North Sea Command | |
---|---|
Active | 1781–1815 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Navy |
Type | Fleet |
Role | Trade Protection, Blockade |
Part of | Royal Navy |
Garrison/HQ | Yarmouth Roads, Great Yarmouth |
The Commander-in-Chief, North Sea also known as the North Sea Fleet was a formation and operational command of the Kingdom of Great Britain and then the United Kingdom's Royal Navy based at Great Yarmouth from 1781 until 1815.
The command was first established in 1781 with the fleet usually anchored at Yarmouth Roads. The fleet is most well known for its key role in the Battle of Camperdown against the Dutch Navy on the 11 October 1797 which resulted in a decisive British victory. The fleet was also involved in trade protection with the advent of the looming Napoleonic Wars and later it turned to the blockading of enemy ports. The fleet also played an instrumental part in the British anti-invasion preparations of 1803–05 in response to Napoleon's planned invasion of the United Kingdom. It ceased as a separate command in 1815 when it was absorbed into the Nore Command who's role and geographic area of responsibility was re-defined by the Admiralty.
Included:
No fleet present 1783-1794