Controller of the Navy (Royal Navy)

Controller of the Navy (CofN)
Controller of the Navy (CofN)
	Ensign of the Royal Navy
	Incumbent; Rear Admiral James Parkin; since September 2021
	Department of the Admiralty, Ministry of Defence
Member of	Board of Admiralty, Admiralty Board, Navy Board
Reports to	First Sea Lord
Nominator	First Lord of the Admiralty, Secretary of State for Defence
Appointer	Prime Minister; Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council
Term length	Not fixed (typically 1–3 years)
Inaugural holder	Rear Admiral Sir Samuel Pechell
Formation	1832-current

The post of Controller of the Navy (abbreviated as CofN) was originally created in 1859 when the Surveyor of the Navy's title changed to Controller of the Navy. In 1869 the controller's office was abolished and its duties were assumed by that of the Third Naval Lord whose title then changed to Third Naval Lord and Controller of the Navy. In 1904 the title was changed again to Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy. In 1965 the office of the Third Sea Lord was abolished. The post-holder is responsible for procurement and matériel in the British Royal Navy.

Originally the post-holder was a member of the Board of Admiralty and later a member of the Admiralty Board.

History

The original office of Comptroller of the Navy was established in 1561 during the reign of Elizabeth I of England which was a very different function from what became known later as the Controller of the Navy. They presided over the Navy Board from 1660, and generally superintended the business of the Navy Office, they were responsible for all naval spending and for the offices dealing with bills, accounts and wages during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.^[1] By the eighteenth century the principal officer responsible for estimating annual stores requirements, inspecting ships' stores and maintaining the Fleet's store-books and repair-bills was the Surveyor of the Navy however their duties passed increasingly to the Comptroller of the Navy during the latter half of this period. The office of the Surveyor did not altogether disappear. In 1805 for the first time, specific functions were assigned to each of the 'Naval' Lords, who were described as 'Professional' Lords, leaving to the civil lords to the routine business of signing off all official documents.^[2] In 1832 the original office of the Comptroller was abolished following a merger with the Board of Admiralty and the Surveyor was made the officer responsible under the First Sea Lord for the material departments.^[3] In 1859 the office the Surveyor of the Navy who had overall responsibility for ship design was renamed and the post became known as the Controller of the Navy.^[4]

In the re-organisation of the Admiralty by Order in Council of 14 January 1869, the Controller of the Navy was given a seat on the Board of Admiralty as the Third Lord and Controller of the Navy. They also inherited the new duties of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy, whose post was abolished.^[5] The Controller lost the title of Third Lord and the seat on the board by an Order in Council of 19 March 1872, but regained them by a further Order in Council of 10 March 1882.^[6] In 1872 they again became subordinate to the First Sea Lord, but had the right to attend board meetings when the business of the department was under discussion. In 1882 the Controller again became independent of the First Sea Lord and became a board member again as Third Naval Lord and Controller. The Third Naval Lord's post was renamed to become known as the Third Sea Lord and Controller in 1904. The appointment of Controller of the Navy was abolished in September 1912, although that of Third Sea Lord remained.^[7] Thereafter, except for a period in 1917 to 1918 when there was a civilian Controller, the titles of Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy went together.^[3]

The Third Sea Lord and Controller was mainly responsible for superintending the work of the Royal Naval Scientific Service and for a number of Admiralty departments, including those of the Department of the Director of Naval Construction, (from 1958 the Department of the Director General Ships), of the Department of the Engineer in Chief (formerly the Steam Department), of the Department of the Director of Naval Ordnance, of the Department of the Director of Dockyards and, following a board decision in 1911, of the Admiralty Compass Observatory, formerly under the control of the Hydrographer's Department War they also had responsibility for the supply of equipment to Combined Operations Headquarters. From 1958 the Fourth Sea Lord was also known as Vice Controller of the Navy they assumed the superintendence of the naval dockyard organisation and the maintenance of the fleet. In 1965 the appointment of Third Sea Lord was abolished and the individual responsible for the materiel side of the navy became simply Controller of the Navy.^[8] From 2003 until April 2013 the post holder jointly held different titles such as ( Director, Land Maritime, 2003–2006, Director-General, Nuclear, 2006–2009, Capability Manager/Director (Precision Attack), 2009-2012 and Director, Maritime Capability and Transformation, 2012–2013. From April 2013 until November 2018 the post holder simultaneously held the titles of Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability) and Chief of Staff Navy Command (HQ) post holders include:^[9] From November 2018, the post holder has been just Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability). ACNS Capability is also known as Director Develop as of September 2020.^[10]

