Naval officer ranks
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.
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 (army) 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 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 equivalence in countries that have fleet admirals but no commodores, such as the former 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 rear admiral to OF-6 (i.e. the ranks all move down one grade).
The Royal New Zealand Navy ranks of admiral and vice-admiral are generally only used in times of war.
Country | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | Admiral | Nënadmiral | Kundëradmiral | ||
Argentina | Almirante | Vicealmirante | Contraalmirante | Comodoro de Marina | |
Australia | Admiral of the fleet | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore |
Belgium | Admiraal (in Dutch) amiral (in French) |
Vice-admiraal (in Dutch) vice-amiral (in French) |
Divisieadmiraal (in Dutch) amiral de division (in French) |
Flottieljeadmiraal (in Dutch) amiral de flottille (in French) | |
Brazil | Almirante | Almirante-de-esquadra | Vice-almirante | Contra-almirante | |
Bulgaria | Адмирал на флота
Admiral na flota |
Адмирал
Admiral |
Вицеадмирал
Viceadmiral |
Контраадмирал
Kontraadmiral |
Комодор
Komodor |
Canada | Admiral (in English) Amiral (in French) |
Vice-admiral (in English) Vice-Amiral (in French) |
Rear-admiral (in English) Contre-Amiral (in French) |
Commodore (in English) Commodore (in French) | |
Chile | Almirante | Vicealmirante | Contralmirante | Comodoro | |
China | Shang jiang (上將) | Zhong jiang (中將) | Shao jiang (少將) | Da xiao (大校) | |
Croatia | Admiral flote | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Kontraadmiral | Komodor |
Denmark | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flottilleadmiral | |
Estonia | Admiral | Viitseadmiral | Kontradmiral | Kommodoor | |
Finland | Amiraali (in Finnish) Amiral (in Swedish) |
Vara-amiraali (in Finnish) Viceamiral (in Swedish) |
Kontra-amiraali (in Finnish) Konteramiral (in Swedish) |
Lippueamiraali (in Finnish) Flottiljamiral (in Swedish) (literally: Flotilla admiral) | |
France | Amiral de France | Amiral | Vice-amiral d'escadre | Vice-amiral | Contre-amiral |
Germany | Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Konteradmiral | Flottillenadmiral | |
Germany (1935-1945) | Großadmiral | Generaladmiral | Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Konteradmiral |
Germany (1871-1918) | Großadmiral | Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Konteradmiral | |
Greece | Αρχιναύαρχος (archinavarchos) | Ναύαρχος (navarchos) | Αντιναύαρχος (antinavarchos) | Υποναύαρχος (hyponavarchos) | Αρχιπλοίαρχος (archiploiarchos) |
Indonesia | Laksamana besar (literally: Grand admiral) |
Laksamana | Laksamana madya | Laksamana muda | Laksamana pertama |
Israel | Rav-aluf | Aluf | Tat-aluf | ||
Italy | Ammiraglio | Ammiraglio di squadra con incarichi speciali |
Ammiraglio di squadra
Ammiraglio ispettore capo |
Ammiraglio di divisione
ammiraglio ispettore |
contrammiraglio |
Imperial Japanese Navy | Gensui kaigun taisho(元帥海軍大将) | Kaigun taisho(海軍大将) | Kaigun chujo(海軍中将) | Kaigun shosho(海軍少将) | |
Japan Maritime Self Defense Force | Kaijō-bakuryōchō海上幕僚長 | Kaishō海将 | Kaishō-ho海将補 | ||
Latvia | Admirālis | Viceadmirālis | Kontradmirālis | Flotiles admirālis | |
Malaysia | Laksamana armada (literally: Admiral of the fleet) |
Laksamana | Laksamana madya | Laksamana muda | Laksamana pertama |
Mexico | Comandante Supremo de las Fuerzas Armadas | Almirante Secretario de Marina | Almirante | Vicealmirante | Contralmirante |
Netherlands | Admiraal | Luitenant-admiraal | Vice-admiraal | Schout-bij-nacht | Commandeur |
New Zealand | Admiral of the fleet | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore |
Nigeria | Admiral of the fleet | Admiral | Vice-admiral | Rear-admiral | Commodore |
Norway | Admiral | Viseadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flaggkommandør | |
Philippines | Admiral (English) Almirante (Filipino) |
Vice Admiral (English) Pangalawang Almirante/Bise Almirante (Filipino) |
