View source for Assistant Engineer (Royal Navy)

'''Assistant Engineer''' was a rank in the [[Engineer Branch (Royal Navy)|Engineer Branch]] of the [[Royal Navy]] from 1847 to 1903.  

==History==
The rank of Assistant Engineer was established in 1847 and divided into three classes. They were appointed by Order and ranked with, but after, [[Second Master (Royal Navy)|Second Masters]].{{UKOrdersinCouncilI|p. 384}} By authority of Order in Council of 16 April, 1861, Assistant Engineer, 1st Class was renamed [[Engineer (Royal Navy)|Engineer]]; Assistant Engineer, 2nd Class became Assistant Engineer 1st Class; and Assistant Engineer, 3rd Class became Assistant Engineer, 2nd Class.<ref>Circular, No. 472 dated 7 May, 1861. Docket dated 12 May, 1861. {{TNA|ADM 1/5765.}}</ref> Under the ''Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions'' of 1861, Assistant Engineer, 1st Class was a rank nominated by commission and Assistant Engineer, 2nd Class, by order. Both ranked with Midshipmen.<ref>''The Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions'' (1861). pp. 29, 46.</ref>

From 1 April, 1877, the ranks of Assistant Engineer of the First and Second Class were merged into one class, styled Assistant Engineer.  After four years' service they were allowed to pass for the rank of {{EngRN}} and after five years' service were to be eligible for promotion.  They were to rank with but after {{SubRN}}s.{{UKOrdersinCouncilIV|pp. 58-61}}

The rank of Assistant Engineer was re-styled {{EngSubRN}} from 1 April, 1903.{{UKOrdersinCouncilIX|p. 33}}

==Pay==
On creation in 1847 the pay of the classes of rank was as follows:{{UKOrdersinCouncilI|p. 385}}

{|
| Class.
| Sea Pay Per Month.
| Harbour Service Per Month.
|-
| 1
| £12
| £6 12''s''.
|-
| 2
| £9 10''s''.
| £5 4''s''.
|-
| 3
| £8
| £4 4''s''.
|}

In 1861, with the rank now in two classes, the pay was as follows:<ref>''The Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions'' (1861). Appendix: p. 148.</ref>

Assistant Engineer, 1st Class:

{|
| Service.
| Year of 356 Days.
| One Day.
|-
| Sea Pay and when employed in Dockyards.
| £136 17''s''. 6''d''.
| 7''s''. ''6''.
|-
| Harbour Service Pay.
| £82 2''s''. 6''d''.
| 4''s''. 6''d''.
|}

Assistant Engineer, 2nd Class:

{|
| Service.
| Year of 356 Days.
| One Day.
|-
| Sea Pay and when employed in Dockyards.
| £109 10''s''.
| 6''s''.
|-
| Harbour Service Pay.
| £63 17''s''. 6''d''.
| 3''s''. 6''d''.
|}

Under the Order in Council of 22 February, 1870, the term "Harbour Service" was replaced by "Half Pay".{{UKOrdersinCouncilIII|p. 287}}


With the merging of the two classes in 1877 the pay was altered slightly:{{UKOrdersinCouncilIV|p. 60}}

Full Pay:

{|
|-
| 
| Year of 365 days.
| One day.
|-
| Under One Year.
| £109 10''s''.
| 6''s''.
|-
| Over One Year.
| £136 17''s''. 6''d''.
| 7''s''. 6''d''.
|}

The basic rate of half pay was raised by six pence a day to four shillings:

{|
|-
| 
| Year of 365 days.
| One day.
|-
| Under Three Years.
| £73
| 4''s''.
|-
| Over Three Years.
| £82 2''s''. 6''d''.
| 4''s''. 6''d''.
|}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{UKOrdersinCouncilI}}
*{{UKOrdersinCouncilIV}}
*{{UKOrdersinCouncilIX}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Royal Navy Officer Ranks]]