Supply Officer (Royal Navy) - Employment Since 1950

Employment Since 1950

Owing to a shortage of Fleet Air Arm pilots in the 1950s, four supply officers qualified as fixed-wing pilots; both Brian Brown and Andrew Richmond rose to flag rank in the 1980s. There was a similar, but short-lived, scheme in the late 1960s when at least three supply officers were trained as helicopter aircrew; at least one "pusser pilot" served in a number of flying appointments.

Typically, in the 1970s and 1980s, a commando carrier such as HMS Bulwark would have nine Supply Officers on board led by a Commander (S), including two borne for the duties of Captain's Secretary - a Lieutenant-Commander and Captain's Assistant Secretary - a Lieutenant or Sub-Lieutenant. A County Class guided missile destroyer had three Supply Officers on board, one as Captain's Secretary, and a Leander Class frigate, Hecla Class survey ship and nuclear submarine just the one Supply Officer in "supply charge", usually a senior Lieutenant (S), with a junior seaman officer given the additional role of "Correspondence Officer". A Frigate Squadron Leader had a Lieutenant-Commander as Squadron Supply Officer and a junior Lieutenant or Sub-Lieutenant as Captain's Secretary. Supply Officers rarely served in ships with a ship's company of fewer than 100. Some supply branch Captains and Commodores have been appointed in command of large naval shore establishments such as HMS Cochrane, HMS Nelson, HMS Raleigh and HMS Terror.

In the 1980s, one former submariner supply officer served successfully as First Lieutenant (Executive Officer) of a frigate. From 2004-2007, Lieutenant-Commander (Commander from 2006) Heber Ackland served as Equerry to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.