List of office holders

Third Naval Lords and Controllers of the Navy 1882–1904

Third Naval Lords and Controllers of the Navy include:^[11]

Vice-Admiral Thomas Brandreth, 1882–1886
Vice-Admiral Sir William Graham, 1886–1888
Vice-Admiral John Hopkins, 1888–1892
Vice-Admiral Sir John Fisher, 1892–1897
Rear-Admiral Arthur Wilson, 1897–1901
Rear-Admiral William May, 1901–1905

Third Sea Lord and Controllers of the Navy 1904–1912

Rear-Admiral Sir Henry Jackson, 1905–1908
Rear-Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, 1908–1909
Rear-Admiral Reginald Bacon, 1909
Rear-Admiral Charles Briggs, 1910–1912
Rear-Admiral Gordon Moore, 1912

Third Sea Lords 1912–1918

Third Sea Lords and Controllers of the Navy 1918–1965

Third Sea Lords and Controllers of the Navy include:^[11]

Rear-Admiral Sir Charles de Bartolomé, 1918–1919
Rear-Admiral Sir William Nicholson, 1919–1920
Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Field, 1920–1923
Rear-Admiral Cyril Fuller, 1923–1925
Vice-Admiral Sir Ernle Chatfield, 1925–1928
Vice-Admiral Roger Backhouse, 1928–1932
Vice-Admiral Charles Forbes, 1932–1934
Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson, 1934–1939
Vice-Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, 1939–1942
Admiral Sir Frederic Wake-Walker, 1942–1945
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Daniel, 1945–1949
Admiral Sir Michael Denny, 1949–1953
Admiral Sir Ralph Edwards, 1953–1956
Admiral Sir Peter Reid, 1956–1961
Admiral Sir Michael Le Fanu, 1961–1965

Controllers of the Navy 1965–current

Post holders include:^[11]

Admiral Sir Horace Law, 1965–1970
Admiral Sir Michael Pollock, 1970–1971
Admiral Sir Anthony Griffin, 1971–1975
Admiral Sir Richard Clayton, 1975–1979
Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse, 1979–1981
Admiral Sir Lindsay Bryson, 1981–1984
Admiral Sir Derek Reffell, 1984–1989
Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton, 1989–1994
Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Walmsley, 1994–1996
Rear-Admiral Frederick Scourse, 1996–1997
Rear-Admiral Peter Spencer, 1997–2000
Rear-Admiral Nigel Guild, 2000–2003
Rear-Admiral Richard Cheadle, 2003–2006 (also Director, Land Maritime)^[11]
Rear-Admiral Andrew Mathews, 2006–2007 (also Director-General, Nuclear)^[11]
Rear-Admiral Paul Lambert, 2007–2009 (ditto)
Rear-Admiral Amjad Hussain, 2009–2012 (also Capability Manager/Director (Precision Attack))^[11]^[12]
Rear-Admiral Henry Parker, 2012–2013 (also Director, Maritime Capability and Transformation)^[11]
Rear-Admiral Duncan Potts, April 2013 – September 2014
Rear-Admiral James Morse, September 2014 – May 2016
Rear-Admiral Paul Bennett, May 2016 – November 2017
Major-General Robert Magowan, RM. November 2017 – November 2018
Rear-Admiral Hugh Beard, November 2018 – January 2020
Rear-Admiral Andrew Burns, January 2020 – September 2021
Rear-Admiral James Parkin, September 2021 – present

Departments under the office

At various times included:^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]

Current

Former

At various times included:^[17]

