Ranks and insignia of NATO navies' officers
Each officer rank in the navy of a NATO country may be compared with the ranks used by any military service in other NATO countries, under a standardized NATO rank scale. This is useful, for instance, in establishing seniority amongst officers serving alongside each other within multinational command structures.
The grades, prefixed OF- (commissioned officers) and WO- (warrant officers) were established in the document STANAG 2116, formally titled NATO Codes for Grades of Military Personnel.
In many navies, two separate ranks fall within the OF-1 grade. These particular ranks, known by various names in different navies, are commonly given the less formal grades of "OF-1a" (more senior) and "OF-1b" (less senior).
Officers (OF-1 – 10)
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(Edit) |
No equivalent |
No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral | Nënadmiral | Kundëradmiral | Kapiten Rangut I | Kapiten Rangut II | Kapiten Rangut III | Kapiten Leitnant | Leitnant | Nënleitnant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral | Vice-Admiral | Divisional Admiral | Flotilla Admiral | Captain at sea | Frigate captain | Corvette captain | Lieutenant at sea, 1st class | Lieutenant at sea | Ensign at sea | Ensign at sea, 2nd class | Officer Cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiraal | Vice-admiraal | Divisieadmiraal | Flottieljeadmiraal | Kapitein-ter-zee | Fregatkapitein | Korvetkapitein | Luitenant-ter-zee 1ste klasse | Luitenant-ter-zee | Vaandrig-ter-zee | Vaandrig-ter-zee 2de klasse | Aspirant der marine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amiral | Vice-amiral | Amiral de division | Amiral de flottille | Capitaine de vaisseau | Capitaine de frégate | Capitaine de corvette | Lieutenant de vaisseau de 1re classe | Lieutenant de vaisseau | Enseigne de vaisseau | Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe | Aspirant de marine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Divisionsadmiral | Flotillenadmiral | Kapitän zur See | Fregattenkapitän | Korvettenkapitän | Linienschiffsleutnant 1. klasse | Linienschiffsleutnant | Seefahnrich | Seefahnrich 2. klasse | Aspirant von marine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
AdmiralАдмирал | Vice admiralВицеадмирал | Counter admiralКонтраадмирал | Flotilla admiralФлотилен адмирал | Captain 1st rankКапитан I ранг | Captain 2nd rankКапитан II ранг | Captain 3rd rankКапитан III ранг | Captain lieutenantКапитан-лейтенант | Senior lieutenantСтарши лейтенант | LieutenantЛейтенант | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral | Vice-admiral | Rear-admiral | Commodore | Captain(N) | Commander | Lieutenant-commander | Lieutenant(N) | Sub-lieutenant | Acting sub-lieutenant | Naval cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amiral | Vice-amiral | Contre-amiral | Commodore | Capitaine de vaisseau | Capitaine de frégate | Capitaine de corvette | Lieutenant de vaisseau | Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe | Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe | Aspirant de marine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral flote | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Kontraadmiral | Komodor | Kapetan bojnog broda | Kapetan fregate | Kapetan korvete | Poručnik bojnog broda | Poručnik fregate | Poručnik korvete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No navy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flotilleadmiral | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Kaptajnløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Løjtnant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral Admiral |
Vice admiral Viitseadmiral |
Rear admiral Kontradmiral |
Commodore Kommodoor |
Captain Mereväekapten |
Commander Kaptenleitnant |
Lieutenant commander Kaptenmajor |
Lieutenant Senior Grade Vanemleitnant |
Lieutenant Leitnant |
Lieutenant Junior Grade Nooremleitnant |
Ensign Lipnik | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amiral de France | Amiral | Vice-amiral d'escadre | Vice-amiral | Contre-amiral | Capitaine de vaisseau | Capitaine de frégate | Capitaine de corvette | Lieutenant de vaisseau | Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe | Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe | Aspirant | Élève-officier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | Enlisted rank plus a star indicating cadet's career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral | Vizeadmiral | Konteradmiral | Flottillen- admiral |
Kapitän zur See | Fregatten- kapitän |
Korvetten- kapitän |
Stabskapitän- leutnant |
Kapitän- leutnant |
Oberleutnant zur See |
Leutnant zur See |
Oberfähnrich zur See |
Fähnrich zur See |
Seekadett | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral | Vice Admiral | Rear Admiral | Commodore | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant Commander | Lieutenant | Sub Lieutenant | Ensign | Officer Designate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ναύαρχος | Αντιναύαρχος | Υποναύαρχος | Αρχιπλοίαρχος | Πλοίαρχος | Αντιπλοίαρχος | Πλωτάρχης | Υποπλοίαρχος | Ανθυποπλοίαρχος | Σημαιοφόρος | Σημαιοφόρος Επίκουρος Αξιωματικός | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No navy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent |
No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rear Admiral General Director |
Commodore Chief of Operations |
Captain Deputy Chief of Operations, head of divisions |
Commander sg. 1° CO of department, vessel or aircraft |
Commander 2° CO of department, vessel or aircraft |
Lieutenant Commander Commanding Officer |
Lieutenant Officer (after 6 years of service) |
Lieutenant jg. Officer (after 2 years of service) |
Sub-Lieutenant Officer (first 2 years of service) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ammiraglio awarded only to the Chief of Defence Staff |
Ammiraglio di Squadra con Incarichi Speciali | Ammiraglio di Squadra | Ammiraglio di Divisione | Contrammiraglio | Capitano di Vascello | Capitano di Fregata | Capitano di Corvetta | Primo Tenente di Vascello | Tenente di Vascello | Sottotenente di Vascello | Guardiamarina | Aspirante Guardiamarina | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent |
No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Viceadmirālis Vice Admiral |
Kontradmirālis Counter Admiral |
Flotiles admirālis Rear Admiral |
Jūras kapteinis Navy Captain |
Komandkapteinis Commander Senior Grade |
Komandleitnants Commander Junior Grade |
Kapteiņleitnants Lieutenant Commander |
Virsleitnants First Lieutenant |
Leitnants Lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent |
No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Viceadmirolas | Kontradmirolas | Flotilės admirolas | Jūrų kapitonas | Komandoras | Komandoras leitenantas | Kapitonas leitenantas | Vyresnysis leitenantas | Leitenantas | Kariūnas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No navy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral | Viceadmiral | Kontraadmiral | Komodor | Kapetan bojnog broda | Kapetan fregate | Kapetan korvete | Poručnik bojnog broda | Poručnik fregate | Poručnik korvete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | Adelborst/Korporaal-Adelborst/Sergeant-Adelborst | No equivalent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Luitenant-Admiraal | Vice-Admiraal | Schout-bij-Nacht | Commandeur | Kapitein ter zee | Kapitein-luitenant ter zee | Luitenant ter zee der 1ste klasse | Luitenant ter zee der 2de klasse oudste categorie | Luitenant ter zee der 2de klasse | Luitenant ter zee der 3de klasse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral | Viseadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flaggkommandør | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptein | Orlogskaptein | Kapteinløytnant | Løytnant | Fenrik | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | Various | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marszałek Polski[note 1] | Admirał | Admirał floty | Wiceadmirał | Kontradmirał | Komandor | Komandor porucznik | Komandor podporucznik | Kapitan marynarki | Porucznik marynarki | Podporucznik marynarki | Podchorąży | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Almirante da Armada[note 2] | Almirante | Vice-almirante | Contra-almirante | Comodoro | Capitão de Mar e Guerra | Capitão de Fragata | Capitão-tenente | Primeiro-tenente | Segundo-tenente | Guarda-marinha and Subtenente |
Aspirante (Naval School) | Aspirante (others) | Cadete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mareșal | Amiral | Viceamiral | Contraamiral | Contraamiral de Flotilă | Comandor | Căpitan-Comandor | Locotenent-Comandor | Căpitan | Locotenent | Aspirant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No navy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral | Vice admiral | Kontraadmiral | Kapitan | Kapitan bojne ladje | Kapitan fregate | Kapitan korvete | Poročnik fregate | Poročnik korvete | Podporočnik | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(edit) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Capitán general[note 3] | Almirante general | Almirante | Vice almirante | Contra almirante | Capitán de navío | Capitán de fragata | Capitán de corbeta | Teniente de navío | Alférez de navío | Alférez de fragata | Guardiamarina 2 | Guardiamarina 1 | Alumno 2 | Alumno 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Marines) (Edit) |
No equivalent |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Teniente General | General de División | General de Brigada | Coronel | Teniente Coronel | Comandante | Capitán | Teniente | Alférez | Guardiamarina de 2º | Guardiamarina de 1º | Aspirante de 2ª | Aspirante de 1ª | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
Various [note 4] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Büyükamiral | Oramiral | Koramiral | Tümamiral | Tuğamiral | Albay | Yarbay | Binbaşı | Yüzbaşı | Üsteğmen | Teğmen | Asteğmen | Bahriyeli | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral of the Fleet | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Sub lieutenant | Midshipman | Officer Cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Royal Marines) (Edit) |
No equivalent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Captain General Royal Marines |
General | Lieutenant-general | Major-general | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(edit) |
Various | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fleet admiral | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Rear admiral (lower half) | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Ensign | Midshipman/officer candidate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(marine corps) (Edit) |
No equivalent | Various | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Midshipman/officer candidate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(coast guard) (Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Rear admiral (lower half) | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Ensign | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer |
Warrant officers (WO-1 – 5)
Warrant officers rank below officers and above enlisted servicemen.
NATO code | WO-5 | WO-4 | WO-3 | WO-2 | WO-1 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(edit) |
||||||
Chief warrant officer 5 | Chief warrant officer 4 | Chief warrant officer 3 | Chief warrant officer 2 | Warrant officer 1 | ||
(coast guard) (Edit) |
No equivalent | No equivalent | ||||
Chief warrant officer 4 | Chief warrant officer 3 | Chief warrant officer 2 | ||||
(marine corps) (Edit) |
||||||
Chief warrant officer 5 | Chief warrant officer 4 | Chief warrant officer 3 | Chief warrant officer 2 | Warrant Officer 1 | ||
NATO code | WO-5 | WO-4 | WO-3 | WO-2 | WO-1 |
WO are used for United States and United Kingdom warrant officers only.[1] Countries not listed use only regular officer ranks, do not have warrant officers, or warrant officers are considered OR (Other/Enlisted Rank).
See also
Notes
- Title; Honorary or posthumous rank; war time rank; ceremonial rank
- Honorary or wartime rank.
- Rank only held by the king of Spain.
- Student officer insignia denotes school grade rather than military seniority.