Intelligence agency
The Naval Intelligence Division (NID ) was created as a component part of the Admiralty War Staff in 1912. It was the intelligence arm of the British Admiralty before the establishment of a unified Defence Intelligence Staff in 1964. It dealt with matters concerning British naval plans, with the collection of naval intelligence . It was also known as "Room 39" , after its room number at the Admiralty.[1]
History [ edit ] The Foreign Intelligence Committee was established in 1882[2] and it evolved into the Naval Intelligence Department in 1887.[3]
The NID staff were originally responsible for fleet mobilisation and war plans as well as foreign intelligence collection; thus in the beginning there were originally two divisions: (1) intelligence (Foreign) and (2) Mobilisation. In 1900 another division, War, was added to deal with issues of strategy and defence, and in 1902 a fourth division, Trade, was created for matters related to the protection of merchant shipping. The Trade Division was abolished in October 1909 in the wake of the Committee of Imperial Defence inquiry into the feud between the First Sea Lord , Admiral Sir John Fisher and former Commander-in-Chief Channel Fleet , Admiral Lord Charles Beresford , when it was discovered that the captain heading the Trade Division had been supplying the latter with confidential information during the inquiry.[4]
In 1910, the NID was shorn of its responsibility for war planning and strategy when the outgoing Fisher created the Navy War Council as a stop-gap remedy to criticisms emanating from the Beresford Inquiry that the Navy needed a naval staff—a role the NID had been in fact fulfilling since at least 1900, if not earlier. After this reorganisation, war planning and strategic matters were transferred to the newly created Naval Mobilisation Department and the NID reverted to the position it held prior to 1887—an intelligence collection and collation organisation.[5]
In 1912 the division was established as a component part of the new Admiralty War Staff organisation when that body was abolished in 1917 it continued as a division of the new Admiralty Naval Staff until 1964 when the Admiralty Department was abolished.
World War I [ edit ] During World War I the NID was responsible for the Royal Navy's highly successful cryptographic efforts, Room 40 .[6] The interception and decoding of the Zimmermann Telegram played a role in bringing the United States into the War. It has described as the most significant intelligence triumph for Britain during World War I,[7] and one of the first occasions on which a piece of signals intelligence influenced world events.[8]
World War II [ edit ] Naval Ultra messages were handled differently from Army and Air Force Ultra because the Admiralty was an operational HQ and could give orders during a battle; while the Imperial General Staff (Army) and Air Staff would give commanders general orders such as, "clear the enemy out of Africa" without telling them how to do it. Hence verbatim translations of naval decodes were sent by Hut 4 to the NID and nowhere else (except for some naval intelligence sent directly from Bletchley Park to Commanders-in-Chief in the Mediterranean).[9]
Hut 8 which decrypted Enigma messages for Hut 4 to translate and analyse had less information for Ultra as the Kriegsmarine operated Enigma more securely than the German Army and Air Force. Hut 4 also broke various hand cyphers and some Italian naval traffic.[10]
The NID also initiated the 30th Assault Unit whose role was information gathering, reconnaissance and sabotage . Members of the unit, including Ralph Izzard , are acknowledged as inspirations for Ian Fleming (who also worked for the NID) in the creation of his fictional spy, James Bond .[11]
Geographical section [ edit ] The Geographical Section of the Naval Intelligence Division, Naval Staff, Admiralty, produced a series of Geographical Handbooks from 1917-1922 to provide information for the British Armed Forces . The Naval Intelligence Division Geographical Handbook Series was produced between 1941 and 1946 to provide information for the British Armed Forces.[12]
Amalgamation [ edit ] In 1965, the three service intelligence departments were amalgamated in the new Defence Intelligence Service at the Ministry of Defence .[13]
However, well before the mid-1990s another Royal Naval branch existed, namely the Directorate of Naval Security & Integrated Contingency Planning (DNSyICP), which is based at HM Naval Base Portsmouth under the staff command of the Second Sea Lord & C-in-C Naval Home Command.[citation needed ]
Directors of Naval Intelligence [ edit ] Directors of Naval Intelligence included:[14]
