Royal Navy ranks 1939–1945

Ranks of the Royal Navy 1939–1945 deals with the ranks of the Royal Navy in the narrower sense, as well as the ranks of the shipyard police and the coast guard during the Second World War .

Royal Navy in the strict sense

General seniority review

Royal Navy	Rank badge	German equivalent
Admiral of the Fleet		Grand Admiral
admiral		admiral
Vice Admiral		Vice admiral
Rear admiral		Rear admiral
Commodore, 1st class		no equivalent
Commodore, 2nd class		Commodore
Captain		Sea captain
Commander		Frigate captain
Lieutenant-Commander		Corvette Captain
Lieutenant		Lieutenant captain
Sub-lieutenant		First lieutenant
Acting sub-lieutenant		lieutenant
Commissioned Officer from Warrant Rank		Deck officer lieutenant
Warrant Officer		Deck officer
Midshipman		Ensign
Chief Petty Officer		Staff Sergeant (F)
Naval Cadet		Ensign
Petty officer		sergeant
Leading rating		Mate
Able rating		Corporal
Ordinary rating		Private
Boy, 1st class		Cabin boy
Boy, 2nd class

Naval officers

Executive officers	German equivalent
Rear admiral	Rear admiral
Captain	Sea captain
Commander	Frigate captain
Lieutenant-Commander	Corvette Captain
Lieutenant	Lieutenant captain
Sub-lieutenant	First lieutenant
Acting sub-lieutenant	lieutenant
Midshipman	Ensign
Naval Cadet	Ensign

Marine engineer officers

Marine engineering officers wear purple cloth between the sleeve strips as a career badge.

Engineer Officers (New Scheme)	Engineer Officers (Old Scheme)	German equivalent
Rear Admiral (E)	Engineer Rear Admiral	Rear Admiral (Ing.)
Captain (E)	Engineer Captain	Sea captain (Ing.)
Commander (E)	Engineer Commander	Frigate Captain (Ing.)
Lieutenant Commander (E)	Engineer Lieutenant-Commander	Corvette Captain (Ing.)
Lieutenant (E)	-	Captain Lieutenant (Ing.)
Sub-Lieutenant (E)	-	First Lieutenant (Ing.)
Acting Sub-Lieutenant (E)	-	Lieutenant (Ing.)
Midshipman (E)	-	Senior Ensign (Ing.)
Naval Cadet (E)	-	Ensign (Ing.)

Naval administrators

Naval administration officers wear white cloth between the sleeve strips as a career badge.

Accountant Officers	German equivalent
Paymaster Rear Admiral	Rear Admiral (V)
Paymaster Captain	Sea captain (V)
Paymaster Commander	Frigate Captain (V)
Paymaster Lieutenant-Commander	Corvette Captain (V)
Paymaster Lieutenant	Captain lieutenant (V)
Paymaster Sub-Lieutenant	First Lieutenant (V)
Acting Paymaster Sub-Lieutenant	Lieutenant (V)
Paymaster Midshipman	Oberfähnrich (V)
Naval Cadet (Accountant)	Ensign (V)

Marine Medical Officers

Marines medical officers wear a red, and Marines medical officers (Z) orange, cloth between the sleeve strips as a career badge.

Medical officers	Dental Officers	German equivalent
Surgeon Rear Admiral	-	Admiralty doctor
Surgeon Captain	Surgeon Captain (D)	Fleet doctor
Surgeon Commander	Surgeon Commander (D)	Squadron doctor
Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander	Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander (D)	Navy Chief Medical Officer
Surgeon Lieutenant	Surgeon Lieutenant (D)	Medical officer

Training officers and naval instructors

Training officers and naval teachers wear a blue cloth between the sleeve strips as a career badge.

