Ranks and insignia of NATO navies' officers

Each officer rank in the navy of a NATO country may be compared with the ranks used by any military service in other NATO countries, under a standardized NATO rank scale. This is useful, for instance, in establishing seniority amongst officers serving alongside each other within multinational command structures.

The grades, prefixed OF- (commissioned officers) and WO- (warrant officers) were established in the document STANAG 2116, formally titled NATO Codes for Grades of Military Personnel.

In many navies, two separate ranks fall within the OF-1 grade. These particular ranks, known by various names in different navies, are commonly given the less formal grades of "OF-1a" (more senior) and "OF-1b" (less senior).

Officers (OF-1 – 10)

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Albanian Naval Force^[1] v t e
					Admiral		Nënadmiral		Kundëradmiral		Kapiten rangut I		Kapiten rangut II		Kapiten rangut III		Kapiten		Toger			Nëntoger
Belgian Navy^[2] v t e
			Admiraal		Vice-admiraal		Divisieadmiraal		Flottieljeadmiraal		Kapitein-ter-zee		Fregatkapitein		Korvetkapitein	Luitenant-ter-zee 1ste klasse	Luitenant-ter-zee		Vaandrig-ter-zee			Vaandrig-ter-zee 2de klasse			Aspirant der marine
			Amiral		Vice-amiral		Amiral de division		Amiral de flottille		Capitaine de vaisseau		Capitaine de frégate		Capitaine de corvette	Lieutenant de vaisseau de 1^re classe	Lieutenant de vaisseau		Enseigne de vaisseau			Enseigne de vaisseau de 2^e classe			Aspirant de marine
			Admiral		Vizeadmiral		Divisionsadmiral		Flotillenadmiral		Kapitän zur See		Fregattenkapitän		Korvettenkapitän	Linienschiffsleutnant 1. klasse	Linienschiffsleutnant		Seefahnrich			Seefahnrich 2. klasse			Aspirant von marine
Bulgarian Navy^[3] v t e
			Адмирал Admiral		Вицеадмирал Vitseadmiral		Контраадмирал Kontraadmiral		Флотилен адмирал Flotilen admiral		Капитан I ранг Kapitan I rang		Капитан II ранг Kapitan II rang		Капитан III ранг Kapitan III rang		Капитан-лейтенант Kapitan-leytenant		Старши лейтенант Starshi leĭtenant			Лейтенант Leytenant
Royal Canadian Navy^[4] v t e
			Admiral (Adm)		Vice-admiral (VAdm)		Rear-admiral (RAdm)		Commodore (Cmdre)		Captain (N) (Capt(N))		Commander (Cdr)		Lieutenant-commander (LCdr)		Lieutenant (N) (Lt(N))		Sub-lieutenant (SLt)			Acting sub-lieutenant (A/SLt)			Naval cadet (NCdt)
			Amiral (Am)		Vice-amiral (Vam)		Contre-amiral (Cam)		Commodore (Cmdre)		Capitaine de vaisseau (Capv)		Capitaine de frégate (Capf)		Capitaine de corvette (Capc)		Lieutenant de vaisseau (Ltv)		Enseigne de vaisseau de 1^re classe (Ens 1)			Enseigne de vaisseau de 2^e classe (Ens 2)			Aspirant de marine (Aspm)
Croatian Navy^[5] v t e
	Admiral flote		Admiral		Viceadmiral		Kontraadmiral		Komodor		Kapetan bojnog broda		Kapetan fregate		Kapetan korvete		Poručnik bojnog broda		Poručnik fregate			Poručnik korvete
Czech Republic	No navy
Royal Danish Navy^[6] v t e
			Admiral		Viceadmiral		Kontreadmiral		Flotilleadmiral		Kommandør		Kommandørkaptajn		Orlogskaptajn		Kaptajnløjtnant		Premierløjtnant			Løjtnant
Estonian Navy^[7] v t e