Rear-Admiral Lewis Beaumont , 1895–1899 Rear-Admiral Reginald Custance , 1899–1902 Rear-Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg , 1902–1905 Rear-Admiral Charles Ottley , 1905–1907 Rear-Admiral Edmond Slade , 1907–1909 Rear-Admiral Alexander Bethell , 1909–1912 Captain Thomas Jackson , 1912–1913 Rear-Admiral Henry Oliver , 1913–1914 Rear-Admiral Sir Reginald 'Blinker' Hall , 1914–1919 Rear-Admiral Hugh 'Quex' Sinclair , 1919–1921 Rear-Admiral Maurice Fitzmaurice , 1921–1924 Rear-Admiral Alan Hotham , 1924–1927 Rear-Admiral William Fisher (Acting), 1926–1927 Rear-Admiral Barry Domvile , 1927–1930 Rear-Admiral Cecil Usborne , 1930–1932 Rear-Admiral Gerald Dickens , 1932–1935 Vice-Admiral James Troup , 1935–1939 Rear-Admiral John Godfrey , 1939–1942 Rear-Admiral Edmund Rushbrooke , 1942–1946 Vice-Admiral Edward Parry , 1946–1948 Rear-Admiral Eric Longley-Cook , 1948–1951 Rear-Admiral Sir Anthony Buzzard , 1951–1954 Vice-Admiral Sir John Inglis , 1954–1960 Vice-Admiral Sir Norman Denning , 1960–1964 Rear-Admiral Patrick Graham , 1964–1965 Deputy Directors of Naval Intelligence [ edit ] Deputy Directors of Naval Intelligence included:[15]
Raymond A. Nugent , 1918–January 1919 William M. James , January 1919–March 1920 Geoffrey Hopwood , March 1920–April 1922 Edward O. Cochrane , April 1922–August 1923 George K. Chetwode , August 1923–May 1925 Kenneth G. B. Dewar , May 1925–June 1927 Cecil B. Prickett, June 1927–June 1929 Alfred E. Evans , June 1929–April 1930 Gerald C. Harrison , April 1930–April 1932 W. E. Campbell Tait , April 1932–November 1933 George A. Scott, November 1933–December 1935 the Hon. Claude P. Hermon-Hodge, December 1935–February 1938 Geoffrey C. Cooke, February 1938–February 1940 William D. Stephens, February 1940–January 1941 Ian M. R. Campbell , February 1941–April 1942 Charles A. G. Nichols, April 1942–May 1944 Ian M. R. Campbell, May 1944 – 1945 A. Joe Baker-Cresswell , March 1948–March 1951 Thomas J. N. Hilken , March 1951–November 1953 Charles E. Keys, November 1953–January 1956 George F. M. Best, January 1956–January 1958 Nigel H. G. Austen, January 1958–September 1959 Anthony Davies , September 1959–October 1962 William P. B. Barber, October 1962 – 1965 See also [ edit ] Ian Fleming , who worked as a personal assistant to DNI Rear Admiral John Godfrey (Inspiration for Bond's M) Ralph Izzard Author, adventurer, journalist, NID officer, member of the 30 Assault Unit and noted as an inspiration for James Bond .[11] Merlin Minshall , who worked for Fleming in the NID, participated in several operations and has been claimed as one of the inspirations for James Bond . William Milbourne James , who worked closely with DNI Rear Admiral W.R. Hall and later wrote his biography. Ewen Montagu , who executed one of its best-known operations, Operation Mincemeat Jon Pertwee , who worked alongside Fleming in the NID during World War II Patrick Dalzel-Job , NID officer and member of the 30 Assault Unit under Fleming, noted as an inspiration for James Bond . Inspirations for James Bond Intelligence Directorate of the Main Staff of the Russian Navy , Russian Naval Intelligence Office of Naval Intelligence , the US Navy's intelligence arm References [ edit ] ^ Dorril, Stephen (2002). MI6: Inside the Covert World of Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service . Simon & Schuster . p. 137 . ISBN 0-7432-1778-0 . ^ Allen. The Foreign Intelligence Committee . p. 68. ^ "Obituary". Obituaries. The Times . No. 34523. London. 13 March 1895. col F, p. 10. ^ Hurd, Archibald (1921). "The Merchant Navy" . John Murray. Retrieved 7 November 2015 . ^ Strachan, Hew (2003). The First World War: Volume I: To Arms . Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199261918 . ^ "The Room 40 Compromise" (PDF) . U.S. National Security Agency. 1960. Retrieved 7 November 2015 . ^ "Why was the Zimmerman Telegram so important?" . BBC . 17 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017 . It was, many believed, the single greatest intelligence triumph for Britain in World War One. ^ "The telegram that brought America into the First World War" . BBC History Magazine . 17 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017 . ^ Top Secret Ultra by Peter Calvocoressi p16,17 (1980, Cassell Ltd, London) ISBN 0-304-30546-4 ^ Briggs, p. 67 ^ a b Pearson, p. 194-195 ^ Gosme, Cyril (2000). "The Naval Intelligence Geographical Handbook Series (Great-Britain, 1941-46) : a description and a call for comments" . Cybergeo . doi :10.4000/cybergeo.4460 . Retrieved 7 November 2015 . ^ Dylan, p. 184 ^ "Senior Royal Navy appointments" (PDF) . Retrieved 7 November 2015 . ^ Mackie, Colin. "Senior Royal Navy Appointments from 1865" . gulabin.com . Retrieved 3 February 2017 . Sources [ edit ] External links [ edit ]
Leadership Components
History and future Operating forces Fleet Ships Administration Senior officers Personnel and training Equipment Former leadership
