The Naval Ordnance Department, also known as the Department of the Director of Naval Ordnance, was a former department of the

Admiralty Admiralty most often refers to: *Admiralty, Hong Kong * Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964 *The rank of admiral *Admiralty law Admiralty can also refer to: Buildings * Admiralty, Tra ...

responsible for the procurement of naval ordnance of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

. The department was managed by a Director, supported by various assistants and deputies; it existed from 1891 to 1958.

Precursors

Before 1855 the supply of guns and ammunition to the Royal Navy was the responsibility of the

Ordnance Board The Board of Ordnance was a British government body. Established in the Tudor period, it had its headquarters in the Tower of London. Its primary responsibilities were 'to act as custodian of the lands, depots and forts required for the defence ...

, which was also concerned with supplying ordnance to the Army and which tended to concentrate on the latter function, although naval officers served on the board and on the Ordnance Select Committee which succeeded it. The Ordnance Board was abolished in May 1855, its responsibilities for naval ordnance passed to the

War Office The War Office has referred to several British government organisations throughout history, all relating to the army. It was a department of the British Government responsible for the administration of the British Army between 1857 and 1964, at ...

, where a naval officer was appointed

Naval Director-General of Artillery A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations ...

within the Artillery Branch. He retained that title from 1858 to 1868, when he was also Director of Stores, War Office ; he was also the Vice-President of the Ordnance Select Committee. This article contains text from this source, which is available under th
Open Government Licence v3.0
© Crown copyright.

History

A Director-General, subsequently Director of Naval Ordnance, in the Controller's Department of the Admiralty was first appointed in 1866, but he did not take over procurement of naval ordnance from the War Office until 1888 or custody and supply until 1891, when a Naval Ordnance Department was finally established at the Admiralty. By stages from 1908 the Admiralty also took over responsibility from the War Office for inspecting naval ordnance when a Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance was appointed. The

Royal Ordnance Factories Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family or royalty Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, ...

, under the control of the War Office, continued, however, to manufacture naval ordnance though a large proportion, including most of the heaviest guns, was let to private contract. From 1917 until the department was responsible for mines and torpedoes. Between 1918 and 1923 and again from 1939 there was a separate

Armament Supply Department A Royal Naval Armament Depot (RNAD) is an armament depot (or a group of depots) dedicated to supplying the Royal Navy (as well as, at various times, the Royal Air Force, the British Army, and foreign and Commonwealth forces). They were sister ...

.The Naval Ordnance Inspection Department was set up in 1922 to control quality in the manufacture and testing of weapons and ammunition for the fleet. Chemical and metallurgical analysis was carried out at its laboratories at Sheffield (the

Bragg Bragg may refer to: Places *Bragg City, Missouri, United States * Bragg, Texas, a ghost town, United States * Bragg, West Virginia, an unincorporated community, United States *Electoral district of Bragg, a state electoral district in South Austral ...

laboratory) and Caerwent. During the First World War the directorate was divided, and a separate

Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

was created. After the Second World War in 1946 this became the Underwater Weapons Department. The Bragg laboratory, so-called from 1938, continued unchanged until 1968, when its chemical analysis work became part of the Army Department's Directorate of Chemical Inspection at Woolwich. From 1941 to 1945 there was a Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development. In 1958 the two were re-united as divisions of the Weapons Department, under the Director General of Weapons (Director General, Weapons from 1960 to 1964). Bragg continued as the Naval Ordnance Inspection (later Service) and Metallurgical Unit (NOIMU, later NOSMU) until 1984 when it was closed and its work transferred to Woolwich. Caerwent laboratory continued investigating propellants until 1971.

Directors

Included:

Directors of Naval Ordnance

* Rear-Admiral

Astley Cooper Key Admiral Sir Astley Cooper Key, (18 January 1821 – 3 March 1888) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer he saw action at the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado in November 1845 during the Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata and took ...

, September 1866-July 1869 * Captain Arthur W. A. Hood, July 1869-May 1874 * Rear-Admiral

Henry Boys Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainment ...

, May 1874-May 1878 * Rear-Admiral

Richard Vesey Hamilton Admiral Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton (28 May 1829 – 17 September 1912) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer he twice volunteered to take part in missions to search for Sir John Franklin's ill-fated expedition to find the Northwest ...

