Royal Naval College, Greenwich

Royal Navy training establishment

This article is about the former naval college. For the world heritage site, see Old Royal Naval College.

Royal Naval College, Greenwich

Royal Naval College, Greenwich

Active| 1873–1998
Country|  United Kingdom
Branch|  Royal Navy
Type| Training
Role| Higher officer training
Garrison/HQ| Greenwich, London, UK
Nickname(s)| RNC
Motto(s)| Tam Minerva Quam Marte ("By Wisdom as much as by War")[1][2][3]

Military unit

The Royal Naval College, Greenwich, was a Royal Navy training establishment between 1873 and 1998, providing courses for naval officers. It was the home of the Royal Navy's staff college, which provided advanced training for officers. The equivalent in the British Army was the Staff College, Camberley, and the equivalent in the Royal Air Force was the RAF Staff College, Bracknell.

## History

[edit]

The Royal Naval College, Greenwich, was founded by an Order in Council dated 16 January 1873, and replaced most of the functions previously carried out by the Royal Naval Academy at Portsmouth.[4] The establishment of its officers consisted of a president, who was always a flag officer; a captain, Royal Navy; a director of studies; and professors of mathematics, physical science, chemistry, applied mechanics, and fortification. It was to take in officers who were already sub-lieutenants and to operate as "the university of the Navy".[5] The director of studies, a civilian, was in charge of an academic board, while the captain of the college was a naval officer who acted as chief of staff.[6]

The Royal Naval War College, which had been established at Greenwich in November 1900 before being removed to first Devonport and then Portsmouth, transferred its activities to the college at Greenwich in 1914.[7] During World War I the Royal Naval College was requisitioned as a barracks and for scientific experiments. The training of officers was not resumed until 1919.[8]

On 30 October 1939 the college began to train officers of the Women's Royal Naval Service.[9] During the Second World War, the college increased the number of officers of both sexes trained for an expanded Navy. Its major task was the training of fighting officers, and around 35,000 men and women graduated during that period. In 1943, the beautiful Admiral's House on the north wing of King Charles Court was damaged by a direct hit from a German bomb; another bomb hit the front of the building.[10]

The Navy's Department of Nuclear Science and Technology opened on the college premises in 1959, and JASON, the department's research and training reactor, was commissioned in the King William building in 1962.[11]

In 1967 Queen Elizabeth II knighted Francis Chichester on the river steps of the college, honouring his achievement in circumnavigating the world as a solo yachtsman, using the old route of the clippers, becoming the first to do so. His was also the fastest such circumnavigation, taking nine months and one day.[12]

The Royal School of Naval Architecture, which had been part of the college since 1873, transferred to University College London in 1967.[13] The Royal Naval College continued to train women until 1976, when their courses were transferred to the Britannia Royal Naval College.[14]

From 1983 the relocated Joint Services Defence College also occupied much of the King Charles building.[15] With a shrinking Royal Navy, the decision was taken to close RNC Greenwich in 1998. All initial officer training is now carried out at the Britannia Royal Naval College,[16] and the new Joint Services Command and Staff College, created in 1997, took over the staff college functions.[17]

## Buildings

[edit]

Main article: Greenwich Hospital, London

The former chapel of the Royal Naval College

The college was established in buildings designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1696 and 1712, then intended to serve as the Greenwich Hospital, a home for disabled sailors. This closed in 1869, when the pensioners were transferred to other places, leaving the buildings available for a new use.[18] The site of the former hospital had once been occupied by the medieval Palace of Placentia, or "Palace at Greenwich", begun by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, in 1428.[19]

After the Royal Navy departed in 1998 the buildings were opened to the public as the Old Royal Naval College.

## Presidents

[edit]

See also Category:Admiral presidents of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich

The president of the college was a full-time post until 1982 when it became an honorary role held by the Second Sea Lord (and from 1994 an honorary role held by the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff).[20] Presidents included:[20]