Admiralty Compass Observatory, formerly under the control of the Hydrographer of the Navy's department
Combined Operations Headquarters (supply of equipment only).
Department of the Director of Dockyards, (1885–1954)
Department of the Director of Naval Construction
- Royal Corps of Naval Constructors
Department of the Director General Ships
Department of the Director Contract-built ships
Department of the Director of Electrical Engineering
Department of the Director of Naval Equipment
Department of the Director of Scientific Research
Department of the Engineer in Chief (formerly the Steam Department)
Department of the Inspector of Dockyard Expense Accounts
Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mines
Department of the Surveyor of Dockyards, (1872–1885)
Directorate of Naval Construction, (1913–1958)
Naval Ordnance Department
- Department of the Assistant Director of Torpedoes
- Naval Ordnance Stores Department (1918–1964)
Naval Stores Department, (1869–1966)
Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Department, (1957–1964)
Department of Dockyards and Maintenance, (1964–1968)
Office of the Assistant Controller
Office of the Assistant Controller Research and Development
Office of the Controller, (1917–1918)
Office of the Deputy Controller of Navy, (1939–1941)
Office of the Deputy Controller Production
Office of the Inspector Gun Mountings
Office of the Superintendent of Stores, (1869–1917)
Office of the Vice Controller of the Navy, (1939–1945)
Office of the Vice Controller Air
- Department of the Director of Naval Equipment
- Armament Supply Department, (1891–1918)
  - Royal Naval Armaments Depot
- Department of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance, (1908–1922)
- Naval Ordnance Inspection Department, (1922–1964)
Royal Naval Scientific Service
Steam Department

References

^ "Navy Board, In-Letters And Orders, 1688-1815 - National Maritime Museum". collections.rmg.co.uk. Royal Museum Greenwich. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
^ "Sainty, JC, Lord High Admiral and Commissioners of the Admiralty 1660-1870', Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4: Admiralty Officials 1660-1870 (1975), pp. 18-31". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
^ ^a ^b Archives, The National. "Records of the Surveyor of the Navy and successors". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives, 1620-1979. Retrieved 5 June 2017. This section contains text from this source, which is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
^ Archives, The National. "Records of the Surveyor of the Navy and successors". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives, 1620-1979. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
^ "The Admiralty", The Times, 4 March 1869
^ "The Board of Admiralty", The Times, 26 November 1900
^ "The Administration and Discipline of the Navy", The Times, 9 September 1912
^ Archives, The National. "Records of the Surveyor of the Navy and successors". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives, 1620-1979. Retrieved 5 June 2017. This article contains text from this source, which is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
^ Government, HM (1 January 2018). "Navy Directory 2017 Containing Lists of Ships, Establishments and Officers of the Fleet" (PDF). www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Ministry of Defence United Kingdom. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
^ "Director Develop or Director Development in Navy Command" (PDF). whatdotheyknow.com. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020. n response toyour request,I can advise that the position of Director Develop is held by Rear Admiral Andrew Burns.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Mackie, Colin (July 2018). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin. C. Mackie. p. 9. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
^ Accounts, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public (2011). Providing the UK's carrier strike capability: fifty-sixth report of session 2010-12, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. London, England: The Stationery Office. p. 12. ISBN 9780215038821.
^ Archives, The National. "Records of the Surveyor of the Navy and successors". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives, 1620-1979. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
^ Hamilton, Sir Vesey. "Naval Administration - Part II. - Chapter II". pdavis.nl. Sir Vesey Hamilton, 1896. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
^ "Navy Command senior, as of April 2016 - GOV.UK". gov.uk. MOD. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
^ Hamilton, C. I. (2011). The Making of the Modern Admiralty: British Naval Policy-Making, 1805–1927. Cambridge University Press. p. 292. ISBN 9781139496544.

[1] "Navy Board, In-Letters And Orders, 1688-1815 - National Maritime Museum". collections.rmg.co.uk. Royal Museum Greenwich. Retrieved 6 June 2017.

[Sainty-18-31-2] "Sainty, JC, Lord High Admiral and Commissioners of the Admiralty 1660-1870', Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4: Admiralty Officials 1660-1870 (1975), pp. 18-31". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2009.

