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Channel Fleet
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>Throughout the course of Royal Navy's history there had been different squadrons stationed in home waters. One of the earliest known <a href="/facts/Squadron_(naval)/9ERnHH3Q">naval formations</a> to be based at Plymouth was called the <a href="/facts/Western_Squadron/jllx3cm0">Western Squadron</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> which was the forerunner of the Channel Squadron that was later known as the Channel Fleet.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> In 1650 Captain <a href="/facts/William_Penn_(Royal_Navy_officer)/qAH4CumN">William Penn</a>, Commander-in-Chief, was charged with guarding the Channel from Beachy Head to Lands End with six ships. This system continued following the Restoration. It was the start of what was to become a Western Squadron.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> From 1690 the squadron operated out of Plymouth Dockyard during wartime periods, which was for most of the 18th century and early 19th century.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> In 1854 The Channel Squadron, sometimes known as the Particular Service Squadron, was established.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> The Channel Squadron only became a permanent formation in 1858.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p><p>During the 19th century, as the French developed <a href="/facts/Cherbourg/45qyTgh0">Cherbourg</a> as a base for <a href="/facts/Steam_power/f7hN8vzm">steam-powered</a> ships, the Royal Navy developed <a href="/facts/Portland_Harbour/lgsgbpNg">Portland Harbour</a> as a base for the fleet.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> The harbour was built between 1849 and 1872 when the Royal Navy created a breakwater made of blocks from local quarries on the <a href="/facts/Isle_of_Portland/wmzwRaA9">Isle of Portland</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p><p>With the amelioration of Anglo-French relations, and the German challenge towards 1900, the need for a Channel Formation diminished and the main European naval arena shifted to the <a href="/facts/North_Sea/htGJNmsb">North Sea</a>. 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. For the period 1858 to 1903 the Channel squadron was often incorrectly referred to as the Channel Fleet.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p><p>On 17 April 1903 The Right Hon. Lord Charles Beresford was appointed Vice-Admiral Commanding, Channel Squadron.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> On 6 May 1903 Admiral Beresford was informed by the Admiralty "that for the future the Channel Squadron shall be known as the Channel Fleet."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> On 14 December 1904 the Channel Fleet was re-styled the '<a href="/facts/Atlantic_Fleet_(United_Kingdom)/0tjQ2AYT">Atlantic Fleet</a>' and the <a href="/facts/Home_Fleet/yeX0fq8c">Home Fleet</a> became the 'Channel Fleet'.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> </p><p>On 24 March 1909, under a fleet re-organisation, the Channel Fleet became the 2nd Division of the Home Fleet.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="rear-and-vice-admiral-particular-service-squadron">Rear and Vice-Admiral, Particular Service Squadron</h2> <ul><li>Vice-Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Charles_Napier_(Royal_Navy_officer)/1JJ6Pvyx">Charles Napier</a>, (1854-1856)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></li> <li>Rear-Admiral, <a href="/facts/Henry_Chads/t3dthV1r">Henry Chads</a>, (1854-1856)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a></li> <li>Rear-Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Richard_Saunders_Dundas/qNf8Tze8">Richard Saunders Dundas</a>, (1856-1857) <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a></li> <li>Rear-Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Michael_Seymour_(Royal_Navy_officer,_born_1802)/ohIJzA8a">Michael Seymour</a>. (1856-1857)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="senior-officers-in-command-of-the-channel-squadron">Senior Officers in Command of the Channel Squadron</h2> <p>Post holders have included:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> </p> <ul><li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Charles_Fremantle/nPPIs0hI">Charles