Appendix D of 'THE War at Sea Volume 1 by Captain S.W. Roskill DSC RN Notes Particulars of principal British and Dominion warships in commission, preparing to commission or building in September 1939.

Battleships:

King George V Class (all building):

King George V,(41);

Prince of Wales,(53);

Duke of York,(16);

Jellicoe (later Anson),(79);

Beatty (later Howe),(32);

Nelson Class:

Nelson,(28);

Rodney,(29);

Royal Sovereign Class:

Royal Sovereign,(05);

Royal Oak,(08);

Resolution,(09);

Ramillies,(07);

Revenge,(06);

Queen Elizabeth Class:

Queen Elizabeth (00);

Warspite,(03);

Valiant,(02);

Malaya,(01);

Barham,(04);

Battle Cruisers:

Hood,(51);

Renown,(72);

Repulse,(34);

Aircraft Carriers:

Illustrious Class:(all building)

Illustrious,(87);

Victorious,(38);

Formidable,(67);

Indomitable,(92);

Implacable,(86);

Indefatigable,(10);

Ark Royal,(91);

Courageous,(50);

Glorious,(77);

Eagle,(94);

Furious,(47);

Hermes,(I95)

Heavy Cruisers:

Exeter,(68);

York,(90);

Dorsetshire,(40);

Norfolk,(78);

Devonshire,(39);

London,(69);

Shropshire,

Sussex,(96);

Berwick,

Cornwall,(56);

Cumberland,(57);

Kent,

Suffolk,

HMAS Australia,

HMAS Canberra,(I33);

Edinburgh,(16);

Belfast,(35);

Southampton,(83),

Newcastle,(76);

Sheffield,(24);

Birmingham,(19);

Glasgow,(21);

Gloucester,(62);

Liverpool,(11);

Manchester,

Building:

Fiji,(58);

Kenya,(14);

Mauritius,(80);

Nigeria,(60);

Trinidad,(46);

Ceylon,(30);

Gambia,(48);

Jamaica,(44);

Uganda,(66);

Light Cruisers:

Arethusa,

Galatea,(71);

Penelope,(97);

Aurora,(12);

Leander,(75);

Achilles,(70);

HMAS Perth,(I29);

HMAS Sydney,(I48);

HMAS Hobart, ex-HMS Apollo,(D63);

Ajax,(21);

Neptune,

Orion,(85);

Emerald,(D66);

Enterprise,

Effingham,

Frobisher,(D81);

Hawkins,(D86);

Despatch,(D30);

Diomede,(D92);

Delhi,(D74);

Dunedin,(I93);

Durban,(I99);

Danae,(I44);

Dauntless,(D45);

Dragon,

Capetown,(D88);

Colombo,(D89);

Cardiff,(D58);

Ceres,(D59);

Caledon,(D53);

Calypso,(I61);

Caradoc,(D60);

Building:

Dido,(37);

Euryalus,(42);

Naiad,(93);

Phoebe,(43);

Sirius,(82);

Bonaventure,(31);

Hermione,(74);

Cleopatra,(33);

Scylla,(98);

Charybdis,(88);

Anti-Aircraft Cruisers:

Coventry,(I43);

Curlew,(I42);

Cairo,(I87);

Calcutta,(I82);

Carlisle,(D67);

Curacoa,(I41);

Minelayers:

Adventure,(M23);

building:

Abdiel,(M39);

Latona,(M76);

Manxman,(M70);

Welshman,(M84);

Destroyers:

Laforey Class(building) 1 Leader 7 destroyers

Javelin Class(1939) 2 Leaders 14 destroyers

Kelly Class(1939)

Tribal Class(1938-39) 2 Leaders 14 destroyers

Intrepid lass(1937-38) 1 Leader 8 destroyers

Hero Class(1936-37) 1 Leadert 8 destroyers

Greyhound Class(1936) 1 Leader 8 destroyers

Fearless Class(1935) 1 Leader 8 destroyers

Eclipse Class(1934) 1 Leader 8 destroyers

Defender Class(1932) 1 Leader 8 destroyers

Crusader Class(1932) 1 Leader 4 destroyers (Fraser Class RCN)

Beagle Class(1931) 1 Leader 8 destroyers

Acasta Class(1930-31) 1 Leader 8 destroyers

Amazon Class(1927-31) 4 destroyers (2 RCN)

Admiralty-Design Leaders 6 (including 1 RAN)

