In the Royal Navy, a principal naval transport officer (P.N.T.O.) later known as principal sea transport officer (P.S.T.O.) is a shore-based flag officer or captain responsible for sea transport duties, and assisting the senior naval officer's area of command in the preparation of naval orders and conduct disembarkations. British Dominion Navies also used the concept.
History Principal Transport Officers of the Royal Navy had been in existence from at least 1868. The Naval Transports Service was created by the Royal Navy on 22 December 1914. From 1915 to 1916 the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron had a principal naval transport officer based at Mudros who held the rank of commodore. The officers were employed as part of the Naval Transport Service as part of the Department of the Director of Transports. In 1921 the Naval Transport Service was restyled as the Sea Transport Service. of the Sea Transport Department. Naval officers were assigned to postings at various ports and naval bases through to 1970.
Locations of principal naval transport officers Post Holder Date(s) RefPrincipal Naval Transport Officer, Alexandria 1915 Principal Naval Transport Officer, Archangel 1916 Principal Naval Transport Officer, Australia 1914 Principal Naval Transport Officer, Cardiff19151921 Principal Naval Transport Officer, Egypt19151918Principal Naval Transport Officer, East Indies1931Principal Naval Transport Officer, France19151919 Principal Naval Transport Officer, Le Havre1914Principal Naval Transport Officer, Liverpool 19151921 Principal Naval Transport Officer, Marseilles19161919 Principal Naval Transport Officer, New Haven19181919 Principal Naval Transport Officer, Mudros19151916 Principal Naval Transport Officer, South Africa 1914 Principal Naval Transport Officer, Southampton19141921 Principal Naval Transport Officer, St. Nazaire1916 Principal Naval Transport Officer, Taranto1917
Locations of principal sea transport officers Post Holder Date(s) RefPrincipal Sea Transport Officer, Australia 1946 Principal Sea Transport Officer, British Army of the Rhine 1946 The Navy List July 1946Principal Sea Transport Officer, Clyde and Scottish Ports19401946 Principal Sea Transport Officer, East Indies1946 Principal Sea Transport Officer, India 19391945 Principal Sea Transport Officer, Middle East 19391945 Principal Sea Transport Officer, North West Ports 1946 Principal Sea Transport Officer, South Coast1946 Principal Sea Transport Officer, South East Asia Command1946 Principal Sea Transport Officer, South East Coast 1946 Principal Sea Transport Officer, South Wales 1946
See also Divisional transport officer
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