From the 13th to 17th centuries, the Irish Squadron was a temporary formation assembled for specific naval campaigns, commanded by a senior officer whose title changed a number of times. It was one of four separate fleets, the other three being the Western, Northern and Aquitaine, each with their own independent commander, until 1406 when they came under the unified command of the
High Admiral of England, Ireland and Aquitaine. For most of its existence, the Irish Squadron conducted operations from
Milford Haven in
Wales, before switching to
Greenock, Scotland during the 1680s. In 1298,
Edward I of England appointed Sir
William de Leybourne as the first "Admiral of the Irish Sea", responsible for all English ships operating in that area. During the 14th century, the squadron was formed on four occasions, first in 1356 during the reign of
Edward III of England to protect troop convoys against Scottish
privateers. The other three occasions were in support of expeditions against Ireland ordered by
Richard II of England; in 1382 under Sir William Spalding, 1397 under
John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset and from January to September 1399 under
Thomas Percy, 1st Earl of Worcester. During the
Tudor period, the squadron was re-established for service in the 1539 to 1545
Anglo-Scottish Wars and again during the 1569 to 1583
Desmond Rebellions led by Sir
William Wynter, who was ordered to cut off all sea routes into Ireland and seize all ships of the pending papal invasion force. At the start of the
First English Civil War in 1642, most of the navy was controlled by
Parliament and until 1653 it was known as the "Irish Guard Naval Squadron of Parliament", playing a significant role in the 1649 to 1651
Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. Its strength varied but reached a peak of 56 ships in 1645, making it the second-largest squadron in the navy. During the
Nine Years' War, the squadron fought at the
Battle of Bantry Bay in May 1689 under the command of
George Rooke who retained his position until early 1690. In June 1690, it took part in the
Capture of Waterford led by Rear-Admiral
Cloudesley Shovell and in 1691 was part of a larger naval force assembled to transfer
King William III to Ireland. Reformed in July 1727 and in July 1731, it was gradually reduced in numbers before being disbanded. During the
French Revolutionary Wars in 1797, the Royal Navy finally established a permanent naval formation for the Irish Sea known as the
Coast of Ireland Station, based in
Cork with repair and resupply bases at
Kinsale Dockyard. ==In command==