View source for Chief Engineer (Royal Navy)

'''Chief Engineer''' was a commissioned rank of the [[Engineer Branch (Royal Navy)|Engineer Branch]] of the [[Royal Navy]].

==History==
The rank of Chief Engineer was established by Order in Council of 27 February, 1847. Appointed by commission, they ranked with but after [[Master (Royal Navy)|Masters]]. The rank was divided into three classes: First, Second, and Third.{{UKOrdersinCouncilI|p. 384}}

By Order in Council of 4 April, 1856, the Chief Engineers were reunited into one class.{{UKOrdersinCouncilI|p. 428}}

In the ''Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions'' of 6 August, 1861, Chief Engineers under eight years' seniority ranked with {{LieutRN}}s of under eight years' seniority, and Chief Engineers of over eight years' seniority ranked with Lieutenants of over eight years' seniority, according to date of Commission.<ref>''Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions'' (1861). p. 29.</ref>

From 1 April, 1877, the number of Chief Engineers was increased from 170 to 220,{{UKOrdersinCouncilIV|p. 59}} reaffirmed in 1882.{{UKOrdersinCouncilIV|p. 147}}

From 1 April, 1903, the rank of Chief Engineer was re-styled {{EngLieutRN}} by Order in Council of 28 March, 1903.{{UKOrdersinCouncilIX|p. 33}}

==Pay==
As established in 1847:{{UKOrdersinCouncilI|p. 385}}

{|
| Class.
| Sea Pay Per Month.
| Harbour Service Per Month.
| 1
| 20''s''.
| 11''s''.
|-
| 2
| 16''s''.
| 8''s''. 16''d''.
|-
| 3
| 14''s''.
| 7''s''. 14''d''.
|}

As altered in 1856.

Full pay:{{UKOrdersinCouncilI|p. 430}}

{|
| 
| Per Year.
|-
| Chief Engineers above 20 years' service, if qualified for 1st or 2nd rates
| £328 10''s''.
|-
| Chief Engineers, 15 years' service, if qualified for 1st or 2nd rates
| £282 17''s''.
|-
| Chief Engineers, 10 years' service
| £237 5''s''.
|-
| Chief Engineers, 6 years' service
| £209 17''s''. 6''d''.
|-
| Chief Engineers, less than 6 years' service
| £182 10''s''.
|}

Half pay:{{UKOrdersinCouncilI|pp. 430-431}}

{|
| 
| Per Year.
|-
| Above 20 years' service as Inspectors and Chief Engineers, or as Chief Engineers, if qualified for 1st or 2nd Rates
| £237
|-
| Above 15 years' service as Inspectors and Chief Engineers, or Chief Engineers, if qualified for 1st or 2nd rates
| £182 10''s''.
|-
| Above 10 years' service as Inspectors and Chief Engineers, or as Chief Engineers
| £146
|-
| Above 5 years' service as Inspectors and Chief Engineers, or as Chief Engineers
| £109 10''s''.
|-
| Under 5 years' service as Inspectors and Chief Engineers, or as Chief Engineers
| £91 5''s''.
|}

In 1877 full pay was raised:{{UKOrdersinCouncilIV|p. 59}}

{|
|
| Per Day.
|-
| Under 5 years' service
| 13''s''.
|-
| Under 8
| 14''s''.
|-
| Under 11
| 15''s''.
|-
| Under 14
| 16''s''.
|-
| Under 17
| 17''s''.
|-
| Under 20
| 18''s''.
|-
| Above 20
| 19''s''.
|}

For each additional year of service 1''s''. a day more until the maximum £1 2''s''. was reached.

Half Pay remained the same except for Chief Engineers under five years' service, which was raised from 6''s''. a day to 6''s''. 6''d''.

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{UKOrdersinCouncilI}}
*{{UKOrdersinCouncilIV}}
*{{UKOrdersinCouncilIX}}
*''The Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions for the Government of Her Majesty's Naval Service''. London: For Her Majesty's Stationary Office. 1862.
{{refend}}

[[Category:Royal Navy Officer Ranks]]