Instruction officers	German equivalent	Schoolmasters	German equivalent
Instructor Captain	Naval High School Council	-	-
Instructor Commander	Naval Senior Student Council	Headmaster Commander	Naval College Director
Instructor Lieutenant-Commander	Naval Academic Council	Headmaster Lieutenant-Commander	Marine technical school principal
Instructor Lieutenant	Naval Studies Assessor	Headmaster Lieutenant	Marine College Vice-Principal
-	-	Senior Schoolmaster Schoolmaster rank as Commissioned Officer from Warrant Rank, RN	Naval high school teacher
-	-	Schoolmaster rank as Warrant Officer, RN	Marine technical school teacher

Warrant officers and officers promoted from it

Promoted careers and career colors for warrant officers and officers from:

no
Ship boatman artillery boatman Torpedo master signal Master Funkmeister signal champion pilot observer (aircrew) Wachtmeister Photographer	Paramedic	Ship clerk Administrative clerk ship cook steward	Ship machinist Mechanic Aircraft master Aircraft mechanic	Ship electrician	Carpenter	Fireworkers

Source:

Promoted ranks for warrant officers and officers from:

no
Commander Signal Commander	-	-	Engineer Commander Commander (A) (E)	Electrical Commander	Shipwright Commander	Ordnance Commander
Lieutenant-Commander Signal Lieutenant-Commander Telegraphist Lieutenant-Commander Lieutenant-Commander (A) Lieutenant-Commander-at-Arms	Wardmaster Lieutenant-Commander	Paymaster Lieutenant-Commander	Engineer Lieutenant-Commander Lieutenant-Commander (A) (E)	Electrical Lieutenant-Commander	Shipwright Lieutenant-Commander	Ordnance Lieutenant-Commander
Lieutenant Signal Lieutenant Telegraph Operator Lieutenant Lieutenant (A) Lieutenant-at-Arms	Wardmaster Lieutenant	Paymaster Lieutenant	Engineer Lieutenant Lieutenant (A) (E)	Electrical Lieutenant	Shipwright Lieutenant	Ordnance Lieutenant
Commissioned Gunner Commissioned Gunner (T) Commissioned Boatswain Commissioned Signal Boatswain Commissioned Telegraphist Commissioned Pilot Commissioned Observer Commissioned Master-at-Arms Commissioned Photographer	Commissioned Wardmaster	Commissioned Writer Commissioned Supply Officer Commissioned Cook Commissioned Steward	Commissioned Engineer Commissioned Mechanician Commissioned Aircraft Officer Commissioned Air Mechanic	Commissioned Electrician	Commissioned Shipwright	Commissioned Ordnance Officer
Gunner Gunner (T) Boatswain Signal Boatswain Warrant Telegraphist Warrant Pilot Warrant Observer Warrant Master-at-Arms Warrant Photographer	Warrant Wardmaster	Warrant Writer Warrant Supply Officer Warrant Cook Warrant Steward	Warrant Engineer Warrant Mechanician Warrant Aircraft Officer Warrant Air Mechanic	Warrant Electrician	Warrant Shipwright	Warrant Ordnance Officer

Source:

NCOs and men

General ranks

#	Petty Officers and Ratings	German equivalent
1	Chief Petty Officer	Staff Sergeant (F)
2	Petty officer	sergeant
3	Leading rating	Mate
4th	Able rating	Corporal
5	Ordinary rating	Private
6th	Boy, 1st class	Cabin boy
7th	Boy, 2nd class

Source:

Careers

Seaman Branch , Signal Branch , Wireless Telagraphy Branch , Flying Branch (pilot, observer, gunner), Air Mechanic Branch (on-board mechanic), Stoker Branch (machine career ), Mechanician Branch (machine mechanic), Engine Room artificer Branch (machine Werkmeister raceway) Electrical Arificer Branch (electricians raceway) Ordnance artificer Branch (Feuerwerkerstrasse raceway) Air artificer Branch (aircraft Werkmeister raceway) Air rigger Branch (aircraft artisan raceway) Air fitter Branch (aircraft engine Schlosser raceway), Shipwright Branch (Zimmerman's career), Black Smith Branch ( Schmied raceway), Joiner Branch (Carpenter raceway), painter Branch (painter raceway), plumber Branch (installer raceway), Sick Berth Branch (medical raceway) Writer Branch (recorder track), supply branch (administration recorder track), Cook Branch (Koch raceway), Steward Branch (Steward raceway ).