Rear Admiral (English) Almirante sa Likuran |
Commodore (English) Kommodoro (Filipino) | |
Poland | Admirał
Admirał floty[1] |
Wiceadmirał | Kontradmirał | ||
Portugal | Almirante da armada | Almirante | Vice-almirante | Contra-almirante | Comodoro |
Romania | Amiral | Viceamiral | Contraamiral | Contraamiral de flotilă | |
Russia | Адмирал флота (admiral of the fleet) |
Адмирал (admiral) |
Вице-адмирал (vice admiral) |
Контр-адмирал (rear admiral) |
- |
Singapore | Vice admiral | Rear admiral (two stars) |
Rear admiral (one star) | ||
South Africa | Admiral Admiraal (in Afrikaans) |
Vice admiral Vise-admiraal (in Afrikaans) |
Rear admiral Skout-admiraal (in Afrikaans) |
Rear admiral (junior grade) Skout-admiraal (JR) (in Afrikaans) | |
Soviet Union | Адмирал флота Советского Союза (admiral of the fleet of the Soviet Union) Адмирал флота |
Адмирал (admiral) |
Вице-адмирал (vice admiral) |
Контр-адмирал (rear admiral) |
- |
Spain | Capitán general | Almirante general | Almirante | Vicealmirante | Contraalmirante |
Sweden | - | Amiral | Viceamiral | Konteramiral | Flottiljamiral[2] (literally: Flotilla admiral) |
Thailand | Chom phon ruea (admiral of the fleet) |
Phon ruea ek (Admiral) |
Phon ruea tho (Vice admiral) |
Phon ruea tri (Rear admiral) |
Nawa ek phiset (Special captain) |
Turkey | Büyük amiral | Deniz kuvvetleri komutanı
Oramiral |
Koramiral | Tümamiral | Tuğamiral |
United Kingdom | Admiral of the fleet | Admiral | Vice-admiral | Rear-admiral | Commodore (not actually a flag officer) |
United States | Admiral of the NavyA
|
Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral (upper half) |
Rear admiral (lower half) |
Ukraine | Admiral | Vice-admiral | Kontr-admiral | ||
Country | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 |
- Note
AAdmiral of the Navy has only been created once during the history of the US Navy. It is considered superior to fleet admiral, but does not have a NATO rank code
Other officers
In most navies, captain is the common address to commanding officers of a naval ship, regardless of their actual rank. As a rank, naval ranks of captain are almost always senior to army captains. Exceptions are the Polish Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy, where "captain" refers to the same rank in the navy as in the army. In many navies, the concepts of army captain and ship's lieutenant are merged into the rank of "captain-lieutenant". Examples of this are Germany, Russia, Portugal, Denmark and Norway.
Common rank titles used are:
- OF-1(junior): Midshipman, acting sub-lieutenant, ensign, corvette lieutenant, ship-of-the-line ensign 2nd class.
- OF-1(senior): Sub-lieutenant, lieutenant (junior grade), frigate lieutenant, ship-of-the-line ensign 1st class.
- OF-2: Lieutenant, lieutenant (senior grade) ship-of-the-line lieutenant, captain-lieutenant.
- OF-3: Lieutenant-commander, corvette captain.
- OF-4: Commander, frigate captain.
- OF-5: Captain, ship-of-the-line captain, captain of sea and war.
Many naval rank systems ultimately derive from either British, French or Spanish naval usage.
Generally speaking, naval ranks systems derived from French and Spanish usage use the names of different classes of ship (corvette, frigate, ship-of-the-line) in their rank titles. This is also the case in some other navies, e.g. two German naval ranks, those of "corvette captain" and "frigate captain".
Naval rank systems derived from British usage use the rank "captain" exclusively for the highest rank of ship's captain (i.e. of the largest class of ship) and use the rank "lieutenant" exclusively for the highest rank of ship's lieutenant (i.e. of the largest class of ship). In such navies, the captains and lieutenants of smaller ships are therefore unlikely to have the naval rank of "captain" or "lieutenant" respectively; and furthermore a naval "captain" is therefore equivalent to an army colonel, and a naval "lieutenant" to an army captain. These naval ranks should not be confused with merchant navy ranks,[3] where the rankings are based on department basis, although captain has the ultimate authority, followed by the chief engineer.
