Department overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 1947 |
Dissolved | 1977 |
Superseding agency | |
Jurisdiction | Government of the United Kingdom |
Headquarters | Holton Heath, England |
Parent Department | Admiralty |
The Admiralty Materials Laboratory, located at Holton Heath, was one of the United Kingdom's principal defence research and discovery establishments. [1] In 1978 The Admiralty Materials Laboratory was combined with the Naval Construction Research Establishment to form the Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment. [2]
The Admiralty Materials Laboratory opened in 1947 in part of the Royal Naval Cordite Factory at Holton Heath, Dorset. It was formed round a nucleus of staff from the factory control laboratory. Its work programme has consisted of research and some development on materials and chemical techniques for naval service in the fields of metallurgy, rubber and plastics, chemical technology, and general chemicals. For some years it had a marine biological section also. Headquarters direction was provided by the Director of Materials Research until that directorate was abolished. In 1977 the Establishment became part of the Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment, then the Admiralty Research Establishment, and in 1991 part of the Defence Research Agency. [3]
The Admiralty Mining Establishment originally known as the Mine Design Department was a technical department of the British Royal Navy responsible for both the design of naval mines and the development of suitable countermeasures from 1915 to 1951
The Royal Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath (RNCF) was set up at Holton Heath, Dorset, England, in World War I to manufacture cordite for the Royal Navy. It was reactivated in World War II to manufacture gun propellants for the Admiralty and its output was supplemented by the Royal Navy Propellant Factory, Caerwent. After the end of World War II, the explosive manufacturing areas of the site were closed down and some areas of the site reopened as the Admiralty Materials Laboratory. A major part of the explosives site became a nature reserve in 1981. Other parts of the site were converted into an industrial estate; and some may be used for housing.
The Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development (DMWD), also known as the Directorate of Miscellaneous Weapon Development and colloquially known as the Wheezers and Dodgers, was a department of the British Admiralty responsible for the development of various unconventional weapons during World War II.
The Operations Division was a former Directorate of the Admiralty Naval Staff responsible for the creation and implementation of long-term policy in regards to the composition of all Royal Navy fleets, squadrons and commands and including operational planning and monitoring from 1912 to 1961.
The Anti-Submarine Division its original name, was the former anti-submarine warfare, planning and prevention Directorate of the Admiralty Department from 1912-1963.
The Gunnery and Torpedo Division was the former Directorate of the Admiralty Naval Staff responsible for weapons policy making, development and assessing weapon requirements from 1918-1920.
The Signal Division was a Directorate of the Admiralty Naval Staff responsible for policy, control and management of all naval communications from 1914 to 1964.
The Admiralty Record Office was a former office of the British Admiralty responsible for the collection, filing and management of all official Admiralty documents from 1809 until 1964.
The Department of the Director of Dockyards, also known as the Dockyard Branch and later as the Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Department, was the British Admiralty department responsible from 1872 to 1964 for civil administration of dockyards, the building of ships, the maintenance and repair of ships at dockyards and factories, and the supervision of all civil dockyard personnel.
The Admiralty Gunnery Establishment (AGE), originally known as Fire Control Group (ARL) and later known as the Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment (ASWE), was an admiralty research department primarily responsible for Army and Navy gunfire control work between 1931 and 1959.
The Admiralty Experiment Works (AEW) was the British Admiralty research establishment, responsible for improving propeller design, manoeuvrability and seakeeping in Royal Navy vessels. The Experiment Works existed from 1872 to 1977 and for most of its history was based at the Haslar Gunboat Yard in Gosport, South Hampshire. It ceased independent operations in 1977, merging with the Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment and ultimately with the Defence Research Agency in the Ministry of Defence.
The Chemical Department and later known as the Central Dockyard Laboratory was the Admiralty department that was responsible for the testing and trials of lubricants, metals and paints for the Royal Navy it was based at Portsmouth, England from 1870 to 1977.
The Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment (ASWE) and later known as the Admiralty Research Establishment (ARE) was a department of the British Admiralty and later Navy Department responsible for research and development, into the design and testing of devices, equipment, and techniques in-regard to naval communications, electronic counter-measures, radar missile control and other related fields it was based at Portsdown Hill, Hampshire, England from 1959 to 1984.
The Admiralty Central Metallurgical Laboratory was a specialist research unit of the British Royal Navy from 1936 to 1956.
The Architectural and Engineering Works Department was the main civil engineering department of the British Royal Navy responsible constructing, and maintaining naval buildings, dockyards, ports and managing civil engineering staff from 1837 to 1919 it was superseded by the Civil Engineer in Chief's Department.
The Admiralty Naval Aircraft Materials Laboratory was a research department of the British Royal Navy responsible for dealing with metallurgical and chemical problems affecting naval aircraft from 1949 to 1966.
British Naval Forces Germany was a command of the Royal Navy that was active from 1944 to 1961 under three titles.
The Admiralty Experimental Station was a research department of the British Admiralty set up in 1915. Initially its research centred round submarine detection methods. In 1921 its remit was expanded and it was renamed the Admiralty Research Laboratory.
The Admiralty Engineering Laboratory was an engineering research department of the British Admiralty from 1917 to 1964 then the Navy Department from 1964 to 1977. Its original work was the design of submarine engines but later to encompass ship engines.
The Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment was formed in 1977 by the merger of the Admiralty Experiment Works, the Admiralty Materials Laboratory, the Admiralty Research Laboratory, the Central Dockyard Laboratory, the Naval Construction Research Establishment, the Royal Naval Physiological Laboratory, and the Admiralty Experimental Diving Unit at HMS Vernon.