Naval officer ranks
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Navies have military rank systems that often are quite different from those of armies or air forces. Sometimes, services that are considered parts of the navy – marine or amphibious corps – use the army-style ranks instead, while the ranks listed here are reserved for fleets.
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NATO Rank Codes
To assist in the comparison of ranks in the armed forces of different countries, established NATO rank codes are used. These are established codes for determining the seniority of officer and other ranks in NATO countries for a particular joint task group or command structure, although specific appointments designate a higher level of seniority over other equivalent rank codes in a given situation. Officer ranks go from OF-1 (applying to all subaltern officers below captain) up to OF-10; OF(D) being a special category for trainee officers awaiting a commission. Other Ranks (those considered enlisted men in the United States forces) are classified from OR-1 to OR-9. Warrant Officers in the United States forces are a special case as single track career specialists between the enlisted and officer ranks in terms of seniority, and have no NATO rank code. The system should not be confused with the pay grades used in the US military. While countries outside the NATO command structure (including some NATO member countries such as France) do not strictly fall into this classification structure and there may be incidences of overlap (particularly in OR ranks between countries) the codes still provide a useful gauge in determining what ranks are broadly equivalent
Flag Officers
These are the highest ranks. Promotion to a rank above OF-9 is now rare and usually reserved for wartime. Fleet Admiral is an example of such a rank.
Note that there is doubt about rank equivalency in countries that have Fleet Admirals but no Commodores, such as German Empire and Russia - often it is considered that in these countries a Fleet Admiral equates to an OF-9 rank, an Admiral to OF-8, a Vice Admiral to OF-7, and a Counter/Rear Admiral to OF-6 (i.e. the ranks all move down one grade).
| Country | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | Admiral | Nënadmiral | Kunderadmiral | ||
| Argentina | Almirante | Vicealmirante | Contraalmirante | ||
| Denmark | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flottilleadmiral | |
| Finland | Amiraali Admiral | Vara-amiraali Viceadmiral | Kontra-amiraali Konteradmiral | Lippueamiraali Flottiljadmiral | |
| France | Amiral | Vice-Amiral d'Escadre | Vice-Amiral | Contre-Amiral | |
| Germany | Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Konteradmiral | Flottillenadmiral | |
| German Empire | Großadmiral
Generaladmiral | Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Konteradmiral | |
| Israel | Rav-aluf | Aluf | Tat-aluf | ||
| Italy | Ammiraglio di Squadra con incarichi speciali | Ammiraglio di Squadra e Ammiraglio Ispettore Capo | Ammiraglio di Divisione e Ammiraglio Ispettore | Contrammiraglio | |
| Latvia | Viceadmirālis | Kontradmirālis | Flatiles admirālis | ||
| Mexico | Almirante | Vicealmirante | Contralmirante | ||
| Netherlands | Admiraal der Vloot | Luitenant-Admiraal | Vice-Admiraal | Schout-bij-nacht | Commandeur |
| Norway | Admiral | Viseadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flaggkommandřr | |
| Poland | Admirał | Admirał floty | Wiceadmirał | Kontradmirał | |
| Portugal | Almirante de Armada | Almirante | Vice-almirante | Contra-almirante | Comodoro |
| Russia | Admiral flota | Admiral | Vitse-admiral | Kontr-admiral | |
| Singapore | Vice Admiral | Rear Admiral (two star) | Rear Admiral (one star) | ||
| South Africa | Admiraal | Vise-Admiraal | Skout-Admiraal | Skout-Admiraal (JR) | |
| Spain | Capitán general | Almirante general | Almirante | Vicealmirante | Contralmirante |
| Sweden | Amiral | Viceamiral | Konteramiral | Flottiljamiral | |
| United Kingdom and in some other English-speaking Commonwealth countries | Admiral of the Fleet | Admiral | Vice-Admiral | Rear-Admiral | Commodore |
| United States | Fleet Admiral | Admiral | Vice Admiral | Rear Admiral (UH) | Rear Admiral (LH) |
Other officers
Captain is the common address to commanders of a naval ship, regardless of his actual rank. As a rank, naval Captains are in most services far senior to army Captains, and equivalent to Colonels. An exception is the Swedish Navy, where kapten refers to the same rank as in the army.
