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Naval Research Documents

Naval Research Documents

I have created a table of documents that I either have access to or suspect would be helpful to my study. Most in the list are found in the UK's National Archives (TNA) in Kew, others from the Admiralty Historical Library (AL) in Portsmouth, but others I have found at auction.  As an ongoing project, I am adding pages for each with index information, a list of plates (illustrations) within each, and some notes about the general character of the document.  The aim is to assist other researchers and minimize their expense in ordering duplicates.

The Crown Copyright governs my rights for those government works from the UK, and my interpretation of this allows me to provide copies to others for educational purposes, but does not permit putting them on the website.
Legend
Green I have a complete copy
Yellow I have a partial copy
Pink I'd like to obtain a copy

 

If you have documents you'd like to share with me, let me know.

Nation
Document ID
Document Title
Author
Year

Torpedoes & Electrical

UK
N/A
Torpedo Drill Book 1908
1908
UK
N/A
Torpedo Drill Book 1912
1912
UK
N/A
Torpedo Drill Book 1914
1914
UK
N/A
Addenda to Torpedo Manual, Volume III
1909
UK
N/A
Addenda (1903) to Torpedo Manual Volume I., 1901
1903
UK
ADM 186/365
Torpedo Manual for HM Fleet 1909 Volume III
1909
UK
N/A
Torpedo Manual for HM Fleet 1911 Volume I
1911
UK
ADM 186/366
Addenda (1911) to Torpedo Manual Volume III., 1909
1912
UK
ADM 186/381
Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916
1917
UK
ADM 186/137
Torpedo Training Manual
1920
UK
ADM 186/369
Handbook for RNTF Torpedoes 18" Marks VIII and VIII*
1915
UK
ADM 186/403
Handbook for RNTF Torpedoes: 18" Marks VII-VII ***** and 21" Marks II-IV*
1918
UK
ADM 186/423
Handbook for Fiurne and Weymouth Torpedoes
1918
UK
ADM 189/20-38
Annual Reports of the Torpedo School, 1900-1918
1900-18

Navigation and Steaming

UK
B.R. 45
Admiralty Navigation Manual, 1938 Volume I
1939

Aviation

UK
N/A
Naval Air Service Training Manual, 1915
1914

Range Tables

UK
ADM 186/181
Range tables for HM Fleet, 1910
1911
UK
ADM 137/4356
Firing tables for 8.8cm guns captured from U-boat 40  
1910
UK
ADM 186/236
Range tables for HM Fleet: 9.2" guns and above, 1918
1918

Handbooks for Specific Guns

UK
ADM 186/189

Handbook for 12 pdr. Quick-Firing Guns

Destroyers of G, H, and I classes carried 12cwt guns.  Africa, Agamemnon, Britannia, Dreadnought, Hibernia, Lord Nelson, Minotaur, Shannon carried 18cwt guns (The Sight Manual 1916)

1913
UK
ADM 186/239
Handbook for 12 pr 12 cwt Gun on high angle mounting (Mark VIII)
1919
UK
ADM 186/265
Handbook for quick-firing 12 cwt Gun on PI* mounting
1925
UK
ADM 186/206

4" quick-firing guns Marks IV and V on P Mark IX and X mountings: handbook

Mark IV:  "Scout" light cruisers (1913), Marksman, Grenville, "K", "L", "M" and "S" destroyer classes, rearmed Talisman and Medea classes and "J", "K", "L", "O" and "P" class submarines (navweaps), Mark V on Most cruisers and capital ships 1914 - 1937 and many smaller ships during both World Wars (navweaps)

1916
UK
ADM 186/214

Handbook for 4" breech-loading Marks IX and IX* guns on triple mounting Mark I

Used on Renown and Courageous classes (navweaps)

 
1916
UK
ADM 186/215
Handbook for 4" breech-loading Marks IX and IX* guns on P XII mountings  
1916
UK
ADM 186/219

Handbook of 4" breech-loading Marks IX and IV* guns on CPI mountings

Possibly just 2 mounts on Renown, and perhaps single mounts on smaller ships (navweaps)

 
1917
UK
ADM 186/232

Handbook of 4" quick-firing guns Marks IV and V on CP II and CP IIIc Mountings

Possibly just CP III on Modified "R" Class (destroyers? navweaps)

 
1918
UK
ADM 275/2
Handbook for the 4 inch BL Mk IX and IX* guns on P.XV mounting  
1918
UK
ADM 186/208

Handbook for ordnance 5.5" breech-loading Mark I gun mounted on pedestal mounting Mark PI

Birkenhead and Chester (navweaps)

 
1916
UK
ADM 186/217

Handbook for 5.5" breech-loading Mark I gun on PI* and PI** mountings

Hermes, Laurentic, Montclare (navweaps)

