Director of Naval Construction

The Director of Naval Construction (DNC ) was a senior British official of the Admiralty, the part of the public service ( Her Majesty's Civil Service ), who oversaw the Royal Navy. The post existed between 1860 and 1966.

The director was a leading member of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors. The Corps is an institution of the Royal Navy and the British Admiralty for training in shipbuilding. It was established on the recommendation of the naval architect Sir William Henry White in August 1883. Its predecessor was the Royal School of Naval Architecture, London. The members of the Corps were responsible for the design and construction of warships, regardless of whether they were (eg, Armstrong Whitworth ) built in the Royal Shipyards (eg Chatham ) or in private industry. The director was both designer as well as manager.

The work in the shipyards were led to a certain degree by the two post of Director of Naval Construction and the separate Director of Dockyards. Meanwhile, officials were responsible for checking the correct work of the contractor.

In the construction of warships of the Director of Naval Construction worked with the Engineer -in- Chief, another official of the Admiraltität. This post was created after the introduction of the steam engine in the British shipbuilding. He was from 1847 to 1889.

The French Navy had a similar position, the Director of the Construction Navales.

List of Directors

• Isaac Watts (1860-1863)
• Sir Edward James Reed (1863-1870)
• Sir Nathaniel Barnaby (1870-1885)
• Sir William Henry White (1885-1902)
• Sir Philip Watts (1902-1912)
• Sir Eustace Tennyson d' Eyncourt (1912-1924)
• Sir William Berry (1924-1930)
• Sir Arthur John (1930-1936)
• Sir Stanley V. Goodall, KCB, OBE, RCNC (1936-1944)
• Sir Charles S. Lillicrap (1944-1951)
• Sir Victor Shepheard (1951-1966)