I. -
STATEMENT EXPLANATORY OF THE NAVY ESTIMATES
1919-1920
The
Navy Estimates for 1919-20 as now presented to the House
of Commons amount to a net sum of £157,528,800.
This
amount exceeds the forecast of £149,200,000 shown in the
White Paper presented last March by £8,328,800.
As
was pointed out to the House of Commons at the time, the
forecast made in March, although the best that could be
made in the circumstances actually existing, was not in
any sense a detailed estimate, the data for preparing
which were not then available.
Since
March additional items of expenditure - some of which
could not be foreseen, whilst others, such as the
improvement in pay for the personnel of the Navy, were
foreseen, but could not be estimated for - have matured
for inclusion in these Estimates.
The
chief of these items are as follow:
Additional
pay
and pensions for the officers of the Fleet
|
£2,400,000
|
Additional
pay
and pensions for the men of the Fleet
|
8,000,000
|
Increase
in
rates of war gratuities and extension to
mercantile officers employed in the Naval
Service
|
3,000,000
|
Transfer
to
Navy Votes of expenditure on account of hire
of vessels for naval purposes and freight of
fuel and stores, which during the war was
borne by the Ministry of Shipping
|
6,500,000
|
Extra
provision
required for reconditioning or hired vessels
|
2,750,000
|
Special
requirements
of fuel, &c. owing to the presence of the
Fleet in Russian waters and Eastern
Mediterranean.
|
4,250,000
|
The
total of the additional items of expenditure was
slightly over £27,000,000.
On
the other hand, the progress of the peace negotiations
and the consequent ascertainment of many factors that
were quite uncertain last March, and further, the close
review which the Admiralty have since made of all
services and expenditure, have made it possible to set
off a reduction of £19,000,000 against the additional
items referred to.
This
reduction
is accounted for to the extent of £9,000,000 by
increased appropriations in aid, chiefly in respect of
receipts from the A1lies for fuel supplies and the sale
of stocks of coal owing to the withdrawal of coal
burning ships from the Navy.
The
resulting
increase of £8,328,500 would have been less by about
£3,000,000 but for the question that the proceeds of the
sale of surplus naval war property dealt with by the
Disposals Board should be credited to the Ministry of
Munitions and not to the Admiralty.
In
considering
these Estimates, it should be remembered, in the first
place, that their amount bears little relation to the
requirements of the Navy for the current year. A large
proportion of the sum required is to pay for work done
and services rendered prior to the Armistice, for work
put in hand before the Armistice and so far carried out
that it was not economical for it to be cancelled, for
war gratuities on demobilisation, for the pay and victualling
of surplus personnel, and for other purely dead-weight
war expenditure. No comparison can therefore profitably
be made between the total figure and that of the pre-war
Estimates. Moreover, even if it were possible to
disentangle the "normal" or "peace" expenditure, any
such comparison would still be entirely fallacious until
due allowance has been made for the fact that all
material and services cost roughly twice what they did
before the war.
In
the second place, it should be borne in mind that the
conclusion or the Armistice, so for from finding the war
effort of the nation on the decline, found us at the
height of our endeavour to win the war, and with every
kind of production and activity to that end at its
maximum. That this was so in the case of the Naval
effort will be seen from the following figures giving
the actual expenditure during the (complete) war years:
Year |
£ |
1915-16
|
205,733,597
net |
1916-17
|
209,877,218
net |
1917-18
|
227,388,891
net |
1918-19 |
325,000,000
(estimated). |
Even
these enormous figures, however, do not indicate fully
the steep curve at the height of which we stood in
November 1918. The weekly rate of expenditure on the
Navy at the time of the Armistice was actually about
£6,750,000, or at the rate of more than £350,000,000, a
year.
I
append a summary of naval activities since the Armistice,
and also some statistical tables illustrating the size
of the naval forces employed during the war and the
provision which had to be made for their upkeep.
WALTER H. LONG
Admiralty,
1st December 1919
II. - SUMMARY OF NAVAL
ACTIVITIES SINCE THE ARMISTICE
(A) -
EMPLOYMENT OF THE FLEET.
The
conclusion
of the Armistice, while freeing the Navy from its main
task of opposing the German Fleet, left several
subsidiary campaigns uncompleted, besides opening new
theatres of operations in the Baltic and Black Seas.
NORTH
SEA.
The
services
of the Navy were called upon in assisting to enforce the
actual terms of the Armistice. Immediately upon its
conclusion, the Grand Fleet was engaged in taking over
the German ships for internment, and escorting them to
Scapa Flow, whilst the Harwich Force took over the
surrendered German Submarines. A portion of the main
Fleet was constantly employed in watching the ships
interned at Scapa Flow up to the 21st June, when the
German ships were scuttled by their own crews.
On
the 3rd December 1918, H.M.S. "Hercules" accompanied by
a light cruise and four destroyers, proceeded to German
waters with the Allied Naval Armistice Commission. These
ships returned on the 20th December, and since that date
one, and on occasions two, light cruisers have been
visiting German ports on duties connected with the
Armistice terms. Four destroyers have been allocated to
convey provisions, despatches, &c., to these ships.
H.M. Ships have also assisted various commissions in the
enforcement of agreements as to the surrender of
materiel and German merchant shipping. The number or
German merchant ships surrendered
up to 22nd November was 346.
BALTIC.
When,
on the conclusion of the Armistice, the entrance to the
Baltic Sea was again opened to surface ships, a naval
force proceeded to the Baltic with the primary object of
ensuring the supply of arms and munitions to Esthonia
and Latvia. This force originally consisted of five
light cruisers, nine destroyers and two auxiliary ships.
The Admiral in Command was instructed that the policy of
H.M. Government was to prevent the destruction of the
Esthonian and Latvian provinces by external agency. He
was, therefore, to employ his forces as necessary to
prevent aggression by Bolshevik forces against those
territories.
The
British force operated in the Gulfs of Finland and Riga,
and off the Coast or Latvia until early in January 1919,
when ice conditions forced a withdrawal to Copenhagen.
Several refugees were brought away from Libau
and Riga.
During
this time the Bolshevik advance in Courland had
progressed and on the withdrawal of the British ships
Riga fell into the hands of the Red Army.
In
January the naval force was reduced, but periodical
visits to Libau were
arranged.
Early
in April ice conditions once more permitted navigation
of the Gulf of Finland, and the menace to the Baltic
States from Bolshevik ships again necessitated the
presence of British ships at Reval.
This fact and the further complication introduced by the
attitude of the Germans in failing to evacuate their
troops rendered essential a gradual increase in the
strength of the British naval forces.
The
duties falling on H.M. ships, in pursuance of the policy
of aiding the national Governments of the Baltic States,
have consisted principally in their presence at
threatened ports, ,especially where the representatives
on shore of the Allied Governments have required
support, and also in the control of shipping and
supplies in the Baltic.
Active
hostilities were opened on 31st May, 1919, when a
Bolshevik battleship and four small vessels, accompanied
by bombing aircraft, came put from Kronstadt.
Fire was opened first by the Bolshevik vesse1s on our
ships and this fire was returned. The discrepancy in
strength of the two forces, the Bolshevik fleet counting
battleships among its units, necessitated the war being
carried into the enemy's camp to ensure the safety of
our ships against surprise attack by superior
forces.
On
the 17th June a Bolshevik cruiser was sunk by a single
coastal motor boat in the Gulf of Finland. An equally
daring and gallant attack was carried out by a small
flotilla of coastal motor boats on Kronstadt
Inner Harbour on the 18th August. The flotilla made its
way through the chain at forts to the harbour and
torpedoed several vessels lying at anchor. The attack
was carried out in co-operation with units of the Royal
Air Force, whose assistance was of the greatest value.
Allied
ships have from time to time been associated with the
British forces.
The
political
and military situation in the Baltic has remained
confused throughout the autumn. An attempt to capture
Petrograd by the North-West Russian Army under General Yudenitch,
assisted by Esthonian forces, gave Promise of success,
but was followed by failure and retreat. The withdrawal
of H.M. Ships from the Eastern Baltic was subsequently
ordered so as to coincide with the formation of ice,
NORTH
RUSSIA.
At
the time of the Armistice, the following British
warships were in North Russian waters:
At Archangel, two monitors, four gunboats, and icebreaking
vessels;
At Murmansk, battleship "Glory";
At Pechanga, Russian cruiser "Askold"
(manned by a British crew); with 20 small craft, which
were distributed as their services were required.
