Royal Naval Engineering College, Plymouth

"We need as many engineers as possible. As there is a lack of them, invite to this study, persons of about eighteen years who have already studied the necessary sciences. Relieve the parents of taxes and grant the scholars sufficient means".
Emperor Constantine the Great. 4th Century AD.

Year

Event

1670

Royal Navy formed (Charles II)

1712

Newcomen's first static steam engine (mine pumping)

1733

Portsmouth Naval Academy opened.

1757

Sextant invented

1775

Watt's steam engine invented

1780

Communication by coded flags introduced to Royal Navy

1790

World's first steam ship experiment

1795

Hydrographic Department of Admiralty founded

1801

First commercial steam-propelled ship Charlotte Dundas

1805

Battle of Trafalgar

1812

War of 1812 - GB & USA (to 1814)
Bell's Comet conducted trials on The Clyde

1815

Battle of WATERLOO

1819

First Transatlantic crossing by ship with steam propulsion (SS Savannah)

1822

RN "COMET" entered service (238tons/80hp/4psi steam)

1825

Stockton - Darlington Railway opened with Stephenson's "Rocket"

1826

Ampere's 'Electrodynamics' published.

1827

First steamships commissioned into RN as "HMS".

1829

Total of 12 paddlewheel steamships in RN service
Engineers' Boys in steamships for 5 years' training at sea as Indentured Apprentices

1831

Lt. Wall RN published "suggestions for the establishment of a Naval University (at Buckingham House, later Palace), with some observations on the formation of a Corps of Naval Engineers"

1833

Factory Act passed

1834

Cdr. Otway RN published "Elementary Treatise on Steam", forecasting need for a "training school to educate Engineers beyond mere engine-men"

1836

27 steam vessels in Navy List. Built by Great Western (I. K. Brunel)
Naval Instructors introduced at Warrant rank

1837

Queen Victoria's Coronation
Telegraph invented (Samuel Morse)
Steam ships of Post Office Packet Service transferred to RN.
Order in Council establishes Engineers as officers "next below Carpenters"

1838

Steam ships cross Atlantic under sustained power- Sirius and Great Western
Training scheme established for Engineers' Boys (apprentices) in Dockyard workshops: 1 year Dockyard, 1 year sea, 1 year Dockyard.

1839

First sea-going ship Archimedes driven by propeller

1842

80 paddlewheel steamships in RN service as auxiliaries

1843

SS Great Britain launched (Brunel)
Naval Cadets introduced into the Royal Navy
Barque "SULPHUR" provided as accommodation for Engineers' Boys under training at Woolwich Dockyard
Dockyard Schools founded for training of Dockyard Apprentices, also attended by Engineers' Boys.

1844

First Morse telegraph demonstrated

1845

Archimedes demonstrated screw propulsion

1846

Cunard formed first trans-Atlantic steamship line

1848

Public Health Act passed
Communist manifesto published by Marx & Engels

1849

Water hydraulic gear fitted to cranes (Armstrong)

1851

Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace, London

1852

Commodore Perry visits Japan

1853

Crimean War started

1854

Charge of the Light Brigade

1856

Lignum vitae stern-tube bearings introduced

1857

Indian Mutiny
HMS ILLUSTRIOUS to Haslar for training of Naval Cadets (age 13+)

1859

HMS ILLUSTRIOUS replaced by HMS BRITANNIA afloat at Portsmouth
Last wooden-hulled RN battleship built (HMS Victoria)
First commercial production of petroleum
First ironclad warship Gloire launched (France)

1860

HMS WARRIOR commissioned

1861

April - Start of American Civil War

1862

US Ironclads, Merrimac and Monitor fight in Chesapeake Bay

1863

RN Engineers adopted purple stripes on sleeves
Engineer Students introduced (to replace Boys).
First submarine Hunley (CSA) to sink a warship
Training reviewed for Dockyard Schools at Woolwich, Sheerness, Portsmouth and Devonport.
Entry at age 15 years, twice yearly by examination:
 - 6 years in Dockyard factories, including 2 evenings per week at School.
 - Naval uniform and discipline after passed final exam.and entered R.N.
 - Messing separately at sea. 
Naval Cadet training in HMS BRITANNIA moved to Dartmouth