[archivessection-3] Archives, The National. "Records of the Surveyor of the Navy and successors". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives, 1620-1979. Retrieved 5 June 2017. This section contains text from this source, which is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

[4] Archives, The National. "Records of the Surveyor of the Navy and successors". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives, 1620-1979. Retrieved 5 June 2017.

[5] "The Admiralty", The Times, 4 March 1869

[6] "The Board of Admiralty", The Times, 26 November 1900

[7] "The Administration and Discipline of the Navy", The Times, 9 September 1912

[8] Archives, The National. "Records of the Surveyor of the Navy and successors". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives, 1620-1979. Retrieved 5 June 2017. This article contains text from this source, which is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

[9] Government, HM (1 January 2018). "Navy Directory 2017 Containing Lists of Ships, Establishments and Officers of the Fleet" (PDF). www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Ministry of Defence United Kingdom. Retrieved 14 January 2019.

[10] "Director Develop or Director Development in Navy Command" (PDF). whatdotheyknow.com. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020. n response toyour request,I can advise that the position of Director Develop is held by Rear Admiral Andrew Burns.

[appoints-11] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Mackie, Colin (July 2018). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin. C. Mackie. p. 9. Retrieved 29 August 2018.

[12] Accounts, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public (2011). Providing the UK's carrier strike capability: fifty-sixth report of session 2010-12, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. London, England: The Stationery Office. p. 12. ISBN 9780215038821.

[13] Archives, The National. "Records of the Surveyor of the Navy and successors". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives, 1620-1979. Retrieved 2 June 2017.

[14] Hamilton, Sir Vesey. "Naval Administration - Part II. - Chapter II". pdavis.nl. Sir Vesey Hamilton, 1896. Retrieved 2 June 2017.

[15] Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2017.

[16] "Navy Command senior, as of April 2016 - GOV.UK". gov.uk. MOD. Retrieved 5 June 2017.

[17] Hamilton, C. I. (2011). The Making of the Modern Admiralty: British Naval Policy-Making, 1805–1927. Cambridge University Press. p. 292. ISBN 9781139496544.