"Askold"
was withdrawn in March 1919 and paid off. 250 Royal
Marines, who had been operating under the military on
shore, returned to the United Kingdom in June l919.
Early
in 1919 it was decided to reinforce the Naval Expedition
at Archangel in order that operations might be
undertaken on the River Dwina
as soon as the ice conditions permitted.
The
ships allocated for this purpose were: One light
cruiser, six monitors, two gunboats, four minesweepers,
a sloop, an aircraft carrier, a repair ship, and a large
number of auxiliaries and small craft.
These
vessels
assembled at Murmansk at the beginning of May, and
proceeded to Archangel when the ice conditions allowed,
the White Sea being open to navigation by the 5th June.
The
River Dwina, however, was
clear of ice early in May, and this allowed the river
craft, which had been iced in at Archangel during the
winter, to commence operations before the White Sea was
open. By the 15th May two gunboats were engaged on the
River Vaga, while two
monitors and two gunboats were co-operating with the
military forces at Kurgomen
on the River Dwina.
By
the middle of June the reinforcements from Great Britain
had arrived at Archangel, and the Archangel River
Expeditionary force supported the military forces in
their operations on the Dwina
during the summer.
On
the 21st July news was received of a mutiny among the
Russian troops co-operating with the British at Onega as
the result of which a force of about 850 Royal Marines
was despatched from the United Kingdom to Murmansk to
act under the military authorities, the monitor "Erebus"
armed with 15-inch guns, being sent to the White Sea at
the same time.
In
consequence
of the turn which events took, it was decided that the
plans, already made for the evacuation of North Russia
before the winter set in should be proceeded with at
once, as soon as the necessary transport could be sent
out. To facilitate the evacuation, a heavy blow was to
be delivered against the Bolsheviks, thus enabling the
North Russians to occupy our positions as we withdrew.
An
advance up the river ended with the capture of Chidinova
and Borok, in which the
River Force participated, being in action during the
second week in August against the Bolshevik Flotilla. On
the withdrawal of the expedition the river was heavily
mined, this measure effectively impeding the movements
of enemy craft.
Throughout
all
the river operations valuable assistance was rendered by
seaplanes of the R.A.F. in reporting the dispositions of
the enemy and in spotting for our gunfire and bombing
the enemy's positions.
The
evacuation
of the British and Allied forces from Archangel was
completed without hitch by the 27th September. All the
naval forces were withdrawn except two monitors. These
could not be brought down stream owing to the
shallowness of the water and were demolished in the
river after they had been dismantled and all material of
value removed.
With
the exception or a few transport craft, and two
minesweepers which were wrecked during minesweeping
operations, these were the only ships lost by the
expedition.
The
war vessels and other craft evacuated from Archangel
proceeded to Murmansk to assemble there for final
departure to the United Kingdom. The evacuation of
Murmansk was completed by the 12th October.
BLACK
SEA.
Since
the arrival of the Allied Fleets at Constantinople after
the cessation, of hostilities, British naval forces have
been engaged in enforcing the terms of the Armistice
with Turkey and in assisting General Denikin
and his Volunteer Army in operations against the
Bolsheviks.
When
the Bolsheviks had occupied Sebastopol and had driven
the Volunteer troops from the greater part of the
Crimea, the support of the British ships held up the
attempted Bolshevik advance into the Kertch
peninsula and eventually enabled the Volunteer Army to
recapture the whole of the Crimea. Similarly in the Sea
of Azov and elsewhere the Volunteer Army was supported
by the gunfire of our ships.
When
the Volunteer Army had retaken Nicolaief
from the enemy they were supported by our ships in the
landing operations that led up to the recapture of
Odessa. In fact, the co-operation of the British Navy
rendered possible the expulsion of the Bolsheviks from
the whole or the northern coast of the Black Sea.
CASPIAN
SEA.
Before
the Armistice the importance of the control of the
Caspian for the defence of our Indian interests had been
realised, and ships had been taken over and manned by
British naval personnel. After the Armistice this policy
was actively developed. The use of the Sea was denied to
the Bolsheviks; Baku was occupied and its oil supply was
made available for the Russian Volunteer forces; and the
right flank of the British forces in the Caucasus was
protected.
Our
ships operated in the Northern Caspian during General Denikin's
advance towards Astrakhan. Several actions were fought
with the Bolsheviks, culminating in a very gallant
attack on the 21st May 1919, on the Bolshevik Fleet at
Fort Alexandrovsk, where
they had established a base. Several of the enemy ships
were sunk, and the remainder fled to Astrakhan. After
this action the Bolsheviks never again showed fight on
the Caspian Sea and their demoralisation greatly
assisted General Denikin in
holding Tsaritsyn, a place
of capital strategic importance. The ships have now been
handed over to the Russian Volunteer forces, and the
British personnel withdrawn.
An
incidental
but important feature of the presence of the British
Navy in both the Caspian and Black Seas has been the
re-opening for trade of districts that had been closed
to British enterprise for five years past.
SIBERIA.
A
British man-of-war has been maintained at Vladivostok,
and has worked in co-operation with the British Military
Mission supporting Admiral Koltchak.
Naval guns were mounted on an armoured train which, was
used with conspicuous success on the Ufa front. These
guns were afterwards mounted in barges and steamers on
the River Kama) being finally turned over to the
Russians, and the British naval personnel being
withdrawn.
GENERAL
SERVICE ABROAD.
Besides
the active operations that had to be undertaken in
Russian waters, the Navy has played a prominent part in
assisting to maintain peace and order throughout the
world during the unrestful
period of resettlement that has followed the Armistice.
Adriatic. In the Adriatic, British light cruisers and destroyers
co-operated with Allied forces in controlling the
situation at Austrian ports and on the Dalmatian coast.
Danube. Gunboats
and motor launches have been employed on the Danube in
enforcing the terms of the Armistices.
Aegean. In the
Aegean Sea the Navy, besides maintaining communications
from Malta to our forces in the Black Sea, took part in
the operations during which Allied forces were landed at
Smyrna.
Egypt.
During the disturbances in Egypt the Navy kept open
communications by wireless and assisted generally in
controlling the situation.
Red Sea. In the
Red Sea the Navy co-operated with the Military in
operations at Hodeida and on the Somaliland coast.
British ships were also employed until the end of August
in controlling the dhow traffic in the Red Sea.
China.
The river patrols on the Yangtze and West River have
been re-established, and the British Commander-in-Chief
has carried out a cruise on the former river, the
British flag being shown again at many ports where it
has not been seen since before the war, and at ports on
the West River tributaries where the White Ensign has
never previously been seen.
Other Foreign Stations. At the present time the principal ports of all stations are
being visited for the purpose of showing the flag where
it has not been seen since before the war, and, where
necessary, preserving order and protecting British
subjects.
H.M.S.
"Renown."
H.M.S.
"Renown"
left Portsmouth on the 5th August to convey Captain
H.R.H. the Prince of Wales to Canada and was met at St.
John's by two light cruisers, which subsequently
returned to England. After visiting the West Indies and
Rio de Janeiro - the latter place in order to return a
visit paid by a Brazilian Squadron to England - "Renown"
returned to New York where she embarked H.R.H. and
sailed for Halifax and England on 22nd November,
escorted by a light cruiser.
HOME
WATERS.
Assistance to Civil Power.
The situation in Ireland has necessitated the fairly
continuous employment in Irish waters of six destroyers,
three sloops, and 16 motor launches. These numbers have
been increased temporarily from time to time.
During
the period of industrial unrest that has fo1lowed the
Armistice in Great Britain, the Navy has been called
upon to help the Government in maintaining essential
public services.
1,500
officers
and men were engaged on pumping duty in the West
Yorkshire coalfield during the coal strike of July and
August.
In
August, H.M.S. "Valiant" and two destroyers were
stationed at Liverpool in case they were required during
the police strike.
During
the railway strike in September and October, ships were
used for carrying food round the coast, especially for
the carriage of yeast, and for conveying military
forces; others were held in readiness for diverting
seaborne traffic and maintaining wireless
communications. Personnel was
landed for the protection of certain vulnerable
positions and the working of various dockgates
and power stations round the coast.
Mine
Patrols.
Destroyers have been employed to cope with the drifting
mine danger at various points, mainly on the East Coast.
Atlantic Flight. Two battle-cruisers were stationed in the Atlantic to assist in the
flight of the rigid airship H. 34 to and from the United
States.
