2nd Battlecruiser Squadron

2nd Battlecruiser Squadron
Rear Admiral W. C. Pakenham

The 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron was a Royal Navy squadron of battlecruisers that saw service as part of the Grand Fleet during the First World War.

August 1914

In August 1914, the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron was in the Mediterranean, and consisted of:^[1]

• HMS Inflexible
• HMS Indomitable
• HMS Indefatigable

1915

On 15 January 1915, HMS New Zealand became flagship of the 2nd BCS. She was replaced as flagship by the Australian battlecruiser HMAS Australia on 8 February 1915.

With the transfer of HMS Inflexible and Indomitable to the newly created

during 1915, the squadron was left with three ships, namely HMS New Zealand and Indefatigable, and HMAS Australia.

Battle of Jutland

HMAS Australia was damaged in collision with HMS New Zealand on 22 April 1916, and did not participate in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. The 2nd BCS therefore consisted of:^[2]

• HMS New Zealand Flagship of
  Rear Admiral W. C. Pakenham; Captain J. F. E. Green
• HMS Indefatigable Captain C. F. Sowerby

HMS New Zealand sustained light damage during the engagement; however, HMS Indefatigable was sunk by the

.

After Jutland

With the loss of three battlecruisers at Jutland, the Royal Navy reverted to two Battlecruiser squadrons. For the remainder of the war, the squadron comprised:[1]

• HMAS Australia
• HMS New Zealand
• HMS Inflexible
• HMS Indomitable

Rear-Admirals commanding

Post holders included:^[3]

	Rank	Flag	Name	Term	Notes
Rear-Admiral Commanding, 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron
1	Rear-Admiral		Sir Archibald G. H.W. Moore	January–February 1915
2	Rear-Admiral		Sir George Edwin Patey	February–March 1915
3	Rear-Admiral		Sir William C. Pakenham	1 March 1915 – December 1916
4	Rear-Admiral		Sir Arthur C. Leveson	December 1916 – September 1918
5	Rear-Admiral		Sir Lionel Halsey	September 1918 – March 1919
6	Rear-Admiral		Henry Oliver	14 March 1918 – March 1919

References

External links

• Composition of the Grand Fleet