			Admiral		Viitseadmiral		Kontradmiral		Kommodoor		Mereväekapten		Kaptenleitnant		Kaptenmajor		Vanemleitnant		Leitnant		Nooremleitnant		Lipnik
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Finnish Navy^[8] v t e
			Amiraali		Vara-amiraali		Kontra-amiraali		Lippueamiraali		Kommodori		Komentaja		Komentajakapteeni		Kapteeniluutnantti		Yliluutnantti		Luutnantti		Aliluutnantti		Upseerikokelas						Upseerioppilas
			Amiral		Viceamiral		Konteramiral		Flottiljamiral		Kommodor		Kommendör		Kommendörkapten		Kaptenlöjtnant		Premiärlöjtnant		Löjtnant		Underlöjtnant		Officersaspirant						Officerselev
French Navy^[9] v t e
	Amiral de France		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 1^re classe			Enseigne de vaisseau de 2^e classe			Aspirant						Élève-officier
German Navy^[10] v t e																															Enlisted rank plus a star indicating cadet's career
			Admiral		Vize­admiral		Konter­admiral		Flottillen­admiral		Kapitän zur See		Fregatten­kapitän		Korvetten­kapitän		Stabskapitän­leutnant	Kapitän­leutnant	Oberleutnant zur See			Leutnant zur See			Oberfähnrich zur See		Fähnrich zur See		Seekadett
Hellenic Navy^[11] v t e
			Ναύαρχος Navarchos		Αντιναύαρχος Antinavarchos		Υποναύαρχος Yponavarchos		Αρχιπλοίαρχος Archiploiarchos		Πλοίαρχος Ploiarchos		Αντιπλοίαρχος Antiploiarchos		Πλωτάρχης Plotarchis		Υποπλοίαρχος Ypoploiarchos		Ανθυποπλοίαρχος Anthypoploiarchos			Σημαιοφόρος Simaioforos			Σημαιοφόρος Επίκουρος Αξιωματικός Simaioforos epikouros axiomatikos
Hungary	No navy
Icelandic Coast Guard^[12] v t e
							Forstjóri Landhelgisgæslunnar		Framkvæmdastjóri aðgerðasviðs		Framkvæmdastjóri siglingasviðs / Framkvæmdastjóri varnarmálasviðs		Flugrekstrarstjóri / Flaggskipherra / Yfirflugstjóri / Tæknistjóri	Skipherrar / Flugstjórar / Deildarstjórar	Næstráðandi / Yfirstýrimaður / Flugmaður / Yfirvélstjóri		Yfirmaður eftir 6 ár / Stýrimaður / Vélstjóri / Flugmaður		Yfirmaður eftir 2 ár / Stýrimaður / Vélstjóri / Flugmaður			Byrjandi í yfirmannastöðu
Italian Navy^[13]^[14]^[15] v t e
			Ammiraglio	Ammiraglio di squadra con incarichi speciali	Ammiraglio di squadra		Ammiraglio di divisione		Contrammiraglio		Capitano di vascello		Capitano di fregata		Capitano di corvetta		Tenente di vascello		Sottotenente di vascello			Guardiamarina			Aspirante guardiamarina
Latvian Naval Forces^[16] v t e
					Viceadmirālis		Kontradmirālis		Flotiles admirālis		Jūras kapteinis		Komandkapteinis		Komandleitnants		Kapteiņleitnants		Virsleitnants			Leitnants
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Lithuanian Naval Force^[17] v t e
			Admirolas		Viceadmirolas		Kontradmirolas		Flotilės admirolas		Jūrų kapitonas		Komandoras		Komandoras leitenantas		Kapitonas leitenantas		Vyresnysis leitenantas			Leitenantas									Kariūnas
Luxembourg	No navy
Montenegrin Navy^[18] v t e
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Kontra admiral		Komodor		Kapetan bojnog broda		Kapetan fregate		Kapetan korvete		Poručnik bojnog broda		Poručnik fregate			Poručnik korvete
North Macedonia	No navy
Royal Netherlands Navy^[19] v t e