Exercises, Cruises, and Ceremonies.
In view of the many calls on the Fleet for other
purposed, little opportunity has occurred for fleet
exercises or cruises.
Squadrons
of
the Atlantic Fleet paid a visit to French Ports in
April, and officers and men of the Squadrons were
entertained in Paris by the French Government, together
with Admiral of the Fleet Sir David Beatty, who had
hauled down his flag a few days earlier.
Representative
detachments
from the Fleet took part in the Victory marches both in
Paris (14th July) and London (19th July). A portion of
the Atlantic Fleet paid a visit to the Thames during
this week, and visits to it were arranged for Members of
the Houses or Parliament.
The
summer cruise of the Atlantic Fleet commenced on the 2nd
September, visits being paid by units of the Fleet to
various seaports round the British coast. Exercises were
subsequently carried out.
MINE
CLEARANCE.
One
of the largest tasks that confronted the Allied Navies
after the cessation of hostilities was that of clearing
the seas of mines, which had been used in this war on a
quite unprecedented scale.
The
waters to he swept were distributed among the Allies
according to their resources, those allotted to the
British comprising the coasts of the British Isles, the
North Sea, as far east as Long. 4˚ E.,
and various areas in the Mediterranean and abroad.
Some
idea of the task involved may be gathered from the fact
that during the war no less than 1,360 minefields or
groups of mines were laid by the Germans in proximity to
our coast, totalling some 11,000 mines, about 90 per
cent. of which were laid by submarines; in waters abroad
to be cleared by the British about 60 fields or groups,
totalling some 1,200 mines, about 60 per cent of which
were laid by, submarines, while British mines, which had
also to be swept up, numbered about 65,000 in home
waters and 8,000 in the Mediterranean.
The
arrangements
for the organisation of the Mine Clearance Service had
been worked out in detail before the Armistice, and were
brought into force on the 1st December 1918. Home waters
were divided into areas and placed under mine clearance
officers, who received operational orders direct from
the Admiralty; mine clearance officers were also
appointed to act under the Commanders-in-Chief abroad.
Other bases were established at Lervikstord
in Norway and at Zeebrugge and Ymuiden.
The
number of mines known to have been laid during the war
being no criterion of the number remaining to be swept
up, it was decided to cover all localities in which
mines were laid twice, and where necessary, three times;
and forces were allocated to the various mine clearance
officers with a view to this work being accomplished by
the end of November 1919. When operations were fairly
started about 1,000 vessels were employed in all areas.
By the 1st April 1919 these had been reduced to 421, by
1st July to 285, and by 17th October to under
100.
The
ships employed were at first manned by the officers and
men who had been engaged on minesweeping and patrol
duties during the war. In order to enable these men to
take their proper turn for demobilisation if they so
desired, this arrangement was speedily replaced by one
under which volunteers for this special duty were
invited to sign on for a period of three months,
receiving extra pay for the risks involved.
This
was a temporary expedient only until a distinct mine
clearance force could be formed, on a definite
engagement to serve until the 30th November 1919. On the
inauguration of this force on the 1st April 1919,
volunteers came forward in large numbers, and the force
was quickly brought up to its authorised strength of
about 600 officers and 15,000
men.
In
spite of the re-arrangements and complications involved
by these changes in the manning system, the difficulties
have been so successfully overcome by the officers
concerned in the organisation and operation of the
force, that the work of mine clearance has been
accomplished we11 within the scheduled time. The
discipline of the force was good and its spirit
excellent.
It
was laid down as the primary princip1e in the clearance
operations that all possible precautions were to be
taken to obviate loss of life. Risks had frequently to
be taken; in the northern barrage, for example, mines
had been laid only 6 feet below the surface at low
water, while the slight tidal range was nullified, as a
rule, by motion caused by the sea. Here a special form
of sweep was devised which to a large extent protected
the vessels engaged; and generally risks were reduced to
a minimum by working tidal restrictions and utilising
the co-operation of aircraft as much as possible. So
well were precautions observed that the total loss of
life during the operations has amounted only to the very
low figure of 0.6 per cent.
Mine
clearance operations in the areas allotted to Great
Britain are now complete, and these areas are open to
navigation and are, it can be confidently asserted, free
of moored mines. Until the minefields, for which Great
Britain is not responsible are cleared, drifting mines
will continue to be present for some time, and will
constitute a small but unavoidable danger to navigation.
In
addition to mine clearance operations proper, large
areas have been bottom swept with particular regard to
fishing grounds.
This
form of sweeping is still in progress, and will be
continued after 30th November by the Post-War
Minesweeping Flotilla (manned by permanent naval
ratings) as opportunity occurs.
BELGIAN
COAST RECONSTRUCTION.
Under
the direction of the Admiralty various works of salvage
and reconstruction have been carried out on the Belgian
coast at the cost of the Belgian Government.
The
work included the dredging of the port of Ostend, the
repair of the large maritime dock and the reconstruction
of the lock gates; the erection of a semi-permanent
fixed bridge over the Nouvel
Avant-Port in place of the
swing bridge destroyed by the Germans, the provision of
15 travelling cranes of portal type, the reconstruction
of the railway system in the docks, and other works. At
Zeebrugge the damaged swing bridges over the entrance
lock to the Zeebrugge-Bruges Canal have been rebuilt,
the caissons closing the lock entrance and other
portions of the lock repaired, the gap in the viaduct
leading to the Mole restored, and 10 travelling cranes
of portal type have been erected on the Mole. All this
work has now been completed.
Dredging
operations
commenced at Ostend at the end of January and continued
night and day. At the same time salvage work was carried
on upon the remains of H.M.S. "Vindictive" and of small
craft which had been sunk in the harbour by the Germans.
By the 15th June salvage and dredging had been carried
so far that cross-channel services into Ostend could be
resumed without involving delays due to tides.
At
Zeebrugge the s.s.
"Brussels" which bad been sunk off the end of the Mole,
and various smaller craft, were lifted and the cranes,
railway wagons and other gear that the Germans had
thrown into the harbour, salved.
(B)
READJUSTMENT TO PEACE CONDITIONS.
The
many duties that devolved upon the Fleet during the
clearing-up period militated against rapid
demobilisation or an early return to peace strength.
Between
the 1lth November 1918 and the signing of the peace
treaty in June, it was necessary to keep the F1eet in
Home waters at a very full strength, both on account of
operational necessities, especially in the Baltic (the
ships for which are provided from the Home
organisation), and because active measures might have
been necessary to induce the Germans to sign the peace
treaty.
Early
in December 1918, however, orders were given for a
considerable number of ships in Home Waters to proceed
to their Home ports and grant their crews the 28 days
demobilisation leave that had been specially approved.
These ships were those required to prepare for Foreign
Service, or to reduce to "Home Fleet" status or Reserve,
so that by the end of March many squadrons that had been
in existence at the time of the Armistice had already
disappeared.
A
further reorganisation was made when Admiral of the
Fleet Sir David Beatty, hauled down his flag on the 7th
April. On that date the Grand Fleet ceased to exist and
the new Atlantic Fleet came into being. It was at first
intended that a Home Fleet should be formed of ships
manned by nucleus crews; but considerations of economy
necessitated an additional reduction, and the ships
designated for the Home Fleet are now to be laid up "in
reserve".
When
this reduction has been effected, the position of the
fully-commissioned fleet at home, as compared with the
Grand Fleet at the time of the Armistice, will be as
follows:
Units
|
Reduced
from
|
to
|
Battle
Squadrons
|
4
|
2
|
Battle
Cruiser
Squadrons
|
2
|
1
|
Cruiser
Squadrons
|
2
|
0
|
Flying
Squadron
|
1
|
1
ship
|
Light
Cruiser
Squadrons
|
7
|
2
|
Destroyer
Flotillas
|
6
|
4
|
Submarine
Flotillas
|
6
|
3
of much smaller size
|
Fleetsweeping Flotillas
|
3
|
0
|
Minelayers
|
1
squadron and 1 flotilla
|
1
ship
|
Apart
from the main fleets, the auxiliary patrol organisation
comprised at the time of the Armistice 27 separate areas
or commands with bases round the coast. The Auxiliary
Patrol was broken up after the Armistice, and the 27
commands have by now been reduced to the five
Commander-in-Chiefs' commands at Chatham, Devonport,
Portsmouth, Rosyth, and Queenstown. A few other bases
have been retained temporarily to cope with the work of
demobilisation and reconditioning, both which duties
will shortly cease.
