Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff | |
---|---|
![]() Ensign of the Royal Navy | |
Ministry of Defence | |
Member of | Admiralty Board, Navy Board, Navy Command |
Reports to | Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Fleet Commander |
Nominator | 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 | Alexander Ludovic Duff |
Formation | 1917 |
The Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (A.C.N.S.) is a senior appointment in the Royal Navy usually a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7.
The Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff was originally directly responsible to the First Sea Lord for non-operational divisions of the Admiralty Naval Staff, and held a position on the Board of Admiralty. The position was created in 1917 as one of two deputies with Board Status to whom the First Sea Lord delegated responsibility for the running of the Naval Staff. The position still exists today on the Admiralty Board which directs the Royal Navy. [1]
Rear-Admiral Alexander L. Duff was appointed the first Assistant Chief of Naval Staff on 31 May 1917. The duties of the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, shared with the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff and the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. [2]
The Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Continued in this capacity until 1941 when the office of the Vice Chief of Naval Staff was created they then supported that flag officer until 1985 when that post was abolished. During World war Two the combined responsibilities of the Assistant Chief Naval Staff were divided up with the creation of new Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff responsible for specific areas such as Home (Waters) and Foreign Commands, Trade, Operations and Air. However the ACNS remained responsible for Policy.
Additional Assistant Chiefs of Naval Staff [3]
In April 2012, Rear Admiral Matt Parr's post as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff was re-designated Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) and the former Chiefs of Staff responsible for Capability, Support, Aviation & Carriers and Personnel were also re-designated Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff. [4]
There are now new additional posts of Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability and Carriers) [5] and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Submarines), [6] as well as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy), Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Personnel), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Ships), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Support), and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Capability). [7]
Note: The more Senior Vice Chief of the Naval Staff created in 1941 was abolished in 1985.
Notes: The Naval Staff runs the navy's operations and wartime strategy, and has a number of separate divisions, departments concerned with strategy and tactics, the planning and conduct of operations, and the collection and dissemination of intelligence.
Post 1945 [10]
Post 2010
Individual duties for Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff (Specialized Areas).
Assistant Chiefs included: [15]
Note: From 1940-1946 split into separate specific areas of responsibility see: ACNS Home, Foreign, U-Boat and Trade, Weapons, Air and Operations
Note: Changed back to Assistant Chief Naval Staff
Note:Changed to Assistant Chief of Naval Staff - Policy until 1984 [23]
Note: Changed back to Assistant Chief of Naval Staff
Note: Changed back to Assistant Chief of Naval Staff -Policy
On behalf of the First Sea Lord and through the Admiralty and Navy Boards, ACNS (Pol) is responsible for the direction and development of strategic policy and strategy for the Royal Navy. [25]
Note: This post is also known as Director Strategy and Policy. [29]
Staff officers would normally be supported by a Naval Assistant and a Personal Secretary usually they would be either a Lieutenant commander, Commander or a Captain. [31]
Note:Post Abolished 1968 changed to ACNS Operational Requirements
Note: Post abolished 1984
Note: Post abolished 1985
Note:Changed to ACNS (Submarines)
Responsible for ensuring that DD/FF, SSN, SSBN, MW and HM vessels are generated fit for task through integration of all the Lines of Development. [42] [43]
Note: This post was renamed as Director Naval Support (DNS). [45]
Note: This post was reassigned to Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training.
Note: This post is also known as Director People & Training. [48] [49]
Higham Director, Ship Support, Defence Equipment and Support, December 2020
Primary source for this article is by Harley Simon, Lovell Tony, (2017), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, dreadnoughtproject.org, http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org.