Fremantle</a> (1859–1860)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Robert_Fanshawe_Stopford/480VppsD">Robert Stopford</a> (1860–1861)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Robert_Smart_(Royal_Navy_officer)/7NmCE6Uy">Robert Smart</a> (1861–1863)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Sydney_Dacres/kFXFImy1">Sydney Dacres</a> (1863–1866)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Hastings_Yelverton/lucREcuL">Hastings Yelverton</a> (1866–1867)</li> <li>Vice Admiral <a href="/facts/Frederick_Warden/Q18C327q">Frederick Warden</a> (1867–1868)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Thomas_Symonds_(Royal_Navy_officer,_died_1894)/vrg1WXuh">Thomas Symonds</a> (1868–1870)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Hastings_Yelverton/lucREcuL">Hastings Yelverton</a> (July 1870-October 1870)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/George_Wellesley/otQJKSdh">George Wellesley</a> (1870–1871)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Geoffrey_Hornby/sYYMKwXf">Geoffrey Hornby</a> (1871–1874)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Beauchamp_Seymour,_1st_Baron_Alcester/YQcpmeoU">Beauchamp Seymour</a> (1874–1877)</li> <li>Vice Admiral <a href="/facts/Lord_John_Hay_(Royal_Navy_admiral_of_the_fleet)/xRjUsHCF">Lord John Hay</a> (1877–1879)</li> <li>Vice Admiral <a href="/facts/Arthur_Hood,_1st_Baron_Hood_of_Avalon/yvMop61E">Lord Hood</a> (1880–1882)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/William_Dowell_(Royal_Navy_officer)/nm7qx6lG">William Dowell</a> (1882–1883)</li> <li>Vice Admiral <a href="/facts/Alfred,_Duke_of_Saxe-Coburg_and_Gotha/plwQM7rk">The Duke of Edinburgh</a> (1883–1884)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Algernon_Frederick_Rous_de_Horsey/sI30bSKp">Algernon de Horsey</a> (1884–1885)</li> <li>Vice Admiral <a href="/facts/Charles_Fellowes/NgQ62luI">Charles Fellowes</a> (1885–1886)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/William_Nathan_Wrighte_Hewett/vr1RANdK">William Hewett</a> (1886–1888)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/John_Baird_(Royal_Navy_officer)/R4sjmM00">John Baird</a> (1888–1890)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Sir_Michael_Culme-Seymour,_3rd_Baronet/rQX9wDPu">Michael Culme-Seymour</a> (1890–1892)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Henry_Fairfax_(Royal_Navy_officer)/C9sKB52M">Henry Fairfax</a> (1892–1894)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Robert_O%27Brien_FitzRoy/HxAIleAG">Robert Fitzroy</a> (1894–1895)</li> <li>Vice Admiral <a href="/facts/Lord_Walter_Kerr/1gjX5b0t">Lord Walter Kerr</a> (1895–1897)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Henry_Frederick_Stephenson/5vXCa3HM">Henry Stephenson</a> (1897–1898)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Harry_Rawson/YghxpJE6">Harry Rawson</a> (1898–1901)</li> <li>Vice Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Sir_Arthur_Wilson,_3rd_Baronet/lWmJWBgA">Arthur Wilson</a> (1901–1903)</li> <li>Vice-Admiral <a href="/facts/Lord_Charles_Beresford/uBHS065W">Lord Charles Beresford</a> (1903-4)</li></ul> <h3>Second-in-Command Channel Squadron</h3> <p>Post holders included:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> </p> <ul><li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/Henry_Chads/t3dthV1r">Henry Chads</a>, 1 October 1869.</li> <li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/William_Dowell_(Royal_Navy_officer)/nm7qx6lG">William M. Dowell</a>, 1877</li> <li>Rear-Admiral Henry Boys, 1878</li> <li>Rear-Admiral The Hon. Henry C. Glyn, 20 June 1881.</li> <li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/Sir_Francis_Sullivan,_6th_Baronet/JIkVFMu0">Sir Francis W. Sullivan</a>, 14 August 1882</li> <li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/John_Wilson_(Royal_Navy_officer)/k0QIbt10">John C. Wilson</a>, 1 April 1883</li> <li>Rear-Admiral William H. Whyte, 13 May 1884</li> <li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/Algernon_Heneage/fDp1npws">Algernon C. F. Heneage</a>, 3 July 1885 – 7 August 1886</li> <li>Rear-Admiral The Hon.