1864

Self-propelled torpedo demonstrated (Whitehead)
Royal School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering opened at South Kensington (now Victoria & Albert Museum)

1865

American Civil War ends (July)
Morse Code communication by flashing light introduced to RN

1867

All men over 21 given vote in UK

1868

Engine Room Artificers introduced to RN to do more of the physical work of operation, maintenance & repair in place of Engineers

1869

Suez Canal opened
Cutty Sark launched
Union Pacific & Central Pacific Railroads linked

1870

Franco-Prussian War started
Rugby Football Union founded
Prototype steam/steel/shell battleship launched (HMS DEVASTATION)

1872

Rugby started at Devonport by Engineer Students.
Universal education started in UK for 5 - 13 year-olds

1873

Royal Naval College opened at Greenwich for training of engineers, constructors and military officers: all messing separately. 
South Kensington closed
Evaporator installed in Crocodil (France)

1875

Hydraulic gear fitted to fore-turret of Thunderer
Cooper-Key Committee investigated "...the most scientific and practical management of engines and the highest mechanical skill for their maintenance"
Recommended adoption of 1863 regulations including:
- equality of pay, rank and promotion for Engineers
- abolition of separate Engineers' messes
- incorporation of Engineers into the Military Branch (but not Command)
- greater scrutiny of Engineer Student candidates' social background
- establishment of a Residence for Engineer Students in the Dockyards 
"... to become accustomed to the discipline which, in many ways, they find irksome on first appointment to a man-of-war"

1876

Civil Service examinations held nation-wide for officer entry
First telephone message passed (Bell)

1877

July - Uniforms and naval discipline introduced for Engineer Students.
Dec - HMS MARLBOROUGH opened at Portsmouth as Engineer Students' hostel.  Students entered at 15 - 16 yr olds for 6 years training in Dockyard workshops

Mainly practical instruction
- fitting & turning - 18 months
- other craft skills - 18 months 
- erecting machinery 
- fitting afloat - 30 months 
- machinery trials 
- drawing office 6 months
Then to sea as Acting Assistant Engineers (Probationary). 
Selected students sent to RNC Greenwich for 8 months mainly for theory

1878

Dec - Zulu Wars started

1879

First UK telephone exchange
Battle of Rorke's Drift (Royal Engineer in command)

1880

July - Engineering College opened "without ceremony" at Keyham, Devonport as "training school for Engineer Students" 35 students transferred from MARLBOROUGH at Portsmouth.  Later to be known as RNEC Keyham
RN Engineering Branch strength 6,000 men.
First refrigerated cargo ship (Strathleven)

1881

Training in electrical generation introduced for RN Engineers

1884

Impulse-reaction steam turbine patented (Parsons) 
Steam "trawlers" introduced

1886

First oil tanker Gluckauf launched
Contra-rotating propellor patented (Ericssson)
103 Engineer Students remained under training in MARLBOROUGH.
Theoretical lectures started in RNEC Keyham (in place of Dockyard School)

1888

Kodak box camera patented
Engineer Student (ES) made a naval rank. MARLBOROUGH closed. 
Academic staff appointed to Keyham for 146 E.S. Course reduced from 6 to 5 years
"...there are obvious disadvantages which any university labours under compared with Keyham... perhaps more than anything, no other training school could enforce the strict training discipline so noticeable at Keyham, and which is greatly responsible for its efficiency" (anonymous college author)

1889

Institute of Marine Engineers founded
Impulse steam turbine patented (Laval)
RN Barracks, Devonport opened

1892

HMS SPIDER (525 tons/3000 hp) attached to Keyham to provide steaming and maintenance practice

1893

X-rays discovered.
Prototype Diesel engine produced (Diesel)
Labour Party formed in UK
Annual intake of Engineer Students increased from 40 to 60
British Merchant Shipping Act passed

1895

Direct Entry Engineers introduced to meet rising needs.
Separate Engineers' Mess at RNC Greenwich abolished.

