Engine room artificer

Each of these positions is normally associated with a specific non-commissioned rank and level of experience – for example, an ERA (First Class) is normally a chief petty officer (CPO).

From about 1916, ERAs could also be placed in charge of small ships as an engineering officer and were also EOs of the watch on destroyers and below for which they received rapid advancement to CPO and extra charge pay of 1/- (one shilling) per day on attaining their "ticket" By the 1950s, the RN used the term ERA for apprentice-trained boilermakers, coppersmiths, fitters and turners; however, boilermaker and coppersmith skills were becoming redundant and the remaining trades, fitters, turners and metalworkers, together with shipwrights and mechanicians, were expanded by cross-training to undertake most operational maintenance and the running of all mechanical equipment, including steam, diesel and gas turbine main machinery.

In the 1960s, as an increasing number of nuclear-powered submarines came into service with the RN, nuclear technicians were included in the ranks of ERAs.

Later in that decade, to better represent the range of technical abilities of ERAs, the name of the appointment was changed to Marine Engineering Artificer (MEA).

The Irish Naval Service continues to use the term Engine Room Artificer for marine technicians, who wear a distinctive insignia.