Battlecruiser Squadron (United Kingdom)

The Battlecruiser Squadron was a Royal Navy squadron of battlecruisers that saw service from 1919 to the early part of the Second World War.

Formation
During the First World War, the Royal Navy had initially maintained three squadrons of battlecruisers, until losses at the Battle of Jutland had reduced the number of available battlecruisers sufficiently to warrant a reduction to two squadrons. Following the War, battlecruiser numbers were again reduced to three, with a fourth building.

In late 1919, the Battlecruiser Squadron was formed, consisting of HMS Tiger, flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Roger B. Keyes, KCB, KCVO, CMG, along with HMS Renown (1916) and HMS Repulse. HMS Tiger was removed from operational service with the commissioning of HMS Hood (51) in May 1920, and relegated to a training role. HMS Hood then became the flagship of the Battlecruiser Squadron on 18 May 1920.

Special Service Squadron
In 1923, HMS Hood and HMS Repulse, along with several smaller ships of the First Light Cruiser Squadron, formed part of the Special Service Squadron, under command of Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Field. The Squadron departed Devonport on 27 November 1923 and returned on 29 September 1924 after travelling around the world.

Inter-War Period
HMS Hood was decommissioned for a major overhaul from May 1929 to May 1931. During this period, HMS Tiger was returned to active service, to maintain the three ship strength of the squadron. Following her recomissioning, Hood again became flagship of the squadron, and remained the flagship until her loss on 24 May 1941. HMS Tiger was decommissioned on 30 March 1931 and scrapped shortly after.

Dissolution
HMS Hood was lost in combat with the German battleship Bismarck at the Battle of Denmark Strait on 24 May 1941. HMS Repulse was sunk by Japanese aircraft off Singapore on 10 December 1941. With the loss of the Hood and later the Repulse, the squadron ceased to exist. HMS Renown survived the war and was scrapped in 1948.