1896

Radio transmission demonstrated (Marconi).
Decision taken to build BRNC Dartmouth

1897

Turbinia demonstrated steam turbine propulsion (Parsons)
Total strength of RN Engineers about 950.
South Extension to Keyham College opened.
"Golden Age" of Keyham Rugby begins (until 1899)

1898

Spanish-American War in Carribean & Phillipines.
First (gasoline/electric) submarine (Holland)
Steam "drifters" introduced
HMS SHARPSHOOTER (735 tons/4500 hp) replaced SPIDER at Keyham for steaming and maintenance practice

1899

Boer War started. (to 1902)
US Navy integrated Executive and Engineer Officers 

1900

RN Engineering Branch 26,000 strong
Contract signed for BRNC Dartmouth

1901

Queen Victoria died (64 yr reign).
First Transatlantic radio signals (Marconi)
Keyham sports ground opened

1902

Admiral Fisher became First Sea Lord.
RN Engineers about 1500 strong.
First RN submarines arrived at Portsmouth
Dec - Selborne-Fisher Scheme announced: "One system of supply, entry and training...Homogenous training of Executive, Engineer and Marine Officers. . To enter the service as Naval Cadets between ages of 12 & 13... specialization to be definite and final"
i.e. to remain (N), (G), (T), and (E) specialists for whole career

1903

First flight by Kitty Hawk (Wright Bros.)
Mar - Military-style titles introduced for RN Engineers e.g." Engineer Lieutenant" with purple stripe inserted between gold.
Sept Royal Naval College Osborne, I.O.W.opened
- 2yrs (age 13 -15 
- 2yrs at BRNC (age 16-17)
- 3yrs at sea as Midshipmen (to age 20)
Engineer Captain appointed "in charge" of RNEC.Keyham establishing RNEC as a naval establishment, not Dockyard college

1904

Russo-Japanese War (to 1905)

1905

BRNC Dartmouth opened. First marine Diesel engine built (German)
Wireless communication introduced to RN.
"Douglas" Report published, with public disagreements on Engineer Officers' status, training and uniforms.
"Cawdor" memorandum (by Fisher) directed: "...all officers' duties to be carried out by Executive officers of common entry and training... specialised for different duties without separating into permanent and distinct Branches...All will be equal and Executive officers". i.e. all eligible to command ships - no purple stripe to distinguish Engineers.
Last "Old Scheme" enters Keyham for 5 year course as Engineer Students (to 1910)

1906

First Diesel / electric submarine (German)

1907

First Isle of Man TT motorcycle race

1909

First Cross-Channel flight (Bleriot)

1910

First aircraft launch from warship
RNEC Keyham closed pending arrival of "New Scheme" (E) Specialists in 1913

1912

Balkan Wars started
Royal Flying Corps formed - Military & Naval Wings.
Special Entry Scheme started for 18year-old Naval Cadet entry from schools, due to shortage of junior officers from RNCs. Entire 18 months' training given at sea

1913

July- RNEC Keyham re-opened. First "New Scheme" Lieutenants (E) joined. Hence:

Training at all RNCs included
- 1,346 hrs engineering (incl. practical work) 22%
- 1,023 hrs science 17%
- 249 hrs seamanship 4%
- 258 hrs navigation & pilotage 4%
- 3,222 hrs general education 53%
- 6,096 hrs total training

1914

Panama Canal opened.
July - Royal Naval Air Service formed. 
Aug - War started against Germany
BRNC Dartmouth emptied.
Special Entry Cadets (N,G,T) sent to RNEC Keyham for 3 - 5 month course. 
Sept - Executive Captain appointed in charge of RNEC Keyham

1915

Jan Engineering Branch officers given "executive curl" on stripes and military status.
June BRNC Dartmouth Entry cadets overflow to RNEC.
Order in Council creates 5 Branches: Military, Medical, Accountant, Instructor and Artisan.
Dardanelles/Gallipoli Campaign

1916

Battle of Jutland

1917

First landing by aircraft on warship - Sopwith Pup on HMS Furious
Russian Revolution and Civil War starts
Insufficient volunteers as (E) specialists from BRNC Dartmouth - Special Entry Scheme expanded to make up (X) & (E) numbers

1918

Jan - Training of (E) volunteers re-started at RNEC Keyham ( K Classes ) - 6 month engineering course followed by appointment to sea.
April - Royal Air Force formed: amalgamation of RFC & RNAS
First purpose-built aircraft carrier completed (HMS ARGUS).
Nov - Armistice
Universal Old Age Pension introduce in UK