<a href="/facts/Edmund_Fremantle/byb2sEk7">Edmund R. Fremantle</a>, 9 August 1886</li> <li>Rear-Admiral Charles J. Rowley, 18 August 1887</li> <li>Rear-Admiral St. George Caulfield d′Arcy-Irvine, 1 September 1888</li> <li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/Richard_Tracey_(Royal_Navy_officer)/qNbEGdSA">Richard E. Tracey</a>, 12 September 1889</li> <li>Rear-Admiral Loftus F. Jones, 12 September 1890</li> <li>Rear-Admiral Edward S. Adeane, 15 September 1891</li> <li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/Edward_Seymour_(Royal_Navy_officer)/bwnWHNjg">Edward H. Seymour</a>, 16 September 1892 – 25 April 1894</li> <li>Rear-Admiral Alfred T. Dale, 25 April 1894 – 20 April 1895</li> <li>Rear-Admiral Arthur H. Alington, 1 May 1895</li> <li>Rear-Admiral Armand T. Powlett, 1 May 1896 – 19 May 1897</li> <li>Rear-Admiral John Fellowes, 19 May 1897</li> <li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/John_William_Brackenbury/3KmD4xUU">John W. Brackenbury</a>, 1 June 1898</li> <li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/Arthur_Dalrymple_Fanshawe/2YzoJzN3">Arthur D. Fanshawe</a>, 1 June 1899 – 31 May 1900</li> <li>Rear-Admiral Albert B. Jenkings, 1 June 1900 - 5 June 1901</li> <li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/Sir_William_Acland,_2nd_Baronet/nxWXYYrD">Sir William A. D. Acland, Bart.</a>, 5 June 1901 – September 1901</li></ul> <h2 id="commanders-in-chief-channel-fleet">Commanders-in-Chief Channel Fleet</h2> <ul><li>Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Sir_Arthur_Wilson,_3rd_Baronet/lWmJWBgA">Arthur Wilson</a> 14 December 1904</li> <li>Admiral <a href="/facts/Lord_Charles_Beresford/uBHS065W">Lord Charles Beresford</a> (1907–1909)</li></ul> <p><i>Note Channel Fleet is re-named Atlantic Fleet 1909-1914</i> </p> <ul><li>Vice Admiral <a href="/facts/Lewis_Bayly_(Royal_Navy_officer)/0TLjjKjN">Sir Lewis Bayly</a> (August, 1914- 17 January 1915)</li> <li>Vice Admiral The Hon. Sir. <a href="/facts/Alexander_Bethell/lDC70mEI">Alexander E. Bethell</a> (17 January 1915)</li></ul> <h3>Second-in-Command Channel Fleet</h3> <p>Post holders included:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> </p> <ul><li>Rear-Admiral the Hon. <a href="/facts/Assheton_Curzon-Howe/e7MY2Km3">Assheton G. Curzon-Howe</a>: September 1901, - 5 June 1903</li> <li>Rear-Admiral the Hon. <a href="/facts/Hedworth_Meux/ECoHHAxr">Hedworth Lambton</a>: 5 June 1903 - 25 June 1904</li> <li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/Francis_Bridgeman_(Royal_Navy_officer)/4tzFv4Tn">Francis C. B. Bridgeman</a>: 25 June 1904 - May, 1905</li> <li>Rear-Admiral Charles J. Barlow: May, 1905 - December, 1905</li> <li>Vice-Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Arthur_Moore_(Royal_Navy_officer)/xy1CJ37x">Arthur W. Moore</a>: December, 1905 - 5 December 1906</li> <li>Vice-Admiral the Hon. <a href="/facts/Assheton_Curzon-Howe/e7MY2Km3">Assheton G. Curzon-Howe</a>: 5 December 1906 - 23 February 1907</li> <li>Vice-Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Reginald_Custance/D2xBDAPr">Reginald N. Custance</a>: 23 February 1907 - 12 June 1908</li> <li>Vice-Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Archibald_Berkeley_Milne/KgTn1TsG">A. Berkeley Milne</a>: 12 June 1908</li></ul> <h3>Rear-Admirals in the Channel Fleet</h3> <p>Post holders included:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> </p> <ul><li>Rear-Admiral Sir <a href="/facts/Sir_Richard_Poore,_4th_Baronet/C9XIg7Tp">Richard Poore</a>, : February, 1905 - 16 November 1905</li> <li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/Robert_Leonard_Groome/Lgzz7nBA">Robert L. Groome</a>: 16 November 1905 - 16 November 1906</li> <li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/George_Callaghan/4bgoEB48">George A. Callaghan</a>: 16 November 1906 - 5, April 1907</li> <li>Rear-Admiral <a href="/facts/Robert_Lowry_(Royal_Navy_officer)/04cRGNc3">Robert S. Lowry</a>: 5, April, 1907 - 1 October 1907</li> <li>Rear-Admiral Francis J. Foley: 1 October 1907 - 1 October 1908</li> <li>Rear-Admiral James Startin: 1 October 1908 - 9 October 1909</li></ul> <h2 id="components">Components</h2> <h3>1895</h3> Distribution of the Fleet first included:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27"><sup>27</sup></a> <table><tbody><tr><th></th><th>Unit</th><th>Date</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Battleships</td><td>4 September 1895</td><td>5 ships: Royal Sovereign, Empress of India, Resolution, and Repulse.</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Cruisers</td><td>4 September 1895</td><td>5 ships: Blenheim, Endymion, Bellona, Halcyon, and Speedy.