Department overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 1909, reformed-1918 |
Preceding Department | |
Dissolved | 1912, 1932 |
Superseding agency | |
Jurisdiction | Government of the United Kingdom |
Headquarters | Admiralty Building Whitehall London |
Parent department | Admiralty |
The Naval Mobilisation Department [1] also known as the Mobilisation and Movements Department [2] was a former department of the British Admiralty initially from 1909 to 1912 and then again from 1918 to 1932. It was mainly responsible for plans, mobilisation and manning during the pre-World War I and post war period. [3]
In 1909, following restructuring within the Admiralty, both the Mobilisation and War Divisions of the Naval Intelligence Department were brought together to create a separate Naval Mobilisation Department however this department existed only for a period of three years. [4] In 1912 it was abolished and its functions became a component part of the Admiralty War Staff sub staff divisions. [5] In 1918 the Mobilisation Division of the Admiralty Naval Staff itself was dissolved and the Mobilisation Department was re-stablished once again but not under the control of the Naval Staff instead it was responsible to the Office of the Second Sea Lord [6] this lasted until 1932 when it was replaced by a new Department of the Director of Manning that was itself a subsidiary department of the Second Sea Lord it continued to exist until 1964 when the Admiralty Department itself was abolished.
Directors of Naval Mobilisation, 1909-1912
Directors of Naval Mobilisation, 1918-1932 [8]
Assistant Directors of Naval Mobilisation, 1909-1912Heads of Manning Division, 1909-1912
Heads of War Division, 1909-1912
Assistant Directors of Naval Mobilisation, 1918-1932 [9]
As of 1911: Distribution of work between the departments two divisions various sections can be seen in more detail below they included: [10] [11]
Manning Division
Section | Admiralty Room | Responsibility |
---|---|---|
HMD | 18 (III.) | The head of division is responsible for general superintendence of work of Manning Division, and preparation of Sketch Vote "A." |
1 | 19 (III.) | Admiralty Representative on Navy Employment Agency, Alterations in "Instructions for Mobilisation, Control of Railway Traffic in time of War (War Railway Council), Manning requirements and resources, Mobilisation arrangements as regards Personnel of Fleet, Mobilisation questions raised by the Mobilising Committees at the Ports, Preparation for Peace Manœuvres (as regards subjects dealt with by Section 1). |
2 | 19 (III.) | Auxiliary requirements of the Home Ports for War (Personnel), Complement Committee questions, Monthly Mobilising List of Officers, Preparation for Peace Manœuvres (as regards subjects dealt with by Section 2). |
War Division
Section | Admiralty Room | Responsibility |
---|---|---|
HWD | 32 (III.) | The head of division is responsible for general superintendence of work of War Division, Orders for War issued by the Admiralty and by Commanders-in-Chief. |
3 | 31 (III.) | Arrangements for War Room., Auxiliary requirements at Home Ports, Correction of Standing Orders for Foreign Stations, General distribution of British Fleet in Commission and Reserve, and preparation of Monthly "War Fleet" and Quarterly Return, Questions relating to Torpedo Craft and Submarines, Mine-sweeping and Minelaying, War College, Signal Books, Supply of Provisions in War, and Naval Stores other than Coal and Oil, Preparation for and Reports on British Naval Manœuvres and Exercises, Reserves of Ordnance Stores. |
4 | 31 (III.) | Distribution of Naval Intelligence in United Kingdom, Fleet Auxiliaries: Arrangements for an Instructions regarding. Questions relating to Fleet Coaling Service in War and Manœuvres, Supply of Oil Fuel, Wireless Telegraphy, Examination Service and Traffic Regulations, and Joint Naval and Military Operations, Preparation of Annual Statement of Coal and Oil Fuel requirements of the War Fleets with resources and proposed methods of supply, War Signal Stations and Coast Guard Stations. |
The Naval Intelligence Division (NID) was created as a component part of the Admiralty War Staff in 1912. It was the intelligence arm of the British Admiralty before the establishment of a unified Defence Intelligence Staff in 1964. It dealt with matters concerning British naval plans, with the collection of naval intelligence. It was also known as "Room 39", after its room number at the Admiralty.
The Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff is deputy to the First Sea Lord and the second highest-ranking officer to currently serve in the Royal Navy and is responsible for personnel and naval shore establishments. Originally titled Second Naval Lord in 1830, the post was restyled Second Sea Lord in 1904. They are based at Navy Command, Headquarters.
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The Deputy First Sea Lord (D.F.S.L.) was a senior Royal Navy flag officer on the Board of Admiralty of the Royal Navy.
The Admiralty War Staff was the former senior naval staff operational planning organisation within the British Admiralty that existed from 1912 to 1917. It was instituted on 8 January 1912 by Winston Churchill in his capacity as First Lord of the Admiralty and was in effect a war council whose head reported directly to the First Sea Lord. After the First World War ended, the War Staff was replaced by the Admiralty Naval Staff department.
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.
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The Mobilisation Division was the former Directorate of the British Admiralty Naval Staff responsible for mobilisation requirements, manning and war preparation planning from 1912-1918.
The Admiralty Navy War Council was a temporary war planning and naval strategy advising committee of the Admiralty established in October, 1909 under Admiral Fisher it existed until 1911 when it was later replaced by the Admiralty War Staff.
The Naval Ordnance Department, also known as the Department of the Director of Naval Ordnance, was a former department of the Admiralty responsible for the procurement of naval ordnance of the Royal Navy. The department was managed by a Director, supported by various assistants and deputies; it existed from 1891 to 1958.
The Department of the Director of Naval Equipment also known as the Directorate of Naval Equipment was the former British Admiralty department responsible for managing the progress of all naval construction at royal naval dockyards, and annually planning programmes of works for additions, alterations, repairs and modernisation established in 1912 until 1960 when it was replaced by the Naval Equipment Division of the Ship Department.
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 Gunnery Division was a Directorate of the Admiralty Naval Staff of the Royal Navy responsible for the tactical use of naval weapons and the training of naval personnel in relation to operational requirements. It was established in 1920 when the Gunnery and Torpedo Division was separated into an independent Gunnery Division and Torpedo Division. It existed until 1964 when the Department of Admiralty was abolished and replaced by a new Ministry of Defence.
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The Training and Staff Duties Division and later known as the Tactical and Staff Duties Division was a directorate of the Admiralty Naval Staff of the Royal Navy responsible for the tactical use of naval weapons and the training of naval personnel in relation to operational requirements from 1917 to 1958.
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The 2nd Cruiser Squadron was a formation of cruisers of the British Royal Navy from 1904 to 1919 and from 1921 to 1941 and again from 1946 to 1952.
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The Sea Transport Branch of the British Board of Trade, originally established as the Transport Department or Naval Transport Department, was a logistical branch of the Department of Admiralty responsible for the provision of naval transportation services. It underwent numerous name changes throughout its complicated history with responsibility for sea transportation, known as the Department of the Director of Transports from 1890.
Primary source for this article is by Harley Simon, Lovell Tony, (2015), Naval Mobilisation Department (Royal Navy), dreadnoughtproject.org, http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org.