In the Royal Navy vernacular, the term 'greenie' describes the officers and ratings responsible for the electrical engineering functions of the fleet. Electrical engineering has 'driven' the Royal Navy for far longer than one might imagine, from solving the problem of magnetic interference with the compass by the ironclad early in the 20th century onward. Author Commander Moore traces the development of technology from 1850 to today's integrated micro computers that control almost every aspect of navigation, intel, and strike capacity. At the same time, he describes how the Navy's structure and manpower changed to accommodate the new technologies, changes often accelerated in wartime, particularly in World War II. Without the full cooperation of naval establishments and organisations and various public and private museums and manufacturers, this work would have been impossible to produce. Written in an anecdotal, narrative style but with a complete mastery of the science itself, it will appeal not only to those interested in the history of the Royal Navy but also those many thousands, past and present, who can claim the honour of calling themselves one of the Greenies.

Patrick A. Moore joined the Royal Navy in 1963 and graduated with a BSc in Electrical Engineering before going to sea as a Weapons Engineer Officer in HMS Ajax. He left the Royal Navy as a Commander in 1992, after service as the Weapons Engineer Officer in HM Ships Falmouth and Newcastle and as the Squadron Weapons Engineer Officer for the 5th Destroyer Squadron during the First Gulf War. He then worked for Ferranti International, GEC Marconi and BAE Systems, focusing on warship combat system simulators. His involvement with the Operational, Research and Development, Shipbuilding and Training functions of the RN therefore spans an impressive 42 years. Few others are better qualified to tell this story.