 
1917
UK
ADM 186/180

Handbook for 6" Breech loading Mark VII and Mark VIII guns

Mark VII. on Formidable, London, Duncan, first five King Edward's, Tiger, Barfleur and Iron Duke classes, also Cressy, Drake, Kent, Hampshire and Challenger cruiser classes and others as rearmed, plus the monitors Severn, Humber, Mersey, M.27, Clive, Craufurd, Eugene, Moore, Rupert and Wolfe.  The Mark VIII. was used on the Kent class (navweaps)

1904
UK
ADM 186/210

Handbook for 6" breech-loading Mark VII and Mark VIII guns

Mark VII. on Formidable, London, Duncan, first five King Edward's, Tiger, Barfleur and Iron Duke classes, also Cressy, Drake, Kent, Hampshire and Challenger cruiser classes and others as rearmed, plus the monitors Severn, Humber, Mersey, M.27, Clive, Craufurd, Eugene, Moore, Rupert and Wolfe.  The Mark VIII. was used on the Kent class (navweaps)

 
1916
UK
ADM 186/207

Handbook for 4-inch Marks VII and VIII breech-loading guns

Mark VII. on Fearless, Ajax, Centurion, King George V., Active, Amphion, Bellona, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle, Blanche, Blonde, Bristol, Colossus, Gloucester, Hercules, Lion, Orion, Boadicea, Australia, Conqueror, Monarch, New Zealand, Princess Royal, Thunderer, Collingwood, Neptune, St. Vincent, Vanguard, Bellerophon, Superb, Temeraire.  Mark VIII. on F, G, H, I, and K class destroyers, and Swift (The Sight Manual 1916)

1916
UK
ADM 186/246

Turret Gun Drill: 13.5" Mark V. Marks II, II* and II** mountings

Mark II. on Lion and Princess Royal and Orion class.  Mark II* on Queen Mary and King George V class.  Mark II** on Tiger and Iron Duke class. (navweaps)

1920

Sights & General Gunnery

UK
AL Ja010
Miscellaneous Gunnery Experiments, 1901-1913
US
N/A
Elementary Naval Ordnance and Gunnery
Lt. H. C. Ramsey
1918
US
N/A
Gunnery Instructions U.S. Navy 1913
1913
UK
ADM 186/216
The Sight Manual 1916
1916
UK
AL Ja254
Manual of Gunnery (Volume I Part 1) for HM Fleet 1907
1907
UK
AL Ja254
Manual of Gunnery (Volume I) for HM Fleet 1915
1915
UK
AL Ja254
Manual of Gunnery (Volume III) for HM Fleet 1915
1915
UK
ADM 186/171
Manual of Gunnery (Volume I) for HM Fleet 1922
1922
UK
ADM 186/220
Manual of Gunnery (Volume II) for HM Fleet 1917
1917
UK
AL Ja254
Manual of Gunnery (Volume III) for HM Fleet 1920
1920
UK
ADM 186/235
Pamphlet on the effects of Wind in Gunnery
1918
UK
N/A
Gunnery Drill Book for HM Fleet (Book I) 1913
1913
UK
N/A
Gunnery Drill Book for HM Fleet (Book II) 1918
1918
UK
ADM 900/60-ADM 900/65
Gunnery
1917

Fire Control & Director Firing Systems

UK
AL Ja 345a
Handbook for Fire Control Instruments
1909
UK
ADM 186/191
Handbook for Fire Control Instruments
1914
UK
AL P.1024
Fire Control: A Summary of the Present Position of the Subject
1904
UK
AL O.U. 6171/14
The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships Vol 3. Part 23.
1919
UK
AL P.1024
Captain F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control System for Local Control
1913
UK
AL P.1024
Pollen Aim Correction System. Part I. Technical History and Technical Comparison with Commander F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control System
Dreyer & Usborne
1913
UK
ADM 186/201
Sights and system of control for anti-aircraft guns
1916
UK
ADM 186/237
Handbook for Stereoscopic Range finders
1919
UK
ADM 186/248
Handbook for use at Fire Control Drills  
1920
UK
AL C.B. 1126
Fire Control
1908
UK
AL C.B. 1127
Fire Control, Rangefinding and Plotting
1909
UK
AL O. U. 6196(A)
Pamphlet on the Turret Dreyer Table
1930
UK
AL O.U. 6196(B)
Pamphlet on the Mark III* Dreyer Table
1930
UK
AL O.U. 6196 (C)
Pamphlet on the Mark IV* Dreyer Table
1930
UK
AL O.U. 6196 (D)
Pamphlet on the Mark V Dreyer Table
1930
UK
AL C.B. 1456
Handbook for Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables
1918
UK
HMS Excellent
Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Apparatus Mark IV* as Fitted in HMS Royal Oak
1916
UK
ADM 186/205
Handbook for Barr and Stroud Naval Range-Finders and Mountings
1916
UK
ADM 186/227
Director Firing Handbook 1917
1917
UK
ADM 186/228
German Navy: Naval Gun Mountings, Sights and Table of Ordnance
1918
UK
ADM 186/234
Director Firing Handbook 1917, Director Firing for Flotilla Leaders and Destroyers
1918
UK
?
Progress in Naval Gunnery, 1910
1911?
UK
? C.B. 1035
Progress in Naval Gunnery, 1911-1912
1913?
UK
ADM 186/238
Progress in Naval Gunnery, 1914-1918
1919
UK
ADM 186/244
Progress in Gunnery Material
1920
UK
ADM 186/251
Progress in Gunnery Material
1921
UK
ADM 186/241
Grand Fleet Dreyer Table Committee, 1918-1919: reports
1919
UK
ADM 186/243
Reports on Interned German Vessels: Gunnery Materials
1920
UK
ADM 137/2028
Spotting Rules, 1916
1916
UK
ADM 186/383
German Navy: War Vessels, Naval Ordnance, Torpedoes, Mines, etc
1917
UK
ADM 1/8464/181
Various patents in connection with fire control apparatus, including Captain F C Dreyer's patent
1916
UK
ADM 186/878
Handbook of fire control in torpedo boat destroyers of 'M' class and later, and flotilla leaders
1915
UK
ADM 116/2068
Fire Control Requirements' Committee
1919
UK
T 1/11339
Admiralty. Payment of reward to Capt. J.T. Dreyer, Royal Artillery, for an invention (improved sight for naval guns).
1911
UK
T 1/11576
Admiralty. Purchase of a gun control patent from Messrs. Evershed and Vignolles, Ltd.
1913
UK
T 161/36
INVENTIONS. General: Inventions of Admiral Phipps Hornby and Mr. Kilroy communicated to United States Government by Messrs. Evershed and Vignoles
1920
UK
ADM 137/4052
Grand Fleet orders and gunnery and torpedo orders
1915-1918
UK
DSIR 23/1191
Fire control ranging and spotting by aircraft in naval actions
1918
US
N/A
Fire Control Notes
US Naval Reserve
1940

