The Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Supplies originally known as the Fourth Naval Lord was formerly one of the Naval Lords and members of the

Board of Admiralty The Board of Admiralty (1628–1964) was established in 1628 when Charles I put the office of Lord High Admiral into commission. As that position was not always occupied, the purpose was to enable management of the day-to-day operational requi ...

which controlled the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Fr ...

of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

the post is currently known as Chief of Materiel (Fleet). As of 2017, it is also known as Chief of Fleet Support, Chief of Materiel (Ships) then as of 2020, Director General Ships.

History

The origin of this appointment dates back to 1830 when the post of Fourth Naval Lord was created until 1868 when it was re-styled Junior Naval Lord; this title remained until 1904 when it was again re-styled Fourth Sea Lord until 1964 when the Admiralty Department abolished this post. The modern equivalent is titled the "Naval Member for Logistics", who is responsible for the logistical support and the supply chain of the navy. Its functions along with two other departments of state were merged within a new Ministry of Defence. Following the merger a new post of Chief of Fleet Support was created, assuming the same responsibilities and duties until 2007 when it was renamed Chief of Materiel (Fleet). In around 2017, it was titled as Chief of Materiel (Ships) . In around August 2020, it was renamed as Director General Ships.

Duties

In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were assigned to each of the 'Naval' Lords, who were described as 'Professional' Lords, leaving to the 'Civil' Lords the routine business of signing documents. The Fourth Sea Lord as Chief of Naval Supplies was responsible for supplying the navy, and his responsibilities included transport, victualling (supplying food), and medical services.

Fourth Naval Lords 1830–1868

Junior Naval Lords 1868-1904

Fourth Sea Lords 1904–1917

Fourth Sea Lords include: * Captain Frederick Inglefield 1904–1907 * Rear Admiral Sir Alfred Winsloe 1907–1910 * Rear Admiral Sir Charles Madden 1910–1911 * Rear Admiral Sir William Pakenham 1911–1913 * Rear Admiral Sir Cecil Lambert 1913–1916 * Rear Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey 1916–1917 * Rear Admiral Sir Hugh Tothill May 1917–October 1917

Fourth Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Supplies and Transport 1917-1964

Chiefs of Fleet Support 1964–2007

Chiefs of Fleet Support include: * Vice Admiral Sir Raymond Hawkins 1964-1967 * Admiral Sir Francis Turner 1967-1971 * Vice Admiral Sir Allan Trewby 1971-1974 * Admiral Sir Peter White 1974-1977 * Vice Admiral Sir James Eberle 1977-1979 * Vice Admiral Sir William Pillar 1979-1981 * Vice Admiral Sir James Kennon 1981-1983 * Vice Admiral Sir Anthony Tippet 1983-1986 * Vice Admiral Sir Benjamin Bathurst 1986-1989 * Vice Admiral Sir Jock Slater 1989-1991 * Vice Admiral Sir Neville Purvis 1991-1994 * Vice Admiral Sir Toby Frere 1994-1997 * Vice Admiral Sir John Dunt 1997-2000 * Rear Admiral Brian Perowne 2000-2001 * Rear Admiral Jonathon Reeve 2001-2004 * Rear Admiral Paul Boissier 2004-2006 * Rear Admiral Amjad Hussain 2006-2007

Chiefs of Materiel (Fleet)/Chief of Fleet (Support) 2007–2017

Chiefs of Materiel (Fleet) include: * Vice Admiral Sir Trevor Soar 2007-2009 * Vice Admiral Sir Andrew Mathews 2009-2013 * Vice Admiral Sir Simon Lister 2013-2017

Chief of Materiel (Ships) 2017 – 2020

Chief of Materiel (Ships) include * Vice Admiral Christopher Gardner 2019–Present

Director General Ships 2020 - present

* Vice Admiral Christopher Gardner 2020–Present

Departments under the office

''At various times included:'' * Auxiliary Patrol Office *

Department of the Director of Dockyards 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, t ...

** Office of the Deputy Director of Dockyards * Defence Equipment and Support (Fleet) **DE&S Investment Board * Department of the Director of Mineweeping *

Department of the Director of Naval Equipment 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 ...

* Department of the Director, Naval Stores * Department of the Director of Victualling, (1878-1964) * Dockyard Expense Accounts Department * Naval Bases Operating Centre * Office of the Comptroller of Victualling, (1832-1870) * Office of the Director of Transports, (1855-1857) * Office of the Director of Prisoners of War, 1855-1857) * Office of the Director of Transport Service, (1862-1896) * Office of the Director Ships Acquisitions * Office of the Director Ships Support * Office of the Director Submarines Acquisitions * Office of the Director Submarines Support * Office of the Superintendent of Victualling, (1870-1878) * Royal Navy Bases * Superintendent of Transports, (1829-1855) *

Transport Department The Transport Department of the Government of Hong Kong is a department of the civil service responsible for transportation-related policy in Hong Kong. The department is under the Transport and Logistics Bureau. The Transport Department was cre ...

References

{{Board of Admiralty, state=collapsed Royal Navy * Royal Navy appointments Admiralty during World War II