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Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom
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 Queen-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.

History[]

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 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]

New Additional Assistant Chiefs of Naval Staff were created for Warfare from 1953 to 1968 that was changed to Assistant Chief Naval Staff — Operational Requirements until 1985. The second world war post of Assistant Chief Naval Staff — Operations was revived in 1966 until 1968 then it was changed to Assistant Chief Naval Staff — Operations and Air until 1984.

In April 2012 Rear Admiral Matthew 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.

Duties[]

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.

From 1917 to 1945 [8][9]

  1. In Operations of War: Deal with all the large questions of naval policy and maritime warfare.
  2. Ensure the fighting and sea-going efficiency of the fleet and its organisation.
  3. Distribution and Movements of all Ships in Commission and in Reserve.
  4. Superintendence of the naval staff.
  5. Superintendence of the Hydrographic Department.
  6. Administer all naval communications.

Post 1945 [10]

  1. The Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff's primary aim to: Lead the naval staff effort to drive forward naval policy for the Navy.
  2. Act as the First Sea Lord's Chief Executive and on his behalf
  3. Direct the implementation of Admiralty Board and Service Executive Committee (Navy Board) policy
  4. Provide a high level guidance and prioritisation needed by the Naval Commands to deliver their military outputs.
  5. Superintendence of the naval staff.

Post 2010

Individual duties for Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff (Specialized Areas).

  • (A. C. N. S.) Aviation and Carriers — Responsible for delivering aviation Force Elements at Readiness (including all Royal Navy fixed and rotary wing assets, and the two Naval Air Stations) in accordance with the Royal Navy plan and arising, contingent events. On behalf of Fleet Commander.[11]
  • (A. C. N. S.) Capability — Chairman of the Maritime Capability Board responsible for planning and delivery of the majority of future Maritime capabilities on behalf of the First Sea Lord. He works closely with FD(N), ACNS (Support), ACNS (Aviation and Carriers), and Head Office Di.[12]
  • (A. C. N. S.) Personnel — Responsible for the sustainable delivery of sufficient, capable and motivated personnel to the Naval Service in support of Defence Outcomes. The Admiral is accountable for all aspects (non-operational) of Personnel within the Naval Service. As Nav Sec.[13]
  • (A. C. N. S.) Support — ACNS(Spt) (supported by ACNS(A&C) for AV/CS) is responsible to the Fleet Commander for the integrated Force Generation of all RN/RM forces and units across all DLODs as directed by the resourced Command Plan and agreed with Operational Commanders.[14]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff[]

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

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Home)[]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Foreign)[]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (U boat and Trade)[]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Weapons)[]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Air)[]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations)[]

Note: Changed back to Assistant Chief Naval Staff

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff[]

Note:Changed to Assistant Chief of Naval Staff - Policy until 1984 [23]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy)[]

Note: Changed back to Assistant Chief of Naval Staff

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff[]

Note: Changed back to Assistant Chief of Naval Staff -Policy

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) now Director Strategy and 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]

Naval Assistants to the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff[]

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.[29]

Additional Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff (specialized areas)[]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Warfare)[]

Note:Post Abolished 1968 changed to ACNS Operational Requirements

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations and Air)[]

Note: Post abolished 1984

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operational Requirements)[]

Note: Post abolished 1985

Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers)[]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability) now Director Develop[]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Personnel)[]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Ships and Submarines)[]

Note:Changed to ACNS (Submarines)

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Ships)[]

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.[40][41]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Submarines)[]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Support)[]

  • Rear-Admiral Peter Hudson, — (December 2011–February 2013)
  • Rear-Admiral Ian Jess, — (March 2013–April 2015)
  • Rear-Admiral Richard Stokes, — (April 2015–January 2018) [42]

Note: This post was renamed as Director Naval Support (DNS).[43]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Training)[]

Note: This post was reassigned to Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training.