Thornycroft-Design Leaders 3

V and W Classes(1917-24) 1 Leader 42 destroyers

R and S Classes(1917-24) 11

Submarines:

Triton Class(1936-39) 15

Porpoise Class(minelayers 1934-39) 6

Thames Class (1932-35) 3

Rainbow Class(1930-32) 4

Parthian Class(1930-31) 5

Shark and Swordfish Classes(1932-38) 12

Odin and Oberon Classes(1927-31) 9

Unity Class(1937-38) 3

L Class(1918-19) 3

H Class(1918-19) 9

Escort Vessels

Hunt Class 20. (all building - reclassified as destroyers)

Grimsby Class(1934-36) 8

Grimsby Class(RAN)(1935-39) 4

Ex V and W destroyers 15

Egret Class(1938-39) 3

Black Swan Class(1939-40) 4 (building)

Bittern Class(1935-38) 3

Bridgewater, Hastings Shoreham and Repeat Shoreham Classes 14

Indus and Hindustan (RIN)(1930-35) 2

Patrol Vessels:

Kingfiesher Class(1935-38) 6

Guillemot Class - building - 3

Minesweepers:

Bangor Class - building - 10

Halcyon Class(1934-39) 19

Aberdare Class(1917-19) 23

Monitors:

Erebus(1916)

Terror(1916)

Netlayers:

Guardian

Protector

The Distribution September 1939

1. Home Fleet

Battleships: 2nd Battle Squadron: Nelson, Rodney, Royal Oak,

Royal Sovereign, Ramillies.

Battle Cruiser Squadron: Hood, Repulse.

Aircraft carriers: Ark Royal, Furious(training aircraft carrier).

Cruisers:

18th Cruiser Squadron: Aurora, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Belfast,

12th Cruiser Squadron: Effingham, Emerald, Enterprise, Dunedin,

Cardiff, Delhi.

7th Cruiser Squadron: Diomede, Dragon, Caledon, Calypso,

Destroyer Command: Cruiser Aurora.

6th Destroyer Flotilla (8 destroyers),

8th Destroyer Flotilla (9 destroyers),

Depot ship Greenwich.

Submarines:

2nd Submarine Flotilla - Depot ship - Forth and 14 submarines,

6th Submarine Flotilla - Depot ship - Titania and 7 submarines,

Minesweepers:

1st Minesweeping Flotilla - 7 Fleet Minesweepers.

A.A. Cruiser: Calcutta.

Netlayer: Guardian.

2. Channel Force:

Battleships: Resolution, Revenge.

Cruisers: Ceres, Caradoc,

A.A. Cruiser: Cairo,

Aircraft carriers: Couragious, Hermes.

18th Destroyer Flotilla (5 destroyers).

3. Humber Force:

Cruisers: Southampton, Glasgow.

7th Destroyer Flotilla (9 destroyers).

Minesweepers 2

4. Home War organization of destroyers other than those shown above;

11th Destroyer Flotilla (10 destroyers), Plymouth,

12th Destroyer Flotilla (6 destroyers), Portland,

15th Destroyer Flotilla (8 destroyers), Rosyth and Milford Haven,

16th Destroyer Flotilla (6 destroyers), Portsmouth,

17th Destroyer Flotilla (8 destroyers), Plymouth,

19th Destroyer Flotilla (9 destroyers), Dover,

Attached destroyers: Portsmouth, 4.

5. Home Command Escort, Minesweeping and A/S Forces:

Nore Command-

a. Dover: 3 minesweepers.

b. Thames Estuary: 3 minesweepers, 9 minesweeping trawlers.

Portsmouth Command-

4 minesweepers, 4 minesweeping trawlers, 5 A/S trawlers.

Western Approaches Command-

a. Plymouth Command: 3 minsweeping trawlers, 3 A/S trawlers, 6 escorts,

b. Rosyth Command: 8 escort vessels.

6. Mediterranean Fleet:

Battleships: 1st Battle Squadron: Warspite, Barham, Malaya.

Aircraft carrier: Glorious.

Cruisers:

1st Cruiser Squadron: Devonshire, Shopshire, Sussex.

3rd Cruiser Squadron: Arethusa, Penelope, A.A. Cruiser Coventry.

Destroyer Command: Cruiser Galatea. Depot Ship Woolwich.

1st Destroyer Flotilla (9 destroyers).