Country | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | Kapitan i rangut të parë | Kapitan i rangut të dytë | Kapitan i rangut te tretë | Kapitan lejtnant | Lejtnant | Nënlejtnant | |
Argentina | Capitán de navío | Capitán de fragata | Capitán de corbeta | Teniente de navío | Teniente de fragata | Teniente de corbeta | Guardiamarina |
Australia | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Sub lieutenant | Acting sub lieutenant | Midshipman |
Austro-Hungarian Empire | Linienschiffskapitän | Fregattenkapitän | Korvettenkapitän | Linienschiffsleutnant | Fregattenleutnant | Korvettenleutnant | |
Belgium | Kapitein-ter-zee Capitaine de vaisseau |
Fregatkapitein Capitaine de frégate |
Korvetkapitein Capitaine de corvette Luitenant-ter-zee 1ste klasse |
Luitenant-ter-zee Lieutenant de vaisseau |
Vaandrig-ter-zee Enseigne de vaisseau |
Vaandrig-ter-zee 2de klasse Enseigne de vaisseau de 2ème classe |
|
Brazil | Capitão-de-mar-e-guerra | Capitão-de-fragata | Capitão-de-corveta | Capitão-tenente | Primeiro-tenente | Segundo-tenente | Guarda-marinha |
Bulgaria | Капитан първи ранг
Kapitan parvi rang |
Капитан втори ранг
Kapitan vtori rang |
Капитан трети ранг
Kapitan treti rang |
Капитан-лейтенант
Kapitan-leytenant |
Старши лейтенант
Starshi leytenant |
Лейтенант
Leytenant |
Младши лейтенант
Mladshi leytenant |
Canada | Captain Capitaine de vaisseau |
Commander Capitaine de frégate |
Lieutenant-Commander Capitaine de corvette |
Lieutenant Lieutenant de vaisseau |
Sub-Lieutenant Enseigne de vaisseau de 1ère classe |
Acting Sub-Lieutenant Enseigne de vaisseau de 2ème classe |
Naval Cadet Aspirant de marine |
Chile | Capitan de navio | Capitan de fragata | Capitan de corbeta | Teniente primero | Teniente segundo | Subteniente | Guardiamarina |
China | Shang xiao (上校) | Zhong xiao (中校) | Shao xiao (少校) | Shang wei (上尉) | Zhong wei (中尉) | Shao wei (少尉) | Xue yuan (學員) |
Croatia | Kapetan bojnog broda | Kapetan fregate | Kapetan korvete | Poručnik bojnog broda | Poručnik fregate | Poručnik korvete | |
Denmark | Kommandør | Kommandør-kaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Kaptajnløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Løjtnant | |
Estonia | Mereväekapten | Kaptenleitnant | Kaptenmajor | Vanemleitnant | Leitnant | Nooremleitnant | Lipnik |
Finland | Kommodori Kommodor |
Komentaja Kommendör |
Komentajakapteeni Kommendörkapten |
Kapteeniluutnantti Kaptenlöjtnant Yliluutnantti |
Luutnantti Löjtnant |
Aliluutnantti Underlöjtnant |
|
France | Capitaine de vaisseau | Capitaine de frégate | Capitaine de corvette | Lieutenant de vaisseau | Enseigne de vaisseau de 1ère classe | Enseigne de vaisseau de 2ème classe | Aspirant |
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 | |
Greece | Πλοίαρχος ("ploiarchos") | Αντιπλοίαρχος ("antiploiarchos") | Πλωτάρχης ("plotarchis") | Υποπλοίαρχος ("hypoploiarchos") | Ανθυποπλοίαρχος ("anthypoploiarchos") | Σημαιοφόρος ("simeoforos") | |
Indonesia | Kolonel | Letnan kolonel | Mayor | Kapten | Letnan satu | Letnan dua | |
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 | Aspirante guardiamarina |
Japan (Imperial Japanese Navy) | Daisa (大佐) | Chūsa (中佐) | Shōsa (少佐) | Taii (大尉) | Chūi (中尉) | Shōi (少尉) | Shōi-kouhosei (少尉候補生) |
Japan Maritime Self Defense Force | Ittou-kaisa 一等海佐 | Nitou-kaisa 二等海佐 | Santou-kaisa 三等海佐 | Ittou-kaii 一等海尉 | Nitou-kaii 二等海尉 | Santou-kaii 三等海尉 | |
Latvia | Jūras kapteinis | Komandkapteinis | Komandleitnants | Kapteiņleitnants | Virsleitnants | Leitnants | |
