Bureau of Equipment

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The Bureau of Equipment (abbreviated BuEq) was the United States Navy bureau responsible, prior to 1914, for the manufacture and maintenance of naval equipment and fittings which were not weaponry or ammunition.

History

1893

1. The duties of the Bureau of Equipment shall comprise all that relates to the equipment of ships according to the allowance tables from time to time in force.

2. It shall have charge of the manufacture of rope, anchors, cables, rigging, sails, galleys, and cooking utensils, and of the installation and repair of all electric appliances on shipboard; also of the Naval Observatory, Nautical Almanac, and compass offices; the apartments and rooms assigned for its purposes, or for the use of the equipment officers in the yards and stations; and it shall require for the instruments, and provide for clerks, writers, draftsmen, messengers, and laborers for the same. 3. It shall defray the expenses of pilotage of all ships in commission. 4. It shall design the various shops and buildings at navy yards where its work is executed, so far as their internal arrangements are concerned. 5. It shall design, erect, and maintain all the buildings at the Observatory and elsewhere, except in navy yards, that may be needed for its purposes; and it shall be charged, under the special instructions of the Secretary, with the purchase, sale, and transfer of all land and buildings in connection therewith. 6. It shall determine upon and require for or manufacture all the tools, stores, stationery, blank books, forms, and appliances of every kind used for its own purposes. 7. It shall superintend all work done under it. 8. It shall have control of the storage, and preparation of supplies and material pertaining to it, exempted from the custody of general storekeepers; also the organization and muster of the employés [sic] used entirely for its own purposes. 9. It shall estimate for, and defray from its own funds, the cost necessary to carry out its duties as above defined.

10. Orders relating to navy yard business connected with the bureau shall be given by the chief of the bureau to the commandant who shall be responsible for their execution.[1]

1905

(1) The duties of the Bureau of Equipment shall comprise all that relates to the equipment of ships according to the allowance lists from time to time in force. It shall require for all coal for steamers' and ships' use, including expenses of transportation, storage, and handling the same; and water for all purposes on board naval vessels, including the expense of transportation and storage of the same.

(2) It shall have charge of the manufacture of rope, anchors, cables, rigging, sails, galleys, and cooking utensils; also of the Naval Observatory, Nautical Almanac and Compass Offices, and naval coal depots and naval coaling stations within the continental limits of the United States, outside of navy yards and naval stations; the apartments and rooms assigned for its purposes or for the use of the equipment officers in the yards and stations; and it shall recpiire for the instruments and provide for clerks, writers, draftsmen, messengers, and laborers for the same. (3) It shall have entire charge and cognizance of the installation, maintenance, and repair of interior and exterior signal communications, and of all electrical appliances of whatsoever nature on board naval vessels, except the following: Range tinders, battle order and range transmitters and indicators, motors and their controlling apparatus used to operate the machinery belonging to other bureaus. (4) It shall have control of the Hydrographic Office, the collection of foreign surveys, publication and supply of charts, sailing directions and nautical works, and the dissemination of nautical and hydrographic information to the Navy and mercantile marine. (5) It shall defray the expenses of pilotage of all ships in commission. (6) It shall design the various shops and buildings at navy yards where its work is executed, so far as their internal arrangements are concerned. (7) It shall design, erect, and maintain all the buildings at the Observatory and elsewhere, except in navy yards, that may be needed for its purposes; and it shall be charged, under the special instructions of the Secretarv, with the purchase, sale, and transfer of all land and buildings in connection therewith. (8) It shall determine upon and require for or manufacture all the tools, stores, stationery blank books, forms, and appliances of every kind used for its own purposes. (9) It shall superintend all work done under it. (10) It shall have control of the organization and muster of the employees used entirely for its own purposes. (11) It shall estimate for and defray from its own funds the cost necessary to carry out its duties as above defined.

(12) Orders relating to navy-yard business connected with the Bureau shall be given by the Chief of the Bureau to the commandants, who shall be responsible for their execution.[2]

1909

(1) The duties of the Bureau of Equipment shall comprise all that relates to the equipment of ships according to the allowance lists from time to time in force. It shall make the specifications of the type and character of nautical and navigating instruments, and of electrical appliances, except those in connection with the battery and hull auxiliaries.

(2) The installation, maintenance, and repair of interior and exterior signal communications, and of all electrical appliances of whatsoever nature on board naval vessels, except range finders, battle order and range transmitters and indicators, motors and their controlling apparatus used to operate the machinery belonging to other bureaus, shall be done to the satisfaction of the Bureau of Equipment. (3) It shall defray the expenses of pilotage of all ships in commission. (4) It shall inspect all work done for it.

(5) It shall have control of the Naval Observatory, the Hydrographic Office, wireless apparatus and stations, and of all matters connected therewith.[3]

Abolition

In 1914 the bureau was abolished and its functioned absorbed by the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts.

Chiefs of Bureau

Dates of appointment given:

See Also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ U.S. Navy Regulations, 1893. pp. 3-4.
  2. ↑ U.S. Navy Regulations, 1905. pp. 13-14.
  3. ↑ U.S. Navy Regulations, 1909. pp. 12-13.

Bibliography

  • United States Navy (1893). Regulations for the Government of the Navy of the United States. 1893. Washington: Government Printing Office.
  • United States Navy (1905). Regulations for the Government of the Navy of the United States, 1905. Washington: Government Printing Office.
  • United States Navy (1909). Regulations for the Government of the Navy of the United States. 1909. Washington: Government Printing Office.

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