Special ranks in bosun's career, signal career, radio career, aviator career and on-board mechanic career

#	Seaman Branch	Signal branch	Wireless Telegraphy Branch	Flying branch	Air Mechanic Branch
1	Chief Petty Officer	Chief Yeoman of Signals	Chief Petty Officer telegraph operator	Chief Petty Officer Airman	Chief Petty Officer Air Mechanic
2	Petty officer	Yeoman of Signals	Petty Officer Telegraph Operator	Petty Officer Airman	Petty Officer Air Mechanic
3	Leading Seaman	Leading Signalman	Leading telegraph operator	Leading Airman	Leading Air Mechanic
4th	Able Seaman	Signalman	telegraphist	Naval Airman, 1st Class	Air Mechanic
5	Ordinary Seaman	Ordinary Signalman	Ordinary telegraph operator	Naval Airman, 2nd Class	Probationary Air Mechanic
6th	Boy, 1st class	Signal boy	Boy telegraph operator	-	-
7th	Boy, 2nd class	-	-	-	-

NCOs and crews in the bosun's career could receive special training in artillery service, torpedo service, anti-submarine service, physical training and service in submarines.

Source:

Special ranks in the machine career, machine mechanics career, mechanical engineering master’s career, electrician’s career, fireworks career, aircraft master’s career, aircraft craftsman’s career, aero engine fitter’s career and carpenter’s career.

#	Stoker Branch	Mechanician Branch	Engine Room Artificer Branch Electrical Arificer Branch Ordnance Artificer Branch Air Artificer Branch	Air rigger air fitter	Shipwright Branch
1	Chief stoker	Chief Mechanician, 1st Class Chief Mechanician, 2nd Class Mechanician, 1st Class	Chief Artificer, 1st Class Chief Artificer, 2nd Class Artificer, 1st Class Artificer, 2nd Class Artificer, 3rd Class	Chief Petty Officer Air Fitter Chief Petty Officer Air Rigger	Chief Shipwright, 1st Class Chief Shipwright, 2nd Class Shipwright, 1st Class Shipwright, 2nd Class Shipwright, 3rd Class
2	Stoker Petty Officer	Mechanician, 2nd class	Artificer 4th Class	Petty Officer Air Fitter Petty Officer Air Rigger	Shipwright 4th Class
3	Leading stoker	-	Artificer 5th Class	Leading Air Fitter Leading Air Rigger	Shipwright 5th Class
4th	Stoker, 1st class	-	-	Air Fitter Air Rigger	-
5	Stoker, 2nd class	-	-	-	-
6th	-	-	Artificer Apprentice	Air apprentice	Naval Shipwright Apprentice

Source:

Special ranks in the blacksmith's career, carpenter's career, painter's career and plumber's career.

#	Blacksmith Branch	Joiner branch	Painter Branch	Plumber branch
1	Chief Blacksmith	Chief Joiner	Chief painter	Chief Plumber
2	Blacksmith, 1st Class Blacksmith, 2nd Class Blacksmith, 3rd Class	Joiner, 1st class joiner, 2nd class joiner, 3rd class	Painter, 1st Class Painter, 2nd Class Painter, 3rd Class	Plumber, 1st Class Plumber, 2nd Class Plumber, 3rd Class
3	Blacksmith 4th Class Blacksmith, 5th Class	Joiner, 4th class Joiner, 5th class	Painter, 4th class Painter, 5th class	Plumber, 4th class Plumber, 5th class

Source:

Special ranks in medical care, writing, administrative writing, cooking and stewarding.

