Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy that operated from the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967.
| FactSnippet No. 2,231,920 |
12 Facts About Home Fleet
2.
On 1 October 1902, the Admiral Superintendent Naval Reserves, then Vice-Admiral Gerard Noel, was given the additional appointment of Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, and allotted a rear-admiral to serve under him as commander of the Home Squadron.
| FactSnippet No. 2,231,921 |
3.
Also under the direction of the commander-in-chief of the Home Fleet would be the Coast Guard ships, which would continue to be berthed for the most part in their respective district harbours in order to carry out their local duties, but would join the Home Squadron for sea work at least three times per year, at which point the assembled force – the Home Squadron and the Coast Guard vessels – would be known collectively as the Home Fleet.
| FactSnippet No. 2,231,922 |
4.
In 1907, the Home Fleet was reformed with Vice-Admiral Francis Bridgeman in command, succeeded by Admiral Sir William May in 1909.
| FactSnippet No. 2,231,923 |
6.
The Home Fleet comprised the flagship Nelson leading a force that included the 2nd Battle Squadron, the Battlecruiser Squadron, the 2nd Cruiser Squadron aboard Dorsetshire, three destroyer flotillas, a submarine flotilla, two aircraft carriers and associated vessels.
| FactSnippet No. 2,231,925 |
7.
Home Fleet was the Royal Navy's main battle force in European waters during the Second World War.
| FactSnippet No. 2,231,926 |
8.
Only with the destruction of the German battleship Tirpitz in 1944 did the Home Fleet assume a lower priority, and most of its heavy units were withdrawn to be sent to the Far East.
| FactSnippet No. 2,231,927 |
9.
From 1947 to 1957 superfluous battleships and aircraft carriers were assigned to the Training Squadron, Home Fleet headquartered at Portland to provide basic training.
| FactSnippet No. 2,231,928 |
10.
In December 1951 the Admiralty authorised the creation of a new Heavy Squadron to be assigned to the Home Fleet, consisting of the battleship Vanguard, aircraft carriers, and cruisers.
| FactSnippet No. 2,231,929 |
11.
The squadrons of the Home Fleet were grouped under a Flag Officer, Flotillas, Home Fleet, who became the main seagoing flag officer.
| FactSnippet No. 2,231,930 |