| Country | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | Kapitan i Rangut te Pare | Kapitan i Rangut te Dyte | Kapitan i Rangut te Terte | Kapitan Lejtnant | Lejtnant | Nënlejtnant | |
| Argentina | Capitán de navío | Capitán de fragata | Capitán de corbeta | Teniente de navío | Teniente de fragata | Teniente de corbeta | |
| Denmark | Kommandřr | Kommandřr-kaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Kaptajnlřjtnant | Premierlřjtnant | Lřjtnant | |
| Finland | Kommodori Kommodor | Komentaja Kommendör | Komentajakapteeni Kommendörkapten | Kapteeniluutnantti Kaptenlöjtnant Yliluutnantti | Luutnantti Löjtnant | Aliluutnantti Underlöjtnant | |
| France | Capitaine de Vaisseau | Capitaine de Fregate | Capitaine de Corvette | Lieutenant de Vaisseau | Enseigne de Vaisseau de 1re Classe | Enseigne de Vaisseau de 2e Classe | |
| Germany | Kapitän zur See | Fregattenkapitän | Korvettenkapitän | Stabskapitänleutnant Kapitänleutnant | Oberleutnant zur See | Leutnant zur See | |
| German Empire | Kapitän zur See | Fregattenkapitän | Korvettenkapitän | Kapitänleutnant | Oberleutnant zur See | Leutnant zur See | |
| Israel | Aluf mishne | Sgan aluf | Rav seren | Seren | Segen | Segen mishne | |
| Italy | Capitano di Vascello | Capitano di Fregata | Capitano di Corvetta | Primo Tenente di Vascello Tenente di Vascello | Sottotenente di Vascello | Guardiamarina | |
| Latvia | Jūras kapteinis | Komandkapteinis | Komandleitnants | Kapteiņleitnants | Virsleitnants | Leitnants | |
| Mexico | Capitán de Navío | Capitán de Fragata | Capitán de Corbeta | Teniente de Navío | Teniente de Corbeta | Guardiamarina | |
| Netherlands | Kapitein ter zee | Kapitein-Luitenant ter zee | Luitenant ter zee der 1e klasse | Luitenant ter zee der 2e klasse oudste categorie | Luitenant ter zee der 2e klasse | Luitenant ter zee der 3e klasse | |
| Norway | Kommandřr | Kommandřrkaptein | Orlogskaptein | Kapteinlřytnant | Lřytnant | Fenrik | |
| Poland | Komandor | Komandor porucznik | Komandor podporucznik | Kapitan marynarki | Porucznik marynarki | Podporucznik marynarki | |
| Portugal | Capităo-de-mar-e-guerra | Capităo-de-fragat | Capităo-tenente | Primeiro-tenente | Segundo-tenente | Guarda-marinha ou Subtenente | |
| Russia | Kapitan pervogo ranga | Kapitan vtorogo ranga | Kapitan tret'yego ranga | Kapitan-leytenant | Starshiy leytenant | Leytenant | Mladshiy leytenant |
| Singapore | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | |
| South Africa | Kaptein | Kommandeur | Luitenant-Kommandeur | Luitenant | Onderluitenant | Vaandrig | |
| Spain | Capitán de navío | Capitán de fragata | Capitán de corbeta | Teniente de navío | Alférez de navío | Alférez de fragata | |
| Sweden | Kommendör | Kommendörkapten | Örlogskapten | Kapten | Löjtnant | Fänrik | |
| United Kingdom and in some other English-speaking Commonwealth countries | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant-Commander | Lieutenant | Sub-Lieutenant | Acting Sub-Lieutenant | |
| United States | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant Commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant, junior grade | Ensign | |
External links
- Rank Insignia of the World (http://www.rankinsignia.info/index.php)