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent GCB, PC was an admiral in the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom...
(1800–1803) - Vice Admiral Sir William CornwallisWilliam CornwallisAdmiral the Honourable Sir William Cornwallis GCB was a Royal Navy officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He was the brother of Charles Cornwallis, the 1st Marquess Cornwallis, governor-general of India...
(1803–1806) - Vice Admiral Lord St VincentJohn Jervis, 1st Earl of St VincentAdmiral of the Fleet John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent GCB, PC was an admiral in the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom...
(1806–1807) - Vice Admiral Lord GardnerAlan Gardner, 1st Baron GardnerAdmiral Alan Gardner, 1st Baron Gardner was a British Royal Navy officer and peer of the realm. He became one of the Georgian era's most dashing frigate captains and, ultimately, a respected senior admiral.-Naval career:...
(1807–1808) - Vice Admiral Lord GambierJames Gambier, 1st Baron GambierAdmiral of the Fleet James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier GCB was an admiral of the Royal Navy, who served as Governor of Newfoundland, and as a Lord of the Admiralty, but who gained notoriety for his actions at the Battle of the Basque Roads.-Early career:Gambier was born in New Providence, The...
(1808–1811) - Vice Admiral Sir Charles CottonSir Charles Cotton, 5th BaronetSir Charles Cotton, 5th Baronet was a senior Royal Navy officer of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars whose service continued until his death in command of the Channel Fleet from apoplexy in 1812. During his service, Cotton saw action off the Eastern Seaboard of the Thirteen Colonies and...
(1811–1812) - Vice Admiral Lord Keith (1812–1814)
- Rear Admiral Sir William Parker (1846–1847)
- Rear Admiral Sir Charles Napier (1847–1849)
- Commodore Sir William MartinSir William Martin, 4th BaronetAdmiral Sir William Fanshawe Martin, 4th Baronet GCB , was a senior British naval officer.-Naval career:...
(1849–1852) - Rear Admiral Armar CorryArmar Lowry CorryRear Admiral Armar Lowry Corry was a British naval officer.-Naval career:Corry entered the Royal Navy on 1 August 1805, became a Lieutenant on 28 April 1812, a Commander on 13 June 1815, and Captain on 23 July 1821...
(1853–1854)
- Vice Admiral Sir Charles FremantleCharles FremantleAdmiral Sir Charles Howe Fremantle GCB RN was a British Royal Navy officer. The city of Fremantle in Western Australia is named after him.-Early life:...
(1858–1860) - Vice Admiral Sir Robert StopfordRobert Fanshawe StopfordAdmiral Robert Fanshawe Stopford was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Channel Squadron.-Naval career:...
(1860–1861) - Vice Admiral Sir Robert SmartRobert SmartAdmiral Sir Robert Smart KCB KH was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet.-Naval career:...
(1861–1863) - Vice Admiral Sir Sydney DacresSydney DacresAdmiral Sir Sydney Colpoys Dacres GCB was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the Crimean War. Born into a substantial naval dynasty during the Napoleonic Wars, he eventually rose to the rank of Admiral and became First Naval Lord.-Family and early life:Dacres was born in 1805,...
(1863–1866) - Vice Admiral Sir Hastings YelvertonHastings YelvertonAdmiral Sir Hastings Reginald Yelverton, GCB, born Hastings Reginald Henry , was a British naval officer of the 19th century...
(1866–1867) - Vice Admiral Frederick WardenFrederick WardenRear Admiral Frederick Warden CB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Channel Squadron.-Naval career:...
(1867–1868) - Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Symonds (1868–1870)
- Vice Admiral Sir Hastings YelvertonHastings YelvertonAdmiral Sir Hastings Reginald Yelverton, GCB, born Hastings Reginald Henry , was a British naval officer of the 19th century...
(July 1870-October 1870) - Vice Admiral Sir George WellesleyGeorge WellesleyAdmiral Sir George Greville Wellesley GCB was a senior naval officer and First Naval Lord. He was a nephew of the Duke of Wellington.-Naval career:Wellesley joined the Royal Navy in 1828...
