Oberbootsmann
shoulder board[1] / cuff title[2] / mounting loop
Country	Germany
Service branch	German Navy
Abbreviation	OBtsm or OB
Rank group	Non-commissioned officers
Rank	German NCO rank
NATO rank code	OR-6
Formation	1955
Next higher rank	Hauptbootsmann Oberfähnrich zur See
Next lower rank	Bootsmann
Equivalent ranks	Oberfeldwebel

Oberbootsmann (OBtsm or in lists OB) designates in the German Navy of the Bundeswehr a military person or member of the armed forces. It belongs to the particular rank group Senior NCOs with port epée.

According to the salary class it is equivalent to the Oberfeldwebel of Heer or Luftwaffe. It is grouped as OR6 in NATO, equivalent to First Sergeant, Master Sergeant, or Senior Chief Petty Officer in the US Armed forces, and to Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army and Royal Navy.

In navy context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr Oberbootsmann also informally / short Oberbootsmann.

The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
Unteroffiziere mit Portepee

• OR-9: Oberstabsbootsmann / Oberstabsfeldwebel
• OR-8: Stabsbootsmann / Stabsfeldwebel
• OR-7: Hauptbootsmann and Oberfähnrich zur See/ and Hauptfeldwebel and Oberfähnrich
• OR-6a: Oberbootsmann/ Oberfeldwebel
• OR-6b: Bootsmann and Fähnrich zur See/ Feldwebel and Fähnrich

• – Premier-maître chef/ Eerste meester
• – Chief petty officer 2nd class/ Premier maître de 2e classe
• – Stožerni narednik
• – Seniorsergent
• – Premier maître
• – Επικελευστής/ Epikelefstis
• – Petty officer/specialist (after 6 years service)
• – secondo capo scelto
• – Sergeant-majoor
• – no equivalent
• – Młodszy chorąży marynarki
• – Sargento-ajudante
• – Sargento primero
• – Chief Petty Officer/ Colour Sergeant
• – Chief Petty Officer/ Gunnery Sergeant

junior Rank Bootsmann

Oberbootsmann

senior Rank Hauptbootsmann Oberfähnrich zur See

• Ranks of the German Bundeswehr
• Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr