The Reserve Fleet was a Royal Navy formation of decommissioned vessels which could be brought to a state of readiness at time of war.

[1] Sir John Fisher's reforms made these reserve ships more ready for combat, in the lead up to the First World War.

[2] Whilst warships had been laid up in ordinary routinely, the establishment of a Reserve Fleet as a separate, formally established naval formation dated to the change in title and appointment of Vice Admiral Henry Oliver in November 1919.

[5] At the start of the Second World War the Reserve Fleet, under the command of Vice Admiral Sir Max Horton,[6] was again brought to a state of readiness.

[7] Some 15,000 men were called up in May 1939 to man the Reserve Fleet which became ready for service on 15 June 1939.