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v t e Department of Admiralty
Direction and control of Admiralty and Naval affairs	Office of First Lord of the Admiralty and President of the Board of Admiralty Lord High Admirals Council Admiralty buildings
Boards and offices under the First Lord	Board of Admiralty Navy Board Navy Office Navy Pay Office Office of the Naval Secretary Office of the First Naval Lord Office of the First Sea Lord Office of the Senior Naval Lord Office of the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty Office of the Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty
Direction of Admirals Naval/Sea Lords War and Naval Staff	Office of the Senior Naval Lord Office of the First Naval Lord Office of the First Sea Lord
Secretariat and staff under the First Sea Lord	Office of the Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord Office of the Additional Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord Office of the Hydrographer of the Navy Offices of the Sea Lords Admiralty Navy War Council Admiralty War Staff Admiralty Naval Staff
Operational planning, policy strategy, tactical doctrine requirements	Admiralty Navy War Council Admiralty War Staff Admiralty Naval Staff
Divisions and sections under the War and Naval Staff	Administrative Planning Department Administrative Planning Division Air Division Anti-Submarine Division Anti-Submarine and Warfare Division Anti-U-boat Division Air Warfare Division Air Warfare and Fly Training Division Air Warfare and Training Division Combined Operations Division Communications Division Convoy Section Directorate of Defence Plans (Navy) Economic Warfare Division Gunnery and Anti-Aircraft Warfare Division Gunnery Division Gunnery and Torpedo Division Historical Section Local Defence Division Division Mercantile Movements Division Naval Air Division Naval Air Organisation and Training Division Naval Artillery and Torpedoes Division Navigation and Direction Division Navigation Division Minesweeping Division Mobilisation Division Naval Intelligence Division Operations Division Operations Division (Home) Operations Division (Foreign) Operations Division (Mining) Plans Division Plans Division (Q) Press Division Signal Division Signal Section Standardisation Division Tactical Division Tactical and Weapons Policy Division Torpedo Division Torpedo, Anti-Submarine and Minewarfare Division Trade Division Trade and Operations Division Training and Staff Duties Division Tactical and Staff Duties Division Undersurface Warfare Division
Offices of the Sea Lords	Office of the Second Sea Lord Office of the Third Sea Lord Office of the Fourth Sea Lord Office of the Fifth Sea Lord
Admiralty civil departments and organisations under the Sea Lords	Admiralty Area Cash Offices Admiralty Central Dockyard Laboratory Admiralty Central Metallurgical Laboratory Admiralty Civilian Shore Wireless Service Admiralty Compass Observatory Admiralty Constabulary Admiralty Constabulary Headquarters Admiralty Engineering Laboratory Admiralty Experimental Station Admiralty Experiment Works Admiralty Gunnery Establishment Admiralty Interview Board Admiralty Labour Department Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment Admiralty Materials Laboratory Admiralty Mine Design Department Admiralty Mining Establishment Admiralty Naval Aircraft Materials Laboratory Admiralty Record Office Admiralty Regional Offices Admiralty Research Laboratory Admiralty Signal Establishment Admiralty Signals and Radar Establishment Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment Admiralty Surveying Service Admiralty Torpedo Experimental Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Launching Establishment Architectural and Engineering Works Department Air Equipment and Naval Photography Department Air Department Air Materiel Department Air Personnel Department Amphibious Warfare Headquarters Armament Supply Department Board of Invention and Research Board of Longitude Boom Defence Department Boom Defence and Marine Salvage Department Britannia Royal Naval College Chemical Board Chemical Department Civil Catering Department Civil Engineer in Chiefs Department Coastguard and Reserves Branch Combined Operations Headquarters Commissioner for Property and Income-tax for the Naval Department Compass Department Contract and Purchase Department Council of Naval Education Dental Examining Board Department of Radio Equipment Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy Department of Aeronautical and Engineering Research Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development Department of Naval Assistant (Foreign) to Second Sea Lord Department of Naval Education Operational Research Department of Personal Services and Officer Appointments Department of Physical Research Department of Physical Training & Sports Department of Radio Equipment Department of Research Programmes and Planning Department of Superintendent of de-magnetisation Department of the Admiral of the Training Service Department of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance Department of the Chief of Naval Information Department of the Chief Scientist Department of the Civil Engineer-in-Chief Department of the Comptroller of Steam Machinery Department of the Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services Department of the Controller of the Navy Department of the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding Department of the Controller for Navy Pay Department of the Deputy Controller for Auxiliary Shipbuilding Department of the Deputy Controller for Dockyards and Shipbuilding Department of the Director Contract-Built Ships Department of the Director-General Aircraft Department of the Director-General of Manpower Department of the Director-General, Supply and Secretariat Branch Department of the Director of Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Department of the Director of Contract Labour Department of the Director of Dockyards Department of the Director of Electrical Engineering Department of the Director of Manning Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs Department of the Director of Merchant Ship Repairs Department of the Director of Naval Construction Department of the Director of Naval Equipment Department of the Director of Naval Recruiting Department of the Director of Naval Weather Service Department of the Director of Personal Services Department of the Director of Physical Training and Sports Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining Department of the Director of Transports Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Materials Department of the Director of Unexploded Bombs Department of the Director of Warship Production Department of the Director of Welfare and Service Conditions Department of the Director of Wreck Dispersal Department of the Flag Officer Sea Training Department of the Engineer in Chief Department of the Paymaster Director-General Department of the Inspector of Anti-Aircraft Weapons Department of the Inspector of Dockyard Expense Accounts Department of the Inspector-General of Naval Hospitals and Fleets Department of the Medical Director-General of the Navy Department of the Physician of the Navy Department of the Physician General of the Navy Department of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy Department of the Surveyor of Buildings Department of the Surveyor of Dockyards Directorate-General, (Naval Manpower and Training) Directorate General Training Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Department Dockyards Branch Dockyard Expense Accounts Department Dockyard Schools Electrical Engineering Department Engineer Branch Engineering Department Experimental Department Fire