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (People & Transformation) now Director People and Training[]

Note: This post is also known as Director People & Training.[45][46]

See also[]

References[]

  1. Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Assistant Chief of Naval Staff". Dreadnought Project, 3 November 2015. http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Assistant_Chief_of_Naval_Staff. Retrieved 23 November 2016. 
  2. Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, Duff Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 80.". Dreadnought Project, 3 November 2015. http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Assistant_Chief_of_Naval_Staff. Retrieved 23 November 2016. 
  3. "Transparency data Navy Command senior, as of April 2015". Ministry of Defence, 2015. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/456754/navy-april-2015-senior-data.csv/preview. Retrieved 22 November 2016. 
  4. Serving Flag and General Officers
  5. "Rear Admiral Keith E Blount OBE - Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm - Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers)". Royal Navy. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/~/media/royal%20navy%20responsive/documents/profiles/blount%20keith.pdf. Retrieved 20 January 2016. 
  6. "Rear Admiral John Weale OBE - Flag Officer Scotland & Northern Ireland - Rear Admiral Submarines - Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Submarines". Royal Navy. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/~/media/royal%20navy%20responsive/documents/profiles/weale%20john.pdf. Retrieved 20 January 2016. 
  7. "Navy Command senior, as of March 2012". Ministry of Defence, 21 August 2013. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/34820/NavyCommandstaffdata260712HLseniordata.csv/preview. Retrieved 23 November 2016. 
  8. Archives, The National. "The Discovery Service:Records of the Navy Board and the Board of Admiralty". The National Archives, ADM 116/3392, 2016. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r/?_rv=simple&_ps=1000&_q=ADM+116/3392.. Retrieved 23 November 2016. 
  9. "Assistant Chief of Naval Staff - The Dreadnought Project, War Staff Duties." Jellicoe Papers. British Library. Add. MS. 48992. ff. 94-95." (in en). Dreadnought Project. http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Assistant_Chief_of_Naval_Staff. Retrieved 18 March 2017. 
  10. "Organisation: How the Royal Navy is Managed". The National Archives, Ministry of Defence, 2009. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/training-and-people/the-rn-today/organisation/. Retrieved 21 July 2017. 
  11. "Transparency data Navy Command senior, as of March 2014". Ministry of Defence, 2014. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/355238/20140714-NAVY-SENIOR-organogram-April-2014.csv/preview. Retrieved 22 November 2016. 
  12. "Transparency data Navy Command senior, as of March 2014". Ministry of Defence, 2014. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/355238/20140714-NAVY-SENIOR-organogram-April-2014.csv/preview. Retrieved 22 November 2016. 
  13. "Transparency data Navy Command senior, as of March 2014". Ministry of Defence, 2014. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/355238/20140714-NAVY-SENIOR-organogram-April-2014.csv/preview. Retrieved 22 November 2016. 
  14. "Transparency data Navy Command senior, as of March 2014". Ministry of Defence, 2014. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/355238/20140714-NAVY-SENIOR-organogram-April-2014.csv/preview. Retrieved 22 November 2016. 
  15. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy - Senior Appointments". Gulabin, pp.18-20, 2010-2014. http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf. 
  16. Woodward, David (2013) (in en). America and World War I: A Selected Annotated Bibliography of English-Language Sources. Routledge. p. 68. ISBN 9781135864798. https://books.google.com/books?id=MjGptexmBnYC&q=Assistant+Chief+Naval+Staff+Vice+Admiral+Ludovic+Duff+1917&pg=PA68. 
  17. "The Admiralty British Government Department, 1920s". University of Warwick, 2011. https://homepages.warwick.ac.uk/~lysic/1920s/admiralty.htm. 
  18. "The Admiralty British Government Department, 1920s". University of Warwick, 2011. https://homepages.warwick.ac.uk/~lysic/1920s/admiralty.htm. 
  19. "The Admiralty British Government Department, 1920s". University of Warwick, 2011. https://homepages.warwick.ac.uk/~lysic/1920s/admiralty.htm. 
  20. "The Admiralty British Government Department, 1920s". University of Warwick, 2011. https://homepages.warwick.ac.uk/~lysic/1920s/admiralty.htm. 
  21. Bevand, Paul. "Biography of Vice-Admiral John Knowles Im Thurn". HMS Hood Association, 6 May 2014. http://www.hmshood.com/crew/biography/imthurn_bio.htm. 
  22. Watson, Dr. Graham. "The Organisation of the Admiralty 1939 to 1945". Gordon Smith, Naval History.Net, 19 Sep 2015. http://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1939-45.htm#12. 
