The Third Fleet was a reserve formation of the Royal Navy that briefly existed before the First World War.
History Formed on 1 May 1912 from the 4th Division of the Home Fleet, its elderly ships were ordinarily only manned by a small maintenance crew during peacetime, but were intended to be manned by naval reservists when mobilised.Wragg, p. 24 It was conducting a test mobilisation in July 1914 as tensions increased between Great Britain and Imperial GermanyMarder, p. 432 and was only partially demobilised before full mobilisation was ordered on 2 August. At this time it consisted of the 7th and 8th Battle Squadrons of pre-dreadnought battleships and five squadrons of cruisers.Corbett, pp. 13, 29
Vice-Admiral Commanding
Rank Flag Name Term Vice-Admiral Commanding Third Fleet1 Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick T. Hamilton December 1911-December 19132 Vice-Admiral Sir Cecil Burney December 1913-August 1914.
Components Included
Unit Notes 17th Battle Squadron (8 pre-dreadnoughts)Watson. 201528th Battle Squadron (6 pre-dreadnoughts)Watson. 20153 7th Cruiser Squadron (5 armoured cruisers)Watson. 201538th Cruiser Squadron (5 armoured/protected cruisers)Watson. 201549th Cruiser Squadron (8 armoured/protected cruisers)Watson. 2015510th Cruiser Squadron (7 protected cruisers)-from Training Squadron at QueenstownWatson. 2015611th Cruiser Squadron (5 protected cruisers)Watson. 2015712th Cruiser Squadron (4 protected cruisers)Watson. 20158Devonport Local Defence FlotillaWatson. 2015 9Nore Local Defence FlotillaWatson. 201510Portsmouth Local Defence FlotillaWatson. 2015
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