Control Group Greenwich Hospital Department Inspector of Telegraphs Inspector of Repairs Joint Warfare Establishment Medical Consultative Board Medical Examining Board Historical Section Hydrographic Department Marine Department Marine Pay Department Materials and Priority Department Medical Consultative Board Medical Department Medical Examining Board Movements Department Nautical Almanac Office Naval Artillery and Torpedo Department Naval Engineering College Naval Equipment Department Naval Historical Branch Naval Construction Department Naval Intelligence Department Naval Medical Service Naval Law Division Naval Manpower Department Naval Mobilisation Department Naval Ordnance Department Naval Ordnance Inspection Department Naval Ordnance Stores Department Naval Personnel Services and Officer Appointments Department Naval Publicity Department Naval Regional Offices Naval Reserve Department Naval Security Department Naval Stores Department Naval Training Department Naval Works Department Navy, Army and Air Force Institute Navy and Army Canteen Board Navy Works Department Navigation Department Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope Office of the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves Office of the Admiralty Chemist Office of the Adviser on the Naval Construction to the Board of Admiralty Office of the Assistant Controller Office of the Assistant Controller Research and Development Office of the Clerk of the Journals Office of the Chief Polaris Executive Office of the Deputy Controller of Navy Office of the Deputy Controller Production Office of Extra Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord Office of the Inspector Gun Mountings Office of the Keeper of Records Office of the Senior Psychologist (Naval) Office of the Senior Psychologist of the Navy Office of the Translator of French and Spanish Languages Office of the Vice Controller Air Office of the Vice Controller of the Navy Organisation and Methods Department Packet Service Regional Organisation for Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs Royal Corps of Naval Constructors Royal Flying Corps Royal Marine Police Royal Marines Office Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet Royal Naval Academy Royal Naval Aircraft Workshops Royal Naval Air Service Royal Naval Air Stations Royal Naval Armaments Depot Royal Naval Auxiliary Service Royal Naval Cordite Factories Royal Naval Propellant Factory Royal Naval College Royal Naval College and the School for Naval Architecture Royal Naval College, Dartmouth Royal Naval College, Greenwich Royal Naval College, Keyham Royal Naval College, Osborne Royal Naval Engineering College Royal Naval Film Corporation Royal Naval Hospital Royal Naval Medical Depot Royal Naval Minewatching Service Royal Naval Mine Depot Royal Naval Patrol Service Royal Naval Scientific Service Royal Naval Sick Quarters Royal Naval Torpedo Depot Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal Naval War College Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth Royal Navy Dockyard Royal Navy Medical Service Royal Navy Shore Signal Service Royal Observatory, Greenwich Royal School of Naval Architecture Salvage Department School of Mathematics and Naval Construction Scientific Research and Experiment Department Sea Transport Branch Sea Transport Department Sea Transport Division Ship Department Ship Design Department Signal Department Signal School Sixpenny Office Statistics Department Steam Department Superintendent of De-magnetisation Torpedo Experimental Establishment Transport Department Undersurface Warfare Department Victualling Department Volunteer Boys and Cadet Corps Weapons Department Weapons Department (Naval) Women's Royal Naval Service Wireless Telegraphy Board
Direction/Command of the Fleet	Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty Office of the First Naval Lord Office of the First Sea Lord Admiralty Naval Staff
Naval formations after 1707	1st Fleet 2nd Fleet 3rd Fleet Commander-in-Chief, Africa Atlantic Fleet Commodore, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf Australia Station Cape of Good Hope Station Cape and West Africa Station Battle Cruiser Fleet Battle Cruiser Force Caspian Flotilla Channel Fleet Channel Squadron Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland Cork Station Coast of Scotland Commander-in-Chief, China Commander-in-Chief, Dover Flag Officer, East Africa East Indies Station East Indies and China Station Eastern Fleet Far East Fleet English Channel Grand Fleet Flag Officer Gibraltar Harwich Force Home Fleet Jamaica Station Leith Station Commander-in-Chief, Levant Levant and East Mediterranean Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands Mediterranean Fleet Medway Newfoundland Station New Zealand Division New Zealand Naval Forces Nore North America and West Indies Station Commander-in-Chief, North Sea Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands Pacific Fleet Pacific Station Admiral of Patrols Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Queenstown Station Royal East African Navy Royal Indian Navy Flag Officer Submarines Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth Reserve Fleet Scotland and Northern Ireland Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic South East Coast of America Station Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway West Africa Squadron Flag Officer, West Africa Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches
Naval formations before 1707	Lisbon Station West Indies Station Western Squadron Thames, Medway and Nore Commander-in-Chief, Thames Narrow Seas Downs Station
Direction of Naval Finance	Department of the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty
Departments under the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary	Department of the Civil Lord of the Admiralty Accountant-General's Department Comptroller of the Navy Department of the Surveyor of the Navy
Direction of Naval Administration and the Admiralty Secretariat	Department of the Permanent Secretary
Branches and offices under the Permanent Secretary	Admiralty Central Copying Branch Admiralty Central Registry Branch Admiralty Record Office Admiralty Library Admiralty Secretariat Air Branch Civil Branch Legal Branch Military Branch Naval Branch Ship Branch
Civil Administration	Department of the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, Department of the Additional Civil Lord of the Admiralty
Departments under the Civil Lords	Accountant-General's Department Contract and Purchase Department Department of the Director of Contract Labour Department of the Surveyor of Buildings Department of the Director of Works Greenwich Hospital Department Works Loan Department
Legal	Admiralty Judicial Department Admiralty court High Court of Admiralty Office of the Judge of the High Court of Admiralty High Court of Justice Office of the Judge Advocate of the Fleet Office of the Marshall High Court of the Admiralty Office of the Admiralty Advocate Office of the Admiralty Proctor Office of the Chief Naval Judge Advocate Office of the Counsel for the Affairs of the Admiralty and Navy Office of the Counsel to the Admiralty Office of the Deputy Judge Advocate of the Fleet Office of the Receiver of Droits High Court of Admiralty Office of the Registrar High Court of the Admiralty Office of the Solicitor for the Affairs of the Admiralty Office of the Solicitor to the Admiralty and Navy Office of the Solicitor to the Admiralty Office of the Counsel to the Admiralty Court of Admiralty for the Cinque Ports King's Bench Division (Admiralty) Queens's Bench Division (Admiralty) Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division Vice Admiralty courts Colonial Courts of Admiralty

