3rd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom) - Second World War

Second World War

At the start of the Second World War, the squadron formed part of the Channel Force and comprised just two ships:

• • Resolution - flagship of Rear Admiral L. E. Holland; Captain C. H. Knox Little;
  • Revenge - Captain E. R. Archer.

Later in the war, the squadron was based at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Rear Admiral, Third Battle Squadron, was responsible for covering Atlantic convoys. RMS Ascania—an armed merchant cruiser—was part of the squadron during this period. Seaborn—a Fleet Air Arm basewas established at RCAF Station Dartmouth in September 1940. Seaborn was to provide a shore base with administrative and maintenancd facilities for the Swordfish and Walrus aircraft assigned to ships of the Third Battle Squadron.

In 1942, the Third Battle Squadron, now comprising;

• • Resolution - flagship of Vice Admiral W. E. C. Tait; Captain A. R. Halfhide;
  • Ramillies - Captain D. N. C. Tuffnell;
  • Revenge - Captain L. V. Morgan;
  • Royal Sovereign Captain R. H. Portal; sailed for the Far East and became was part of the Eastern Fleet. The squadron formed part of Force B. Facing the superior striking force of the Japanese Kido Butai carrier striking force during the 1941 Indian Ocean raid, the slow component of the Eastern Fleet—including the battleships of Force B—was withdrawn all the way back to Kilindini in East Africa to avoid their destruction at Japanese hands. Hermes—Force B's sole aircraft carrier—was detached and destroyed near Ceylon.

In 1945, the Squadron consisted of two battleships, Queen Elizabeth and the Free French Richelieu, as well another two escort carriers, four cruisers and six destroyers. Two battleships and escort carriers formed part of the covering force for Operation Dracula, the retaking of Rangoon. Vice-Admiral H.T.C. Walker commanded the squadron at the time.