Tactics & Procedures

UK
ADM 186/17

German Naval Warfare: scouting and guard duties

German Naval Warfare: destroyer tactics

German Tactical Orders

1915
UK
ADM 186/4
Cruiser Manual
1911
UK
ADM 186/595
Grand Fleet Battle Orders, Aug 1914 - May 1916
1919
UK
ADM 186/596
Grand Fleet Battle Orders, May 1916 - Nov 1918
1919
UK
ADM 186/597
Grand Fleet Battle Orders, 31 May, 1916
1919
UK
ADM 186/615
Grand Fleet Gunnery and Torpedo Memoranda on Naval actions 1914-1918
1922
UK
ADM 186/633
Manoeuvring instructions for the High Sea Fleet: draft
1914

Signals & Communication

UK
ADM 186/727
Handbook for W/T receiving sets models C, CA, KC, KE and L
1917
UK
ADM 186/810
Wireless telegraphy handbook for type 10 (Submarine) sets
1915
UK
ADM 186/811
Handbook for Type 12 W/T sets
1917
UK
ADM 186/812
Handbook for Type 31 W/T sets
1918
UK
ADM 186/813
Handbook for Marconi ½ Kw. W/T set fitted in small fleet auxiliaries
1920
UK
ADM 186/655
Vocabulary Signals
1908
UK
ADM 186/657
Fleet Signal Book
1906
UK
ADM 186/659
Flotilla Signal Book
1908
UK
ADM 186/667
Handbook of Signalling 1913
1913
UK
N/A
Handbook of Signalling 1918
1918
UK
ADM 186/668
Flotilla Signal Book, Vol I. 1913 (semi-final proof)
1913
UK
ADM 186/669
Fleet Signal Book: proof copy
1913
UK
ADM 186/670
Signal Manual: final proof
1913
UK
ADM 186/671
Vocabulary Signal Book
1913
UK
ADM 186/673
Signal letters of ships of all countries
1914
UK
ADM 186/675
Vocabulary Signal Book
1914
UK
ADM 186/681
Vocabulary Signal Book 1913 and local geographical table for Australia and New Zealand, 1915
1915
UK
ADM 186/688
Auxiliary Vessels Signal Book
1915
UK
ADM 186/690
Vocabulary Signal Book No. 1
1915
UK
ADM 186/691
Vocabulary Signal Book No. 2
1915
UK
ADM 186/692
Vocabulary Signal Book
1915
UK
ADM 186/699
General signal book, including Grand Fleet cruising dispositions, organisations and instructions for manoeuvring by W/T
1915
UK
ADM 186/706
Aircraft Signal Book
1916
UK
ADM 186/708
Supplementary Signal Book
1916
UK
ADM 137/4323
Translations of handbooks on W/T regulations, navy signal book, scouting signal code and personnel of German Navy
1913-1918
UK
ADM 186/4438
Austrian Imperial Navy: handbook on handling and maintenance of ships armaments
1900
UK
ADM 186/4439
Austrian Imperial Navy: signal and manoeuvring handbook part 1
1908
UK
ADM 186/729
General Signal Book
1917
UK
ADM 186/744
Allied Signal Manual 1918
1918