(1870–1871) - Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Hornby (1871–1874)
- Vice Admiral Sir Beauchamp SeymourBeauchamp Seymour, 1st Baron AlcesterAdmiral Frederick Beauchamp Paget Seymour, 1st Baron Alcester, GCB was a British naval commander. He was Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet between 1874 and 1877 and of the Mediterranean Fleet between 1880 and 1883....
(1874–1877) - Vice Admiral Lord John Hay (1877–1879)
- Vice Admiral Lord HoodArthur Hood, 1st Baron Hood of AvalonAdmiral Arthur William Acland Hood, 1st Baron Hood of Avalon GCB , was an officer of the Royal Navy who held command during the Crimean War and later served as First Naval Lord.- Early life :...
(1880–1882) - Vice Admiral Sir William DowellWilliam Dowell (Royal Navy officer)Admiral Sir William Montagu Dowell GCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.-Naval career:Dowell joined the Royal Navy in 1839. He served in the Black Sea during the Crimean War...
(1882–1883) - Vice Admiral The Duke of EdinburghAlfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and GothaAlfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the third Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and reigned from 1893 to 1900. He was also a member of the British Royal Family, the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha...
(1883–1884) - Vice Admiral Sir Algernon de HorseyAlgernon Frederick Rous de HorseyAdmiral Sir Algernon Frederick Rous de Horsey KCB was a Royal Navy officer who served in the nineteenth century.-Early life:...
(1884–1885) - Vice Admiral Charles FellowesCharles FellowesVice Admiral Charles Fellowes CB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet.-Naval career:Fellowes joined the Royal Navy in 1836...
(1885–1886) - Vice Admiral Sir William HewettWilliam Nathan Wrighte HewettVice Admiral Sir William Nathan Wrighte Hewett VC, KCB, KCSI was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Life:Hewett was born at Brighton to Dr. William Hewett,...
(1886–1888) - Vice Admiral Sir John Baird (1888–1890)
- Vice Admiral Sir Michael Culme-SeymourSir Michael Culme-Seymour, 3rd BaronetAdmiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, 3rd Baronet was a senior Royal Navy officer. On 17 September 1880 he became 3rd Baronet, on the death of his father...
(1890–1892) - Vice Admiral Sir Henry Fairfax (1892–1894)
- Vice Admiral Sir Robert FitzroyRobert O'Brien FitzRoyVice Admiral Sir Robert O'Brien FitzRoy KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Channel Squadron.-Naval career:...
(1894–1895) - Vice Admiral Lord Walter KerrLord Walter KerrAdmiral of the Fleet, Lord Walter Talbot Kerr, GCB, PC was the British First Naval Lord from 1899 to 1904.-Early Life and Indian Mutiny:...
(1895–1897) - Vice Admiral Sir Henry StephensonHenry Frederick StephensonAdmiral Sir Henry Frederick Stephenson GCVO, KCB was a Royal Navy officer, courtier, and Arctic explorer.-Early life and career:...
(1897–1898) - Vice Admiral Sir Harry RawsonHarry RawsonAdmiral Sir Harry Holdsworth Rawson, GCB, GCMG RN , is chiefly remembered for overseeing the British Benin Expedition of 1897 that burned and looted the city of the Kingdom of Benin, now in Nigeria...
(1898–1901) - Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson (1901–1903)
- Vice Admiral Lord Charles BeresfordLord Charles BeresfordCharles William de la Poer Beresford, 1st Baron Beresford GCB GCVO , styled Lord Charles Beresford between 1859 and 1916, was a British Admiral and Member of Parliament....
(1903–1905) - Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson (1905–1907)
- Vice Admiral Lord Charles BeresfordLord Charles BeresfordCharles William de la Poer Beresford, 1st Baron Beresford GCB GCVO , styled Lord Charles Beresford between 1859 and 1916, was a British Admiral and Member of Parliament....
(1907–1909) - Vice Admiral Sir Lewis BaylyLewis Bayly (Royal Navy officer)Sir Lewis Bayly , KCB, KCMG, CVO, was a British admiral during the First World War.-Early life:Bayly was born at Woolwich on 28 September 1857. He was a greatgreatnephew of Admiral Keats. Bayly joined the Royal Navy in 1870. He served in the Third Anglo-Ashanti War and against pirates in the Congo...
(1914-1915)