| Unit Name: | Second Fleet |
| Dates: | 1 May 1912–1914 |
| Country: |  United Kingdom |
| Type: | Fleet |
| Notable Commanders: | Vice-Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick T. Hamilton |
The Second Fleet was a reserve formation of the Royal Navy that briefly existed before the First World War.
Formed on 1 May 1912 from the Third Division of the Home Fleet, its ships were manned by a nucleus crew during peacetime, but were intended to be manned by men from the naval schools when mobilised.[1] It reported directly to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets. The fleet was mobilised in late July 1914 as tensions increased between Great Britain and Imperial Germany and remained on active duty until war was declared on 4 August.[2] It reformed the Channel Fleet upon the declaration of war and consisted of the Fifth and Sixth Battle Squadrons, equipped with a total of 15 pre-dreadnought battleships and the majority of the Home Defence Patrol Flotillas.[3]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vice-Admiral Commanding Second Fleet[4] | ||||
| 1 | Vice-Admiral | May 1912-December 1913 | ||
| 2 | Vice-Admiral | December 1913-August 1914 | ||
Included[5]
| Unit | Notes | |
| 1 | 5th Battle Squadron | (8 battleships)[6] |
| 2 | 6th Battle Squadron | (5-7 battleships)[7] |
| 3 | 5th Cruiser Squadron | (3-4 light cruisers)[8] |
| 4 | 6th Cruiser Squadron | 3–4 armoured cruisers)[9] |
| 5 | 7th Destroyer Flotilla | 20 destroyer-12 torpedo boat)[10] |
