Abstract: In a hydraulically operated loading crane of the kind comprising a rotatable crane post, an inner crane boom pivotally mounted at the upper end of said post, a jib pivotally mounted to said boom, and an extension boom mounted for longitudinal displacement relative to said jib and supporting at its outer end a load hoisting tool, an electronically programmable control system incorporating encoders capable of measuring the relative movements of the crane parts and arranged to store the measured values in a memory, and a comparator means arranged to compare signals representing pre-programmed patterns of movements with the signals received from said encoders so as to effect feeding of the required quantity of pressurized medium to the various hydraulic means to obtain the desired, pre-programmed patterns of movements.