1919

First Transatlantic flight (Alcock & Brown).
Royal Australian & Royal Canadian Navies formed.
First all-welded ship Fullagar (Cammell Laird)
March - First (E) volunteers started at RNC Greenwich - G Classes. 
Oct - Last Special Entry Cadets left RNEC Keyham.
G (Greenwich) Classes entered RNEC Keyham for training on 1913 - 14 scheme.
For (E) Specialists
 - 2 yrs at RNC Osborne 
 - 2 yrs at BRNC Dartmouth (Cadets)
 - 6 to 9 months Fleet-time (Cadets / Midshipmen)
 - 6 months RNC Greenwich
 - 15 months RNEC Keyham, mainly theory.
Mates (E) (i.e. Artificers), started courses at RNEC Keyham.
'Instructor Officer' title introduced, mainly honours degree qualified

1920

League of Nations founded.
"Geddes Axe" made large reductions in RN officer numbers

1921

RNC Osborne closed

1922

May - Long Course introduced for (E) Specialists, modifying 1913-14 Scheme.
Purpose-built aircraft carrier USS Langley launched

1923

Fleet Air Arm formed: composite of RN & RAF personnel.
Mates(E) Course moved to RNC Greenwich

1924

First RADAR range-finding experiment

1925

The Great Betrayal
Military Branch split into Executive (Command stream) and Engineer (non-Command stream)
Mid (E) volunteers of 1922 / 23 / 24 Long Courses lost promised opportunity for Command, having been sent early to RNEC Keyham. Lack of training as Midshipmen at sea made transfer back to Executive (Command) specialisation unrealistic.
Long Course continued for (E) specialists after 1 year common training in Training Cruiser, entering RNEC Keyham as 18 yr old Midshipmen for 4 year course in general engineering, (including electrics). Left RNEC as 22 yr old S/Lts.
Engineers made to wear "more distinctive shade" of purple between gold stripes.
Most (E) specialists direct entry from "public" schools, few BRNC volunteers

1926

General Strike in UK

1928

Women of 21 allowed to vote
Talking cinema started

1929

First round-the-world airship flight (Zeppelin)

1930

Television introduced to Great Britain

1935

Italo-Abyssinian War started
Practical RADAR system demonstrated
Conversion course for OE Officers started at Whale Island - to manage Ordnance Artificers in place of (G) Specialists

1936

Keel of Queen Elizabeth laid - largest liner ever built (at 83,673 tons)
Spanish Civil War started
First powered flight of (twin-rotor) helicopter.
Keyham living and teaching conditions overcrowded preventing re-expansion of numbers in training after "Geddes Axe" cuts

1937

Fleet Air Arm formed. under joint RN & RAF control.
Manadon estate in North Plymouth bought by Admiralty

1939

May - Fleet Air Arm established under full RN control
Sept - Second World War starts
RNC Greenwich evacuated to Keyham.
BRNC Dartmouth evacuated to Eaton Hall
1940 Aeronautical Engineering introduced to all RNEC courses.
300 officers at Keyham in accommodation built for 150 on 8-term courses
- 1 term at Eaton Hall
- 7 terms at Keyham, of which 5 as Midshipmen and 2 as S/Lt.
Manadon site opened with temporary buildings, for eating and sleeping

1941

First flight of turbo-jet engine (Whittle).
Air engineering courses started at Manadon.
Dec - Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour

1942

Nuclear chain reaction achieved

1943

First programmable electronic computer (COLOSSUS) at Bletchley Park - 11 built in total, 2 transferred to GCHQ at end of war
Sea training re-started for RNEC courses.
Nov - Mids (A) RNVR (HNC level) started 6 month air engineering course at Manadon

1944

Jun - Normandy Landings.
Dec - Mids (E) RNVR (graduate level) course started

1945

May - VE Day.
700 officers under training at Keyham/Manadon; incl. 427 Mids (A) & 61 (E).
Instructional Block at Manadon completed.
Aug - First operational atomic bomb dropped (Hiroshima) - VJ Day - Second World War ends
UN founded.
Sept - RNEC Flight established at Roborough.
Dec - First "King's Sword" presented on completing training at RNEC

