6th Destroyer Squadron (United Kingdom)

The 6th Destroyer Flotilla later Squadron was a destroyer group of the Royal Navy that existed during the 1st and 2nd world wars.

World War I
The 6th Destroyer Squadron trace their history back to the 6th Destroyer Flotilla formed as part of the new Dover Patrol. The flotilla itself was officially form in August of 1914, at the time not attached to any fleets or commands. Just a few days after its formation the squadron was assigned to the Admiral of Patrols as part of the Home Fleet. The squadron were first equipped with the Tribal-class destroyer and immediatley assigned to the Dover Patrol. In addition to its old destroyers the squadron had three scout cruisers under its control for a short time. The squadron was assigned to protect the signal cables running beneath the channel between the British Expeditionary Force and the Ministry of War. Until the 10th of August the flotilla was charged with defending the port and areas around Dover, East Kent, England. Through the entire war the 6th Flotilla would be the principle fighting unit.

By the time of October 24, 1916 the flotilla consisted of: By April 1917 the flotilla wasn't available with all of their ships under repair. Although as soon as the ships were ready the flotilla was charged with "Patrol of Straights", "Escort of Transports and Supply Ships", "Protection of Trade in the Downs" and "Defense of Barrages".
 * HMS Swift - Destroyer Flotilla Leader
 * HMS Attentive - Light Cruiser
 * HMS Carysfort - Light Cruiser Detached from Harwich Force

Interwar
After the war the squadron was disbanded but subsequently reformed for service with the Mediterranean Fleet. During its time in the Mediterranean Fleet the squadron controlled the following ships: In Late 1921 the flotilla was ordered back to England attached to the Home Fleet where it remained until May 1939. In may the flotilla was renamed as the 1st Tribal Flotilla. Just a few weeks later the flotilla was retitled as the 8th Destroyer Flotilla.
 * HMS Senator
 * HMS Seraph
 * HMS Shark
 * HMS Spear
 * HMS Speedy
 * HMS Sportive
 * HMS Steadfast
 * HMS Swallow
 * HMS Stuart (Leader)
 * HMS Tilbury
 * HMS Montrose (Second Leader)
 * HMS Tilbury
 * HMS Tobago - Damaged beyond repair October 12th 1920
 * HMS Tomahawk
 * HMS Torch
 * HMS Tribune
 * HMS Tryphoon - Damaged beyond repair May 4th 1919
 * HMS Tumult
 * HMS Sepoy - Assigned to Reserve Division
 * HMS Serapis - Assigned to Reserve Division
 * HMS Sirdar - Assigned to Reserve Division
 * HMS Somme - Assigned to Reserve Division

Commanders
Commanders of the squadron during its history included:

World War I

 * Captain Charles D. Johnson (December 1912 - December 1916)
 * Captain Percy Withers (January 1917 - January 1918)
 * Captain Wilfred Tomkinson (January 1918 - March 1919)