Korvettenkapitän

Korvettenkapitän, short: KKpt/in lists: KK, (English: Corvette captain) is the lowest senior officer rank (German: Stabsoffizier Rang) in the German Navy[1]/armed forces of Germany (Bundeswehr).

This article is about the German Marine "Korvettenkapitän" OF-3. For the equivalent US naval rank, see Lieutenant commander. For the use of this rank in other countries, see Corvette captain.

Korvettenkapitän
Rank insignia	German officer rank
Introduction
Rank group	Commissioned officers
Navy	Korvettenkapitän
Army / Air Force	Major
NATO equivalent	OF-3
Army	Major
Navy	Lieutenant commander

Address

The official manner, in line to ZDv 10/8, of formal addressing of military people with the rank Korvettenkapitän (OF-3) is "Herr/Frau Korvettenkapitän". However, as to German naval traditions the "Korvettenkapitän" will be addressed "Herr/Frau Kapitän", often in line to seamen's language "Herr/Frau Kap'tän".

Rank insignia and rating

See also: Ranks of the German Bundeswehr and Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr

Rank insignia Korvettenkapitän, worn on the sleeves and shoulders, are one five-pointed star above three stripes (or rings on sleeves; without the star when rank loops are worn).

The rank is rated OF-3a[2] in NATO, and equivalent to Major in Heer, and Luftwaffe. It is grade A13 in the pay rules of the Federal Ministry of Defence and is senior to the regular OF-2 rank of Kapitänleutnant (en: Lt), as well as to OF-2a Stabskapitänleutnant.

German Navy officer rank
Line officer career
junior rank Kapitänleutnant		Korvettenkapitän (Oberstabsarzt) Major	senior rank Fregattenkapitän
Warrant officer / officer specialist career
Kapitänleutnant	Stabskapitänleutnant	end of officer specialist career

Volksmarine

Main article: Ranks of the Volksmarine

Volksmarine

shoulder strap

sleeve lace

Korvettenkapitän

Korvettenkapitän was in the Volksmarine of the GDR the lowest grade of the senior officer's rank group, comparable to NATO-rank code OF-3 as well. It was comparable to Major of the NPA Land Force and Air Force.

The rank insignia consisted of shoulder strap and sleeve stripes. Shoulder straps had to be worn on uniform jackets and consisted of twisted silver-braids with one gold pip (star) on padding in navy blue weapon color.

Cuff insignia consisted of three stripes, and a five-point naval star above. In contradiction to Imperial German Navy tradition, where sleeve rings encircled the lower cuffs, the Volksmarine cuff strips formed 40% rings.

junior rank Kapitänleutnant

(NPA rank) Korvettenkapitän

senior rank Fregattenkapitän

Imperial German Navy and Kriegsmarine

Main article: Ranks of the Kriegsmarine

Nazi Kriegsmarine

shoulder strap

sleeve lace

Korvettenkapitän

In the Imperial German Navy and Kriegsmarine the "Korvettenkapitän" was the lowest officer rank of the senior officer's rank group. The rank insignia consisted of shoulder strap and sleeve stripes. Shoulder straps had to be worn on uniform jackets and consisted of twisted silver-braids (without pip/star) on padding in navy blue weapon color.

Cuff insignia consisted of three stripes, and a five-point naval star above. The sleeve rings encircled the lower cuffs.

junior rank Kapitänleutnant

(Ranks Kriegsmarine) Korvettenkapitän

senior rank Fregattenkapitän

References

1. official rank table of the German Navy
2. STANAG 2116