			Luitenant-Admiraal		Vice-Admiraal		Schout-bij-Nacht		Commandeur		Kapitein ter zee		Kapitein-luitenant ter zee		Luitenant ter zee der 1^ste klasse		Luitenant ter zee der 2^de klasse oudste categorie		Luitenant ter zee der 2^de klasse			Luitenant ter zee der 3^de klasse			Sergeant-Adelborst		Korporaal-Adelborst		Adelborst
Royal Norwegian Navy^[20] v t e
			Admiral		Viseadmiral		Kontreadmiral		Flaggkommandør		Kommandør		Kommandørkaptein		Orlogskaptein		Kapteinløytnant		Løytnant			Fenrik			Kadett
Polish Navy^[21] v t e																															Various
	Marszałek Polski		Admirał		Admirał floty		Wiceadmirał		Kontradmirał		Komandor		Komandor porucznik		Komandor podporucznik		Kapitan marynarki		Porucznik marynarki			Podporucznik marynarki									Podchorąży
Portuguese Navy^[22] v t e
	Almirante da Armada		Almirante		Vice-almirante		Contra-almirante		Comodoro		Capitão de mar e guerra		Capitão de fragata		Capitão-tenente		Primeiro-tenente		Segundo-tenente			Guarda-marinha/ Subtenente			Aspirante (Naval school)			Aspirante (others)			Cadete
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Romanian Naval Forces^[23] v t e
	Mareșal		Amiral		Viceamiral		Contraamiral		Contraamiral de flotilă		Comandor		Căpitan-comandor		Locotenent-comandor		Căpitan		Locotenent			Aspirant
Slovakia	No navy
Slovenia Navy^[24] v t e
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Kontraadmiral		Kapitan		Kapitan bojne ladje		Kapitan fregate		Kapitan korvete		Poročnik bojne ladje		Poročnik fregate			Poročnik korvete
Spanish Navy^[25] v t e
	Capitán general		Almirante general		Almirante		Vicealmirante		Contralmirante		Capitán de navío		Capitán de fragata		Capitán de corbeta		Teniente de navío		Alférez de navío			Alférez de fragata			Guardiamarina de 2º			Guardiamarina de 1º			Alumno de 2º			Alumno de 1º
Spanish Marine Infantry^[25] v t e
					Teniente general		General de división		General de brigada		Coronel		Teniente coronel		Comandante		Capitán		Teniente			Alférez			Guardiamarina de 2º			Guardiamarina de 1º			Aspirante de 2º			Aspirante de 1º
Turkish Naval Forces^[26] v t e																															Various ^[a]
	Büyük amiral		Genelkurmay başkanlığı	Oramiral	Koramiral		Tümamiral		Tuğamiral		Albay		Yarbay		Binbaşı		Yüzbaşı		Üsteğmen		Teğmen		Asteğmen								Bahriyeli
Royal Navy^[27] v t e
	Admiral of the Fleet		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Midshipman			Officer Cadet
Royal Marines^[28] v t e
	Captain General Royal Marines		General		Lieutenant-general		Major-general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer cadet
United States Navy^[29] v t e																									(Various insignia)
	Fleet admiral		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral (lower half)		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Ensign			Midshipman / officer candidate
United States Marine Corps^[30] v t e																									(Various insignia)
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Midshipman / officer candidate
United States Coast Guard^[29] v t e																									Various
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral (lower half)		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Ensign			Cadet / officer candidate
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer

