7th Cruiser Squadron

The 7th Cruiser Squadron was a Royal Navy unit equipped with five Cressy-class armored cruisers stationed along England's south coast. The ships conducted regular patrol routes to protect merchant vessels and monitor shipping lanes near British waters.

The squadron was formed in the early 1900s to defend merchant shipping against threats at sea. In September 1914, three of its vessels were sunk by a German submarine in a single attack, marking a turning point in naval warfare.

The squadron shaped how the Royal Navy organized and deployed its ships for coastal protection missions. Its crew systems and watch rotations became models that other naval units studied and adopted in their own operations.

The unit operated from bases along England's south coast with regular patrols between British and French waters. The ships' positions shifted seasonally based on naval needs and shipping routes that required protection.

The unit was also known as Cruiser Force C and earned the nickname Live Bait Squadron because it operated older, less protected vessels in dangerous patrol areas. Crews were well aware that their aging ships faced constant risk from submarine attacks in crowded shipping lanes.