ROYAL NAVY INTELLIGENCE

Naval Intelligence embraces all disciplines within the Royal Navy and other services to deliver intelligence to Commanders on operations. Intelligence is critical in supporting warfighting and getting the right information to the right people at the right time so that crucial decisions, that affect lives, can be made. Everything could depend on the speed, skill, accuracy and powers of concentration to keep one step ahead of the enemy. 

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The Naval Intelligence Department was founded in 1887 for the collection of foreign intelligence, and dealt with issues of strategy and defence. The intelligence structure was re-organised and became the Naval Intelligence Division (NID) in 1912 as a component part of the Admiralty. During the First World War operations were directed from Room 40 at the Admiralty; then during the Second World War from Room 39. One of its most famous wartime intelligence officers was Ian Fleming, right hand man to Godfrey, the director of Naval Intelligence.

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The Naval Intelligence Division remained the intelligence arm of the Admiralty until the establishment of a unified Defence Intelligence staff in 1964.