Large
destroyer
and submarine forces, additional to those already
enumerated, were attached to 12 of these local commands.
These have been laid up, with the exception of four
small defence flotillas based respectively on Chatham,
Portsmouth, Devonport and the Firth of Forth, and of the
Irish force mentioned on p.8. Three semi-independent
submarine-hunting forces which had been constituted
prior to the Armistice, have
been similarly disbanded.
The
majority
of the ships withdrawn from the various Home commands
have been placed in the Reserve or on the list of ships
for disposal. A certain number have been attached to the
Gunnery, Torpedo, Wireless, and Navigation Schools for
training and experimental purposes; the number of these
is greater than before the war, in accordance with the
policy that special attention must be paid to training
and experimental work. With the same object, peace establishment's
for training in submarine and anti-submarine work are
being maintained at Portsmouth and Portland. Vessels are
being detailed for surveying and fishery protection
duties.
FOREIGN
STATIONS
The
large forces of armed merchant cruisers, ocean escorts,
and smaller vessels which were employed on convoy duty
against submarines and raiders have been
demobilised.
Mediterranean. The Mediterranean Station at the end of the war was under a
Commander-in-Chief, with five sub-divisions, each under
a Rear-Admiral or Commodore, viz.: Gibraltar,
Malta, the Adriatic, the Aegean, and Egypt. This
territorial arrangement is being superseded by the peace
organisation, which comprises a Commander-in-Chief, one
Rear-Admiral in the Battle Squadron, one Rear-Admiral
commanding the Light Cruiser Squadron; and
Officers-in-Charge of the bases at Malta and Gibraltar.
Officers are being retained temporarily in command of
the Egyptian and Aegean divisions to complete the
process of demobilisation, and to be available in any
political emergency that may arise from the disturbed
conditions of these areas.
The
battleships,
light cruisers, and torpedo craft which were employed in
the Mediterranean at the time of the Armistice have all
returned and the process of replacing them by more
modern vessels is nearly complete. A large proportion of
the auxiliaries on the station have been returned to
their owners, and the remainder are being brought home
as rapidly as the progress of demobilisation and the
political situation allows. The assistance rendered by
naval craft to the Army and Air Force in their
arrangements for demobilisation and evacuation of bases
has affected the rate of withdrawal.
America.
The commands of the coast of America consisted at the
Armistice of three stations, North America and West
Indies, East Coast of South American and Pacific Coast
of America. These have been replaced by two commands
under the Commander-in-Chief, North America and West
Indies and the Commander-in-Chief, South America
respectively. The old ships on these and on the Africa,
China, and East Indies Stations have been withdrawn, and
the more modern ships which are replace them are being
sent out as crews become available.
Australia.
The Australian Station has reverted to the control of
the Commonwealth
Government.
DEMOBILISATION
OF PERSONNEL.
The
strength
of the Navy at the date of the Armistice (including the
Mercantile Marine Reserve, but excluding the Royal Naval
Division) was 415,162. Of these, 36,243 were officers
and 378,919 men. About 24,000 officers and 235,500 men
were serving on engagements expiring at the conclusion
of the War.
The
following figures show the progress of demobilisation up
to the middle of November:
Number
Demobilised (including M.M.R. and excluding
R.N.D.)
|
Mid-Month
|
Officers
|
Men
|
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
|
1,800
4,000
6,000
8,200
11,500
13,600
16,100
17,400
18,600
19,700
20,900
|
25,000
92,000
140,000
168,000
189,000
202,000
213,000
220,000
226,000
229,000
232,000
|
The
demobilisation
of officers and men serving in Home waters was carried
out under a standardised procedure from all ships and
establishments concurrently, thus avoiding the use of
dispersal centres.
Owing
to the number of ships that had still to be kept in
commission, demobilisation had at first to be kept
carefully in hand; but in spite of this it was found
possible to release over 7,000 officers and 154,000 men
by the end of March.
The
repatriation
of the Colonial Naval Reserves, amounting to over 2,000,
and of about the same number of men who had come from
abroad to join the Imperial Naval Forces, was effected
at a comparatively early stage.
The
strength
of the Women's Royal Naval Service was at the time of
the Armistice 4,821 of all ranks. This force has now
been demobilised.
Apart
from the demobilisation of officers and men due for
discharge, it is intended to reduce the permanent
personnel of the Navy by the end of December to somewhat
below the total voted for 1914-15. Men who apply for
their discharge will therefore be permitted to take it,
provided that they belong to branches in which a surplus
exists, and that the total numbers so discharged do not
exceed a certain figure; and a higher standard of
character and ability than was possible during the war
will be insisted upon in future. both
for first entry and for re-engagement. The extent of
subsequent reductions will depend upon the strength at
which the Fleet is to be maintained in future years, a
question which is being considered in connection with
the provision required for 1920-21.
NAVAL
PAY.
One
of the most urgent needs at the time of the Armistice
was the preparation of revised scales of pay for the
officers and men of the Fleet. The existing rates had
been increased but slightly during the previous 60 and
had quite lost touch with the prevailing value of money
and the salaries and wages obtainable in civil life.
Committees
were
appointed to suggest new scales in detail, and pending
their reports ad interim increases were brought into
force as from the 1st February 1919.
The
revised rates were finally approved by the Government in
Ma 1919, and besides effecting a considerable
simplification in the scales in force at the time of the
Armistice, provided a substantial increase over those
scales. This increase, though varying between the
different ranks and ratings, averaged about 100 per
cent.
At
the same time the scale of allowances for officers and
men, of half and retired pay for officers, and of long
service pensions for men, were brought under review, and
improvements in them were effected.
NAVAL
EDUCATION.
During
the war it was not possible to give officers and men
normal courses of instruction, with the result that on
the conclusion of the Armistice there were considerable
arrears to be made
up.
All
the Naval Educational Establishments, many of which had
been closed during the war, were re-opened as soon as
possible, and every effort has been made to resume fully
the teaching of professional subjects. In addition a
series of educational courses, each lasting six months
has been instituted at Cambridge for junior Officers who
had been unable owing to the war to complete their full
training in the cadet colleges. The first of these
courses was begun in January last.
The
R.N. College, Keyham, which
during the war was used for the training of special
entry cadets, is now being used, as was previously
intended for the training of Engineer Officers.
Reference
is
made below, under the heading "Naval Staff
Organisation," to the institution of a Naval Staff
College at Greenwich.
REVISION
OF SHIPBUILDING PROGRAMME.
Of
the vessels under construction at the time of the
Armistice, those were completed whose construction had
proceeded so far that cancellation would have been
uneconomical having regard to the possibility of their
useful employment upon naval and other work. The
following table shows the numbers involved and their
disposal according to their various classes:
Type
|
Ordered
and Under Construction 11.11.18
|
Since
Cancelled
|
Completed
31.10.19
|
To
be completed
|
Battle
Cruisers
|
4
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
Light
Cruisers
|
21
|
4
|
8
|
9
|
Flotilla
Leaders
|
11
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
Destroyers
|
97
|
40
|
41
|
16
|
Patrol
Boats
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
Submarines
|
73
|
33
|
20
|
20
|
Aircraft
Carriers
|
|
|
|
|
Minelayers
|
2
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
Twin
Screw
Mine Sweepers
|
99
|
36
|
57
(a)
|
6
|
Paddle
Mine
Sweepers
|
5
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
Patrol
Gunboats
|
56
|
31
|
24
|
1
|
Trawlers
|
259
|
215
(b)
|
44
|
-
|
Drifters
|
206
|
173
(c)
|
31
|
2
|
Boom
Defence
Vessels
|
29
|
1
|
26
|
2
|
Tugs
|
99
|
43
(d)
|
47
|
9
|
Seaplane
Towing
Lighters
|
23
|
29
|
4
|
-
|
"24"
Class
|
11
|
2
|
8
|
1
|
Mooring
Vessels
(excluding Motor Boats)
|
7
|
-
|
4
|
3
|
Total
|
1,005
|
611
|
319
|
75
|
(a)
Including
133
building cancelled for the Navy completing for private
use
(b)
Including
109
(ditto)
(c)
Including
25
(ditto)
(d)
Including
6
completed as Surveying Vessels
DISPOSAL
OF SHIPS AND STORES.
