The 4th Destroyer Squadron was a naval unit of the Royal Navy from 1951 to 1959.
Overview After World War II, the British Navy reverted to its previous layout and command structure in 1950 the 4th Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet was disbanded and succeeded by the 4th Destroyer Squadron. The Admiralty controlled global deployment of the navy until 1964 when that department was abolished and replaced by the new Navy Department, Ministry of Defence. These geographic commands usually comprised fleets, squadrons, flotillas, and single ships. In 1954, major re-structuring of the composition of the navy was undertaken, leading to downsizing and warships being rotated between the various fleets and stations. In 1954 and 1971, many of these commands were abolished or amalgamated into larger geographic commands. In November 1971, nearly all British naval forces were brought under the command of a single fleet whose headquarters was at Northwood, Middlesex then under the control of Commander-in-Chief Fleet.
Organizational changes Note: Command structure organizational changes took place within Royal Navy post war period the term Flotilla was previously applied to a tactical unit until 1951 which led to the creation of three specific Flag Officers, Flotillas responsible for the Eastern, Home and Mediterranean fleets the existing destroyer flotillas were re-organized now as administrative squadrons.
Deployments Included: from to deployed to additional notes 1951 1952 Mediterranean Fleet 1953 1955 Home Fleet 1956 1957 Mediterranean Fleet 1958 1959 Home Fleet
Composition Included:
, Mediterranean Fleet 1951 4th Destroyer Squadron HMS Agincourt (Leader) HMS Corunna HMS Gabbard replaced by HMS Aisne (1951) HMS St. James replaced by HMS Jutland (1951) , Mediterranean Fleet 1952 4th Destroyer Squadron HMS Agincourt (Leader) HMS Aisne HMS Corunna HMS Jutland , Home Fleet 1953 4th Destroyer Squadron HMS Agincourt (Leader) HMS Aisne HMS Corunna HMS Jutland , Home Fleet 1954 4th Destroyer Squadron HMS Agincourt (Leader) HMS Aisne HMS Barrosa HMS Corunna , Home Fleet 1955 4th Destroyer Squadron HMS Agincourt (Leader) HMS Aisne HMS Barrosa HMS Corunna , Mediterranean 1956 4th Destroyer Squadron HMS Agincourt (Leader) HMS Aisne HMS Barrosa HMS Corunna , Mediterranean 1957 4th Destroyer Squadron HMS Agincourt (Leader) HMS Alamein HMS Barrosa HMS Corunna , Home Fleet 1958 4th Destroyer Squadron HMS Agincourt (Leader) HMS Alamein HMS Barrosa HMS Corunna , Home Fleet 1959 4th Destroyer Squadron HMS Agincourt (Leader) HMS Alamein HMS Barrosa HMS Corunna
Squadron commander Included: Commander Lead Ship Dates Captain Martin J. Evans HMS Agincourt March 1951-August 1952 Captain John Lee-Barber HMS Agincourt August 1952-April 1954 Captain Ronald G. Mills HMS Agincourt April–December 1954 Captain Nicholas A. Copeman HMS Agincourt December 1954-March 1956 Captain Derick H. F. Hetherington HMS Agincourt March 1956-November 1957 Captain Erroll N. Sinclair HMS Agincourt November 1957-April 1959
See also List of squadrons and flotillas of the Royal Navy
References
Sources Smith. Gordon and Watson, Graham. (2015) The Royal Navy, post 1945. Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1947-2013. http://www.naval-history.net.
External links