Comparative navy officer ranks of the Commonwealth

Rank comparison chart of naval forces of Commonwealth of Nations states.

Most of the 52 Commonwealth nations have their beginnings in British Empire and have shared naval traditions. By comparison, Gabon and Togo are French colonies, Mozambique is a former Portuguese colony while Rwanda is a German and later, Belgian colony. Even after some had achieved a degree of independent government from the UK, their naval protection was still British; the Royal New Zealand Navy did not exist separately until 1941.

Officers

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard[1]
Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant
(junior grade)
Sub-lieutenant
 Royal Australian Navy[2]
Admiral of the fleet Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Acting sub lieutenant
 Royal Bahamas Defence Force[3]
Commodore Captain Senior commander Commander Lieutenant commander Senior lieutenant Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant Acting sub-lieutenant
 Bangladesh Navy[4]
এ্যাডমিরাল
Aeḍmirāl
ভাইস এ্যাডমিরাল
Bhā'is aeḍamirāl
রিয়ার এ্যাডমিরাল
Riẏār aeḍamirāl
কমোডোর
Kômōḍōr
ক্যাপ্টেন
Kaepṭēn
কমান্ডার
Kômānḍār
লেফটেন্যান্ট কমান্ডার
Lēphṭēnānṭ kômānḍār
লেফটেন্যান্ট
Lēphṭēnānṭ
সাব-লেফটেন্যান্ট
Sāb-lēphṭēnānṭ
এ্যাক্টিং সাব-লেফটেন্যান্ট
Ēyākṭiṁ sāb-lēphṭēn'yānṭ
মিডশিপম্যান
Miḍśipmaen
 Barbados Coast Guard[5]
Commodore Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Midshipman
Belize Coast Guard
Rear admiral Rear admiral
(lower half)
Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant
(junior grade)
Ensign
Botswana Botswana No navy


 Royal Brunei Navy[6]
Laksamana armada Laksamana Laksamana madya Laksamana muda Laksamana pertama Kepten Komander Leftenan komander Leftenan Leftenan madya Leftenan muda
 Cameroon Navy[7][8][9]
Amiral d'escadre 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
 Royal Canadian Navy[10][11]
Admiral Vice-admiral Rear-admiral Commodore Captain (N) Commander Lieutenant-commander Lieutenant (N) Sub-lieutenant Acting sub-lieutenant
Amiral(e) Vice-amiral(e) Contre-amiral(e) Commodore Capitaine de vaisseau Capitaine de frégate Capitaine de corvette Lieutenant(e) de vaisseau Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
 Cyprus Navy[12]
Αντιναύαρχος
Antinavarchos
Υποναύαρχος
Yponavarchos
Αρχιπλοίαρχος
Archiploiarchos
Πλοίαρχος
Ploiarchos
Αντιπλοίαρχος
Antiploiarchos
Πλωτάρχης
Plotarchis
Υποπλοίαρχος
Ypoploiarchos
Ανθυποπλοίαρχος
Anthypoploiarchos
Σημαιοφόρος
Simaioforos
Dominica Dominica No navy


Eswatini Eswatini No navy


 Republic of Fiji Navy
Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant Ensign
 Gabonese Navy
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


 Ghana Navy
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub lieutenant
Grenada Grenada No navy


Guyana Coast Guard
Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant junior grade Sub-lieutenant
 Indian Navy[13]
Admiral
एडमिरल
Vice admiral
वाइस एडमिरल
Rear admiral
रियर एडमिरल
Commodore
कमोडोर
Captain
कैप्टन
Commander
कमांडर
Lieutenant commander
लेफ़्टिनेंट कमांडर
Lieutenant
लेफ्टिनेंट
Sub-lieutenant
सब लेफ्टिनेंट
Midshipman
मिडशिपमैन
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Jamaican Coast Guard[14]
Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Sub-lieutenant
 Kenya Navy[15]
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Kiribati Kiribati No navy


Lesotho Lesotho No navy


 Royal Malaysian Navy[16]
Laksamana armada Laksamana Laksamana madya Laksamana muda Laksamana pertama Kepten Komander Leftenan komander Leftenan Leftenan madya Leftenan muda
 Maritime Squadron of Malta[17]
Brigadier
Brigadier
Colonel
Kurunell
Lieutenant colonel
Logutenent kurunell
Major
Maġġur
Captain
Kaptan
Lieutenant
Logutenent
Second lieutenant
Sekond logutenent
Mauritius Mauritius No navy


 Mozambique Naval Command
Almirante Vice-almirante Contra-almirante Capitão de mar e guerra Capitão de fragata Capitão-tenente Primeiro-tenente Segundo-tenente Guarda-marinha
 Namibian Navy[18]
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Rear admiral junior grade Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant junior grade Ensign
Namibian Marine Corps
Marine Commandant Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Ensign
Nauru Nauru No navy


