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Fifth Sea Lord

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Office of the Fifth Sea Lord
Ensign of theRoyal Navy
Department of the Admiralty
Member ofBoard of Admiralty
Reports toFirst Sea Lord
NominatorFirst Lord of the Admiralty
AppointerPrime Minister
Subject to formal approval by theKing-in-Council
Term lengthNot fixed (typically 1–3 years)
Inaugural holderRear Admiral Sir Godfrey Paine
Formation1917–1965

TheFifth Sea Lordwas formerly one of theNaval Lordsand members of theBoard of Admiraltythat controlled theRoyal Navy.[1]The post's incumbent had responsibility fornaval aviation.

History

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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.[2]

DuringWorld War Iit was one of four additional naval positions added to the Board of Admiralty to manage the Navy. The only officer to hold the title during the war was CommodoreGodfrey Paine.Commodore Paine simultaneously held the title ofDirector of Naval Aviation.After the Air Force Bill received Royal Assent in November 1917 theAir Councilwas created on 3 January 1918 which included Paine.[3]

The post of Fifth Sea Lord then lapsed until 1938 when the Admiralty regained responsibility for naval aviation: the post was reestablished and was theChief of Naval Air Services,responsible for preparation and management of all of the Royal Navy's aircraft and air personnel.[4]

From 1957 to 1965 the Fifth Sea Lord's post was held jointly with theDeputy Chief of the Naval Staff.The post was abolished in 1965.[5]

In the 21st century theAssistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers)has a similar role.

List of Fifth Sea Lords

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Fifth Sea Lords and Chief of Naval Air Service 1917–1918

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Included:[6]

Note: with the transfer of naval aviation to the Royal Air Force in 1918, the appointment lapsed and was not revived until 1938

Fifth Sea Lords 1938–1956

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Note: the title was in abeyance from 1942 to 1943 although Admiral SirFrederic Dreyerwas Chief of Naval Air Services

Fifth Sea Lords and Deputy Chiefs of the Naval Staff 1957–1965

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Admiralty departments and divisions under the Fifth Sea Lord

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As of 1917[7]

As of 1939[8]

As of 1941[8]

As of 1957[9][10]

As of 1962[11]

In fiction

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In the title story of his 1960 short story collectionFor Your Eyes Only,Ian Flemingwrote that M,James Bond'sMI6superior, gave up a likely appointment as Fifth Sea Lord in order to head the spy agency.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Marder, Arthur J. (31 March 2014).From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow: Volume IV 1917, Year of Crisis.Seaforth Publishing, p.219, 31 Mar 2014.ISBN9781848322011.Retrieved6 February2017.
  2. ^"Sainty, JC,Lord High Admiral and Commissioners of the Admiralty 1660-1870', Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4: Admiralty Officials 1660–1870(1975), pp. 18–31 ".Archived fromthe originalon 7 October 2014.Retrieved4 September2009.
  3. ^Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
  4. ^Division with ADMNational Archives
  5. ^Whitaker's Almanack 1965
  6. ^Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony."Fifth Sea Lord - The Dreadnought Project".dreadnoughtproject.org.Harley and Lovell,3 November 2015.Retrieved17 February2018.
  7. ^Abbatiello, John (2 May 2006).Anti-Submarine Warfare in World War I: British Naval Aviation and the Defeat of the U-Boats.Routledge, p.8, 2 May 2006.ISBN9781135989545.Retrieved6 February2017.
  8. ^abWatson, Graham."Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945".naval-history.net.Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015.Retrieved6 February2017.
  9. ^"Structure of the Service Fleet Air Arm Organization and the Work of Home Air Command"(PDF).flightglobal.Retrieved19 February2017.
  10. ^"Naval Air Organization"(PDF).flightglobal.ght International Magazine, 20 April 1951, p.483.Retrieved12 June2018.
  11. ^Huntley, Cdr F. C."All Hands, The Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin, No 541"(PDF).navy.mil.United States Navy, February 1962.Retrieved6 February2017.
  12. ^Fleming, Ian (2012).For Your Eyes Only.ISBN978-1612185514.

Sources

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  • Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division (1929).The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. Its Work and Development.B.R. 1845 (late C.B. 3013). Copy at The National Archives. ADM 234/434.