Lithuania | Jūrų kapitonas | Komandoras | Komandoras leitenantas | Kapitonas leitenantas | Vyresnysis leitenantas | Leitenantas | |
Malaysia | Kepten | Komander | Leftenan komander | Leftenan | Leftenan madya | Leftenan muda | Pegawai kadet kanan |
Mexico | Capitán de navío | Capitán de fragata | Capitán de corbeta | Teniente de navío | Teniente de fragata | Teniente de corbeta | Guardiamarina o 1er maestre |
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 | Adelborst |
New Zealand | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Sub lieutenant | Ensign | Midshipman |
Nigeria | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant-commander | Lieutenant | Sub-lieutenant | Acting sub-lieutenant | Midshipman |
Norway | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptein | Orlogskaptein | Kapteinløytnant | Løytnant | Fenrik | Kadett |
Philippines | Commodore | Kapitan | Kumander | Lieutenant commander | Tenyente, senior grade | Tenyente, junior grade | Ensign |
Poland | Komandor | Komandor porucznik | Komandor podporucznik | Kapitan marynarki | Porucznik marynarki | Podporucznik marynarki | |
Portugal | Capitão-de-mar-e-guerra | Capitão-de-fragata | Capitão-tenente | Primeiro-tenente | Segundo-tenente | Guarda-marinha/subtenente | Aspirante |
Romania | Comandor | Căpitan-comandor | Locotenent-comandor | Căpitan | Locotenent | Aspirant | |
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 | Midshipman |
South Africa | Captain Kaptein |
Commander Kommandeur |
Lieutenant commander Luitenant-kommandeur |
Lieutenant Luitenant |
Sub-lieutenant Onderluitenant |
Ensign Vaandrig |
Midshipman |
Soviet Union | Капитан первого ранга (Kapitan pervogo ranga) | Капитан второго ранга (Kapitan vtorogo ranga) | Капитан третьего ранга (Kapitan tret'yego ranga) | Капитан-лейтенант (Kapitan-leytenant) | Старший лейтенант (Starshiy leytenant) | Лейтенант (Leytenant) | Младший лейтенант (Mladshiy leytenant) |
Spain | Capitán de navío | Capitán de fragata | Capitán de corbeta | Teniente de navío | Alférez de navío | Alférez de fragata | Guardiamarina |
Sweden | Kommendör av 1. graden[4]
|
Kommendörkapten | Örlogskapten | Kapten | Löjtnant | Fänrik | |
Thailand | Nawa ek (captain) | Nawa tho (commander) | Nawa tri (lieutenant commander) | Ruea ek (lieutenant) | Ruea tho (lieutenant junior grade) | Ruea tri (sub-lieutenant) | |
Turkey | Albay | Yarbay | Binbaşı | Yüzbaşı | Üsteğmen | Teğmen | Asteğmen |
United Kingdom | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant Commander | Lieutenant | Sub Lieutenant | Midshipman | Officer Cadet |
United States | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant, junior grade | Ensign | Midshipman (USNA, ROTC, etc.) |
Ukraine | Kapitan I ranhu | Kapitan II ranhu | Kapitan III ranhu | Kapitan-leitenant | Starshyi leitenant | Leitenant | Molodshyi leitenant |
Country | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 |
See also
- Air force officer ranks
- Army officer ranks
- Comparative military ranks
- Staff (military)
References
- Polish admirał floty was added in 2002, but, along with admirał, both are OF-9. Contrary to its English counterpart fleet admiral, admirał floty is a lower rank.
- Introduced on 1 July 2000, when promotions to the rank of Kommendör av 1. graden ceased.
- P, Vijay Kr; it (2020-01-24). "Merchant Navy Ranks From Deck Cadet To Captain". ArticleNama. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
- Promotion to the rank of Kommendör av 1. graden ceased on 1 July 2000, when the new junior flag rank of Flottiljamiral was introduced.