Admiralty Experiment Works facts for kids
 |
|
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1872 |
| Dissolved | 1977 |
| Superseding agency |
|
| Jurisdiction | Government of the United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | Haslar, Gosport, England |
| Parent Department | Admiralty |
The Admiralty Experiment Works (AEW) was a special research place in the British Admiralty. Its main job was to make Royal Navy ships better. They worked on improving how propellers pushed ships. They also made ships easier to steer (manoeuvrability). Another key area was how well ships handled waves (seakeeping). The AEW operated from 1872 to 1977. For most of that time, it was located at the Haslar Gunboat Yard in Gosport, South Hampshire. In 1977, it joined with another group. This group was called the Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment. Later, it became part of the Defence Research Agency. This agency was part of the Ministry of Defence.
Contents
History of Ship Science
The Admiralty Experiment Works (AEW) started in 1872. It was in a place called Chelston Cross, Torquay. This was the very first research center for the Admiralty. At first, it focused on the work of William Froude. He was an engineer and naval architect. Froude studied how to make ships go faster.
Early Experiments and Location Change
The Director of Naval Construction managed the AEW. This person reported to the Third Sea Lord. By 1886, the AEW mainly tested ship models. They wanted to see how ship hulls would perform. A year later, the AEW moved. It found its permanent home at the Haslar Gunboat Yard.
Expanding Research at Haslar
At Haslar, the research changed again. Scientists focused on predicting how much power ships needed. They also studied hydrodynamics. This is the science of how water moves and interacts with objects. Submarine design became important too. Later, they worked on propeller design. This helped with how ships steered and handled rough seas.
As the AEW grew, new testing areas were built. These were added between 1930 and 1972. They allowed the AEW to test models in a large tank. This tank could test all kinds of ships. This included battleships, cruisers, and submarines. The results of these tests were very useful. The Naval Construction Department used them. This helped them make better ship designs. It also improved how ships performed. In 1958, the Director of Naval Construction's job became part of the new Ship Department.
Merging with Other Agencies
In 1977, the AEW became part of a bigger group. This group was the Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment. Later, in 1984, this group also changed. It became a department of the Admiralty Research Establishment.
Timeline of the AEW
- 1872-1964: The Board of Admiralty oversaw the Admiralty Experiment Works (AEW).
- 1964-1977: The Ministry of Defence took over the Admiralty Experiment Works (AEW).
- 1977-1984: The Ministry of Defence managed the Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment (AMTE).
- 1984-1991: The Ministry of Defence managed the Admiralty Research Establishment (ARE).
- 1991-1995: The Ministry of Defence managed the Defence Research Agency.