#	Sick Berth Branch	Writer Branch	Supply branch	Cook Branch	Steward Branch
1	Sick Berth Chief Petty Officer	Chief Petty Officer Writer	Supply Chief Petty Officer	Chief Petty Officer Cook	Chief Petty Officer Steward
2	Sick Berth Petty Officer	Petty Officer Writer	Supply Petty Officer	Petty Officer Cook	Petty Officer Steward
3	Leading Sick Berth Attendant	Leading Writer	Leading Supply Assistant	Leading Cook	Leading steward
4th	Sick Berth Attendant	Writer Assistant	Supply Assistant	cook	steward
5	Sick Berth Attendant Probationer	Writer Probationer	Supply probationer	Assistant Cook	Assistant steward

Source:

Special groups for sailmakers, ciphers, line builders, photographers and ship police (sergeants)

Suitable volunteers from the regular careers are selected for the special groups.

#	Sailmaker	Coder	Wireman	Photographer	Regulating
1	Chief Sailmaker	-	-	Chief Petty Officer Photographer	Master-at-Arms
2	Sailmaker	Petty Officer Coder	Petty Officer Wireman	Petty Officer Photographer	Regulating Petty Officer
3	Sailmaker's Mate	Leading coder	Leading Wireman	Leading Photographer	-
4th	-	Coder	Wireman	Photographer	-
5	-	Ordinary coder	-	-	-

Source:

Career paths for native sailors

The native seafarer was locally employed sailors and stokers in East Africa.

#	Somalis	Stoker Somalis
1	-	-
2	Head Tindal	-
3	Tindal	Stoker Tindal
4th	Second Tindal	Second stoker Tindal
5	Somali	Stoker Somali

Source:

Fleet patrol service and blocking network service

Royal Naval Patrol Service was a branch of the Royal Navy that operated small auxiliary vessels such as sea ​​trawlers for anti- submarine hunting and minesweeping operations. It was manned by fishermen from the naval reserve, as was the lock net service .

Rank like	Royal Naval Patrol Service	Boom Defense Service
Lieutenant-Commander, RNR	Skipper Lieutenant-Commander from 1944	-
Lieutenant, RNR	Skipper Lieutenant	-
Commissioned Officer, from Warrant rank, RNR	Chief Skipper	Boom Chief Skipper Chief Boom Engineer
Warrant Officer, RNR	Skipper	Boom Skipper Boom Engineer
Chief Petty Officer	Second hand chief engineman	Chief rigger
Petty officer	Petty Officer Engineman	Riggers
Leading Seaman	Leading Seaman	Rigger's Mate
Able Seaman	Able Seaman	Able Seaman
Ordinary Seaman	Ordinary Seaman	Ordinary Seaman

Swell:

Coastal Signaling Service and Coastal Radio Service

Rank like, but after	Royal Naval Shore Signal Service	Royal Naval Shore Wireless Service	German equivalent
Lieutenant, RN	Senior Chief Officer	Senior Chief Officer	Chief Telegraph Inspector (radio)
Commissioned Officer, from Warrant rank, RN	Chief Officer After 2 ½ years in the rank	Chief Officer After 6 years of service	Telegraph Inspector (radio)
Warrant Officer, RN	Chief officer	Chief officer	Upper Telegraph Secretary (radio)
Petty officer	Petty officer	Petty Officer Telegraph Operator	Telegraph Secretary (Fúnk)
Leading rating	Signalman	Leading telegraph operator	Telegraph assistant (radio)
Able rating	-	telegraphist	Telegraph candidate (radio)

Source:

Naval Aides and Nurses

WRNS, boat crew; WRNS, engine mechanic; QARNNS, nurse.

