Austrian military rank
Not to be confused with the more senior German appointment
Zugführer, equivalent to
platoon leader in Anglophonic armed forces.
Zugsführer (Zgf or ZF; lit. 'Platoon leader') is a rank of the enlisted men rank group (EN group) in the Austrian Bundesheer. In comparison to the German Bundeswehr it is equivalent to the EN-rank “Oberstabsgefreiter”. A Zugsführer might be tasked to lead a sub-subunit of 8 to 13 soldiers.
During United Nations missions and in NATO Partnership for Peace the rank Zugsführer will be designated in English with Master Corporal (MCpl) and is equivalent to NATO-Rang code OR-4.
Austria-Hungary (until 1918)
The Zugsführer rank was derived from the former platoon corporal (de: Zugskorporal) in 1857 and introduced to the Austro-Hungarian armed forces (hu: „Szakaszvezetö“). The rank was equivalent to the German NCO-grade Sergeant. The Zugsführer was authorized to wear yellow-black NCO port epée.
Depending on the armed forces branch, service, or assignment the Zugsführer rank (with the appropriate rank I insignia) was equivalent to:
- Stabführer (en: Tambour major)
- Kurschmied (en: Health smith, cavalry shoeing)
- Rechnungs-Unteroffizier 2. Klasse (en: Fiscal NCO 2nd class; hu: Számvivö altiszt)
- Waffenmeister 2. Klasse (en: Weapon master 2nd class)
| Designation |
Sergeants / Zugsführer ranks
|
|
|
![]()
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Paroli
|
|
|
| Rank description
|
Zugsführer |
Kurschmied |
Rechnungs-
Unteroffizier
2. Klasse |
Waffenmeister
2. Klasse
|
| Branch |
Infantry |
Mountain
infantry |
Motor
transport regiment |
Cavalry |
Fiscal matters |
Artillery
|
| (English)
|
(Zugsführer)
|
(Farrier)
|
(Viscal NCO
2nd class)
|
(Weapon master
2nd class)
|
See also
References
- Die Streitkräfte der Republik Österreich, 1918-1968, Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Militärwissenschaftliches Institut, 1968.
