South East Coast of America Station

South East Coast of America Station

HMS Retribution, flagship of the South East Coast of America Station
Active 1838–1905
Country  United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
Type Fleet
Garrison/HQ Stanley, Falkland Islands

The South East Coast of America Station was a minor fleet of the Royal Navy which existed from 1838 until just after the end of the 19th century.

History

The station was separated from the Pacific Station in 1838[1][2] in order to combat the slave trade in Brazil.[3] In its early years it was often referred to as the "Brazils and River Plate Station". In the mid-1840s Rear Admiral Samuel Inglefield took decisive action to keep the Paraná River open so ensuring continuity of trade during the Uruguayan Civil War.[4]

The station suffered significant ship reductions between 1869 and 1874.[5] From 1870 it was commanded by a captain, designated the "senior officer",[6] and comprised just three gunboats[7] although it had responsibility for the Western Atlantic from Brazil South.[8] The squadron's only permanent base was a coal station at Stanley on the Falkland Islands.[9] It was disbanded altogether in 1905.[10]

In September 1914 Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock was ordered south to re-establish the station in the face of the German threat at the start of the First World War.[11] His squadron was destroyed at the Battle of Coronel on 1 November 1914.[12]

Commanders

Commanders included:

References

  1. "Naval Estimates". Hansard. 16 March 1849. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  2. "Naval Estimates". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 April 1849. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  3. "Ships and Streets" (PDF). Victorian Historical Society. Spring 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  4. "Pax Britannica: The Parana". Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  5. Bourne, p. 305
  6. "Spun Yarns of a naval officer". p. 178.
  7. Preston and Major, p.67
  8. O'Hara, chapter 4
  9. "Stations, Dockyards". p. 107. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  10. Brown, p. 32
  11. 1 2 "Sir Christopher 'Kit' Cradock, 1862-1914". History of War. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  12. "The battles of Coronel and the Falklands". 20th Century Battles. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  13. "Thomas Ball Sulivan". William Loney. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  14. O’Byrne, William R. "A Naval Biographical Dictionary - Volume 3". p. 942.
  15. "William Henry Haswell". William Loney. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  16. "Thomas Herbert". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  17. "William Willmott Henderson". William Loney. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  18. "William James Hope-Johnstone". William Loney. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  19. Heathcote, p. 249
  20. "Stephen Lushington". William Loney. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  21. Heathcote, p. 142
  22. "Richard Laird Warren". William Loney. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  23. Heathcote, p. 71
  24. "George Ramsey". William Loney. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  25. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36767). London. 14 May 1902. p. 12.
  26. "Court Circular". The Times (36792). London. 12 June 1902. p. 12.

Sources

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