Position as	WRNS Women's Royal Naval Service	Rank badge WRNS	QARNNS Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service
Rear admiral	Commandant		-
Commodore 2nd Class	Deputy Commandant		Matron-in-Chief
Captain	Superintendent		Principal Matron
Commander	Chief officer		Matron
Lieutenant-Commander	First officer		Superintending sister
Lieutenant	Second officer		Senior Nursing Sister
Sub-lieutenant	Third officer		Nursing sister
Acting sub-lieutenant	Acting third officer		-
Chief Petty Officer	Chief Wren		-
Petty officer	Petty Officer Wren		-
Leading rating	Leading Wren		-
Able rating	Wren		-
Ordinary rating	Ordinary Wren		-

Female Marines Medical Officers belonged to the Marine Reserve and wear the uniforms of the WRNS, but with the same rank badges and career colors as the male officers.

Swell:

Shipyard Police

Royal Marine Police	Admiralty Civil Police from 1942	German equivalent
Chief Constable	-	Colonel the WSP Sea captain of the MKP
Superintendent	-	Major of the WSP Corvette Captain of the MKP
Chief Inspector	-	Captain of the WSP Lieutenant Commander of the MKP
Sub-Divisional Inspector	-	Revier Oberleutnant of the WSP Special Leader (Oberleutnant of the MKP)
Sergeant station	Sergeant station	Revierleutnant of the WSP special leader (Oberleutnant of the MKP)
sergeant	sergeant	Master of the WSP Special Leader (Lieutenant of the MKP)
Constable	Constable	Main sergeant of the WSP Oberfeldwebel of the MKP Oberwachtmeister of the WSP Sergeant of the MKP

Swell:

Coast guard

HM Coastguard was placed under the control of the Admiralty in 1940.

Coastguard Service	Rank as
Chief Inspector	Captain, RN
Deputy Chief Inspector	Captain, RN
Inspector	Captain, RN Like, but after
District Officer After 8 years in office	Lieutenant-Commander, RN
District Officer	Lieutenant, RN
Station officer	Chief Petty Officer
Senior Coastguardman	Petty officer
Coastguardman	Leading Seaman
Watcher (Auxiliary Coastguard Service)	Able Seaman

Swell:

Illustrations

• 

  Leading rating
  mate in work suit.

• 

  Leading rating
  mate in a business suit.

• 

  Petty Officer
  Sergeant in service uniform.

• 

  Chief Petty Officer
  Staff Sergeant (F).

• 

  Air Branch
  Naval Officer in the Fleet Air Arm .

• 

  RNVR Naval Officer of
  the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

• 

  RNR Naval Engineer Officers
  (far right) of the Royal Naval Reserve.

• 

  Qualified as observer.
  Admiral with badge as observer.

• 

  Chief Officer, WRNS
  blue badge.

• 

  Senior Nursing Sister , QARNNS

Rank comparison Royal Navy, British Army, RAF

Royal Navy	British Army	RAF
Admiral of the Fleet	Field Marshal	Marshal of the Royal Air Force
admiral	general	Air Chief Marshal
Vice Admiral	Lieutenant-General	Air Marshal
Rear admiral	Major-General	Vice Air Marshal
Commodore, 1st class	Brigadier	Air Commodore
Commodore, 2nd class
Captain	Colonel	Group captain
Commander	Lieutenant-Colonel	Wing Commander
Lieutenant-Commander	major	Squadron Leader
Lieutenant	Captain	Flight Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant	Lieutenant	Flying officer
Acting sub-lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Pilot officer
Commissioned Officer from Warrant Rank
-	-	Acting pilot officer
Warrant Officer	-	-
-	Conductor, RAOC Master Gunner 1st Class Staff Serjeant Major 1st Class	-
Midshipman	-	-
-	All other Warrant Officers 1st Class	Warrant Officer
-	Warrant Officer 2nd Class	-
-	Warrant Officer 3rd Class	-
Chief Petty Officer	Color Serjeant	Flight sergeant
Naval Cadet	-	-
Petty officer	Serjeant	sergeant
Leading rating	Corporal Bombardier	Corporal
-	Lance Corporal Lance Bombardier	-
Able rating	Private	Leading Aircraftman
Ordinary rating		Aircraftman 1st Class
		Aircraftman 2nd Class