The
following
statement gives the number of ships sold by the
Admiralty since the Armistice up to the 24th November
1919, including obsolete warships sold for breaking up:
Battleship
Cruisers
Destroyers
Torpedo
Boats
Gunboats
Submarines
Sloops
Whalers
Yachts
Motor
Boats
Motor
Launches
Tugs
Trawlers
Drifters
Miscellaneous
German
submarines
(sold on Allies account)
|
2
2
42
22
7
11
2
5
8
3
67
3
167
39
11
56
|
In
addition,
considerable quantities of material as part of
liquidations of contracts have been dealt
with.
Numbers
of small craft and large arisings
from dockyards, ships, and local depots all over the
country have been sold by arrangement with the Disposals
Board, to whom the proceeds or sale will accrue.
REVISION
OF WORKS PROGRAMME.
The
programme
of the construction of works on shore has been revised
on the same basis as the ship building
programme.
Twenty-nine
works,
estimated to cost £198,595l., which had been approved,
but had not been commenced at the date of the Armistice,
were cancelled.
Fifty-four
works,
estimated to cost £2,444,401 which were
in progress, have been stopped, an average of 45 per
cent. on each work having
been completed.
Eleven
works, estimated to cost £889,535, are being completed
on revised lines at an average reduction of 35 per cent.
on the scale of the original
proposals.
ADMIRALTY
OUTPORT ESTABLISHMENTS.
The
reduction
of the material and personnel of the Navy has a1ready
begun to have its effect upon the amount of work thrown
upon the corresponding Civil Establishments, and a
considerable decrease in the staff has been effected.
Home. The
following is a comparison of the numbers employed on the
11th November 1918 and 1st November 1919:
(a)
Office
Staff:
|
11th
Nov. 1918
|
1st
Nov. 1919
|
Men
|
6,615
|
6,031
|
Women
|
3,205
|
1,692
|
|
______
|
______
|
Totals
|
9,820
|
7,723
|
|
|
|
(b)
Industrial
Staff
|
105,024
|
85,832
|
The
Victualling Depot at Grangemouth
and the Naval Gun Factory at Westhoughton
have been closed; the Naval Yard at Invergordon,
the Torpedo Depot at Harwich, the Mining Depots at
Immingham and Lyness, and
the Naval Ammunition Factory at Alexandria, are in
process of closing. Commercial premises at Grangemouth
which had been requisitioned for the purposes of a
mining depot have been surrendered.
As
regards the Dockyards, the volume of refitting and
reconditioning work to be performed required for a time
the retention of almost the full numbers employed during
the war. The Admiralty have also adopted the policy of
diverting to the Dockyards the work of completing ships
under construction in private yards which still require
a considerable amount of work but are too far finished
to be cancelled, thus facilitating the output of
merchant shipbuilding in the private yards
The
point, however, was reached in the autumn when the
diminished amount of naval work falling upon the
Dockyards made it necessary to begin to reduce the
numbers of workpeople employed to something approaching
pre-war numbers. A scheme of gradual reduction was
therefore arranged for, under which discharges at the
average rate of 800 workpeople would for the present be
made weekly from the
Home Dockyards as a whole. It was believed that this gradual rate of reduction would
enable the bulk of the men affected to find employment
in the merchant shipbuilding centres where the supply of
labour is stated to be inadequate. During November it
appeared that this expectation was not being fully
realised, and the whole question is now receiving the
most careful consideration with the object of
alleviating the situation as much as
possible.
A
committee has been set up under the presidency of Lord Colwyn,
and including representatives of the Government, the
workpeople and the localities concerned, to investigate
the possibility of uti1ising for commercial purposes
such part of the building and repairing facilities at
the Yards as are not required for naval work in the
immediate future, and it is hoped that the advice
received from this committee will be of considerable
assistance to the Admiralty.
Foreign. At the
time of the Armistice some 19,400 were employed in these
Establishments and a reduction of between 3,500 and
4,000 had peen effected by
the end of October 1919, while discharges are still
proceeding.
ADMIRALTY
OFFICE PERSONNEL.
The
reduction
in the Admiralty staff made between the 11th November
1918 and the 1st November 1919 was as follows:
Staff
|
11th
Nov. 1918.
|
1st
Nov. 1919.
|
Men
|
6,065
|
5,554
|
Women
|
4,572
|
2,907
|
|
_____
|
_____
|
Totals
|
10,637
|
8,461
|
The
process of reduction will continue steadily, but it must
be borne in mind that for the time being the work of the
Department has been considerably augmented in various
direction's as a result of demobilisation. The following
are instances of the additional work devolving upon the
staff:
Issue
of war gratuities to naval officers and men to the
amount of £11,500,000.
Revision
of rates of pay of all officers and men and payment of
arrears consequent on the ante-dating of the new
schemes.
Preparation
of rolls for issue of prize money.
Preparation
of rolls for award of war medals and clasps.
The
staff required for these temporary purposes to some
extent neutralises the large reductions made in other
directions.
NAVAL
STAFF ORGANISATION
At
the outbreak of the war, both the development of the
Naval Staff organisation and the provision of more
adequate means of training officers for Naval Staff work
were receiving close attention.
The
experience
of the war has not only provided confirmation, if any
were needed, of the great importance of these two
subjects, but has also made it easier to decide what are
the best lines to follow in dealing with them.
As
regards the Naval Staff organisation, it is intended
that this shall comprise eight directorates, viz.,
Plans, Operations, Local Defence, Communications,
Intelligence, Trade, Gunnery and Torpedo, and Training
and Staff Duties.
At
the Armistice the number of Officers in the Naval Staff
was 336. This had been reduced by October 1919 to 170,
and it is estimated that a reduction to 120 can be
effected by the end of the year. It is possib1e that the
complement may be still further reduced when some of the
pressing problems arising out of the war have been dealt
with, but an adequate and well-organised Naval Staff
must consist of considerably larger number's than were
included in the embryonic War Staff that existed before
the war.
Two
year's before the war a course of training for War Staff
officers had been instituted at the War College; but on
the 4th June 1919 a separate Naval Staff College was
opened at Greenwich. The course lasts for 12 months, and
there are, at present taking it, 16 Naval, two Military,
and two Air Force Officers. So far as can be judged at
the present stage it promises to prove of great benefit,
not only to the Navy directly, but also in furtherance
of the co-operation between the Services.
On
the first inception of a Staff College the course must
be tentative, and it may take a few years before it
assumes a definite form; much must depend upon the
practical results of the course, as shown by the
subsequent staff work of those officers who will pass
through the College during the first few sessions.
The
War College, which is a separate institution, devoted to
the higher naval education of more senior officers, will
be re-opened early next year.
In
addition an introductory war course has been included in
the syllabus for junior officers at Cambridge. It is
hoped to continue this course in the future, as it is
very desirable that those officers who have a bent for
Naval Staff work should both "find themselves" and
become known to the Admiralty at an early stage.
SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH.
The
Admiralty
have since the Armistice given close attention to the
question of the provision or supply of experimental
types of newly-designed material, and to the policy to
be adopted in regard to research for naval purposes.
A
scientific adviser to the Admiralty was appointed in the
latter part of the war, and the post will be placed on a
permanent footing under the title of Director of
Scientific Research. The officer holding this position
will maintain the closest possible touch with all
outside institutions and scientific bodies which are
investigating problems in pure or applied research
having a more or less direct bearing on possible naval
requirements, This will ensure that the Admiralty do not
waste effort and money in undertaking experimental
research work which is already in progress elsewhere.
NAVAL
FORCES OF INDIA AND THE DOMINIONS.
At
the request of the Governments of India and the
Dominions, Admiral of the Fleet Viscount Jellicoe is
engaged on a tour of the Empire in H.M.S. "New Zealand."
Lord Jellicoe is reporting to each Government his
recommendations for the reorganisation and development
of the local naval forces. The views of the various
Governments on these reports must be ascertained and
discussed with them before a naval policy for all parts
of the Empire can be formulated.
In
the meantime the Dominion Governments have been asked
whether they wish to have any vessels that are on the
Admiralty list of ships for disposal in addition to the
following ships which have been already allocated:
Australia
Submarine
Flotilla
|
"Platypus"
(Depot
ship) and Jl, J2,
J3, J4, J5, J7.
|
Flotilla
Leader
|
"Anzac"
|
T.B.D.'s
|
"Stalwart",
"Success",
"Swordsman", "Tasmania", "Tattoo" (All
temporarily in reserve in Eng1and)
|
Sloops
(Minesweeping)
|
"Geranium",
"Mallow",
"Marguerite"
|
Canada.
