Andrew Hesketh Posted 14 October , 2003 Share Posted 14 October , 2003 The following appears on a Roll of Honour: Bark, S.H. Royal Navy, CPO ER4 Would anyone be able to suggest the meaning of CPO ER4? Thanks chaps and chapesses, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broznitsky Posted 14 October , 2003 Share Posted 14 October , 2003 Not being a naval buff, but I think CPO is Chief Petty Officer. Peter (back on course in Ottawa) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 14 October , 2003 Share Posted 14 October , 2003 Andrew I suspect ER4 should be ERA - Engine Room Artificer. Terry Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jock Bruce Posted 14 October , 2003 Share Posted 14 October , 2003 (edited) Could ER4 be a garble for ERA = Engine Room Articifer?? Which I think would sort of fit for Chief's rank. Jock - Beaten by 90 seconds - damn! Edited 14 October , 2003 by Jock Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 14 October , 2003 Author Share Posted 14 October , 2003 Heroic effort chaps (and so quick). I think the suggestions sound correct. Thanks everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted 16 October , 2003 Share Posted 16 October , 2003 The term is Engine Room Artificer, commonly wrongly termed articifer. The modern equivalent is a Marine Engineering Artificer (MEA). Then and now, they are nicknamed 'tiffs' or 'tiffies'. Nowadays of course there are also weapons and aircraft engineering artificers. An artificer is a skilled tradesman and has to complete an apprenticeship. He is then promoted according to his skills from 5th class up to 1st class, the equivalent of Chief Petty Officer. This is why you sometimes see them as ERA2 or ERA4, etc. rather than Leading Artificer, Petty Officer Artificer, etc. The 'Chief Tiff' would be the 1st class ERA with additional responsibilities with a charge certificate. The ERA would be an operator and maintainer of all machinery on board, from steam turbines to evaporators for making fresh water. I left the RN in 1991 as a 2nd class, or Petty Officer, MEA. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 17 October , 2003 Author Share Posted 17 October , 2003 Cheers Michael. Excellent detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hussar Posted 17 October , 2003 Share Posted 17 October , 2003 spit!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted 17 October , 2003 Share Posted 17 October , 2003 Hussar Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that bit ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 18 October , 2003 Author Share Posted 18 October , 2003 ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted 18 October , 2003 Share Posted 18 October , 2003 Traditionally "Normal" matelots, If there is such a thing spit when the word Tiff, Tiffy or Artificer is mentioned. A Tiff will tell you it is because us mere mortals are jealous of their technical ability and advanced promotion. Roger. ( 22 years in the Seaman Branch ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 18 October , 2003 Author Share Posted 18 October , 2003 !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hussar Posted 19 October , 2003 Share Posted 19 October , 2003 The old saying about 'Tiffs' was 'They can tell you the Cubic Capacity of a Jam Jar but can't get the lid off!' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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