Maat (rank)

Maat
Maat;
	Shoulder board / cuff title / mounting loop
Country	Germany
Service branch	German Navy
Abbreviation	MT
NATO rank code	OR-5
Formation	1955 Modern
Next higher rank	Obermaat
Next lower rank	Oberstabsgefreiter
Equivalent ranks	Unteroffizier (Army & Air force)

Maat Horst Grund, pictured in Kriegsmarine uniform, 1941

Maat ([ˈmaːt], "mate") is a naval rank of the German Navy equivalent to the army/ air force rank of Unteroffizier. It is grouped as OR5 in NATO, equivalent to Petty officer, second class in the US Navy. However, Maate is also the collective name to all junior NCO-ranks (ranks: Maat, Seekadett, and Obermaat) in the modern day's German Navy.

In navy context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr/ Frau Maat also informally / short Maat. The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
Unteroffizier ohne Portepee

OR-5a: Obermaat / (Heer/ Luftwaffe) Stabsunteroffizier
OR-5b: Seekadett / Fahnenjunker
OR-5c: Maat / Unteroffizier

History[]

The term is derived from the low German māt (comrade).^[1] Via the Dutch language, the word became a nautical term and described the assistant to a deck officer. Since the second half of the 17th century Maate were the lowest class of non-commissioned officers aboard a warship. In the Prussian Navy and the Kaiserliche Marine Maate were Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee. According to their specialization, Maate would be known as e.g. Steuermannsmaat (Coxswain's Mate), Feuerwerksmaat (Ordnance Mate), Bootsmannsmaat (Boatswain's Mate) or Maschinistenmaat (Machinist's Mate).^[2] Maate were recruited among conscripts who volunteered to serve for a minimum of six years. After approximately four years they could expect to become Maat. Re-enlistment was common but in most specialities the career options would end with achieving the rank of Obermaat; only after 18 years in service was a promotion as supernumary Vizefeldwebel possible, and only if there was a billet open. The 1914/15 naval budget included 7857 billets for Maate and 5237 for Obermaate.^[3]

Maat Nazi-Kriegsmarine until 1945[]

Maate (Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee)
Title	Maat
Collar tab
Sleeve insignia
Sleeve insignia	Steuermannmaat	Bootsmannmaat
Shoulder strap		N/A
Wehrmacht equivalent	Unteroffizier

US Equivalent	Petty officer, third class
NATO equivalent	OR-5b
Source:^[4]

junior rank
Matrosenoberstabsgefreiter

(Kriegsmarine ranks)
Maat

senior rank
Obermaat

Equivalent in other NATO countries[]

– Second-maître/ Tweede meester
– Master Seaman/ Matelot-chefe classe
– Desetnik
– Sergent
– Second-Maître
– no equivalent
– sergente
– secondo capo
– Sergeant
– Kvartermester
– Bosman
– Primerio-subsargento/ Segundo-subsargento
– Cabo mayor
– RN: no equivalent
– USN: Petty Officer Second Class

Preceded by junior Rank Oberstabsgefreiter	(German NCO rank) Maat	Succeeded by senior Rank Obermaat

References[]

^ Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Deutschen. sv Maat
^ Wörterbuch zur deutschen Militärgeschichte, sv Maat.
^ Deutsche Militärgeschichte 1648-1939. Vol. VIII, p.283,285,292.
^ Handbook on German Military Forces 1945. TM-E 30-451. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, plate XVI, XVII.

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[1] Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Deutschen. sv Maat

[2] Wörterbuch zur deutschen Militärgeschichte, sv Maat.

[3] Deutsche Militärgeschichte 1648-1939. Vol. VIII, p.283,285,292.

[Handbook-4] Handbook on German Military Forces 1945. TM-E 30-451. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, plate XVI, XVII.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

Maat (rank)

Contents

History[]

Maat Nazi-Kriegsmarine until 1945[]

Equivalent in other NATO countries[]

See also[]

References[]