Western Squadron

Western Squadron
Activeorigin,1650-1690
formally established 1746-1854
CountryUnited Kingdom
AllegianceBritish Empire
BranchRoyal Navy
TypeSquadron
RoleBlockade
Patrol
Trade Protection
Garrison/HQPlymouth Dockyard, England
EngagementsFirst Battle of Cape Finisterre (1747)
Second Battle of Cape Finisterre (1747)
Battle of Quiberon Bay
Battle of Ushant (1778)
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Admiral Edward Hawke

The Western Squadron[1] was a squadron or formation of the Royal Navy based at Plymouth Dockyard.[2] It operated in waters of the English Channel, the Western Approaches, and the North Atlantic. It defended British trade sea lanes from 1650 to 1814 and 1831 to 1854.[3] Following Admiralty orders to Lord Anson he was instructed to combine all existing commands in the English Channel - those at the Downs, Narrow Seas, Plymouth and the Spithead - under a centralized command under the Commander-in-Chief, Western Squadron in 1746.[4] The squadron was commanded by the Flag Officer with the dual title of Commander-in-Chief, English Channel [5] and Commander-in-Chief, Western Squadron[6]

  1. ^ Robson, Martin (2016). A History of the Royal Navy: The Seven Years War. London, England: I.B. Tauris & Co Ltd. p. 228. ISBN 9781780765457.
  2. ^ "Royal Navy Dockyards: Plymouth". rmg.co.uk. Royal Museums Greenwich, 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  3. ^ Duffy, Michael, ed. (1992). Parameters of British naval power : 1650-1850 (1st publ. ed.). Exeter: Univ. of Exeter Press. pp. 60–81. ISBN 9780859893855.
  4. ^ Palmer, Michael A. (2005). Command at Sea: Naval Command and Control Since the Sixteenth Century. Harvard, Mass, USA: Harvard University Press. p. 100. ISBN 9780674016811.
  5. ^ Harrison, Simon. "Commander-in-Chief at English Channel". threedecks.org. S. Harrison 2010-2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  6. ^ Harrison, Simon. "Commander-in-Chief at English Channel". threedecks.org. S Harrison, 2010-2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.