, June 1878-March 1880 * Rear-Admiral Frederick A. Herbert, April 1880-April 1883 * Rear-Admiral John Ommanney Hopkins, April 1883-November 1886

Directors of Naval Ordnance and Torpedoes

Included: * Rear-Admiral John A. Fisher, November 1886-May 1891 * Rear-Admiral Compton E. Domvile, May 1891-March 1894 * Captain

Henry Coey Kane Admiral Sir Henry Coey Kane (3 December 1843 – 30 January 1917) was a Royal Navy officer. Biography He was the second son of Sir Robert Kane, the Irish chemist, and entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1853 having been educated at St. Vin ...

, March 1894-August 1897 * Rear-Admiral

Edmund Jeffreys Admiral Edmund Frederick Jeffreys, CVO (1 October 1846 – 19 March 1925) was a Royal Navy officer who became Senior Officer, Coast of Ireland Station. Naval career Jeffreys became commanding officer of the cruiser in July 1888 and commanding o ...

, August 1897-January 1901 * Captain William H. May, January–April 1901 * Rear-Admiral Angus MacLeod, April 1901-January 1904 * Rear-Admiral

Henry Deacon Barry Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Deacon Barry, KCVO (27 November 1849 – 14 November 1908) was a British Royal Navy officer who was Admiral superintendent at Portsmouth dockyard. Naval career Barry joined the Royal Navy in the early 1870s. He was pro ...

, January 1904-February 1905 * Rear-Admiral John R. Jellicoe. February 1905-August 1907 * Captain Reginald H.S. Bacon, August 1907-December 1909 * Captain Archibald G.H.W. Moore, December 1909-June 1912 * Captain Frederick C.T.Tudor, June 1912-August 1914 * Captain

Morgan Singer Sir Morgan Singer, (13 December 1864 – 27 April 1938) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station. Naval career Singer joined the Royal Navy in 1877, and was promoted to lieutenant on ...

, August 1914-March 1917

Directors of Naval Ordnance

Included: * Captain

Frederic Charles Dreyer Admiral Sir Frederic Charles Dreyer (8 January 1878 – 11 December 1956) was an officer of the Royal Navy. A gunnery expert, he developed a fire control system for British warships, and served as flag captain to Admiral Sir John Jellicoe at t ...

, March 1917-June 1918 * Captain

Henry R. Crooke Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainment ...

, June 1918-September 1920 * Captain Roger R.C.Backhouse, September 1920-December 1922 * Captain

Joseph C.W.Henley Joseph is a common male name, derived from the Hebrew (). "Joseph" is used, along with " Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the modern-day Nordic count ...

, December 1922-May 1925, * Captain Charles M. Forbes, July 1925-July 1928 * Captain Julian F.C.Patterson, July 1928-April 1931, * Captain F. Thomas B. Tower, April 1931-July 1933 * Captain Bruce A. Fraser, July 1933-March 1936 * Captain Charles E. B. Simeon, March 1936-May 1939, * Captain John C. Leach, May 1939-January 1941 * Captain

William R. Slayter William is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era. It is ...

, January–August 1941 * Captain Oliver Bevir, August 1941-March 1944 * Captain Charles H. L. Woodhouse, March 1944-February 1945 * Rear-Admiral Charles H. L. Woodhouse, March 1945-February 1946 * Captain Dennis M. Lees, February 1946-December 1948 * Captain Henry A. King, December 1948-June 1951 * Captain William J. Yendell, June 1951-March 1954 * Captain

John Graham Hamilton Admiral Sir John Graham Hamilton, (12 July 1910 – 27 October 1994) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet from 1964 to 1967. Naval career Hamilton joined the Royal Navy in 1924, and specialised in gunn ...

, March 1954-March 1956 * Captain Richard E. Washbourn, March 1956-May 1958 * Rear-Admiral Gilbert C. de Jersey, May–July 1958

Assistant Directors

Included:

Assistant Directors of Torpedoes

* Captain Arthur K. Wilson, 1887–1888 * Captain Edmund F. Jeffreys, 1889–1893 * Captain William H. 1893–1895 * Captain The Hon. Maurice A. Bourke, 1895-1896 * Captain Sir Baldwin W. Walker, 1895-1897 * Captain Ernest A. Simons, 1898 * Captain George Le C. Egerton, 1898– 1899 * Captain Alexander W. Chisholm-Batten, 1899–1901 * Captain George Le C. Egerton, 1901–1902 * Captain Henry B. Jackson, 1902–1903 * Captain The Hon. Alexander E. Bethell, 1903–1906 * Captain

Bernard Currey Admiral Bernard Currey (11 May 1862 – 6 June 1936) was a Royal Navy officer who commanded the 5th Battle Squadron. Naval career Currey was the son of Charles E. Currey, of Malling Deanery, Lewes. He joined the Royal Navy in 1876. He was promote ...

