How the Admiralty divided work among the Sea Lords

The Second Sea Lord oversaw personnel and manning, and generally held a higher naval rank than the Third Sea Lord. The Third Sea Lord's remit covered technology, construction, maintenance, and refit. Once a ship entered operational service, the Fourth Sea Lord organized its supplies around the world. Manning remained the Second Sea Lord's responsibility, while a ship returning for refit came back under the Third Sea Lord's remit. The First Sea Lord directed the fleet's employment but had little staff of his own beyond the Naval Intelligence Department.