British Grand Fleet

During World War I, the British Home Fleet was renamed the Grand Fleet. It was initially commanded by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe. He was later succeeded by the commander of the Grand Fleet battlecruisers Admiral Sir David Beatty.

The Grand Fleet only took part in one fleet action during the war, that indecisive Battle of Jutland. More British ships were sunk than German, although the German High Seas Fleet was damaged to the extent that it was unable to put to sea for a number of months. Strategically, Jutland was a victory because the British fleet retained control of the North Sea.

Squadrons of the Grand Fleet included:

• 5th Battle Squadron

Ships that served in the Grand Fleet included:

• HMS New Zealand
• HMS Revenge
• HMS Hercules
• HMS Repulse
• HMS Inflexible
• HMS Revenge
• HMS Liverpool
• HMS Cardiff
• HMS Argyll
• HMS Goliath

The Grand Fleet was based in Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands.

External link

The Grand Fleet