Royal Navy ratings rank insignia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NATO Code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
(Edit)		 No Equivalent No Equivalent No Equivalent
Warrant Officer Class 1 Warrant Officer Class 2 Chief Petty Officer Petty Officer Leading Rate Able Rate Ordinary Rate
Abbreviation WO1 WO2 CPO PO LH AB ORD
Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom (Royal Marines)
(Edit)		 No Equivalent No Insignia No Equivalent
Warrant Officer Class 1 Warrant Officer Class 2 Colour Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance Corporal Marine
Abbreviation WO1 WO2 CSgt Sgt Cpl L/Cpl Mne

Flag of the United Kingdom
Naval Service
Components
Royal Navy
Royal Marines
History
History of the Royal Navy
History of the Royal Marines
Future of the Royal Navy
Ships
Current Fleet
Current deployments
Historic ships
Personnel
The Admiralty
Senior Officers
Uniforms
Officer rank insignia
Ratings rank insignia
Related Civilian Agencies of the MOD
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service

For Chief Petty Officer both the shoulder tab insignia and the sleeve insignia from the No.1/No.2 uniforms are shown.

Contents

[edit] Trade (Branch) Badges

 Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.


Ratings in the Royal Navy also carry trade badges on the right sleeve to indicate their specific job (this information is also carried in the individual's title - e.g. a leading rate (commonly called a leading hand, or simply "leader") who is also in the Marine Engineering department is known as a "Leading Marine Engineering Mechanic" (LMEM), whereas someone of the same rate who specialises in gunnery (which would also make them responsible for certain seamanship aspects on the upper deck) will be known as "Leading Seaman" (LS). A common title for Able Rates in the warfare branch is Operator Mechanic - a title relating to the idea that the rating not only controls his/her equipment, but also maintains it to an extent. An overview of trade badges is given on the Royal Navy's website. Variances with branch badges include stars and crowns above and below the logo of the branch to symbolise the rate of the person in possession of the badge

  • Basic badge = AB class 2 - not fully operationally trained
  • Basic Badge + 1 star above the branch logo = AB class 1 - fully operationally trained, usually to NVQ level 2
  • Basic Badge + 1 star above the branch logo and one below = Leading Hand qualified - able to complete complicated tasks
  • Basic Badge + 1 crown above the branch logo = Petty Officer qualified - able to complete more complicated tasks
  • Basic Badge + 1 crown above the branch logo, badge appears on the left breast = Chief Petty Officer - the most qualified branch badge
  • Basic Badge + 1 crown above the branch logo and 1 star below = Chief Staff (obsolete)

Warrant Officers and above do not wear branch badges as well as Artificer Apprentices (also known as "Tiffs"), who instead have a red cloth patch attached to their beret rather than the brass one that is issued to the other branches. This patch is identical in pattern to the brass beret badge of a Petty Officer as this symbolises that they are not fully qualified in their branch until they reach the rate of a Petty Officer.

[edit] History

 Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

Badges for naval ratings were first introduced in 1827 and were as follows:

Petty Officer 1st Class Crown above anchor
Petty Officer 2nd Class Foul Anchor

Both were white and to be worn on the upper left sleeve

In 1853 two new ranks were introduced and the badges were altered as follows:

Chief Petty Officer Crown above anchor surrounded by laurel wreath
Petty Officer 1st Class Crown above 2 crossed anchors
Petty Officer 2nd Class Crown above anchor
Leading Seaman Foul Anchor

These were also white, or in gold on the dress uniform, or blue on white uniforms. In 1860 the badges changed from white to red on ordinary uniforms.

In 1879 Chief Petty Officers received a fore-and-aft uniform similar to that of the officers, with a cap badge of an anchor within a cord surmounted by a crown. In 1890 they ceased to wear their arm badge.

In 1913 the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class was abolished, but the other badges remained the same.

In 1920 Petty officers of 4 years standing also received the Fore-and-Aft rig with the cap badge formerly worn by CPOs. The CPOs added a wreath to their cap badge, making it similar to the earlier arm badge.

In 1970 a new rank of Fleet Chief Petty Officer was introduced, with insignia of the royal coat of arms on the lower arm, the same as a Warrant Officer Class 1 in the army and RAF, to which the new rank was exactly equivalent. This rank was later renamed Warrant Officer, and later still Warrant Officer Class 1.

In 2004 the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 was formed from those CPOs holding the appointment of Charge Chief Petty Officer. The insignia is a crown within a wreath, also worn on the lower arm.

Nowadays the badges are worn on the shoulders of some uniforms.

Chevrons on the left sleeve below the rank badge are for long service & good conduct.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

Ratings and Other Ranks of the Flag of the United Kingdom British Armed Forces
OR-1 OR-2 OR-3 OR-4 OR-5/OR-6 OR-7 OR-8 OR-9
Royal Navy: AB LH PO CPO WO2 WO1
Royal Marines: Mne LCpl Cpl Sgt CSgt WO2 WO1
Army: Pte Pte LCpl Cpl Sgt SSgt / CSgt WO2 WO1
Royal Air Force: AC LAC - SAC - Jnr Tech Cpl Sgt Chf Tech - Flt Sgt WO / MAcr