1946

Separate TAS and Electrical Branches formed
HMS WIZARD attached to RNEC for sea training of courses
Sept - Long A/E Conversion Course started to correct shortage of air engineers
Dec - RNEC commissioned as HMS THUNDERER with Captain "in Command

1947

May - S/Lts (E) (ex-ERAs) course returned to Manadon
Mids (A) & (E) RNVR courses ended
Electrical Officers joined RNEC prior to Cambridge University & Greenwich (London University External) B.Sc. courses

1948

Berlin airlift.
Branch List introduced, replacing Warrant Officers.
Sept - BRNC Dartmouth entry age raised from 13 to 16 yrs. iaw 1944 Education Act.
Special Entry at 18yrs. retained. Basic training included
 - 8 months in Cadet Training Ship
 - 8 months in Fleet as Midshipman.
RNEC 2 year Basic Course introduced:
 - 24 months RNEC "Basic Engineering Course"
 - 12 months at sea - practical marine engineering.
 - ...to be followed by a Specialist Course at RNEC

1949

USSR tests its first atomic bomb
Sept - Branch Officers (E)s' technical course started at RNEC (1 term)

1950

Korean War started (to 1953)

1951

April - Last Long Course (4 years duration, age 18-22, started in 1925) left RNEC.
Sept - First 1 year Specialist Course joined RNEC. 
  - ME, OE or AE. (Qualified as full members of the Institution / Institutes of Mechanical Engineers, Naval Architects, Marine Engineers, or Royal Aeronautical Society).
Option of 24 months advanced engineering "dagger" courses for selected officers at RNC Greenwich (ME,OE) or Cranfield (AE)

1952

First US hydrogen bomb test

1953

National Service graduates at RNEC for naval engineering training

1954

First nuclear-propelled submarine (USS Nautilus) launched
May - French surrender in Vietnam.
COST Committee recommended:
- abandonment of 16 year-old Cadet Entry.
- all Cadet Entry to be at ages 17 - 18 yrs.
- lowering of entry educational standards except for Electrical Cadets

1955

HMS VANGUARD (last battleship) mothballed.
March - Engineers' purple stripe & Electrical Officers' green stripe removed.
May COST training scheme started at BRNC:
- 2 terms BRNC
- 1 term Dartmouth Training Squadron
- 2 terms BRNC
- 1 term DTS
- 1 term BRNC
- 18 months Fleet time - watchkeeping certificates
followed by:
ES - 36 months Long Engineering Course
X - Sea Training
then C, G, ND, SM, H, TAS, P and O specialist "Long Courses"

1956

Transistor developed
First Transatlantic cable laid
First sea-going hovercraft demonstrated (Cockerill)
General List introduced (AFO 1/56) (Mansergh Committee)

1957

Jan - Special Duties List introduced, replacing Branch List.
First nuclear-powered surface vessel (Lenin)
Sputnik satellite launched (USSR)

1958

Direct-dial telephones introduced in UK
Jan - Supplementary List Air Cadets to RNEC for 1 term basic training.
Jul - RNEC Manadon wardroom block opened
Sept COST 3-year Long Engineering Course started at RNEC
Sept Pilot course for London University External B.Sc.(Eng) started at RNEC followed by 1 year Application Course.
Murray Committee reported: "...did not believe that there is any convincing evidence that higher intelligence and higher academic performance are incompatible with the possession of good personal qualities and leadership potential... basic scientific and engineering knowledge in X officers, no less than E and L officers, are rapidly appreciating asset... also been impressed by the practice of the American and Canadian (and Russian) Navies... which now take all their officers in training to the level of a university degree in what may be called liberal engineering studies".
Naval Cadet entry qualifications restored to 2 Advanced levels

1959

Vietnam War started
Nov - Keyham re-opened as Dockyard Technical College & Constructors' Training Office.
First Polaris missile-armed SSBN George Washington launched (USN)

1960

European Free Trade Association formed
Sept - First 'Murray Scheme' course started at BRNC.
- 1yr BRNC Dartmouth 18 - 19 yrs
- 1yr Fleet-time (Midshipman) 19 - 20
Dec - Last Supplementary List Air Cadets left RNEC Manadon

1961

LASER demonstrated
Berlin Wall built.
Weapons & Radio (WR) Branch created from OE & Electrical Branches.
Dec. - US troops to Vietnam