 Royal New Zealand Navy[19]
Admiral of the FleetAdmiral of the fleet Vice AdmiralVice admiral Rear AdmiralRear admiral CommodoreCommodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Ensign
Admiral of the fleet[20] Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Ensign
 Nigerian Navy[21]
Admiral of the Fleet Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant Midshipman
 Pakistan Navy[22]
Admiral
ایڈمرل
Vice admiral
وائس ایڈمرل
Rear admiral
بحریہ کا امیر
Commodore
کموڈور
Captain
کپتان
Commander
کمانڈر
Lieutenant commander
لیفٹیننٹ کمانڈر
Lieutenant
لیفٹیننٹ
Sub-lieutenant
سب لیفٹیننٹ
Midshipman
مڈ شپ مین
 Papua New Guinea Maritime Element
Rear Admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant
Commander
Lieutenant Sub
Lieutenant
Rwanda Rwanda No navy


 Saint Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard
Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant Midshipman
Saint Lucia Saint Lucia No navy


Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines No navy


Samoa Samoa No navy


Seychelles Coast Guard[23]
Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
 Sierra Leone Navy
Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Sub-Lieutenant
 Republic of Singapore Navy[24]
No insignia yet
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Rear admiral
(junior grade)
Colonel Senior lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands No navy


 South African Navy[25]
Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Rear admiral
(junior grade)
Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Ensign
 Sri Lanka Navy[26]
Admiral of the fleet Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant Midshipman
Eswatini Swaziland No navy


 Tanzania Naval Command
Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Ensign
Togolese Navy[27]
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
 Tongan Navy[28]
Commander-in-chief Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Midshipman
 Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard[29]
Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant Acting sub-lieutenant
Tuvalu Tuvalu No navy


Uganda Uganda No navy


 Royal Navy[30]
Admiral of the Fleet Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Commodore Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Midshipman
 Royal Marines[31]
Field marshal General Lieutenant-general Major-general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Captain General
Royal Marines
General Lieutenant-general Major-general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Vanuatu Vanuatu Maritime Wing
Commander
Komanda
Lieutenant commander
Lietnen Komanda
Lieutenant
Lietnen
Sub lieutenant
Sab-Lietnen
Zambia Zambia No navy


Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ Antigua & Barbuda Defence Force. "Paratus" (PDF). Regional Publications Ltd. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Badges of rank" (PDF). defence.gov.au. Department of Defence (Australia). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  3. ^ "OFFICER RANKS". rbdf.gov.bs. Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  4. ^ Bangladesh Navy. "Rank of Navy & Equivalent Rank". navy.mil.bd. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Barbados Defence Force Medal Ceremony". YouTube. Barbados Defence Force. 18 Jul 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Admiralty Ranks – RBN Admiralty Rank". Navy.MinDef.gov.bn. Royal Brunei Navy Headquarters, Muara Naval Base: Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Grades Et Appellations Officier Generaux Marine Nationale". Ministère de la défense du Cameroun (in French). 4 August 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Grades Et Appellations Officier Superieurs Marine Nationale". Ministère de la défense du Cameroun (in French). 4 August 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Grades Et Appellations Officier Subalternes Marine Nationale". Ministère de la défense du Cameroun (in French). 4 August 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Ranks and appointment". canada.ca. Government of Canada. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  11. ^ "The Canadian Armed Forces modernizes military ranks in French". Canada. Government of Canada. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Βαθμοί" [Ranks]. army.gov.cy (in Greek). Cypriot National Guard. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Ranks & Insignia". Join Indian Navy. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  14. ^ "BADGES OF RANK". Official Jamaica Defence Force Website. 2019. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  15. ^ "KDF Ranks". mod.go.ke. Ministry of Defence - Kenya. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Pangkat". mafhq.mil.my (in Malay). Malaysian Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Rank Insignia". afm.gov.mt. Armed Forces of Malta. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Government Notice" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. Vol. 4547. 20 August 2010. pp. 99–102. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Badges of Rank" (PDF). nzdf.mil.nz. New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  20. ^ Shown with cipher of Elizabeth II
  21. ^ Smaldone, Joseph P. (1992). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Nigeria: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 296–297. LCCN 92009026. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  22. ^ "LIFE IN PN:RANKS". www.paknavy.gov.pk. Pakistan Navy Official Website. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  23. ^ "Rank structure". spdf.sc. Seychelles People's Defence Forces. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  24. ^ "SAF Rank Insignias". mindef.gov.sg. Ministry of Defence (Singapore). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  25. ^ "Rank Insignia". navy.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  26. ^ "Branches/Ranks". Sri Lanka Navy. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Journal officiel de la république togolaise" (PDF) (in French). 12 February 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  28. ^ "Tonga Defence Services (Amendment) Regulations 2009" (PDF). Tonga Government Gazette Supplement Extraordinary. 5: 151–153. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  29. ^ "Rank Chart (Commissioned Officers)". 69.0.195.188. Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  30. ^ "Shaping your career". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  31. ^ "RM Officers & Other Ranks Badges of Rank". Royal Navy website. Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-10-05.