* Vice-Admiral Sir Astley Cooper Key (1873–1875)
* Admiral Sir Edward Gennys Fanshawe (1875–1878)
* Admiral Sir Charles Frederick Alexander Shadwell (1878–1881)
* Admiral Sir Geoffrey Phipps Hornby (1881–1882)
* Admiral William Garnham Luard (1882–1885)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Brandreth (1885–1888)
* Admiral Sir William Graham (1888–1891)
* Admiral Sir Richard Vesey Hamilton (1891–1894)
* Admiral Sir Walter James Hunt-Grubbe (1894–1897)
* Admiral Sir Richard Tracey (1897–1900)
* Admiral Sir Robert More-Molyneux (1900–1903)
* Admiral Sir Robert Hastings Penruddock Harris (1903–1906)
* Admiral Sir Arthur Dalrymple Fanshawe (1906–1908)
* Admiral Sir John Durnford (1908–1911)
* Admiral Sir Frederic William Fisher (1911–1914)
* Vice-Admiral The Hon. Sir Alexander Edward Bethell (1914–1915)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly (1915–1916)
* Admiral Sir Henry Bradwardine Jackson (1916–1919)
* Vice-Admiral Sir William Christopher Pakenham (1919–1920)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Tudor (1920–1922)
* Rear-Admiral Herbert Richmond (1922–1923)
* Admiral Sir George Hope (1923–1926)
* Admiral Sir Richard Webb (1926–1929)
* Vice-Admiral John McClintock (1929)
* Vice-Admiral Sir William Henry Dudley Boyle (1929–1932)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Barry Domvile (1932–1934)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin (1934–1937)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Sidney Bailey (1937–1938)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Kennedy-Purvis (1938–1940)
* Vacant (1940–1943)[21]
* Commodore Augustus Agar (1943–1946)[22]
* Vice-Admiral Sir Patrick Brind (1946–1948)
* Vice-Admiral Geoffrey Oliver (1948–1950)
* Admiral Sir Harold Kinahan (1950–1952)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Aubrey Mansergh (1952–1954)
* Admiral Sir William Andrewes (1954–1956)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Barnard (1956–1958)
* Rear-Admiral David Cairns, 5th Earl Cairns (1958–1961)[23]
* Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Gordon-Lennox (1961–1962)[24]
* Rear-Admiral Morgan Morgan-Giles (1962–1964)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Ian Lachlan Mackay McGeoch (1964–1965)[25]
* Rear-Admiral Patrick Bayly (1965–1967)
* Vice-Admiral Sir Horace Lyddon (1967–1968)
* Rear-Admiral Edward Gueritz (1968–1970)
* Rear-Admiral Martin Noel Lucey (1970–1972)[26]
* Rear-Admiral Edward William Ellis (1972–1974)[27]
* Rear-Admiral Derek Willoughby Bazalgette (1974–1976)[28]
* Rear-Admiral Charles Weston (1976–1978)
* Rear-Admiral Anthony John Cooke (1978–1980)[29]
* Rear-Admiral John Hildred Carlill (1980–1982)[30]
* Admiral Sir Simon Cassels (1982–1986)[31]
* Admiral Sir Richard George Alison Fitch (1986–1988)[32]
* Admiral Sir Brian Brown (1988–1991)[33]
* Admiral Sir Michael Livesay (1991–1993)[34]
* Admiral Sir Michael Henry Gordon Layard (1993–1994)[35]
* Admiral Sir John Richard Brigstocke (1994–1995)[36]
* Vice-Admiral Sir Jeremy Joe Blackham (1995–1997)[37]

## Directors of Studies

[edit]

The following individuals served as Director of Studies:

Order | Officeholder | Title | Term began | Term end | Time in office | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | Thomas Archer Hirst | Director of Studies | 1873 | 1882 | 8–9 years | [38]
2 | Sir William Davidson Niven | 1882 | 1903 | 20–21 years | [39]
3 | Captain William Harold Watts RN | 1966 | 1969 | 2–3 years | [40]

## Notable professors

[edit]

See also: Category:Academics of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich

* William Burnside, Professor of Mathematics (1885–1919)[41]
* Bernard Parker Haigh, Professor of applied mechanics, known for the Haigh diagram (appointed 1913)[42]
* Peter Stanley Lyons, Director of Music (1950–1954)[43]
* John Knox Laughton, Head of Department of Meteorology and Marine Surveying (1873–1885)[44]
* Christopher Lloyd, Professor of History (1962–1967)[45]
* Bryan Ranft, Professor of History and International Affairs (1967–1977)[46]
* Arnold William Reinold, Professor of Physics (1873–1908)[47]

## Notable students

[edit]

See also: Category:Graduates of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich

* Commodore Augustus Agar VC (1890–1968)[22]
* Admiral of the Fleet David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty (1871–1936)
* George Richard Bethell (1849–1919), Royal Navy officer and Conservative politician
* Admiral Hugo Biermann (1916–2012), Chief of the South African Navy and the South African Defence Force
* Basil Charles Barrington Brooke (1895–1983), admiral and first-class cricketer
* Sir Henry Harvey Bruce (1862–1948), admiral
* Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cunningham of Hyndhope (1883–1963)
* Vice Admiral A. H. Asoka de Silva (1931–2006), Commander of the Navy of Sri Lanka from 1983 to 1986
* Vice Admiral Henry George DeWolf (1903–2000), Canadian naval officer
* Admiral Sir Frederic Charles Dreyer (1878–1956)
* Admiral of the Fleet Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921–2021)
* Admiral Sir William Wordsworth Fisher (1875–1937)
* Prince Charles, Count of Flanders, Prince-Regent of Belgium
* Rear Admiral Musharraf Hussain Khan (1932–2018), Chief of Bangladesh Navy Staff from 1973 to 1979
* Admiral D. Basil Gunasekara (born 1929), Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy from 1973 to 1979
* Admiral Henry Perera, Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy from 1979 to 1983
* Hugh Alfred Vernon Haggard (1908–1991), Royal Navy submariner
* Admiral of the Fleet Lord Hill-Norton (1915–2004)
* Vice Admiral Sir J. G. T. Inglis (1906–1972), Head of Naval Intelligence
* Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse (1880–1923), of the Siamese royal family, a founder of modern Royal Thai Navy
* Admiral of the Fleet Lord Lewin (1920–1999)
* Rear-Admiral Simon Robert Lister (born 1959), Royal Navy officer, now Director, Submarines
* Dudley Leigh Aman, 1st Baron Marley (1884–1952), soldier and Labour politician
* Rear Admiral Sir David Martin (1933–1990), Royal Australian Navy officer and Governor of New South Wales
* Vice Admiral Mark Mellett, Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces
* Admiral of the Fleet Earl Mountbatten of Burma (1900–1979), last Viceroy of India, First Sea Lord, Chief of the Defence Staff
* Lieutenant-General Arthur Ernest Percival (1887–1966)
* Marshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford (1893–1971), Chief of the Air Staff
* Admiral Sa Zhenbing (1859–1952), Premier of the Republic of China, Chief of the Republic of China Navy
* Prince Arisugawa Takehito (1862–1913), of the Japanese imperial family, a career officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy
* Rear Admiral David Watson Taylor (1864–1940), naval architect and engineer of the United States Navy
* Admiral of the Fleet Tōgō Heihachirō (1848–1934), Imperial Japanese Navy
* Admiral of the Fleet Lord Tovey (1885–1971)
* Sir Patrick Wall (1916–1998), Royal Marines commando and Conservative politician
* Josiah Wedgwood, 1st Baron Wedgwood (1872–1943), Liberal and later Labour politician

## Since decommissioning

[edit]

Now known as the Old Royal Naval College, the college's former buildings are open to the public and are the home of three attractions; the Painted Hall, the chapel, and the Discover Greenwich visitor centre. The site has also been used as a film location, appearing in Sherlock Holmes (2009)[48] and The Foreigner (2017)[49] and as the setting for the final clash on Earth in Thor: The Dark World.[50]

## See also

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Naval College, Greenwich.

* Britannia Royal Naval College
* Royal Naval College of Canada
* Royal Canadian Naval College
* Royal Australian Naval College

## References

[edit]

