Catalogue description Admiralty: Directorate of Operational Research and predecessors: Reports

A comparatively new and successful military science, Operational Research, came into existence at the Admiralty when in June 1942, after forming research groups both in Anti-Aircraft Command and Coastal Command, Professor P.M.S. Blackett was appointed Chief Advisor Operational Research by the Board of Admiralty.

The original purpose of Naval Operational Research can be broadly defined as the quantitative study of warfare by the analysis of past operations, to find means of improving the weapons, tactics and strategy of future operations. As in his previous appointments Professor Blackett gathered together a team of eminent civilian scientists whose function as a group was to tender advice to the professional naval staff on strategical and tactical problems. The group was directly responsible to the Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff.

The Directorate of Naval Operational Studies originated in the appointment as chief adviser operational research in 1942 of Professor P M S Blackett, who had previously formed research groups both in Anti-Aircraft Command and Coastal Command. He gathered together a group of civilian scientists to tender advice to the professional naval staff on strategical and tactical problems, directly responsible to the vice-chief of the naval staff. In 1944 the group became the Department of Naval Operational Research, in 1946 the Department of Operational Research, in 1965 the Directorate of Operational Analysis (RN) and in 1968 acquired its present title. Its reports are in ADM 219