Stokers to ERAS ?

[Clio]

The Germans actively encouraged promising stokers to study and become maschinisten because of the shortage of engine room personnel to crew the U boats.

Do any readers know of any instances where British submarine stokers became ERAs ?

[ARABIS]

I have a service record of a Stoker Petty Officer on surface ships who became a Mechanician, & some stokers were granted certificates for auxiliary engines, but as far as I know ERAs were seperate, entering as 5th class & working their way up to 1st class.

ARABIS.

[joseph]

No,

The ERA's that started in the RN began as Boy Artificers, after that you had to have a full trade and approved apprenticeship highest rank Chief ERA 1st Class (ranked as number 4 in the rank structure). Joining as a stoker as Arabis states takes him to Mechanician (ranked as number 18 in the rank structure). Chief Stoker ranked number 26.

The original books are easier to read and digest here is the link;

http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/KR&AI_191...l_II/Index.html

Regards Charles

[per ardua per mare per terram]

As Charles has said ERAs and Stokers were different career paths; as has been mentioned before on the forum, stokers were tested in mechanical tasks as they progressed through the ranks.

Anything was possible in war time, but the Royal Navy had far more experience with engines and ratings than had the Imperial German Navy. It also had more ratings to draw upon and so more it could use for newly developing roles. From even the initial crews of the Holland boats the men serving on subs had to be versatile.

[Clio]

Thanks all

this confirms my suspicions. Although based on the RN organisation/structure the KDM system developed enough flexibility to deal with manpower shortages among key rates. By 1918 German maschinisten were nowhere near as qualified (or probably experienced) as their British counterparts but they kept the boats diesels running.