Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Navy

The Royal Danish Navy ranks follows the NATO system of ranks and insignia, as does the rest of the Danish Defence. Outside this ranking system there are physicians (who may wear the same insignia in the Army/Air Force but with a slight variation in the Navy), nurses and veterinarians, while priests and judicial personnel wear completely different insignia and are without rank.

Current ranks

Besides the NATO-system, the Danish defence utilizes its own system, which for the navy is as follows:

  • Military personnel, level 400 (M400, chef-gruppen[1]) Executive level: OF-4 through OF-9[2]
  • Military personnel, level 300 (M300, officers-gruppen) Operational level: OF-1 through OF-3
  • Military personnel, level 200 (M200, sergent-gruppen) NCO level: OR-5 through OR-9
  • Military personnel, level 100 (M100, konstabel-gruppen) Seamen level: OR-1 through OR-4

Officers

The highest officer's rank is OF-9 (Admiral) which is reserved for the Chief of Defence (only when this seat is occupied by a naval officer). The Prince Consort of Denmark held the rank of Admiral (à la suite). Similarly, OF-8 (Vice-admiral) is reserved for the Vice Chief of Defence). OF-7 (Kontreadmiral) is used by the Chief of the Royal Danish Navy and OF-6 (Flotilleadmiral) by the chief of Danish Task Group as well as keepers of high-office positions. OF-4 and OF-5 are mainly chiefs of squadrons, schools and larger vessels. OF-1 through OF-3 are used in a variety of positions.

NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
 Royal Danish Navy[3]
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Flotilleadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Løjtnant
Medical[3]
Generallæge Stabslæge I
Stabstandlæge I
Stabsdyrlæge I 		Stabslæge II
Stabstandlæge II
Stabsdyrlæge II 		Overlæge
Overtandlæge
Overdyrlæge
Afdelingslæge
Afdelingstandlæge
Afdelingsdyrlæge 		Reservelæge I
Reservetandlæge I
Reservedyrlæge I 		Reservelæge II
Reservetandlæge II
Reservedyrlæge II 		Reservelæge III
Reservetandlæge III
Reservedyrlæge III
Danish Pay Grade[2] M406 M405 M404 M403 M402 M401 M332
M331
M322		 M321 M312 M311

Rank flags

Rank Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Flotilleadmiral Eskadrechef
1858–1882 —
1882–?
?–1979
1979–present[4]

Enlisted

The Danish OR's also follow the NATO system, though there are no OR-6's. OR-4 (Korporal) is the highest of the M100-level ranks is and not considered a NCO-rank.

NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Service uniform
 Royal Danish Navy[3]
Chefsergent Seniorsergent Oversergent Sergent Sergent SØ Korporal Marinespecialist Marineoverkonstabel Marinekonstabel
Danish Pay Grade[2] M232 M231 M221 M212 M211 M113 M112

Branch of service

The branch of service emblems are worn by all NCOs and enlisted, except for Chefsergent who wears a crown.

Våben, artilleri Våben, torpedo Militærpoliti Våben, mine
Kampinformation Elektronik DATA (Informatik) Automatik
Kommunikation Maskin Administration
(Intendantur) 		Sanitet
Proviant/forplejning Tamburkorps Chefsergent Sergentelev

Additional ranks

NATO Code OR-9 OR-8 OR-1
Rank[3]
Danish Søværnschefsergent Myndighedschefsergent Myndighedsseniorsergent Stampersonel SØ Værnepligtig SØ
English Master chief petty officer of the Navy Command master chief petty officer Command senior chief petty officer Junior rating/Trainee Conscript

Mechanics

Rank group Mechanics
Shoulder insignia[3]
Sleeve insignia
Seniormekaniker Overmekaniker af 1. grad Overmekaniker af 2. grad Mekaniker

Clerical personnel

Rank group Clerical personnel
Shoulder insignia[3]
Sleeve insignia
Orlogsprovst Orlogspræst

Types of rank insignia

Rank[5]
(example) 		Shoulder Sleeve INTOPS Epaulette
Chefsergent None
Orlogskaptajn

Historical ranks

The sleeve insignia was first introduced in the Royal Navy in 1871 and was based around the British Royal Navy.[6] In order to become more standard, the admiral ranks were changed in 1951.[7]