APPENDIX.
Losses
of H.M. Ships (including, certain Auxiliary Vessels)
11th
November 1918 - 11th November 1919.
Classification
|
Name
|
Date
|
Place
|
Cause
of Loss
|
Cruiser
|
Cochrane
|
28.11.18
|
On passage from Scapa to Liverpool
|
Ashore
|
Light Cruiser
|
Cassandra
|
5.12.18
|
Baltic
|
Mined
|
Monitors
|
M.25
|
17.9.19
|
North Russia
|
Demolished
|
|
M.27
|
17.9.19
|
North Russia
|
Demolished
|
Sloops
|
Gentian
|
16.7.19
|
Baltic
|
Mined
|
|
Myrtle
|
16.7.19
|
Baltic
|
Mined
|
Destroyers
|
Vittoria
|
1.9.19
|
Baltic
|
Torpedoed by submarine
|
|
Verulam
|
4.9.19
|
Baltic
|
Mined
|
Minesweepers
|
Erin's
Isle
|
7.2.19
|
Off
Nore
|
Mined
|
|
Cupar
|
5.5.19
|
North
Sea
|
Mined
|
|
Kinross
|
16.6.19
|
Aegean
|
Mined
|
|
Sword
Dance
|
24.6.19
|
White
Sea
|
Mined
|
|
Duchess
of
Richmond
|
26.6.19
|
Aegean
|
Mined
|
|
Fandango
|
3.7.19
|
White
Sea
|
Mined
|
|
Princess
Mary
II
|
2.8.19
|
Aegean
|
Mined
and beached
|
Submarines
|
G.11
|
22.11.18
|
Howick
|
Wrecked
|
|
L.55
|
Missing
since 4.6.19
|
Baltic
|
Missing
|
Yachts
|
Goissa
|
15.11.18
|
Dardanelles
|
mined
|
|
Iolaire
|
1.1.19
|
Stornoway
|
Wrecked
|
Trawlers
|
Nodzu
|
1.1.19
|
Off
Nash Point, Bristol Channel
|
Wrecked
|
|
Glenboyne
|
4.1.19
|
North
Foreland
|
Mined
|
|
Frostaxe
|
30.4.19
|
Off
Owers Light Vessel
|
In
collision
|
Drifters
|
I.
and J.
|
1.1.19
|
Newhaven
|
Wrecked
|
|
John
Robert
|
1.2.19
|
En
route Messina to Alexandretta
|
Presumed
mined
|
|
Philorth
|
24.2.19
|
En
route Syra to
Malta
|
Foundered
|
|
London
County
|
28.10.19
|
North
of Beadnell
|
Wrecked
|
Motor
Launches
|
M.L.
121
|
22.12.18
|
Seine
Bank
|
Foundered
after
collision
|
|
M.L.
566
|
22.12.18
|
Off
Cape Barfleur
|
Swamped
and
abandoned
|
|
M.L.
18
|
29.9.19
|
On
passage
from Norway
|
Abandoned
derelict
and sunk
|
|
M.L.
62
|
29.9.19
|
"
|
"
|
|
M.L.
191
|
29.9.19
|
"
|
"
|
Coastal
Motor
Boats
|
24
A
|
18.8.19
|
Baltic
|
Lost
in attack on Bolshevik Fleet at Kronstadt
|
|
79
A
|
18.8.19
|
"
|
"
|
|
62
BD
|
18.8.19
|
"
|
"
|
|
67
A
|
18.8.19
|
"
|
"
|
Mercantile
Fleet
Auxiliary
|
Race
Fisher
|
31.1.19
|
Stratoni
|
Wrecked
and
abandoned (hulk sold)
|
Store
Carrier
|
Volturnus
|
1.11.19
|
Near
the Skaw
|
Mined
|
Hospital
Carriers
|
Edinburgh
Castle
|
24.9.19
|
North
Russia
|
Demolished
|
|
Lord
Morton
|
24.9.19
|
"
|
"
|
III. - STATISTICAL
TABLES RELATING TO THE PERIOD OF THE WAR
I. -
Numbers of H.M. Ships at the Outbreak of War and at
Date of the Armistice.
(Ships in
the Naval Service of the Dominion Governments are
included.)
Types
|
4th
August 1914
|
11th
November 1918
|
Warships
|
No.
|
Displacement
Tonnage
|
No.
|
Displacement
Tonnage (Gross Tonnage in italics is
additional)
|
Dreadnought
Battleships
|
20
(a)
|
423,350
|
33
|
775,850
|
Pre-Dreadnought
Battleships
|
40
|
539,385
|
17
(b)
|
258,900
|
Total
|
60
|
1,012,735
|
50
|
1,034,750
|
|
|
|
|
|
Battle
Cruisers
|
9
|
187,800
|
9
|
206,300
|
Cruisers
|
46
|
510.650
|
27
(c)
|
304,950
|
Light
Cruisers
|
62
|
260,100
|
82
(d)
|
344,330
|
Gunboats
|
28
|
16,641
|
52
|
22,784
|
Coast
Defence
Vessels
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
5,700
|
Monitors
|
-
|
-
|
33
|
106,130
|
Sloops
|
11
|
11,330
|
11
|
11,738
|
Fleet
Sweeping
Vessels (Sloops)
|
-
|
-
|
106
|
132,800
|
Flotilla
Leaders
|
1
|
2,207
|
26
|
42,634
|
Torpedo
Boat
Destroyers
|
215
|
142,546
|
407
|
363,695
|
Torpedo
Boats
|
106
|
17,906
|
94
|
15,831
|
Submarines
|
76
|
30,983
|
137
|
131,658
|
Aircraft
Carriers
|
1
|
5,600
|
13
|
79,077
(5,375)
|
P.
and P.C. Boats
|
-
|
-
|
62
|
38,932
|
Minelaying
Vessels
|
7
|
24,200
|
8
|
52,800
(4,298)
|
Repair
Ships
|
2
|
20,900
|
7
|
38,458
(1,219)
|
Depot
Ships
|
22
|
86,845
|
49
|
312,728
|
Armed
Merchant Cruiser
|
(e)
|
-
|
29
|
(297,968)
|
Armed
Boarding
Steamers
|
-
|
-
|
20
|
(32,617)
|
Special
Service
Ships
|
-
|
-
|
50
|
(25,000)
|
Coastal
Motor
Boats
|
-
|
-
|
66
|
545
|
Miscellaneous
|
2
|
2,780
|
15
|
1,288
(16,361)
|
|
_____
|
_________
|
_____
|
_________
|
Total
Warships
|
648
|
2,333,223
|
1,354
|
3,247,078
(382,838)
|
|
_____
|
_________
|
_____
|
_________
|
Auxiliary
Patrol
Service
|
|
|
|
|
Yachts
|
-
|
-
|
57
|
(37,000)
|
Patrol
Gunboats
|
-
|
-
|
30
|
20,724
|
Whalers
|
-
|
-
|
18
|
4,704
|
Trawlers
|
12
|
5,667
|
1,520
|
(350,000)
|
Drifters
|
|
-
|
1,365
|
(113,000)
|
Minesweepers
-
Paddle or Screw
|
-
|
-
|
156
|
68,645
(37,600)
|
Motor
Launches
|
-
|
-
|
507
|
18,252
|
Motor
Drifters
and Motor Boats
|
-
|
-
|
74
|
(5,300)
|
|
_____
|
_______
|
_____
|
__________
|
Total
Auxiliary
Patrol Service
|
12
|
5,667
|
3,727
|
118,325
(542,900)
|
|
_____
|
_______
|
_____
|
__________
|
|
|
|
|
|
GRAND
TOTAL
|
660
|
2,338,890
|
5,081
|
3,365,403
(925,738)
|
(a)
One
newly
commissioned 7th August 1914 not included
(b)
Excluding
12
Pre-Dreadnought Battleships converted from their
original type to Depot Ships &c.
