 He was in this post when the first Polaris missile was tested and the Faslane submarine base was developed.Advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1969 Birthday Honours, he became Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy in January 1970 and received promotion to full admiral on 21 April 1970.Admiral Sir Michael Le Fanu, the Chief of the Defence Staff-designate, retired suddenly due to ill health in late 1970.