2nd Destroyer Flotilla (5 destroyers).-Ordered home-

3rd Destriyer Flotilla (9 destroyers).

4th Destroyer Flotilla (8 destroyers).

Escort vessels: 4.

Submarines: Deport Ship Maidstone,

1st Submarine Flotilla (10 submarines).

Motor torpedo-boats: 1st M.T.B. Flotilla: Depot Ship Vulcan

and 12 M.T.B.'s.

Netlayer: Protector.

Minelayer: Medusa.

Minesweeping flotilla (5 Minesweepers).

Repair ship: Resource.

7. North Atlantic Command:

Cruisers: Colombo, Capetown.

Destroyers: 13th Destroyer Flotilla (9 destroyers).

Submarines: 2.

Minesweepers: 2.

8. China Station:

Cruisers:

5th Cruiser Squadron: Kent, Cornwall, Birmingham, Dorsetshire.

Aircraft carrier: Eagle.

Destroyers:

21st Destroyer Flotilla (9 destroyers) - ordered to Mediterranean.

Escort vessels: 5.

Submarines: 4th Submarine Flotilla: Depot ship Medway,

1 destroyer and 15 submarines.

Destroyers for local defence of HONG KONG: 5

Minelayer: Redstart

Motor torpedo-boats: 2nd M.T.B. Flotilla (6 boats).

River gunboats: 20.

Monitor: Terror.

9. South Atlantic Command:

Cruisers:

6th Cruiser Squadron: Neptune.

9th Cruiser Squadron: Despatch, Dauntless, Danae, Durban.

South American Division: Exeter, Ajax, Cumberland.

Destroyers: 4th Division of 2nd Flotilla (4 destroyers).

Seaplane Carrier: Albatross.

Escort vessels: 4.

Submarines: 2.

10. America and West Indies Station:

Cruisers: 8th Cruiser Squadron: Berwick, Orion, York, HMAS Perth.

Escort vessels: 2.

11. East Indies Station:

Cruisers: 4th Cruiser Squadron: Gloucester, Liverpool, Manchester.

Escort vessels: 7 (including 5 RIN).

12. Royal Australian Navy:

Cruisers: Canberra, Australia, Sydney, Hobart, Adelaide.

Destroyers: 5.

Escort vessels: 2.

13. Royal Canadian Navy:

Destroyers:

HMCS Saguenay (D79)

HMCS Skeena (D59)

HMCS Fraser (H48)

HMCS Ottawa (H60)

HMCS Restigouche (H00)

HMCS St. Laurent (H83)

14. New Zealand Division of R.N. (Royal New Zealand Navy from 01/10/41

Cruisers: Leander, Achillies.

Escort vessels: 2.

15. Miscellaneous Services:

5th Submarine Flotilla (training): Depot Ship Alecto and 8 Submairnes.

Cadet's training cruiser: Vindictive(I36).

Surveying ships 8.

Motor A/S boats: 1st Flotilla 5 boats.

16. Ships in Reserve:

Cruisers: Hawkins, Frobisher.

Aircraft Carriewr: Argus.

Minelayer cruiser: Adventure.

Destroyers: 5.

Minesweepers: 10.

Seaplane carrier: Pegasus.

17. Ships undergoing major refits and repairs:

Battleships: Queen Elizabeth, Valiant.

Battle cruiser: Renown.

Cruisers: Suffolk, London, Norfolk.

Escort Vessel: 1.

Destroyers: 14.

A.A. cruisers: Curlew, Curacoa, Carlisle

The Royal Navy and Royal Marines

Active and Reserve Strength,

1. Royal Navy Active Service Strength on 1 Jan 1939:

Officers 9,762

Ratings 109,170

Total 118,932

2. Royal Marines Active Strength befoe mobilization:

Officers and men 12,390

3. Royal Navy and Royal Marine Reserve Strength 1 Jan 1939:

R.N. Officers on Retired and Emergency Lists. 8,545

R.N. Pensioners under 55 years of age. 29,256

Royal Marines Pensioners under 55 years age 2,406(by 12/09/39)

Royal Fleet Reserve 13,684

Royal Fleet Reserve (Royal Marines) 1,082(by 12/09/39)

Royal Naval Reserve Officers 1,641

Ratings 8,397

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Officers 809

Ratings 5,371

Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve 1,450

Royal Naval Wireless auxiliary Reserve

Officers 20

Ratings 579

Total 73,240