Instructions for the Director of Naval Ordnance and Torpedoes

March, 1914

1. The Director of Naval Ordnance is generally responsible to the Board of Admiralty in regards to matters connected with the armament of the Fleet. He is to keep their Lordships fully informed of all details in connection with the Naval Ordnance Service which ought to be brought to their notice respectively. He will be advised and assisted by the Assistant Director of Torpedoes with regard to all Torpedo matters and the other subjects mentioned in that Officer's Instructions.

2. He is the head of the combined Naval Ordnance Department. He is vested with general control over the several Ordnance Establishments at Home and Abroad, and is to consider it an important part of his duty to ascertain that the instructions issued for guidance of the Officers under him are duly observed. The Superintendent of Ordnance Stores and the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance are subordinate to him and in charge of their Divisions of the Naval Ordnance Department.

3. The Director of Naval Ordnance will advise the First Sea Lord on all matters affecting the general system of Gunnery and Torpedo exercises of the Fleet and all military questions connected therewith.

4. He will, when required by the Second Sea Lord, advise on questions connected with Gunnery and Torpedo training.

5. He will be responsible to the Third Sea Lord for all matters connected with the Ordnance and Torpedo material of the Navy, and is to prepare and submit the Annual Estimates required for gun-mountings, air-compressing machinery, &c. (Vote 8, Section III., Subhead G).

6. he will advise the Director of Naval Construction in regard to all points in which armaments, gun mountings, torpedoes, electrical apparatus, and patterns affect the construction of ships, and in all questions involving the structural alterations in weights, &c., of ships, and will be jointly responsible with the Director of Naval Construction to the Third Sea Lord for the design and manufacture of gun mountings and sights, and for the mechanical arrangements connected with the supply and fitting of torpedo apparatus for ships.

7. He will be consulted by the Director of Naval Construction (or, by the Superintending Electrical Engineer as head of the Electrical Sub-Department) on all electrical matters affecting the fighting and general efficiency of ships, and any proposals involving changes in design or departure from previous practice in regard to such arrangements will be referred for his concurrence.