A flotilla (from Spanish, meaning a flota of small ships, and this from French flotte), or naval flotilla, is a formation of small warships that may be part of a larger fleet. A flotilla is usually composed of a homogeneous group of the same class of warship, such as destroyers, torpedo boats, submarines, gunboats or minesweepers. Larger warships are grouped in squadrons. This article is about the military unit. ... USS Port Royal (CG-73), a Ticonderoga class cruiser. ... A rare occurance of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. ... USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft). ... A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to launch torpedoes at larger surface ships. ... USS Los Angeles A submarine is a specialized watercraft that can operate underwater. ... A gunboat is literally a boat carrying one or more guns. ... The computer game Minesweeper. ...

A flotilla is usually commanded by a Rear Admiral, a Commodore or a Captain, depending on the importance of the command. A flotilla is often divided into two or more divisions, each of which might be commanded by the most senior Commander. A flotilla is often, but not necessarily, a permanent formation. The term Rear Admiral originated from the days of Naval Sailing Squadrons, and can trace its origins to the British Royal Navy. ... Commodore has several meanings: Commodore International is a computer company Commodore 64 and Amiga were home computers Commodore (rank) is a naval rank Commodore (yacht club) is the senior officer of a yacht club The Holden Commodore is a type of car The Opel Commodore is a type of car... Captain is both a nautical term and a rank in various uniformed organizations. ... Insignia of a United States Navy Commander Commander is a military rank used in many navies but not generally in armies or air forces. ...

In modern navies, flotillas have tended to become administrative units. As warships have grown larger, the term squadron has gradually replaced the term flotilla for formations of destroyers, frigates and submarines in many navies. USS Port Royal (CG-73), a Ticonderoga class cruiser. ... A squadron, or naval squadron, is a small formation of large warships that may be part of a larger fleet. ... This article is about the military unit. ... USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft). ... Sailing frigates were 4th, 5th, or 6th-rated ships in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... USS Los Angeles A submarine is a specialized watercraft that can operate underwater. ...

A naval flotilla has no direct equivalent on land, but is, perhaps, the rough equivalent in value of a brigade or regiment. Brigade is a term from military science which refers to military echelon under a division, above a regiment where that exists as such, nowadays often a group of several battalions (typically two to four), and directly attached supporting units (normally including at least an artillery battery and additional logistic support). ... A regiment is a military unit, larger than a company and smaller than a division. ...

In the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, a Flotilla is the smallest building block and consists of members at a local level where the majority of the work of the Auxiliary is done. A Flotilla is led by an elected Flotilla Commander assisted by an elected Vice Flotilla Commander assisted by appointed Flotilla Staff Officers as described at the Flotilla Organization page of the US Coast Guard. A Division consists of multiple Flotillas and a District consists of multiple Divisions. Auxiliary Districts are organized along Coast Guard District lines and are administered by a Coast Guard officer (usually a Commander or Captain) who is called the Director of the Auxiliary.

See also

• United States Coast Guard Auxiliary