1. ^ The Mariner's Mirror, vol. 52 (Society for Nautical Research, 1966), p. 150
2. ^ "Where Was the Only Nuclear Reactor to Be Constructed Inside a Listed Building?". Historic England. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
3. ^ "Signs of the Past project video" (PDF). Royal Naval College, Greenwich. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
4. ^ Lloyd, Christopher (1 May 1966). "The Royal Naval Colleges at Portsmouth and Greenwich". The Society for Nautical Research. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
5. ^ J. R. Hill, Bryan Ranft, The Oxford Illustrated History of the Royal Navy (2002), p. 269
6. ^ Geoffrey Till, Bryan Ranft, The Development of British Naval Thinking (2006)
7. ^ Hazell's Annual 1914, p. 143
8. ^ Kevin Littlewood, Beverley Butler, Of Ships and Stars: Maritime Heritage and the Founding of the National Maritime Museum (1998), p. 43
9. ^ Marjorie H. Fletcher, The WRNS: A History of the Women's Royal Naval Service (1989), p. 115
10. ^ The Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College
11. ^ Jason casts a cloud over naval college sale in The Independent dated 22 October 1995
12. ^ 1967: Sir Francis Chichester sails home at BBC.co.uk
13. ^ J. R. Parkinson, The Economics of Shipbuilding in the United Kingdom (2011), p. 5
14. ^ "Wrens: History". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
15. ^ "National Maritime Museum Archive".
16. ^ Robert Shannan Peckham, Rethinking Heritage: Cultures and Politics in Europe (2003), p. 18
17. ^ Ian F. W. Beckett, Discovering British Regimental Traditions (Osprey Publishing, 2007), p. 58
18. ^ Ann Stewart Balakier, James J. Balakier, The Spatial Infinite at Greenwich in Works by Christopher Wren (1995), p. i
19. ^ Guy McDonald, England (2004), p. 125
20. ^ a b Royal Navy Senior Appointments Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine at gulabin.com, accessed 9 October 2013
21. ^ Note: The duties of Admiral President would have carried out by the Captain of the College, Captain John Cecil Davis, during these War years
22. ^ a b 'Agar, Captain Augustus Willington Shelton', in Who Was Who 1961–1970 (London: A. & C. Black, 1979 reprint, ISBN 0-7136-2008-0)
23. ^ 'Cairns, 5th Earl' in Who Was Who 1981–1990 (London: A. & C. Black, 1991, ISBN 0-7136-3336-0)
24. ^ 'Gordon Lennox, Rear-Adm. Sir Alexander (Henry Charles)' in Who Was Who 1981–1990 (London: A. & C. Black, 1991, ISBN 0-7136-3336-0)
25. ^ 'McGeoch, Vice-Adm. Sir Ian (Lachlan Mackay)' in Who's Who 2007 (London: A. & C. Black, 2006)
26. ^ 'Lucey, Rear-Adm. Martin Noel' in Who Was Who 1991–1995 (London: A. & C. Black, 1996 ISBN 0-7136-4496-6)
27. ^ 'Ellis, Rear-Adm. Edward William' in Who Was Who 2001–2005 (London: A. & C. Black, 2006, ISBN 0-7136-7601-9)
28. ^ 'Bazalgette, Rear-Adm. Derek Willoughby' in Who's Who 2007 (London: A. & C. Black, 2006)
29. ^ 'Cooke, Rear-Adm. Anthony John', in Who's Who 2013 (London: A. & C. Black, 2012)
30. ^ 'Carlill, Rear Adm. John Hildred' in Who's Who 2013 (London: A. & C. Black, 2012)
31. ^ 'Cassels, Adm. Sir Simon (Alastair Cassillis)', in Who's Who 2013 (London: A. & C. Black, 2012)
32. ^ 'Fitch, Adm. Sir Richard (George Alison)', in Who Was Who 1991–1995 (London: A. & C. Black, 1996, ISBN 0-7136-4496-6)
33. ^ 'Brown, Adm. Sir Brian (Thomas)', in Who's Who 2013 (London: A. & C. Black, 2012)
34. ^ Admiral Sir Michael Livesay The Telegraph, 9 October 2003
35. ^ 'Layard, Adm. Sir Michael (Henry Gordon)', in Who's Who 2013 (London: A. & C. Black, 2012)
36. ^ 'Brigstocke, Adm. Sir John (Richard)', in Who's Who 2013 (London: A. & C. Black, 2012)
37. ^ 'Blackham, Vice-Adm. Sir Jeremy (Joe)', in Who's Who 2013 (London: A. & C. Black, 2012)
38. ^ Flood, Raymond; Rice, Adrian; Wilson, Robin (2011). Mathematics in Victorian Britain. p. 66.
39. ^ NIVEN, Sir William Davidson (1992 reprint ed.). London: A. & C. Black. 1992. ISBN 0-7136-3143-0. `{{cite book}}`: `|work=` ignored (help)
40. ^ "Summary Guide". kcl.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
41. ^ "Burnside, William (BNSD871W)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
42. ^ G. P. Sendeckyj, Int. Journal of Fatigue vol. 23 (2001), p. 347
43. ^ Entry for Lyons, Peter Stanley, in Register of Twentieth Century Johnians, Volume I, 1900–1949. St John's College, Cambridge.
44. ^ "Laughton, John Knox (LTN848JK)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
45. ^ 'Lloyd, Charles Christopher', in Who Was Who 1981–1990 (London: A. & C. Black, 1991, ISBN 0-7136-3336-0)
46. ^ 'Professor Bryan Ranft: Historian of the Royal Navy', obituary in The Guardian dated 25 May 2001
47. ^ 'A. W. Reinold', obituary in Nature, issue 2687 dated 28 April 1921, vol. 107, p. 276
48. ^ "Sherlock Holmes". Movie locations. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
49. ^ "The Foreigner". Global Film Locations. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
50. ^ "Hollywood's rubbish Tube geography in Thor 2 is an unnecessary distraction". New Statesman. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2014.