</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>1901 to 1904</h3> Distribution of the Fleet first included:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28"><sup>28</sup></a> <p>Of note:<i>As the Channel Squadron - renamed The Channel Fleet, September, 1901</i>. </p> <table><tbody><tr><th></th><th>Unit</th><th>Date</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Battleships</td><td>September 1901 - 1904</td><td>5 ships</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td><a href="/facts/Cruiser_Squadron/4o5muuPy">Cruiser Squadron</a></td><td>September 1901 - 1904</td><td>10 ships</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>1905 to 1907</h3> Distribution of the Fleet first included:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29"><sup>29</sup></a> <table><tbody><tr><th></th><th>Unit</th><th>Date</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Battleships</td><td>January 1905-February 1907</td><td>12 ships - increased to 18 by 1907</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td><a href="/facts/1st_Cruiser_Squadron/cAnsV0Uh">1st Cruiser Squadron</a></td><td>January 1905-February 1907</td><td>5 ships to 1905 + 2 more ships from 1906</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Channel Fleet Flotilla</td><td>January 1905-February 1907</td><td>consisting of destroyers and divided into 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Divisions</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>1907 to 1909</h3> Distribution of the Fleet first included:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30"><sup>30</sup></a> <table><tbody><tr><th></th><th>Unit</th><th>Date</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Battleships</td><td>March 1907-March 1909</td><td>14 ships</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td><a href="/facts/1st_Cruiser_Squadron/cAnsV0Uh">1st Cruiser Squadron</a></td><td>March 1907-March 1909</td><td>6 ships</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Channel Fleet Flotilla</td><td>March 1907-March 1909</td><td>divided into <a href="/facts/1st_Destroyer_Flotilla/e0It0lJI">1st Destroyer Flotilla</a> & <a href="/facts/3rd_Destroyer_Flotilla/kqb5sJrK">3rd Destroyer Flotilla</a> in March.1909</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>1914 to 1915</h3> <p>Of note: On 8 August 1914, ships from the pre-war <a href="/facts/Second_Fleet_(United_Kingdom)/GgdVyMnL">Second</a> and <a href="/facts/Third_Fleet_(United_Kingdom)/vqHrHaBt">Third</a> Fleets were organised into the Channel Fleet. </p> Distribution of the Fleet first included:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31"><sup>31</sup></a> <table><tbody><tr><th></th><th>Unit</th><th>Date</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td><a href="/facts/5th_Battle_Squadron/jIoS0quI">5th Battle Squadron</a></td><td>August 1914-March 1915</td><td>Transferred from 2nd Fleet</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td><a href="/facts/8th_Battle_Squadron/TUkQQpRu">8th Battle Squadron</a></td><td>August 1914-March 1915</td><td>7th and 8th BattSq's (3rd Fleet) merged to form 8th BattSq - dispersed 20/08/14</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td><a href="/facts/5th_Cruiser_Squadron/cRCazIwf">5th Cruiser Squadron</a></td><td>August 1914-March 1915</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td><a href="/facts/6th_Cruiser_Squadron/bxeGjGBq">6th Cruiser Squadron</a></td><td>August 1914-March 1915</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td><a href="/facts/7th_Cruiser_Squadron_(United_Kingdom)/QoSJjd0a">7th Cruiser Squadron</a></td><td>August 1914-March 1915</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td><a href="/facts/8th_Cruiser_Squadron/TY5XHeS0">8th Cruiser Squadron</a></td><td>August 1914-March 1915</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td><a href="/facts/9th_Cruiser_Squadron/zSrAb7XP">9th Cruiser Squadron</a></td><td>August 1914-March 1915</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td><a href="/facts/10th_Cruiser_Squadron/gcrLq5gU">10th Cruiser Squadron</a></td><td>August 1914-March 1915</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td><a href="/facts/11th_Cruiser_Squadron/BH2KddaY">11th Cruiser Squadron</a></td><td>August 1914-March 1915</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td><a href="/facts/12th_Cruiser_Squadron/ryYWWKTu">12th Cruiser