Leutnant zur See
 | This article does not cite any sources. (June 2019) |
| Lieutenant at sea Leutnant zur See | |
|---|---|
   Shoulder board / cuff title / mounting loop | |
| Country |  Germany |
| Service branch |  German Navy |
| Abbreviation | LZS |
| NATO rank code | OF-1b |
| Formation | 1890 |
| Next higher rank | Oberleutnant zur See |
| Next lower rank | Oberstabsbootsmann |
| Equivalent ranks | Leutnant (Army & Air force) |
Leutnant zur See (Lt zS or LZS) is the lowest officer rank in the German Navy. It is grouped as OF1 in NATO, equivalent to an Ensign in the United States Navy, and an Acting Sub-Lieutenant in the British Royal Navy
The rank was introduced in the German Imperial Navy by renaming the former rank of Sekonde Lieutenant in 1890. In navy context officers of this rank were simply addressed as Herr Leutnant. To distinguish naval officers from officers of the army, the suffix zur See (at sea) was added in official communication, sometimes shortened to z.S. or Lt.z.S. The rank has since been used by the Reichsmarine, the Kriegsmarine and the German Navy. In the Volksmarine the rank was originally used in the same way until the suffix zur See was dropped.
Equivalent in other countries[]
- K.u.k. Navy – Korvettenleutnant
- Belgium- Vaandrig-ter-zee 2de klasse/Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
- Canada- Acting Sub-Lieutenant
- Croatia - Korvettenleutnant (Poručnik kоrvete)
- Denmark - Løjtnant
- France - Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe (ship-of-the-line lieutenant 2nd class)
- Greece - Σημαιοφόρος/Simaioforos
- Iceland - 3. Stýrimaður
- Italy - guardiamarina
- Netherlands - Luitenant ter zee der 3de klasse
- Norway - Fenrik
- Poland - Podporucznik marynarki
- Portugal - Guarda-marinha and Subtenente
- Romania - Aspirant
- Serbia - Korvettenleutnant (Поручник корвете)
- Slovenia - Korvettenleutnant (Poročnik korvete)
- Spain - Alférez de Fragata
- Turkey - Teğmen
- United Kingdom - Sub-lieutenant
- United States - Ensign (rank)
| junior Rank Oberstabsbootsmann |
 (German officer rank) Leutnant zur See |
senior Rank Oberleutnant zur See |
See also:
- Naval ranks of Germany