There are several types of squadron: • Independent squadrons. In effect, these are formations that are too small to be called a fleet. Independent squadrons may be assigned to and named after a particular ocean or sea, and the admiral commanding the squadron may be the naval commander in chief in that theatre. An example of this type unit was the US Navy's
Asiatic Squadron stationed in China between 1868 and 1902 • Temporary sub-divisions of a fleet. In the
Age of Sail, fleets were divided into van, centre, and rear squadrons, named after each's place in the
line of battle. A temporary detachment from a fleet would also be called a squadron. during the
First World War. From left to right:
King George V,
Thunderer,
Monarch, and
Conqueror. • Permanent battle formations. As warships evolved during the 19th century, larger warships began to be formed into and trained as permanent, numbered squadrons of the same class of warship such as the
5th Battle Squadron of the
Royal Navy's
Grand Fleet. U.S. Navy squadron types have included Battleship Squadrons, Cruiser Squadrons (CruRons), Destroyer Squadrons (DesRons), Escort Squadrons, Transport Squadrons (TransRons), and Submarine Squadrons (
SubRons). In modern navies, squadrons have tended to become administrative units. Most
navies began to abandon the squadron as a
tactical formation during the
Second World War. The need to provide
capital ships with the
anti-submarine protection of a
destroyer screen and air cover from an
aircraft carrier led to the increasing use of the
carrier battle group, or ad hoc
task forces, composed of whichever ships were available for a particular operation. As
warships have grown larger, the term squadron has gradually replaced the term
flotilla for formations of
destroyers,
frigates and
submarines in many navies. ==See also==