Squadron</a></td><td>August 1914-March 1915</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="in-literature">In literature</h2> <p>The Channel Fleet features in several historical novels about the Royal Navy, notably <i><a href="/facts/Hornblower_and_the_Hotspur/GS8GVJYk">Hornblower and the Hotspur</a></i> by <a href="/facts/C._S._Forester/pFyGleKS">C. S. Forester</a>, in which Forester's fictional hero becomes a favourite of the real Channel Fleet commander, Admiral <a href="/facts/William_Cornwallis/oFC8UwYg">William Cornwallis</a>. The fleet also features in several of the <a href="/facts/Aubrey%E2%80%93Maturin/49IUa1h4">Aubrey–Maturin</a> novels by <a href="/facts/Patrick_O%27Brian/wKF1YghE">Patrick O'Brian</a>. </p><p>The novel <i><a href="/facts/Billy_Budd/GaQgfmJC">Billy Budd</a></i> by <a href="/facts/Herman_Melville/Jdu6YsGY">Herman Melville</a> is set on board ships of the Channel Fleet, in the immediate aftermath of the <a href="/facts/Spithead_and_Nore_mutinies/dVQGKfCE">Spithead and Nore mutinies</a> of 1797. </p><p>In the novel <i><a href="/facts/The_War_of_the_Worlds/aNU0En15">The War of the Worlds</a></i>, the Channel Fleet protects the huge mass of refugee ships escaping from the Essex coast in the face of the Martian onslaught. The initial heroic fight of <a href="/facts/HMS_Thunder_Child/7TVuakWh">HMS <i>Thunder Child</i></a> and the subsequent general engagement, is detailed in the chapter entitled "The Thunderchild". </p> <h3>Footnotes</h3> <h3>Sources</h3> <ul><li>Annal, David; Collins, Audrey (2012). Birth, Marriage and Death Records: A Guide for Family Historians. Casemate Publishers. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9781848845725.</li> <li>Archives, The National. (1859-1910) "Admiralty: Channel Squadron and Fleet: Correspondence". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives UK. ADM 144.</li> <li>Barry, Quintin (2022). <i>From Ushant to Gibraltar: The Channel Fleet 1778-1783</i>. From Reason to Revolution. Warwick: Helion & Company. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9781915070395.</li> <li>Black, Jeremy, (2011) "THE ROYAL NAVY AND THE FRENCH WARS: THE LONG-TERM BACKGROUND: University of Exeter" (PDF). napoleonicsociety.com. The Napoleonic Society.</li> <li>Davis, Peter. "The Times newspaper on the Channel Squadron, 1858-1862". www.pdavis.nl. Peter Davis.</li> <li>Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2018) <a href="http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Channel_Fleet_(Royal_Navy)">"Channel Fleet (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project".</a> www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell.</li> <li>Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2017) <a href="http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Channel_Squadron_(Royal_Navy)">"Channel Squadron (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project".</a> www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley & Lovell.</li> <li>Loney, William. RN. "Channel Squadron, the Naval Intelligence column of the Times newspaper refer to the activities of the Squadron in the period 1858-1862". www.pdavis.nl/Channel.php. William Loney.</li> <li>Mackesy, Piers (1964). The War for America: 1775-1783. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA: U of Nebraska Press. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0803281927.</li> <li>Mackie, Colin. (2017) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie.</li> <li>Ranft, Bryan (1995). The Oxford illustrated history of the Royal Navy. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9780198605270.</li> <li>Royal Museums Greenwich. "Royal Navy Dockyards: Plymouth". (2017). rmg.co.uk. Royal Museums Greenwich.</li> <li>Saunders, Andrew (1997). Book of Channel defences. London: Batsford [u.a.] <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9780713475944.</li> <li>Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.</li> <li>Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.</li> <li>Whitaker's Almanacks (1900 - 1909).</li> <li>Weigley, Russell F. (2004). The Age of Battles: The Quest for Decisive Warfare from Breitenfeld to Waterloo. Indiana University Press. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0253217075.</li></ul> <h3>Further reading</h3> <ul><li>Rodger, N.A.M. (1979). <i>The Admiralty</i>. Lavenham, England: T. Dalton. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 9780900963940.</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li> Media related to Channel Squadron at Wikimedia Commons</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Archives, The National. "Admiralty: Channel Squadron and Fleet: Correspondence". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives UK, ADM 144, 1859-1910. Retrieved 8 February 2018. <a href="http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1853" target="_blank">http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1853</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Weigley, Russell F. (2004). The Age of Battles: The Quest for Decisive Warfare from Breitenfeld to Waterloo. Indiana University Press. p. 331. ISBN 0253217075. <a href="0253217075" target="_blank">0253217075</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Ranft, Bryan (1995). The Oxford illustrated history of the Royal Navy. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. p. 144. ISBN 9780198605270. <a href="9780198605270" target="_blank">9780198605270</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"THE ROYAL NAVY AND THE FRENCH WARS: THE LONG-TERM BACKGROUND: by Jeremy Black, University of Exeter" (PDF). napoleonicsociety.com. The Napoleonic Society, 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2017. <a href="http://www.napoleonicsociety.com/english/pdf/j2011black.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.napoleonicsociety.com/english/pdf/j2011black.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Mackesy, Piers (1964). The War for America: 1775-1783. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA: U of Nebraska Press. p. 192. ISBN 0803281927. <a href="0803281927" target="_blank">0803281927</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Saunders, Andrew (1997). Book of Channel defences. London: Batsford [u.a.] p. 32. ISBN 9780713475944. <a href="9780713475944" target="_blank">9780713475944</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Annal, David; Collins, Audrey (2012). Birth, Marriage and Death Records: A Guide for Family Historians. Casemate Publishers. p. 24. ISBN 9781848845725. <a href="9781848845725" target="_blank">9781848845725</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"Royal Navy Dockyards: Plymouth". rmg.co.uk. Royal Museums Greenwich, 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017. <a href="http://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/royal-naval-dockyards" target="_blank">http://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/royal-naval-dockyards</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Channel Squadron (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley & Lovell, 26 November 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017. <a href="http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Channel_Squadron_(Royal_Navy)" target="_blank">http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Channel_Squadron_(Royal_Navy)</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"William Loney RN: Channel Fleet". Archived from the original on 2015-05-10. Retrieved 2010-10-17. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150510035800/http://www.pdavis.nl/Channel.php" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20150510035800/http://www.pdavis.nl/Channel.php</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Channel Fleet Archived 2004-01-26 at the Wayback Machine The Heritage Coast <a href="http://www.theheritagecoast.co.uk/historyfile/portland_and_weymouth/portlands_deep_sea_harbour/channel_fleet.htm" target="_blank">http://www.theheritagecoast.co.uk/historyfile/portland_and_weymouth/portlands_deep_sea_harbour/channel_fleet.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Portland Harbour Authority: History Archived December 31, 2009, at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.portland-port.co.uk/about_the_port/company.htm" target="_blank">http://www.portland-port.co.uk/about_the_port/company.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Davis, Peter. "The Times newspaper on the Channel Squadron, 1858-1862". www.pdavis.nl. Peter Davis. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150510035800/http://www.pdavis.nl/Channel.php" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20150510035800/http://www.pdavis.nl/Channel.php</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Harley & Lovell, 2017 <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Harley & Lovell, 2017 <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>National Archives records <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>HMS Bulwark Archived August 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://military-genealogy.forcesreunited.org.uk/949/HMS_Bulwark" target="_blank">http://military-genealogy.forcesreunited.org.uk/949/HMS_Bulwark</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Admiralty, Great Britain (January 1855). The Navy List. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 135. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=XcwwXYSf6EYC&pg=PA130" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=XcwwXYSf6EYC&pg=PA130</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Admiralty, Great Britain (January 1855). The Navy List. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 135. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=XcwwXYSf6EYC&pg=PA130" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=XcwwXYSf6EYC&pg=PA130</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Admiralty, Great Britain (January 1857). The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 137. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=ITo2ODD8a3wC&pg=PA191" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=ITo2ODD8a3wC&pg=PA191</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>Admiralty, Great Britain (January 1857). The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 137. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=ITo2ODD8a3wC&pg=PA191" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=ITo2ODD8a3wC&pg=PA191</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017. <a href="http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>Whitaker's Almanacks 1900 - 1909 <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>Harley & Lovell, 2017 <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Channel Fleet (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 7 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018. <a href="http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Channel_Fleet_(Royal_Navy)" target="_blank">http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Channel_Fleet_(Royal_Navy)</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:26"><p>Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Channel Fleet (Royal Navy) - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, 7 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018. <a href="http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Channel_Fleet_(Royal_Navy)" target="_blank">http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Channel_Fleet_(Royal_Navy)</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:27"><p>"CHANNEL SQUADRON. (Hansard, 4 September 1895)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Hansard, HC Deb 04 September 1895 vol 36 cc1688-9. 4 September 1895. Retrieved 24 February 2018. <a href="https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1895/sep/04/channel-squadron#S4V0036P0_18950904_HOC_9" target="_blank">https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1895/sep/04/channel-squadron#S4V0036P0_18950904_HOC_9</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:28"><p>Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1900-1914". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 8 August 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2018. <a href="http://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1900-14.htm#2" target="_blank">http://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1900-14.htm#2</a> <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:29"><p>Watson, 2015. <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:30"><p>Watson, 2015. <a href="#fnref:30" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:31"><p>Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment, Inter-War Years 1914-1918". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 27 October 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2018. <a href="http://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1914-1918.htm#cf" target="_blank">http://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1914-1918.htm#cf</a> <a href="#fnref:31" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>