Admiralty Mining Establishment facts for kids
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| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1915 |
| Preceding Department |
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| Dissolved | 1951 |
| Superseding agency |
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| Type | Establishment |
The Admiralty Mining Establishment was a special department of the British Royal Navy. It was in charge of designing naval mines and finding ways to protect ships from them. This department existed from 1915 to 1951. It was first called the Mine Design Department.
Contents
History
A special mining department was created by the Admiralty in 1915. The Admiralty was the government body that managed the Royal Navy. In 1919, its name changed to the Mine Design Department (MDD). It was located at HMS Vernon, a naval base in Portsmouth.
During World War II, the department's work locations were spread out. After the war, in 1946, it was partly based near HMNB Portsmouth at West Leigh House in Havant. It was then known as the Admiralty Mining Establishment (AME). This department had both military staff and highly skilled civilian experts.
In 1951, the role of the Admiralty Mining Establishment changed a lot. It joined with other departments to form a new, bigger group. This new group was called the Underwater Counter measures and Weapon Establishment (UCWE). Later, in 1959, the UCWE also merged into another department. This was the Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment, Portland.
Famous Scientists
During the Second World War, the department hired many smart scientists. Many of them became very well-known in their fields later on. Some of these notable people included:
- David Bates
- Robert Boyd
- Francis Crick
- Tom Gaskell
- John Gunn
- Harrie Massey
- Nevill Mott
Timeline
Here is a timeline of how the department changed over the years:
- Board of Admiralty, Admiralty, Mining Department, 1915-1919.
- Board of Admiralty, Admiralty Mine Design Department, 1919-1951.
- Board of Admiralty, Underwater Counter measures and Weapon Establishment, 1951-1959.
- Board of Admiralty, Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment, 1959-1964.
- Ministry of Defence, Navy Department, Underwater Weapons Establishment, Portland, 1964-1984.
See also
- HMS Vernon (shore establishment)