v t e Navy Board
Principal officers	Lieutenant of the Admiralty, (1546-1564) Treasurer of Marine Causes, (1546-1564) Comptroller of the Navy, (1546-1660) Surveyor of the Navy, (1546-1832) Clerk of the Navy, (1546-1660) Master of Naval Ordnance, (1546-1589) Keeper of the Storehouses, (1546-1560) Surveyor of Marine Victuals, (1550-1679) Treasurer of the Navy and Senior Commissioner, (1564-1660) Comptroller of the Navy and Chairman of the Board, (1660-1832) Treasurer of the Navy, (1660-1832) Clerk of the Acts, (1660-1796) Controller of Treasurer Accounts, (1667-1796) Controller of Victualling Accounts, (1667-1796) Controller of Storekeepers Accounts, (1671-1796) Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services, (1800-1832) Commissioners for Current Business, (1686-1688) Commissioners for Old Accounts, 1686-1688) Commissioners for Examining Accounts (Incurred), (1688-1689) Deputy Comptroller of the Navy, (1793-1813), (1829-1832) Pay Commissioner, (1796-1814) Civil Architect and Engineer of the Navy, (1808-1812) Surveyor of Buildings, (1813-1832) Surveyor of Dockyards, (1813-1832) Accountant-General of the Navy, (1829-32) Superintendent of Transport, (1829-1831) Storekeeper-General of the Navy, (1829-32)
Subsidiary boards	Sick and Hurt Board Transport Board Victualling Board
Resident Commissioners of the navy home yards	Resident Commissioner, Chatham Dockyard, (1631-1829) Resident Commissioner, Portsmouth Dockyard, (1649-1829) Resident Commissioner, Woolwich Dockyard,(1688-1828) Resident Commissioner, Plymouth Dockyard, (1691-1822) Resident Commissioner, Deptford Dockyard, (1714-1823) Resident Commissioner, Sheerness Dockyard, (1793-1822) Resident Commissioner, Devonport Dockyard, (1823-1832)
Resident Commissioners of the navy overseas yards	Resident Commissioner, Jamaica Yard, (1675-1832) Resident Commissioner, Cadiz Yard, (1694) Resident Commissioner, Bombay Yard Resident Commissioner, Kinsale Yard, (1694-1713) Resident Commissioner, Gibraltar Yard, (1704-1832) Resident Commissioner, Antigua Yard, (1707-1832) Resident Commissioner, Ascension Yard, (1728-1832) Resident Commissioner, Port Mahon Yard, (1742-1763) Resident Commissioner, Halifax Yard, (1759-1832) Resident Commissioner, Barbados Yard, (1779-1783, 1810) Resident Commissioner, Kingston Yard, (1783-1832) Resident Commissioner, Ajaccio Yard, (1794-1799) Resident Commissioner, Bermuda Dockyard, (1795-1832) Resident Commissioner, Amherstburg Yard, (1796-1813) Resident Commissioner, Quebec Yard, (1804-1826) Resident Commissioner, Malta Dockyard, (1805-1832) Resident Commissioner, Madras Yard, (1808-1817) Resident Commissioner, Cape of Good Hope Yard, (1808-1822) Resident Commissioner, Bombay Dockyard, (1808-1816) Resident Commissioner, Trincomalee Dockyard, (1810-1832)
Offices under the principal officers	Navy Office Navy Pay Office Sick and Hurt Office Transport Office Victualling Office

