Logistics Department
The Logistics Department in a modern warship sits at the forefront of the Ship's activity. Whatever the ship may be tasked to do, there will always be members of the Logistics Department providing input at a critical point in the action. This is the case whether landing a disaster relief party or, more routinely, entertaining dignitaries or despatching the Ship's mail. It is the Logistics Department's responsibility to ensure the Ship can remain 'On Task' by ensuring sustainability.
Supporting a warship the size of HMS Ark Royal is a Logistics Department consisting of around 160 personnel. It is lead by the Logistics Department Management Team. The department's aim is to support and sustain the Ship's operational effectiveness. All military tasks, operations or peacetime evolutions are underpinned by good logistics to ensure the Ship remains an operationally successful and versatile unit. This is achieved by three basic functional departments:
Providers (formerly known as Chefs) in Catering Services ensure that the crew is provided with a varied, balanced and healthy selection of meals, 3 times a day. In some cases due to operational reasons, this may mean that meals are being produced round the clock. To achieve this there are 4 Galleys on board, these are the Main and Wardroom Galleys feeding the majority and also there is a Captain's Galley, an ACRB (Air Crew refreshments bar). In addition, there is also a Bakery on the ship. The Galleys can feed between 600 and 1200 people per day. The ship may embark forces such as Royal Marines when it deploys and the galley must have the ability to cater for them both onboard and ashore. Catering Services also have to ensure that enough victuals are held on board, firstly to provide you with a healthy and balanced meal, but also to be sure that the ship can sustain long periods at sea without storing and so fulfil its operational capability. There are no floating Asda or Tesco's!! However, there will be occasions where we will be able to replenish our stocks at sea from Royal Fleet Auxiliary supply ships this is called a Replenishment at Sea. Junior Ratings may well be employed with in the Communal Parties onboard, employed with in the Dining Halls ensuring that our customers' satisfaction and the ambience is maintained during the meal times.
Delivers (formerly known as Stewards) of the Wardroom and Galley team in Catering Services are faced with various challenges in the form of Mess Dinners, Formal and Informal Dinner Parties for the Commanding Officer and the acceptance of the ship into the Fleet in December. The sub-department was then faced with Operational Sea Training in the New Year, however the team have risen to that challenge and have attained commendable results which stand them in good stead for future tasking.
In addition, there is the onboard shopping facilities - although not quite Tesco's the NAAFI provides everyday necessities and a few luxuries.
The Supply Chain Department consists of 24 personel of various Ranks and Rates. We are currently accounting for a large number of spare parts in 13 storerooms ranging from clothing, tools, stationery, electrical components, engine parts, cleaning gear, weapons and ammunition. The Logistics (Supply Chain) department can be called upon at a moments notice to provide equipment that will keep Ark Royal, her boats, her aircraft and her crew fully opperational. Each spare part is accuratly monitored utilising the latest computer systems and this means that it can be easily located in any of the 13 large storerooms onboard. On average, over a thousand orders are placed a month for the re-supply of spares to ensure that the optimum level of spares is retained. Urgent items can be ordered, tracked and delivered to the ship anywhere around the world, in as little as one day.
Since Logistics Personnel Change Programme, the Writer branch has been re-named Logistics (Personnel). It operatea from the Unit Personnel Office, the Captain's Office and the Cash Office as well as providing admin support to the Marine Engineering and Weapons Engineering Technical Offices and the Air Staff Office. It also has an on going commitment to provide personnel to the Communal Dining Hall Party and assistant to the Executive Warrant Office. Logistics (Personnel) staff are responsible for all of the personnel and administration tasks required for the Ship's Company of approximately 650 sailors. Since November 07, Ark Royal, along with the rest of the Fleet implement Joint Personnel Administration (JPA), the MOD's new Tri-Service Human Resource (HR) Management System. This has completely revolutionised the way it does business as a sub-department.
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