Royal Corps of Naval Constructors

The Royal Corps of Naval Constructors was the name given to the civilians responsible for the design of British warships and supervision of their construction in Royal Dockyards. Established by Order in Council of 23 August, 1883, the corps was headed by a Director of Naval Construction who was also the principal adviser on warship construction to the Board of Admiralty.

Entry

As of 1900 there were three ways to join the R.C.N.C.:

1. Joining as an Engineer Student and attending the Royal Naval Engineering College, Keyham. Two "Students" in Naval Construction were selected from those "who have shown special ability at the end of their second year of service". They completed the five years at Keyham, then went to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, as Probationary Assistant Constructors for three years of study.
2. Shipwright Apprentices in the dockyards deemed suitable could be transferred to the Royal Naval Engineering College for a fifth year of study after four in the dockyard schools. They too then moved on to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, for three years.
3. Candidates not more than 25 years of age on the 30 November before the examination in the following June could apply to take the annual Greenwich examination. If they succeeded in obtaining First or Second Class Professional Certificates they would be offered appointments as Assistant Constructors, Third Class.

See Also

• Director of Naval Construction
• Instructions for the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors

Bibliography

• Brown, D. K. (1984). A Century of Naval Construction: The History of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors, 1883-1983. London: Conway Maritime Press Ltd. ISBN 085177282X.