Admiralty Naval Staff facts for kids
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| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1917 |
| Preceding Department | |
| Dissolved | 1964 |
| Superseding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | Admiralty Building Whitehall London |
| Department executives |
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| Parent department | Admiralty |
| Child Department |
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The Admiralty Naval Staff was a very important part of the British Admiralty. It was like the main brain for the Royal Navy. This department was in charge of planning operations, setting policies, and deciding on strategies.
It was created in 1917 and continued until 1964. That's when the whole Admiralty department was changed. Its work was then taken over by the Ministry of Defence (Naval Staff).
Contents
History and How It Grew
In December 1916, a top naval officer named Admiral Sir John Jellicoe became the First Sea Lord. This was a very high-ranking job. He helped make the Naval Staff bigger and stronger. He also started using convoys, which are groups of ships traveling together for safety.
In April 1917, the older Admiralty War Staff was replaced by the new Admiralty Naval Staff. Admiral Jellicoe was also given the extra title of Chief of the Naval Staff. He had two main helpers at first: the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff and the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff. Later, more helpers joined, like the Deputy First Sea Lord and the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.
The way the Naval Staff was set up changed a lot over the years. During peacetime, some parts of it became smaller. But when the Second World War started, they grew big again to handle the war effort. After the war, they downsized once more.
The 'Naval Staff' wasn't just any naval officers working at the Admiralty. It was a special group of divisions. These divisions worked under the Office of the Chief of Naval Staff. Their main jobs included:
- Creating plans for naval battles and operations.
- Deciding on naval policies.
- Developing tactics for how ships should fight.
- Gathering and sharing important information (intelligence).
- Figuring out what the Navy needed, like how many ships, aircraft, and weapons.
The Naval Staff also had some civilian members, not just military officers.
It's important not to mix up the Naval Staff divisions with other Admiralty departments. The other departments were separate. They were mostly about managing things and providing support, like logistics. They were overseen by different Sea Lords.
The Naval Staff was led by several important officers. Here are some of the main roles:
- First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (the top leader)
- Deputy First Sea Lord
- Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
- Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
- Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff
There were also many specialized Assistant Chiefs, like those for Air, Foreign affairs, Home operations, and Submarines.
The structure of the Naval Staff changed many times over the years, adapting to different needs, especially during and after wars.
Early Structure (1917)
When it first started in May 1917, under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, the staff was organized like this:
- The First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff was in charge.
- They had a Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff who oversaw divisions like:
- Intelligence Division (for gathering info)
- Mobilisation Division (for getting ready for action)
- Operations Division (for planning missions)
- Signal Division (for communications)
- They also had an Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff who looked after:
- Anti-Submarine Division (for fighting U-boats)
- Convoy Section (for protecting merchant ships)
- Minesweeping Division (for clearing mines)
- Trade Division (for trade protection)
- They had a Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff who oversaw divisions like:
Changes Over Time
The structure kept changing to meet new challenges. For example, in 1918, under Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, new divisions were added or reorganized. The Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff focused on operations in home waters, while the Assistant Chief handled trade protection. A Deputy First Sea Lord was added for policy and overseas operations.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the staff continued to evolve. Divisions like Gunnery, Torpedo, and Tactical were sometimes combined or separated. The focus shifted between home defense, overseas operations, and trade protection as world events changed.
During World War II (1941-1945)
During the Second World War, the Naval Staff became very important. Under leaders like Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, the structure adapted to the intense wartime needs. A Vice Chief of the Naval Staff became a key role. Divisions were highly specialized for different war tasks, like:
- Anti-Submarine and Warfare Division
- Economic Warfare Division
- Minesweeping Division
- Various Operations Divisions (for home, foreign, and mining)
Post-War Changes (1950s-1960s)
After the war, the staff continued to change, reflecting new technologies and global situations. Under leaders like Admiral Earl Louis Mountbatten, new divisions appeared, focusing on areas like:
- Naval Air Organisation and Training
- Tactical Ship Requirements
- Under-surface Warfare
By 1964, just before the Admiralty was reorganized, the staff was still very detailed, with divisions for Gunnery, Naval Air, Navigation, Plans, Signals, and Trade and Operations.
After 1964
When the Admiralty merged into the Ministry of Defence in 1964, many of the Naval Staff divisions were renamed as "directorates." New ones were also created for specific purposes. Some important changes included:
- Defence Intelligence (which used to be the naval intelligence division)
- Directorate of Naval Plans
- Directorate of Naval Air Warfare
- Directorate of Naval Operations and Trade
- Directorate of Naval Tactical and Weapons Policy
- Directorate of Navigation and Tactical Control (Naval)
See also
- Staff (military)
