British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the permanent and professional armed forces of the United Kingdom.
Composition
HM Naval Service
HM Naval Service comprises the navy of the United Kingdom. It is overseen by the Ministry of Defense. Colloquially it is called the Royal Navy but officially that is a subcomponent of the service.
The subcomponents are:
- Royal Navy
- Royal Marines
- Royal Fleet Auxiliary
- Royal Naval Reserve
- Royal Marines Reserve
- Naval Careers Service
The Royal Navy and the ministerial Admiralty and Marine Affairs Office were established in 1546 by Henry VIII. Anne reformed the latter into the Admiralty in 1707. Churchill established the Ministry of Defense to which the Admiralty was subordinate. Finally, the Defence Council was established in 1964; ministerial duties were placed in the subordinate Admiralty Board; management duties were removed to a modern and professional Navy Board.
British Army
The British Army comprises the land military of the United Kingdom. It is overseen by the Ministry of Defense.
Historically, the English and British armies were commanded by a commander-in-chief.
There was originally a distinction between the army and the board of ordnance. The board was comprised of a master-general and several principal officers. It was responsible for defense infrastructure and munitions logistics, and oversaw the artillery and engineer corps.
During the reign of Victoria, the board of ordnance was dissolved. While the commander-in-chief took over the corps, the administrative and logistics duties were reassigned to the War Office. The secretary of state for war was established to oversee the office. The secretary and commander-in-chief were variably equal and competing offices.
In 1904, the organizational model of the Royal Navy was borrowed; the title of commander-in-chief was dissolved; an army council was established to be chaired by the secretary; an imperial general staff was established, led by a chief of the general staff, and charged with management.
Churchill established the Ministry of Defense to which the War Office was subordinate. Finally, the Defence Council was established in 1964; the army council was reformed into the subordinate Army Board.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) comprises the air and space forces of the United Kingdom. It is overseen by the Ministry of Defense.
Originally the RAF was overseen by the Air Ministry, a secretary of state for air, and an air council.
Churchill established the Ministry of Defense to which the Air Ministry was subordinate. Finally, the Defence Council was established in 1964; the air council was reformed into the subordinate Air Force Board.