1962

Aug - Engineering Degree Course introduced fully at RNEC (to match Murray Scheme):
 - 3yrs RNEC Manadon
 - 1yr Application Course at RNEC ME/MESM/WR/AE
SD Officers' courses at RNEC Manadon in ME, H, AE & OE sub-specializations.
London (Greenwich) & Cambridge University graduates joined Application Courses at RNEC Manadon "It's hardly surprising that we were completely de-navalized after virtually 3 years out of the Service, during which time we were exposed to every sort of reactionary influence. Naturally it has been difficult to re-adjust ourselves to the Navy again (some doubt if we ever will completely...!) - Cambridge graduate W&R officer. RNEC Magazine Autumn 1963.
Direct Graduate Entry (DGE) officers joined RNEC Manadon

1963

Indonesian Confrontation (to 1966).
Geo-synchronous communications satellite launched (US). 
First RN SSN (HMS DREADNOUGHT) commissioned.
Royal Naval Engineering Service (RNES) formed.
Keyham site vacated by Navy

1964

"Healey" Defence Review. CVA.01 cancelled. Strategic base withdrawals.
First female student officer joined RNEC (for air engineering course).
RNEC Manadon Engineering Diploma Course started (Mech. & Elect.)

1965

Engineering Branch ("Big E") formed
W&R Branch became WE Sub-Branch
First Manadon (London Univ. External) graduates in electrical engineering.
Manadon degree courses recognised by CNAA

1966

Manadon wardroom accommodation completed (for 380 officers)

1967

First RN SSBN (HMS RESOLUTION) commissioned
World's largest oil-spill (Torrey Canyon)
Proposal for Tri-Service "Royal Defence Academy" to provide engineering training of officers of all three Services abandoned.
Supplementary List graduate (DGE) ME officers' training started at SULTAN

1968

First UK heart transplant

1970

Fleet Chief (Warrant) rank introduced.
Daily rum ration abolished
Last London Univ. external degree exams taken at RNEC Manadon

1971

Advanced Marine Engineering Course transferred to RNEC from RNC Greenwich

1973

March - Engineering Branch Development (EBD) started, leading to transfer of "heavy electrics" from WE back to ME sub-specialists.
RNEC Manadon accommodated about 400 officers

1974

First RN-designed aero gas turbine-powered warships commissioned: destroyer (HMS SHEFFIELD) and frigate (HMS AMAZON)

1975

April - Vietnam War ended.
Principal Warfare Officers' (PWO) scheme started.
Sea Harrier brought into service.
RNES merged with Royal Corps of Naval Constructors (RCNC)

1976

Advanced ME (Dagger) Course recognised by CNAA for award of M.Sc.

1978

Sept - New Naval Engineering Degree B.Sc.Course introduced at RNEC Manadon to produce "Systems Engineers". Hence:
- 1 term at BRNC Dartmouth
- 1 term in Dartmouth Training Ship
- 6 months in Fleet, followed by Fleetboard examination
- 3 years degree course at RNEC
- 1 year Application Course at RNEC & specialist branch "school"

1979

EBD completed. ME sub-specialists responsible for electrical systems.
First "Through Deck Cruiser" (HMS INVINCIBLE) commissioned

1981

First graduates of new RNEC Manadon Naval Engineering Degree course
Special Duties (SD) officers provided 30% of total engineer officers
SD (E) officers receive sub-specialist (AE,ME,WE) training at RNEC qualifying them as Technician Engineers of main national Engineering Institutions

1982

April - Falklands Campaign starts

1983

RNEC Manadon naval engineering degree course revised to award BEng, open to suitably qualified X officers with Operational Analysis course option
July - HM Queen visits RNEC

1985

RNEC Keyham building demolished.
Maritime Defence Technology courses introduced at RNEC Manadon Diploma & MSc, for E and X officer graduates.
Warfare Technology module of Principal Warfare Officers Course introduced

1987

Ro-Ro ferry Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes & sinks

1990

Berlin Wall demolished

1994

Electrically driven Azipod thrusters first installed in icebreaker (Uikku)

1995

RNEC Manadon closed - RN ceases to train graduate-level engineers in-house. 
Training transferred to civilian universities and RN specialist "schools"