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Admiralty Naval Staff
United Kingdom
Department overview
Formed 1917
Preceding Department
Dissolved 1964
Superseding agency
Jurisdiction Government of the United Kingdom
Headquarters Admiralty Building
Whitehall
London
Department executives
Parent department Admiralty
Child Department

The Admiralty Naval Staff was the former senior command, operational planning, policy and strategy department within the British Admiralty. It was established in 1917 and existed until 1964 when the department of the Admiralty was abolished. It was replaced by the Ministry of Defence (Naval Staff) as part of the Ministry of Defence Navy Department.

History and development

In December 1916 Admiral Sir John Jellicoe was appointed Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord he would oversee the expansion of the Naval Staff at the Admiralty and the introduction of convoys, In April, 1917 the Admiralty War Staff function was abolished and replaced by a new Admiralty Naval Staff department and Jellicoe was also given the additional title of Chief of the Naval Staff he was assisted initially by two deputies, the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff and the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, these would be joined later by the Deputy First Sea Lord and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Jellicoe was relieved at the end of 1917. Changes in the structure of the Staff were implemented from 1918 onward during the interwar period some of the divisions were wound down in peace time but would be re-established with the advent of the Second World War. After the war the divisions were once again downsized.

Duties

The term 'Naval Staff' does not mean all Naval Officers serving in the former Admiralty Department, it means the divisions that are responsible under the Office of the Chief of Naval Staff and including his deputy, vice and assistant chiefs of the staff for the formulation of naval strategy including strategic planning, conduct of operations, implementation of naval policy, application of tactical doctrines, the collection and dissemination of intelligence and for stating the broad naval requirements, including the quantities and specification of ships, naval aircraft, armament and equipment the Naval Staff also included some civilian members.

Admiralty departments

The admiralty divisions should be not confused with its departments which were distinct and separate from the function of the naval staff in that they were superintended by the offices of the various Sea Lords responsible for them and were primarily administrative and logistical support bodies.

Members of the naval staff

Board of Admiralty member (*)

Structure of the naval staff

May 1917

The Naval Staff was organised by Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Jellicoe as follows:

June 1917

The Naval Staff was organised as follows:

December 1917

The Naval Staff was organised as follows:

1918 to 1919

The Naval Staff was re-organised under Admiral of the Fleet Sir Rosslyn Wemyss as follows:

1920

The Naval Staff was re-organised under Admiral of the Fleet Sir David Beatty, as follows:

1921 to 1926

The Naval Staff was re-organised during the early inter-war years, and the post Deputy First Sea Lord is abolished:

1927 to 1929

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Madden re-structured the Naval Staff as follows:

1932

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Field organised the Naval Staff as follows:

1935

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Ernle Chatfield kept the Naval Staff as follows:

1941

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound re-organised, the Naval Staff as follows:

1945

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunninghamre-organised the Naval Staff, as follows:

1951

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Bruce Fraser re-organised the Naval Staff, as follows:

1956

Admiral of the Fleet Earl, Louis Mountbatten, re-organised the Naval Staff, as follows:

1958

Admiral of the Fleet Earl, Louis Mountbatten, re-organised the Naval Staff, as follows:

1962

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Caspar John, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff re-organised the Naval Staff, as follows:

1964

Admiral Sir David Luce as First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff organised the Naval Staff in July 1964 as follows:

Post 1964

Following the merger within the Ministry of Defence until 1971 former naval staff divisions were renamed as directorates as well as new ones being established for specific purposes some other notable changes during this period included the commandant general, and the hydrographer of the navy now as part of the naval staff as follows:

  1. Defence Intelligence – (former naval intelligence division)
  2. Directorate of Naval Plans – (former plans division)
  3. Directorate of Defence Plans (Navy) – (new directorate as part of MOD)
  4. Directorate of Naval Administrative Planning – (former administrative planning division)
  5. Directorate of Naval Air Warfare – (former naval air division)
  6. Directorate of Naval Operations and Trade – (former operations and trade division)
  7. Directorate of Naval Signals – (former signals division)
  8. Directorate of Naval Tactical and Weapons Policy – (former tactical and weapons policy division)
  9. Directorate of Operational Analysis (RN) – (new directorate)
  10. Directorate of Surface Warfare (Naval) – (new directorate)
  11. Directorate of Under Sea Warfare (Naval) – (former under sea warfare division)
  12. Directorate of Navigation and Tactical Control (Naval) – (former navigation and direction division)

See also

  • Staff (military)
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