Warrant officers (WO-1 – 5)

Warrant officers rank below officers and above enlisted servicemen. In the United States, Chief Warrant Officers are commissioned officers.

NATO rank	WO-5		WO-4		WO-3		WO-2		WO-1
United States Navy v t e
	Chief warrant officer 5		Chief warrant officer 4		Chief warrant officer 3		Chief warrant officer 2		Warrant officer 1
U.S. Coast Guard v t e
			Chief warrant officer 4		Chief warrant officer 3		Chief warrant officer 2
United States Marine Corps v t e
	Chief warrant officer 5		Chief warrant officer 4		Chief warrant officer 3		Chief warrant officer 2		Warrant Officer 1
NATO rank	WO-5		WO-4		WO-3		WO-2		WO-1

WO are used for United States warrant officers only.^[31] Countries not listed use only regular officer ranks, do not have warrant officers, or warrant officers are considered OR (Other/Enlisted Rank).

See also

• NATO
• Ranks and insignia of NATO
• Ranks and insignia of NATO armies enlisted
• Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers
• Ranks and insignia of NATO air forces enlisted
• Ranks and insignia of NATO air forces officers
• Ranks and insignia of NATO navies enlisted

Explanatory notes

1. Student officer insignia designates school grade rather than military seniority.

References

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2. . mil.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
3. "ЗАКОН ЗА ОТБРАНАТА И ВЪОРЪЖЕНИТЕ СИЛИ НА РЕПУБЛИКА БЪЛГАРИЯ". lex.bg (in Bulgarian). Глава седма. ВОЕННА СЛУЖБА. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
4. "Ranks and appointment". canada.ca. Government of Canada. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
5. "Oznake činova". osrh.hr (in Croatian). Republic of Croatia Armed Forces. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
6. "Søværnets Gradstegn" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. October 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
7. "Sümboolika: Mereväe Auastmed". mil.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
8. "Sotilasarvot Puolustusvoimissa" [Military ranks in the Defense Forces]. puolustusvoimat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Defence Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
9. "Instruction n°1 DEF/EMM/RH/CPM relative aux uniformes et tenues dans la Marine du 15 juin 2004" (in French). 15 June 2004. pp. 3793–3867. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
10. "Dienstgradabzeichen Marine". bundeswehr.de (in German). Bundeswehr. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
11. "Διακριτικά Βαθμών Προσωπικού ΠΝ" [Insignia of Personnel Degrees]. hellenicnavy.gr (in Greek). Hellenic Navy. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
12. "LANDHELGISGÆSLA ÍSLANDS STÖÐUEINKENNI" (in Icelandic). Retrieved 11 June 2021.
13. "Ufficiali Ammiragli". marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
14. "Ufficiali Superiori". marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
15. "Ufficiali Inferiori". marina.difesa.it (in Italian). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
16. "Pakāpju iedalījums". mil.lv/lv (in Latvian). Latvian National Armed Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
17. "Kariniai laipsniai" [Military Ranks]. Lithuanian Army (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 30 June 2023.
18. "IV. Izgled Činova u Vojsci". Official Gazette of Montenegro (in Montenegrin). 50/10: 22–28. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
19. "De rangonderscheidingstekens van de krijgsmacht" (PDF) (in Dutch). Ministry of Defence (Netherlands). 19 December 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
20. "Militære grader". forsvaret.no (in Norwegian). Norwegian Armed Forces. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
21. "Sposób noszenia odznak stopni wojskowych na umundurowaniu Marynarki Wojennej" (PDF). wojsko-polskie.pl (in Polish). Armed Forces Support Inspectorate. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
22. "Os Postos". marinha.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 February 2021.
23. "Grade militare (Military ranks)". defense.ro (in Romanian). Romanian Defence Staff. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
24. "Čini in razredi". slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian). Slovenian Armed Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
25. "Army Ranks & Insignia". ejercito.defensa.gob.es. Ministry of Defence (Spain). Retrieved 30 May 2021.
26. "RÜTBE VE SINIF İŞARETLERİ". Official navy (in Turkish). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
27. "Shaping your career". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
28. . Royal Navy website. Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
29. "U.S. Military Rank Insignia". defense.gov. Department of Defense. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
30. "Ranks". marines.mil. U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
31. NATO STANAG 2116 Edition 6 Note 6

• Davis, Brian L. (1988). NATO Forces: An Illustrated Reference to Their Organization and Insignia. Blandford Press. ISBN 0-7137-1737-8. Retrieved 11 April 2022.