Direction and control of Admiralty and Naval affairs Boards and offices under the First Lord Direction of Admirals Naval/Sea Lords War and Naval Staff Secretariat and staff under the First Sea Lord Operational planning, policy strategy, tactical doctrine requirements Divisions and sections under the War and Naval Staff Offices of the Sea Lords Admiralty civil departments and organisations under the Sea Lords Admiralty Area Cash Offices Admiralty Central Dockyard Laboratory Admiralty Central Metallurgical Laboratory Admiralty Civilian Shore Wireless Service Admiralty Compass Observatory Admiralty Constabulary Admiralty Constabulary Headquarters Admiralty Engineering Laboratory Admiralty Experimental Station Admiralty Experiment Works Admiralty Gunnery Establishment Admiralty Interview Board Admiralty Labour Department Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment Admiralty Materials Laboratory Admiralty Mine Design Department Admiralty Mining Establishment Admiralty Naval Aircraft Materials Laboratory Admiralty Record Office Admiralty Regional Offices Admiralty Research Laboratory Admiralty Signal Establishment Admiralty Signals and Radar Establishment Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment Admiralty Surveying Service Admiralty Torpedo Experimental Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Launching Establishment Architectural and Engineering Works Department Air Equipment and Naval Photography Department Air Department Air Materiel Department Air Personnel Department Amphibious Warfare Headquarters Armament Supply Department Board of Invention and Research Board of Longitude Boom Defence Department Boom Defence and Marine Salvage Department Britannia Royal Naval College Chemical Board Chemical Department Civil Catering Department Civil Engineer in Chiefs Department Coastguard and Reserves Branch Combined Operations Headquarters Commissioner for Property and Income-tax for the Naval Department Compass Department Contract and Purchase Department Council of Naval Education Dental Examining Board Department of Radio Equipment Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy Department of Aeronautical and Engineering Research Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development Department of Naval Assistant (Foreign) to Second Sea Lord Department of Naval Education Operational Research Department of Personal Services and Officer Appointments Department of Physical Research Department of Physical Training & Sports Department of Radio Equipment Department of Research Programmes and Planning Department of Superintendent of de-magnetisation Department of the Admiral of the Training Service Department of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance Department of the Chief of Naval Information Department of the Chief Scientist Department of the Civil Engineer-in-Chief Department of the Comptroller of Steam Machinery Department of the Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services Department of the Controller of the Navy Department of the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding Department of the Controller for Navy Pay Department of the Deputy Controller for Auxiliary Shipbuilding Department of the Deputy Controller for Dockyards and Shipbuilding Department of the Director Contract-Built Ships Department of the Director-General Aircraft Department of the Director-General of Manpower Department of the Director-General, Supply and Secretariat Branch Department of the Director of Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Department of the Director of Contract Labour Department of the Director of Dockyards Department of the Director of Electrical Engineering Department of the Director of Manning Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs Department of the Director of Merchant Ship Repairs Department of the Director of Naval Construction Department of the Director of Naval Equipment Department of the Director of Naval Recruiting Department of the Director of Naval Weather Service Department of the Director of Personal Services Department of the Director of Physical Training and Sports Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining Department of the Director of Transports Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Materials Department of the Director of Unexploded Bombs Department of the Director of Warship Production Department of the Director of Welfare and Service Conditions Department of the Director of Wreck Dispersal Department of the Flag Officer Sea Training Department of the Engineer in Chief Department of the Paymaster Director-General Department of the Inspector of Anti-Aircraft Weapons Department of the Inspector of Dockyard Expense Accounts Department of the Inspector-General of Naval Hospitals and Fleets Department of the Medical Director-General of the Navy Department of the Physician of the Navy Department of the Physician General of the Navy Department of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy Department of the Surveyor of Buildings Department of the Surveyor of Dockyards Directorate-General, (Naval Manpower and Training) Directorate General Training Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Department Dockyards Branch Dockyard Expense Accounts Department Dockyard Schools Electrical Engineering Department Engineer Branch Engineering Department Experimental Department Fire Control Group Greenwich Hospital Department Inspector of Telegraphs Inspector of Repairs Joint Warfare Establishment Medical Consultative Board Medical Examining Board Historical Section Hydrographic Department Marine Department Marine Pay Department Materials and Priority Department Medical Consultative Board Medical Department Medical Examining Board Movements Department Nautical Almanac Office Naval Artillery and Torpedo Department Naval Engineering College Naval Equipment Department Naval