(c)
Excluding
10
Cruisers - ditto -
(d)
Excluding
10
Light Cruisers - ditto -
(e)
Approximate
(f)
Several
fitting
out at this date
Other
Auxiliary Vessels
In
addition to the above the principal Auxiliary Vessels
employed on Admiralty Service included:
Type
|
4th
Aug. 1914
|
11th
Nov. 1918
|
Commissioned
Escort
Ships
Squadron
Supply
Ships
Flotilla
Supply
Ships
Colliers
Oilers
Store
Ships
Frozen
Meat
Ships
Officers'
Mess
Ship
Mine
Carriers
Ammunition
Ships
and Carriers
Hospital
Ships
Total
|
-
*
*
65
32
-
*
-
*
-
*
_____
97
|
9
_
_
283
225
8
4
1
4
27
9
_____
570
|
* Several fitting out at this date
II. -
H.M. Ships and Auxiliary Vessels completed between 4th
August 1914 and 11th November 1918
(A.) -
Tonnage completed annually as compared with Pre-War
Output.
Period
|
Warships
-
Approximate
Displacement
Tonnage
|
Auxiliaries
- Approximate Displacement Tonnage
|
Average
for
two years preceding the war
|
179,800
|
5,000*
|
4th
August
1914 to 30th June 1915
1st
July 1915 to 30th June 1916
1st
July 1916 to 39th June 1917
1st
July 1917 to 30th June 1918
1st
July 1918 to 11th November 1918
Totals
|
343,320
522,239
370,601
269,884
96,046
________
1,602,090
|
12,573
62,869
340,010
273,354
92,305
________
754,111
|
* Estimated
(B.) -
Number and Tonnage of each Type completed
Warships
|
No.
|
Approximate
Displacement Tonnage
|
Battleships
Battle
Cruisers
Cruisers
Light
Cruisers
China
Gunboats
Coast
Defence
Vessels
Monitors
Sloops
Flotilla
Leaders
Torpedo
Boat
Destroyers
Submarines
Aircraft
Carriers
P.
and P.C. Boats
Repair
Ships
Depot
Ships
Coastal
Motor
Boats
Total H.M. Ships
|
15
(a)
3
3
36
(b)
28
2
(c)
38
(d)
124
28
(e)
255
(f)
146
8
(g)
63
2
(g)
8
(g)
83
______
842
|
394,750
81,500
56,300
143,050
9,308
11,400
114,255
155,430
45,565
272,895
151,380
67,457
39,957
9,538
48,645
660
______
1,602,096
|
(a) Includes two purchased from Turkey and one from Chile.
(b) Includes one built for Royal Australian Navy and two
purchased from Hellenic Government.
(c) Purchased from Norwegian Government.
(d) Includes three purchased from Brazilian Government.
(e) Includes four purchased from Chilean Government.
(f) Includes one purchased from Portuguese Government and
four from Hellenic Government, three
ex-Turkish vessels, three built for Royal
Australian Navy.
(g) Includes merchant vessels purchased and reconstructed
|
Auxiliary
Vessels
|
No.
|
Approximate
Displacement Tonnage
|
Patrol
Gunboats
Whalers
Trawlers
Drifters
Paddle
Minesweepers
Twin
Screw
Minesweepers
Tunnel
Minesweepers
Boom
Defence
Vessels
Coast
Guard Cruiser
Oilers
Petrol
Carriers
Water
Carriers
Tugs
Salvage
Vessels
Mooring
Vessels
Seaplane
Towing
Lighters
Total Auxiliary Vessels
|
30
15
282
85
34
55
10
32
1
64
3
1
23
2
6
28
______
671
|
26,727
5,040
151,422
16,777
27,422
43,000
2,825
9,300
883
432,987
3,072
12,788
15,280
1,200
4,548
840
______
754,111
|
GRAND TOTAL H.M. SHIPS AND AUXILIARY VESSELS
|
1,513
|
2,356,201
|
Of
the vessels shown in Table B. at the outbreak
of war, excluding warships under construction
for Foreign Powers subsequently taken over for
the Royal Navy, there were on order or laid
down:
|
Battleships
Battle
Cruisers
Light
Cruisers
Flotilla
Leaders
Torpedo
Boat
Destroyers
|
12
3
17
4
18
|
Submarines
Aircraft
Carriers
Depot
Ships
Coast
Guard
Cruisers
Oilers
|
25
1
1
1
7
|
III -
(a) Losses of H.M. Ships from all causes between 4th
August 1914 and 11th November 1918
Type
|
Total
Number lost
|
Total
Displacement Tonnage Lost (Gross Tonnage in italics
is additional)
|
Battleships
Battle
Cruisers
Cruisers
Light
Cruisers
Gunboats
and
Torpedo Gunboats
River
Gunboats
Coast
Defence
Ships
Monitors
Sloops
Flotilla
Leaders
Torpedo
Boat
Destroyers
Torpedo
Boats
Submarines
Aircraft
Carriers
Patrol
Boats
Minelayers
Armed
Merchant
Cruisers
Armed
Boarding
Steamers
Coastal
Motor
Boats
Total
|
13
3
13
12
(a)
5
2
1
5
18
3
64
11
54
(b)
3
2
1
+ (1)
17
13
13
______
223
(31)
|
200,735
63,00
158,300
46,255
4,235
(c)
5,700
8.125
22,630
5,204
52,045
2,230
43,649
27,488
1,226
11,000
(6,000)
(179,169)
(23,779)
85
______
651,907
(c)
(208,948)
|
(a)
Including
6
Light Cruisers sunk as blockships
at Zeebrugge and Ostend
(b)
Including
7
Submarines destroyed at Helsingfors
to avoid capture and 1 blown up at Zeebrugge Mole
(c)
River
Gunboats
"Comet" and "Shaitan,"
tonnage uncertain
III. -
(b) Losses of Auxiliary Vessels on Admiralty Service
Type
|
Total
Number lost
|
Gross
Tonnage Lost (plus 5 Minesweepers of 3,990
Displacement Tonnage)
|
Hospital
Ships
Frozen
Meat
Ships
Store
Carriers
Ammunition
Ship
Mine
Carriers
Minesweepers
Auxiliary
Patrol
Paddlers
Fleet
Messengers
Commissioned
Escort
Ships
Miscellaneous
Colliers
Oilers
Special
Service
Ships
Tugs
Yachts
Whalers
Admiralty
Trawlers
Hired
Trawlers
Hired
Drifters
Motor
Launches
Motor
Boats
Total
|
2
1
4
1
2
13
+ 5
2
9
3
3
244
44
29
14
13
2
18
246
139
24
6
______
810
+ 5
|
15,199
1,730
4,779
2,030
4,496
7,758
+ 3,990
679
11,602
22,082
4,698
714,613
216,445
35,760
3,503
7,179
347
4,719
56,300
10,809
864
61
______
1,125,743
+ 3,990
|
Excluding 2 Motor Boats and 2 Special Service Ships whose
tonnage is uncertain
IV. -
Statement showing Numbers borne in H.M. Fleet
-
|
15th
July 1914
|
15th
August 1914
|
15th
November 1918
|
Royal
Navy,
Royal Marines &c.
(other
than
Retired, Pensioners, or Reserves)
Entered
for
hostilities only
Retired
Officers
and Pensioners
Royal
Fleet
Reserve
Royal
Naval
Reserve
Royal
Naval Reserve (Trawler Section
Royal
Naval
Volunteer Reserve
Colonial
Reserves
Total
|
146,047
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
______
146,047
(a)
|
147,667
-
6,970
27,395
13,510
3,130
2,345
-
______
201,017
(a)
|
188,537
74,437
12,346
19,180
23,453
37,145
50,218
2,000
______
407,316
(b)
|
(a) R.N.A.S.
included
(b) R.N. Division included
Expansion
of
Naval Personnel
|
15th
July 1914 to 15th November 1918
|
(a)
Gross
(b)
Net
(i.e. making allowance for 63,842 officers and
men in reserve branches, not mobilised in July
1914)
|
261,269
197,427
|
Women's
Royal
Naval Service
|
Nil
to 4,821
|
R.N.A.S.
|
729
to 55,066 by 15th March 1918 (a)
|
Coast-watching
Service
(Maximum numbers):
Civilian watchers
Boy scouts
|
2,400
1,700
|
(a) R.N.A.S. transferred to R.A.F. on 1st April 1918
V. -
Statement showing the Number of Casualties in the
Royal Navy (excluding R.N. Division, but including
R.N. Air Service to 31st March 1918) from 4th August
to 11th November 1918
Type
of Casualty
|
Officers
|
Men
|
Total
|
Killed
in action (including died of wounds)
Died
from other causes
Wounded
in
action
Wounded,
not
in action
Prisoners
of
War
Interned
Missing
Total
|
2,059
394
805
nil
179
44
15
______
3,496
|
20,148
10,926
4,072
313
726
227
32
______
36,444
|
22,207
11,320
4,877
313
905
271
47
______
39,940
|
V. -
Statement showing the Number of Casualties in the
Royal Navy
Division
from 4th August to 11th November 1918
Type
of Casualty
|
Officers
|
Men
|
Total
|
Killed
in action (including died of wounds)
Died
from other causes
Wounded
in
action
Prisoners
of
War
Interned
Missing
Total
|
439
12
777
60
37
6
______
1,331
|
7,298
456
19,373
2,844
1,577
181
______
31,729
|
7,737
468
20,150
2,904
1,614
187
______
33,060
|
VII -
Medical Statistics
Medical
Staff
|
July
1914
|
Nov.