Source:

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, p. 131.
2. ↑ ^{a b c} Sigurd Henner, Wolfgang Böhler: The German Wehrmacht. Ranks and career badges of the Kriegsmarine 1939–1945 . Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2016, p. 51.
3. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, pp. 5-9.
4. ↑ ^{a b} Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, p. 10.
5. ↑ Henner, Böhler 2016, p. 57.
6. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, pp. 10-11.
7. ↑ Henner, Böhler 2016, p. 61.
8. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, p. 11.
9. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, pp. 11-12.
10. ↑ Henner, Böhler 2016, p. 59.
11. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, p. 12.
12. ↑ ^{a b} Henner, Böhler 2016, p. 132.
13. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, pp. 14-16.
14. ↑ ^{a b} Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, p. 13.
15. ^ Admiralty, The Royal Navy as a Career, Whitehall, 1939, pp. 4-5
16. ↑ Admiralty 1939, passim .
17. ↑ Admiralty 1939, pp. 13-19.
18. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, pp. 26-27, 31.
19. ↑ Admiralty 1939, pp. 19-30.
20. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, pp. 27-28, 32.
21. ↑ Admiralty 1939, pp. 30-32.
22. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, p. 28.
23. ↑ Admiralty 1939, pp. 32-34.
24. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, pp. 29-31.
25. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, pp. 26, 27, 29.
26. ↑ Lynn Harris, Sea Ports and Sea Power: African Maritime Cultural Landscapes , Springer 2017, p. 34.
27. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, p. 33.
28. ^ Brian Lavery, Churchill's Navy: The ships, people and organization, 1939-1945 , Conway 2017, pp. 253-254.
29. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, p. 13.
30. ↑ Admiralty Fleet Orders 2-121 / 44 : 8-Skipper Class Officers promotion.
31. ↑ Admiralty Fleet Orders 2-121 / 44 : 9-Boom Temporary Engineers, RNR promotion to Acting Higher Rank.
32. ↑ Admiralty Fleet Orders 6362-6504 / 44 : 6396th skipper Class Officers RNR institution of the rank of Lieutenant-Commander skipper.
33. ^ H. Silber, "Radio technology as a profession." Funkschau 16 (1943) 8/9, p. 76.
34. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, p. 16.
35. ↑ Edinburgh Gazette , June 9, 1925, p. 650.
36. ↑ Edinburgh Gazette , February 26, 1926, pp. 171-172.
37. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, pp. 25, 40.
38. ^ Martin Brayley, World War II Allied Women's Services , London: Osprey, 2001, p. 10.
39. ^ Martin Brayley, World War II Allied Nursing Services , London: Osprey, 2012, pp. 10-11.
40. ↑ Admiralty Fleet Orders 5732-5854 / 42 : * 5757.-WRNS- Distinction Marks of Rank of Officers.
41. ↑ Appendix to the Navy List, June 1944. London: HMSO, 1944, p. 115.
42. ↑ Admiralty Fleet Orders 3335-3469 / 42 : 3463.-Admiralty Civil Police New Titles and Revised Rates of Pay.
43. ↑ Henner, Böhler 2016, p. 110.
44. ^ The Navy List (February 1944), pp. 1035-1036.
45. ^ "Royal Marine Police." Hansard 20 March 1947, vol 435, c109W.
46. ↑ Edinburgh Gazette , May 31, 1940, p. 335.
47. ↑ Admiralty Fleet Orders 4441-4564 / 44 : 4446th Coast Guard and Auxiliary Coast Guard status, Discipline and Relative Rank.
48. ^ Admiralty, King's Regulation and Admiralty Instructions , London: HMSO, 1939.