  23. Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy - Senior Appointments". Gulabin, pp.18-20, 2010-2014. http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf. 
  24. Heyman, Charles (2006) (in en). The Armed Forces of the United Kingdom 2007-2008. Barnsley: Casemate Publishers. p. 59. ISBN 9781844154890. https://books.google.com/books?id=ivWARt7QQI4C&q=Assistant+Chief+of+the+Naval+Staff+%28Operational+Require&pg=PA59. 
  25. "Transparency data Navy Command senior, as of March 2014". Ministry of Defence, 2014. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/355238/20140714-NAVY-SENIOR-organogram-April-2014.csv/preview. 
  26. "Navy Board". MOD, UK, 2016. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-naval-staff/first-sea-lord/navy-board. 
  27. "Press Reader Article". Daily Telegraphy. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-daily-telegraph/20190308/281668256285828. 
  28. "Rear Admiral Iain S. Lower MA". https://londoninternationalshippingweek.com/board-members/radm-iain-s-lower/. 
  29. "Navy lists - 1913-1921, 1944-1945 - Quarterly -1945". National Library of Scotland. http://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/pageturner.cfm?id=93452362&mode=transcription. 
  30. Cook, Chris (2012) (in en). The Routledge Guide to British Political Archives: Sources since 1945. Routledge. p. 13. ISBN 9781136509612. https://books.google.com/books?id=k89anpKEY6YC&q=Assistant+Chief+of+the+Naval+Staff+%28Warfare%29&pg=PA13. 
  31. "Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Pedder". The Times, 22 June 1995. http://home1.swipnet.se/~w-11578/pedder.html. 
  32. Houterman, Hans; Koppes, Jeroen. "Royal Navy Officers - Yates, A.V.S. to Yunge-Bateman, J.E.J.". Koppes & Houterman 2009-2016. http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersY.html. 
  33. Wilson, Alastair; Callo, Joseph F. (2004). Who's who in naval history from 1550 tot the present (1. publ. ed.). London [etc.]: Routledge. p. 236. ISBN 9780415308281. 
  34. "Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Austin: Obituries". The Daily Telegraph, 8 Sep, 2005. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1497856/Vice-Admiral-Sir-Peter-Austin.html. 
  35. "Rear-Admiral Peter Branson". The Daily Telegraph, 6 Feb 2011. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/naval-obituaries/8306889/Rear-Admiral-Peter-Branson.html. 
  36. "Rear-Admiral Linley Middleton". The Daily Telegraph, 1 Dec, 2012. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9829984/Rear-Admiral-Linley-Middleton.html. 
  37. Hampshire, Dr Edward (Apr 28, 2013) (in en). From East of Suez to the Eastern Atlantic: British Naval Policy 1964-70. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. p. 264. ISBN 9781409466147. https://books.google.com/books?id=vSk37e3nT3cC&q=Assistant+Chief+of+the+Naval+Staff+%28Operational+Requirements%29+1968&pg=PT246. 
  38. Houterman, Hans; Koppes, Jeroen. "Royal Navy Officers". Houterman and Koppes, 2009-2016. http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersB3.html#Berthon_SF. 
  39. "Rear-Admiral Geoff Marsh - obituary". The Daily Telegraph, 12 Nov, 2014. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11225986/Rear-Admiral-Geoff-Marsh-obituary.html. 
  40. "Ministry of Defence (MoD) Navy Command". Civil Service Year Book:United Kingdom Ministers, Departments and Executive Agencies (53RD ed.). London, England: Dandy Booksellers Ltd. 2017. ISBN 9781787320345. 
  41. Mackie, Colin (1 October 2020). "Admirals October 2020". Colin Mackie. http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Admirals-Current.pdf. "Higham Director, Ship Support, Defence Equipment and Support, December 2020" 
  42. "INEC 2016 Keynote Address - Rear Admiral Richard Stokes, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Support), Royal Navy, UK". Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, 5 May 2016. http://www.imarest.org/tv/latest/item/2428-inec-2016-keynote-address-rear-admiral-richard-stokes. 
  43. "The Navy Directory 2019". Royal Navy. 1 January 2019. p. 8. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/documents/useful-resources/navy_directory.pdf?la=en-gb. 
  44. "Phi Hally". DSEI. https://www.dsei.co.uk/speakers/phil-hally. 
  45. "NAVY'S TOP APPRENTICES SINGLED OUT". Royal Navy. 11 March 2020. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2020/march/11/200311-navy-top-apprentice-awards. 
  46. "HMS COLLINGWOOD CELEBRATES EIGHTY YEARS OF TRAINING". Royal Navy. 24 September 2020. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2020/september/24/200924-hms-collingwood-celebrates-eighty-years-of-training. 

Attribution[]

Primary source for this article is by Harley Simon, Lovell Tony, (2017), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, dreadnoughtproject.org, http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org.

Sources[]

Template:Board of Admiralty

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff and the edit history here.
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