Fleet Reserve (Royal Navy)

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to navigationJump to search

The Fleet Reserve and the Dockyard Reserve consisted of warships of the Royal Navy which were not in full commission but were available for service at various levels of notice.

History

They were formed in 1891 from the Steam Reserve.[1] The ships were manned by working parties drawn from the Naval Depôts.[2]

The Fleet Reserve was divided into two divisions:[3]

  • A Division—Ships ready for service at 48 hours' notice.
  • B Division—Ships ready for service at about 30 days' notice.

The Dockyard Reserve had three further divisions for more elderly vessels or those under protracted refit:[4]

  • C Division—Ships under or awaiting refit, and which retained their stores on board.
  • D Division—Ships under or awaiting thorough overhaul. New ships building or completing.
  • E Division—Ships not likely to be used again.

Both Reserves were replaced by the Nucleus Crew System in 1905.

Fleet Reserves

Devonport Fleet Reserve

Dates of appointment given:

Medway Fleet Reserve

Dates of appointment given:

Portsmouth Fleet Reserve

Dates of appointment given:

Dockyard Reserves

A number of Royal Dockyards maintained their own Reserve force.

Portsmouth Dockyard Reserve

See Portsmouth Royal Dockyard#Captains of Dockyard Reserve.

Devonport Dockyard Reserve

See Devonport Royal Dockyard#Captains of Dockyard Reserve.

Chatham (or Medway) Dockyard Reserve

See Chatham Royal Dockyard#Captains of Dockyard Reserve.

Footnotes

  1. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 22 December, 1891. Issue 33514, col B, p. 8.
  2. Appendix C. Repairs of the Fleet. p. 61. The National Archives. ADM 116/942.
  3. Appendix C. Repairs of the Fleet. p. 59. The National Archives. ADM 116/942.
  4. Appendix C. Repairs of the Fleet. p. 59. The National Archives. ADM 116/942.
  5. The Navy List. (March, 1896). p. 218.
  6. Rainier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39/306. f. 1080.
  7. Rainier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39/306. f. 1080.
  8. Chichester Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 208.
  9. Prothero Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 1056.
  10. Prothero Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 1056.
  11. The Navy List. (April, 1891). p. 241.
  12. The Navy List. (March, 1896). p. 246.
  13. The Navy List. (October, 1898). p. 277.
  14. MacLeod Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 824.
  15. Forsyth Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 471.
  16. Corry Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 235.
  17. Pocklington Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 1049.
  18. Pocklington Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 1049.
  19. Jackson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. p. 681.
  20. Jackson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. p. 681.
  21. Hammet Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 572.
  22. Burr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 86/174.

Bibliography