Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff


The Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff 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.
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 the Naval Staff.
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 and Foreign Commands, Trade, Operations and Air. However the ACNS remained responsible for Policy.
Additional Assistant Chiefs of Naval Staff
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 and the former Chiefs of Staff responsible for Capability, Support, Aviation & Carriers and Personnel were also re-designated Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff.
There are now new additional posts of Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, as well as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff.
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
  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
  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 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.
Assistant Chiefs included:
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

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)

On behalf of the First Sea Lord and through the Admiralty and Navy Boards, ACNS is responsible for the direction and development of strategic policy and strategy for the Royal Navy.
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.

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 the Naval Staff (Aviation & Carriers)

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability)

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Personnel)

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Ships and Submarines)

Note:Changed to ACNS

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.
Note: This post was renamed to Director Naval Support.

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Training)

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