, 21 December 1906–1908 * Captain Stuart Nicholson, 21 December 1908–1911 * Captain Edward F. B. Charlton, 1911–1914 * Captain Philip Dumas, 15 August 1914–1917 * Captain Algernon H. C. Candy, 8 February 1917–1919 * Captain Brien M. Money, 1919–1921 * Captain Arthur T. Walker, 1921–1922

Assistant Directors of Naval Ordnance

* Captain Frederick C. T. Tudor, 1906–1909 * Captain Arthur W. Craig, 1909–1911 * Captain James C. Ley, 1911–1912 * Captain James D. Dick, 1912–1914 * Commander Basil E. Reinold, 1914-1915 * Captain Herbert R. Norbury, 1915-1916 * Captain Joseph C. W. Henley, 1917–1919

Deputy Directors

Included:''

Deputy Directors of Naval Ordnance

* Captain Cecil V. Usborne, January 1919-May 1921 * Captain Roger R.C. Backhouse, August–September 1920 * Captain G.T. Carlisle P. Swabey, May 1921-October 1923 * Captain George R.B. Blount, October 1923-August 1925 * Captain Charles A. Scott, August 1925-April 1928 * Captain A. Ramsay Dewar, April 1928-September 1929 * Captain Frank Elliott, September 1929-March 1932 * Captain A. Francis Pridham, March 1932-April 1933 * Captain Eric R. Bent, April 1933-October 1934 * Captain Gerard W.T. Robertson, October 1934-March 1936 * Captain Harold R.G. Kinahan, March 1936-June 1937 * Captain Francis W.H. Jeans, June 1937-July 1938 * Captain Michael M. Denny, July 1938-March 1940 * Captain

, March 1940-January 1941 * Captain Frederick R. Parham, January 1941-August 1942 * Captain Patrick V. McLaughlin, August 1942-March 1943 * Captain Robert F. Elkins, March 1943-November 1944 * Captain Kenneth L. Harkness, April 1943-February 1945 * Captain Henry N.S. Brown, February 1945-October 1947 * Captain Alan F. Campbell, September 1946-September 1948 * Captain Thomas V. Briggs, October 1947 – 1949 * Captain William J. Lamb, September 1948 – 1950 * Captain Desmond P. Dreyer, July 1949-September 1952 * Captain Richard E. Washbourn, September 1950 – 1953 * Captain Francis W.R. Larken, September 1952-November 1955 * Captain Thomas W. Best, November 1955 – 1958

Subsidiary departments

Note: ''At various times were under the control of the Director of Naval Ordnance.'' *

Naval Ordnance Stores Department The Naval Ordnance Stores Department, was a former department of the British Admiralty, Admiralty responsible for the management of naval ordnance storage facilities and depots of the Royal Navy the department was managed by a Superintendent of S ...

, (1891-1918) *

, (1918-1964) **

Royal Naval Armaments Depot A Royal Naval Armament Depot (RNAD) is an armament depot (or a group of depots) dedicated to supplying the Royal Navy (as well as, at various times, the Royal Air Force, the British Army, and foreign and Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth f ...

* Department of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance, (1908-1922) * Naval Ordnance Inspection Department, (1922-1964)

Notes

References

* Harley, Simon and Lovell Tony. (2017), "Naval Ordnance Department (Royal Navy)", The Dreadnought Project
http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/Naval Ordnance Department
(primary sources for this article) * Mackie, Colin. "British Armed Forces from 1860, Senior Royal Navy Appointments from 1865". gulabin. Colin Mackie, pp. 51–51, January 2017. * The National.
Records of Naval Ordnance Departments and Establishments
. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives, 1736-1974, ADM Division 9. Retrieved 28 March 2017. This article contains text from this source, which is available under th
Open Government Licence v3.0
© Crown copyright.

External links

{{Naval Service (British) Admiralty departments 1891 establishments in the United Kingdom 1958 disestablishments in the United Kingdom

Precursors

History

Directors

Directors of Naval Ordnance

Directors of Naval Ordnance and Torpedoes

Directors of Naval Ordnance

Assistant Directors

Assistant Directors of Torpedoes

Assistant Directors of Naval Ordnance

Deputy Directors

Deputy Directors of Naval Ordnance

Subsidiary departments

See also

Notes

References

External links