Historical Branch Naval Construction Department Naval Intelligence Department Naval Medical Service Naval Law Division Naval Manpower Department Naval Mobilisation Department Naval Ordnance Department Naval Ordnance Inspection Department Naval Ordnance Stores Department Naval Personnel Services and Officer Appointments Department Naval Publicity Department Naval Regional Offices Naval Reserve Department Naval Security Department Naval Stores Department Naval Training Department Naval Works Department Navy, Army and Air Force Institute Navy and Army Canteen Board Navy Works Department Navigation Department Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope Office of the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves Office of the Admiralty Chemist Office of the Adviser on the Naval Construction to the Board of Admiralty Office of the Assistant Controller Office of the Assistant Controller Research and Development Office of the Clerk of the Journals Office of the Chief Polaris Executive Office of the Deputy Controller of Navy Office of the Deputy Controller Production Office of Extra Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord Office of the Inspector Gun Mountings Office of the Keeper of Records Office of the Senior Psychologist (Naval) Office of the Senior Psychologist of the Navy Office of the Translator of French and Spanish Languages Office of the Vice Controller Air Office of the Vice Controller of the Navy Organisation and Methods Department Packet Service Regional Organisation for Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs Royal Corps of Naval Constructors Royal Flying Corps Royal Marine Police Royal Marines Office Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet Royal Naval Academy Royal Naval Aircraft Workshops Royal Naval Air Service Royal Naval Air Stations Royal Naval Armaments Depot Royal Naval Auxiliary Service Royal Naval Cordite Factories Royal Naval Propellant Factory Royal Naval College Royal Naval College and the School for Naval Architecture Royal Naval College, Dartmouth Royal Naval College, Greenwich Royal Naval College, Keyham Royal Naval College, Osborne Royal Naval Engineering College Royal Naval Film Corporation Royal Naval Hospital Royal Naval Medical Depot Royal Naval Minewatching Service Royal Naval Mine Depot Royal Naval Patrol Service Royal Naval Scientific Service Royal Naval Sick Quarters Royal Naval Torpedo Depot Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal Naval War College Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth Royal Navy Dockyard Royal Navy Medical Service Royal Navy Shore Signal Service Royal Observatory, Greenwich Royal School of Naval Architecture Salvage Department School of Mathematics and Naval Construction Scientific Research and Experiment Department Sea Transport Branch Sea Transport Department Sea Transport Division Ship Department Ship Design Department Signal Department Signal School Sixpenny Office Statistics Department Steam Department Superintendent of De-magnetisation Torpedo Experimental Establishment Transport Department Undersurface Warfare Department Victualling Department Volunteer Boys and Cadet Corps Weapons Department Weapons Department (Naval) Women's Royal Naval Service Wireless Telegraphy Board Direction/Command of the Fleet Naval formations after 1707 1st Fleet 2nd Fleet 3rd Fleet Commander-in-Chief, Africa Atlantic Fleet Commodore, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf Australia Station Cape of Good Hope Station Cape and West Africa Station Battle Cruiser Fleet Battle Cruiser Force Caspian Flotilla Channel Fleet Channel Squadron Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland Cork Station Coast of Scotland Commander-in-Chief, China Commander-in-Chief, Dover Flag Officer, East Africa East Indies Station East Indies and China Station Eastern Fleet Far East Fleet English Channel Grand Fleet Flag Officer Gibraltar Harwich Force Home Fleet Jamaica Station Leith Station Commander-in-Chief, Levant Levant and East Mediterranean Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands Mediterranean Fleet Medway Newfoundland Station New Zealand Division New Zealand Naval Forces Nore North America and West Indies Station Commander-in-Chief, North Sea Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands Pacific Fleet Pacific Station Admiral of Patrols Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Queenstown Station Royal East African Navy Royal Indian Navy Flag Officer Submarines Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth Reserve Fleet Scotland and Northern Ireland Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic South East Coast of America Station Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway West Africa Squadron Flag Officer, West Africa Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches Naval formations before 1707 Direction of Naval Finance Departments under the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary Direction of Naval Administration and the Admiralty Secretariat Branches and offices under the Permanent Secretary Civil Administration Departments under the Civil Lords Legal
International National Other