* v
* t
* e

His Majesty's Naval Service

Leadership|

* Secretary of State for Defence
* Minister of State for the Armed Forces
* First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff
* Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
* Fleet Commander
* Commander, Allied Maritime Command
* Commandant General Royal Marines
* Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces
* Warrant Officer to the Royal Navy
* Corps Regimental Sergeant Major

Components|

| Royal Navy|

* Surface fleet
* Fleet Air Arm
* Submarine Service
* Royal Navy Medical Service
* Nursing Service (QARNNS)
* Chaplaincy Service
* Navy Police
* Naval Careers Service

|

Royal Marines|

* UK Commando Force
* Royal Marines Band Service
* Royal Marines Reserve
* Royal Marines Police

Royal Naval Reserve|

* HMS Calliope
* HMS Cambria
* HMS Ceres
* HMS Dalriada
* HMS Eaglet
* HMS Ferret
* HMS Flying Fox
* HMS Forward
* HMS Hibernia
* HMS King Alfred
* HMS President
* HMS Scotia
* HMS Sherwood
* HMS Vivid
* HMS Wildfire

Special forces|

* Special Boat Service

History
and future|

* Admiralty in the 16th century
* Admiralty in the 17th century
* Admiralty in the 18th century
* Customs and traditions
* Historic forces and commands
* Future of the Royal Navy
* History of the Royal Navy (before 1707) (after 1707)
* History of the Royal Marines
* National Maritime Museum
* National Museum of the Royal Navy
* Naval Historical Branch

Operating forces|

* Fleet Commander
* Commander United Kingdom Strike Force
* Commander Operations
* Surface Flotilla
* Submarine Flotilla
* UK Commando Force

Fleet|

* List of active Royal Navy ships
* Royal Fleet Auxiliary
* Standing Royal Navy deployments
* List of fleets and major commands of the Royal Navy

Ships|

* Aircraft carriers
* Escort carriers
* Seaplane carriers
* Amphibious warfare ships
* Battlecruisers
* Battleships
* Pre-dreadnought battleships
* Bomb vessels
* Corvette and sloop
* Cruisers
* Destroyers
* Fireships
* Frigates
* Gun-brigs
* Gunboat and gunvessels
* Hospital ships
* Ironclads
* Mine countermeasure vessels
* Monitors
* Ironclads
* Patrol vessels
* Royal yachts
* Ships of the line
* Submarines
* Support ships
* Survey vessels
* Royal Marines Boats
* Historic ships names

Administration|

* Defence Council
* Admiralty Board
* Navy Board
* Navy Command

Senior officers|

* Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers)
* Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Capability)
* Director People & Training
* Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy)
* Director Naval Support
* Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training
* Chaplain of the Fleet
* Director General Ships
* Commandant General Royal Marines
* Commander Operations
* Commander United Kingdom Strike Force
* Commander Littoral Strike Group
* Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group
* Commodore, Naval Staff
* Commodore RFA and Deputy Director Royal Navy Afloat Support
* Commander Maritime Reserves
* Naval Secretary
* Rear-Admiral, Fleet Air Arm
* Commodore Submarine Flotilla
* Commodore Surface Flotilla
* Serving senior officers
* Serving senior Royal Marines officers

Personnel
and training|

* Admiralty Interview Board
* Britannia Royal Naval College
* Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
* Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
* HMS Raleigh
* HMS Sultan
* Royal Corps of Naval Constructors
* University Royal Naval Unit

Equipment|

* Uniforms of the Royal Navy
* Uniforms of the Royal Marines
* Officer rank insignia
* Ratings rank insignia
* Cutlasses

Former
leadership|

* First Lord of the Admiralty
* Chief of the Admiralty War Staff
* Admirals of the Fleet
* Commander-in-Chief Fleet
* Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command
* Deputy First Sea Lord
* Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
* Third Sea Lord
* Fourth Sea Lord
* Fifth Sea Lord
* Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
* Judge Advocate of the Fleet

category

* 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

51°28′56″N 0°00′24″W﻿ / ﻿51.48222°N 0.00667°W﻿ / 51.48222; -0.00667
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