The 6th Battle Squadron returned to Dover in December 1914, then transferred to Sheerness on 30 December 1914 to relieve the 5th Battle Squadron there in guarding against a German invasion of the United Kingdom. Between January and May 1915, the 6th Battle Squadron was dispersed. "Albemarle" left the squadron in April 1915 and rejoined the 3rd Battle Squadron in the Grand Fleet. She underwent a refit at Chatham Dockyard in October 1915. In November 1915, "Albemarle" was ordered to move to the Mediterranean with a division of the 3rd Battle Squadron that also included the battleships (the flagship), "Zealandia", and "Russell". The ships left Scapa Flow on 6 November 1915, but encountered extremely heavy weather that night in the Pentland Firth. "Albemarle", heavily loaded with spare ammunition, suffered severe damage early on 7 November in the rough seas, having her forward bridge washed away, killing all of her bridge personnel. Her forward superstructure was also badly damaged in the incident.