Timeline of changes

Order of precedence 1671-1730

See also: Danish order of precedence
Rank group First class Second class Third class Fourth class Fifth class Sixth class Seventh class Eighth class
1671–1680[8] Rigs-Admiral General-Admiral Admiral Vice-Admiral
1680–1693
1693–1699[9] General-Admiral General-Admiral-Lieutenant Admiral Vice-Admiral Schout by Nacht Commandeur-Capitain til Søes
1699–1717
1717–1730[10] General-Admiral General-Admiral-Lieutenant Admiral Vice-Admiral Schout by Nacht Commandeur til Søes Commandeur-Capitain til Søes Capitain Premier Lieutenant Second Lieutenant
Rank group First class Second class Third class Fourth class Fifth class Sixth class Seventh class Eighth class

Modern ranks 1858-present

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
1801–1812[11]
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Kaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Sekondløjtnant
1812–1822[12]
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Kaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Sekondløjtnant
1841–1856[13]
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Kaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Sekondløjtnant
1858–1868[14]
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Løjtnant
1868–1871[15]
Admiral Kommandør Kaptajn Premierløjtnant Sekondløjtnant
1871–1880[16]
Admiral Kommandør Kaptajn Premierløjtnant Sekondløjtnant
1909–1922[17]
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kaptajn Premierløjtnant Løjtnant Sekondløjtnant
1922–1937[18]
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Søløjtnant af 1. grad Søløjtnant af 2. grad
1937–1951
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Løjtnant Søløjtnant II
1951–1970
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Løjtnant Søløjtnant II
1970–2000
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Flotilleadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Løjtnant Søløjtnant II
2000–2011
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Flotilleadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Løjtnant
2011–present
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Flotilleadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Løjtnant
NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1

Other ranks

Rank group NCOs Enlisted
1959–1962[19]
Overfenrik Fenrik Oversergent Sergent Korporal Sergentelev Math Mathelev
1962–?
Seniorsergent af 1. grad Seniorsergent af 2. grad Oversergent Sergent Korporal Marineoverkonstabel Marinekonstable Marinekonstabelelev
1982–2008
Chefsergent Seniorsergent Oversergent Sergent Korporal Marinespecialist Marineoverkonstabel Marinekonstable Marinekonstabelelev

References

  1. ^ Danish Ministry of Defence Personnel Agency (23 March 2022). "Selvvalgt afsked og TUL". forpers.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Historik" [History]. forpers.dk (in Danish). Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Søværnets Gradstegn" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. October 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  4. ^ "FKOBST L.202 - 4: Ceremoniel i Forsvaret" (in Danish). Danish Defence. October 2019. p. Bilag 2 til Tillæg A. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Uniformsbestemmelse for Søværnet (FKOBST SV.628-501)" (PDF). Forsvaret (in Danish). September 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  6. ^ Balsved, Johnny (25 March 2006). "Uniformshistorie" [Uniform History]. Navalhistory.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  7. ^ Balsved, Johnny (22 March 2008). "Distinktioner og gradstegn" [Rank Insignia]. Navalhistory.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  8. ^ danmarkshistorien.dk (17 May 2017). "Rangforordningen, 25. maj 1671" (in Danish). danmarkshistorien.dk. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  9. ^ danmarkshistorien.dk (21 June 2016). "Rangforordningen, 11. februar 1693" (in Danish). danmarkshistorien.dk. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  10. ^ Ilsøe, Lars. "Holberg og rangvæsenet". holbergsskrifter.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  11. ^ Borg 1974, p. 31.
  12. ^ Borg 1974, p. 39.
  13. ^ Borg 1974, pp. 52, 57.
  14. ^ Borg 1974, pp. 57–60.
  15. ^ Borg 1974, p. 61.
  16. ^ Borg 1974, pp. 61–64.
  17. ^ Borg 1974, pp. 75, 180.
  18. ^ Borg 1974, p. 76.
  19. ^ United States Department of the Army (1962). "Military Uniforms - DA Pam 355-120 - 1959 to 1962 - Part 2". Archive.org. Retrieved 9 October 2021.