1918
|
Medical
Officers,
R.N., R.N.V.R., &c.
Sick
Berth
Staff, including R.N.A.S.B.R.
Nursing
Sisters
V.A.D.s
Total
|
555
1,503
70
-
______
2,128
|
1,771
4,057
297
534
______
6,659
|
Cases
treated
in Naval Hospitals
Cases
treated
in Naval Hospital Ships
Cases
carried
by Naval Medical Transport (trains)
|
348,386
in total
82,561
in total
74,572
in total
|
VIII. -
Transportation by Sea
Statement
of Personnel, Animals, Vehicles, &c., transported by
Military Sea Transport, August 1914 to 30th November
1918
Personnel,
Effectives
Personnel,
Non-effectives
Prisoners
Animals
Vehicles
British
Military
Stores
Allied
Stores
of all kinds
|
20,778,671
2,927,143
158,861
2,240,495
506,486
46,502,486
tons
4,535,679
tons
|
IX. -
Number of Persons other than those in direct
Government Services engaged in Manufacturing and
Supplying Naval Equipment, Naval Ordnance, Naval
Stores, &c., and engaged on Naval Construction and
Repair of Merchant Vessels.
Type
of Work
|
Number
employed, 1918
|
Naval
construction
in private yards
Naval
repairs
in private yards
Merchant
vessels
- Repairs in private yards
Admiralty
"A"
firms (i.e. those engaged to the extent of 75
per cent. of their total work on Admiralty
manufactures, &c.)
|
140,000
50,000
64,000
154,000
|
Total
|
408,000
|
X. -
Naval Ordnance, Torpedo, Mining, and Anti-Submarine
Equipment, Fuel, and Stores
(i)
Guns
Mounted
for Naval Service
At
|
Heavy
|
Medium
|
Light
|
|
Calibre>
|
15"
|
14"
|
13.5"
|
12"
|
10"
|
9.2"
|
7.5"
to 4"
|
Below
4"
|
Total
|
4th
Aug. 1914
31st
Oct. 1918
|
-
106
|
-
16
|
144
148
|
300
240
|
8
-
|
142
94
|
2,845
5,579
|
3,673
8,541
|
7,112
14,724
|
(ii)
Guns
and
Mountings issued 4th August 1914 to 31st October 1918
To
|
Heavy
9.2"
and above
|
Medium
7.5"
to 4"
|
Light
Below
4"
|
H.M.
Ships*
Auxiliary
Ships
Defensively
Armed
Merchant Ships
Allies
|
432
-
-
11
|
3,821
422
3,323
80
|
3,469
5,410
3,800
738
|
* The figures for H.M. Ships relate to guns only, and
included purchases for reserve
(iii)
Torpedoes and Torpedo Equipment of Ships
Torpedoes
For
British
Naval Forces
For
Air Service
Total
For
Allied
Naval Forces
|
No.
11,060
607
______
11,667
322
|
Torpedo
Equipment
Torpedo
tubes
Air
compressors
Steel
reservoir
bottle
|
No.
3,618
722
12,487
|
(iv) Mines,
Depth
Charges
Mines
of all types
Depth
charges
|
For
British Naval Forces
221,140
96,403
|
For
Allies
257
5,256
|
(v) Paravanes
(Manufactured
for British Navy only)
Mine
Cutting
Explosive
Total
|
No.
6,155
2,456
______
8,611
|
(vi) Minesweeping
Rope
Rough
estimate
of Minesweeping Rope expended:
8,825,500 fathoms. (52,953,000 feet or 8,715
nautical miles)
(vii) Searchlight
Equipment
Provision
was
made for:
(1) 864 searchlight equipment sets of a new type, and
for 330 existing sets to be improved.
(2) 3,710 searchlight projectors for auxiliary craft
and for signalling purposes.
(viii) Naval
Stores
(General)
The
total money expenditure during the War on Naval Stores
(excluding Fuel) for maintenance of Fleet and
Construction and Repairs in Royal Dockyards was
approximately £54,000,000, while that for Naval Stores
(excluding Fuel) supplied to the Allies was
approximately £5,640,000.
(ix) Victualling Stores (Provisions, Clothing, and Mess Gear)
The
total approximate money expenditure during the war was
follows:
For
the Service of the Fleet
Supplied
to
the Allies
|
£45,000,000
800,000
|
(x) Fuel
Coal. - The
following figures represent the approximate amounts of
coal shipped under Admiralty directions, or railed to
the East Coast during the War:
(1)
Shipped
for H.M. Ships, Dockyards, Transport and
Commercial Vessels at Home and Abroad:
(a) British Coal
(b) Coal from India, South Africa, &c.
(2)
Despatched
by rail, principally to East Coast Bases.
(3)
Shipped
for British Expeditionary
Force.
(4)
Shipped
for Allies prior to establishment of Ministry
of Shipping.
Total
|
Tons
36,000,000
1,250,000
6,300,000
2,950,000
7,500,000
________
54,000,000
|
The maximum number of colliers employed at anyone time by the
Admiralty for all services was 563
with
an aggregate carrying capacity of about 2,147,000 tons.
The average number employed in Home Waters was about
200
Carrying
capacity - 470,000 tons.
Apart
from meeting Naval and Transport needs, the Admiralty
undertook the responsibilities throughout for coal
supplies to the British Expeditionary Force, for the
U.S. Navy in British and Mediterranean waters, and also,
until the establishment of the Ministry of Shipping,
for the French and Italian Marine, the French State
Railways and other services. The unavoidable dislocation
of the bunkering trade necessitated provision being also
made by the Navy for the bunkering of British Commercial
and Allied Transports, and other vessels.
Oil Fuel.
The
total amount of oil brought to British Bases
throughout the war exceeded
|
Tons
10,000,000
|
Supplies
derived
from home sources
Issues
to the Fleet
Issues
to Allies (excluding U.S.N.)
In
addition
American Naval tankers imported which was
distributed coastwise by small British craft
to U.S. Naval Units.
|
350,000
9,100,000
500,000
560,000
|
Owing
to the rapid increase in the oil-burning fleet and the
high standard of consumption resulting from the
anti-submarine campaign, convoy and escort systems,
&c., the oil expenditure of 1914 had practically
quadrupled four years later.
The
available
tankers being inadequate to cope either with the import
requirements or with the need for Fleet auxiliaries, a
large building programme was projected in the early
stages of the war and subsequently amplified. This
programme resulted in the following additions to the
oil-carrying fleet:
Type
|
No.
|
Carrying
Capacity (tons)
|
Cargo
tankers
Fleet
auxiliaries
|
52
49
|
380,000
96,000
|
The
inadequacy
of the supply of tankers and the large number of
casualties to vessels en route,
necessitated supplementing tanker imports from 1917
onwards by the use of double bottoms of cargo steamers.
Deliveries
by
this method amounted to 1,100,000 tons.
Petrol. - The great extension of the Naval Air Service and the introduction of
petrol burning motor launches, coastal motor boats, and
motor transport created an exceedingly high demand for
petrol for Naval purposes. To meet requirements petrol
installations were set up at numerous points round the
coast of Great Britain and at certain stations abroad;
supplies being regulated by rail or coastal transport.
(xi)
Works, New Buildings, Defences, &c., &c.
The
total expenditure incurred under the above heading
during the war was £23,737,000.
The
principal
items were:
Improvements
at
Naval and Repair Bases
Naval
Air
Stations
Defences
against
submarine attack
Cordite
Factory
|
£3,698,030
6,082,000
3,179,000
2,123,000
|
Printed
under the authority of HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE
|