v t e Board of Admiralty
Ministerial Lords	Office of the First Lord of the Admiralty and President of the Board (1628–1964)
Naval Lords	Senior Naval Lord (1689–1771) First Naval Lord (1771–1904) First Sea Lord (1904–1917) First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff (1917–1964) Second Naval Lord (1830–1869, 1872–1904) Second Sea Lord (1904–1917) Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel (1917–1964) Third Naval Lord (1832–1858) Controller of the Navy (1859–1869) Third Naval Lord and Controller (1869–1872) Controller of the Navy (1872–1882) Third Naval Lord and Controller of the Navy (1882–1904) Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy (1904–1912) Third Sea Lord (1912–1917) Controller of the Navy (1917–1918) Third Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Matériel (1918–1965) Junior Naval Lord (1868–1904) Fourth Sea Lord (1904–1917) Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Supplies and Transport (1917–1955) Fifth Sea Lord (1917) Fifth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Air Service (1917–1956)
Staff Naval Lords	Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–1964) Deputy First Sea Lord (1917–1919) Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–1964) Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (1941–1964) Deputy First Sea Lord (1942–1946)
Civil Lords	Civil Lord of the Admiralty (1830–1964) Accountant-General of the Navy (1832–1869) Controller of Victualling (1832–1869) Director-General of the Medical Department (1832–1869) Storekeeper-General of the Navy (1832–1869) Surveyor of the Navy (1832–1869) Controller of the Navy (1859–1869) Additional Civil Lord of the Admiralty (1882–1885) Additional Civil Lord of the Admiralty (1912–1917) Second Civil Lord (1918–1919) Third Civil Lord (1918–1919) Fourth Civil Lord (1918–1919)
Civil Secretaries	Secretaries to the Lords Admiral, Admiralty, Committees and Commissions (1625–1660) First Secretary to the Admiralty (1660–1763) First Secretary to the Admiralty (1763–1871) Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1871–1886) Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty (1886–1959) Joint-Deputy Secretary to the Admiralty (1702–1766) Second Secretary to the Admiralty (1783–1857) Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty (1869–1872) Naval Secretary to the Board of Admiralty (1872–1882) Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty (1882–1964)

History

List of office holders

Third Naval Lords 1832–1868

Third Lords and Controllers of the Navy 1869–1872

Controllers of the Navy 1872–1882