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][2] v t
					Admiral		Nënadmiral		Kundëradmiral		Kapiten rangut I		Kapiten rangut II		Kapiten rangut III		Kapiten leitnant		Leitnant			Nënleitnant
Belgian Navy v t
			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 1re classe	Lieutenant de vaisseau		Enseigne de vaisseau			Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e 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
			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			Офицерски кандидат Ofitserski kandidat
Royal Canadian Navy[4] v t
			Admiral		Vice-admiral		Rear-admiral		Commodore		Captain (N)		Commander		Lieutenant-commander		Lieutenant (N)		Sub-lieutenant			Acting sub-lieutenant			Naval cadet
			Amiral		Vice-amiral		Contre-amiral		Commodore		Capitaine de vaisseau		Capitaine de frégate		Capitaine de corvette		Lieutenant de vaisseau		Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe			Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe			Aspirant de marine
Croatian Navy[5] v t
	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
			Admiral								Kommandør		Kommandørkaptajn		Orlogskaptajn		Kaptajnløjtnant		Premierløjtnant			Løjtnant
Estonian Navy[7] v t
			Admiral		Viitseadmiral		Kontradmiral		Kommodoor		Mereväekapten		Kaptenleitnant		Kaptenmajor		Vanemleitnant		Leitnant		Nooremleitnant		Lipnik
French Navy[8] v t
	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 1re classe			Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe			Aspirant						Élève-officier
German Navy[9] v t																															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[10] v t
			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
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
Hungary	No navy
Icelandic Coast Guard[11] v t
											Yfirmaður Framkvæmda Landhelgisgæslu		Skipherra/ Yfir Flugstjóri	Skipherra/ Yfirvélstjórar/ Deildarstjórar	Yfir Stýrimaður/ Næstráðandi/ Flugmaður/ Fyrsti Vélstjóri		Fyrsti Stýrimaður/ Flugmaður		Annar Stýrimaður/ Annar Vélstjóri/ Flugmaður			Byrjandi í yfirmannastöðu
Italian Navy v t
	Ammiraglio		Ammiraglio di Squadra con Incarichi Speciali		Ammiraglio di Squadra		Ammiraglio di Divisione		Contrammiraglio		Capitano di Vascello		Capitano di Fregata		Capitano di Corvetta		Primo Tenente di Vascello	Tenente di Vascello	Sottotenente di Vascello			Guardiamarina			Aspirante Guardiamarina
Latvian Naval Forces[12] v t
					Viceadmirālis		Kontradmirālis		Flotiles admirālis		Jūras kapteinis		Komandkapteinis		Komandleitnants		Kapteiņleitnants		Virsleitnants			Leitnants
Lithuanian Naval Force[13] v t
					Viceadmirolas		Kontradmirolas		Flotilės admirolas		Jūrų kapitonas		Komandoras		Komandoras leitenantas		Kapitonas leitenantas		Vyresnysis leitenantas			Leitenantas									Kariūnas
Luxembourg	No navy
Montenegrin Navy v t
			Admiral		Viceadmiral		Kontraadmiral		Komodor		Kapetan bojnog broda		Kapetan fregate		Kapetan korvete		Poručnik bojnog broda		Poručnik fregate			Poručnik korvete
North Macedonia	No navy
Royal Netherlands Navy[14] v t
			Luitenant-Admiraal		Vice-Admiraal		Schout-bij-Nacht		Commandeur		Kapitein ter zee		Kapitein-luitenant ter zee		Luitenant ter zee der 1ste klasse		Luitenant ter zee der 2de klasse oudste categorie		Luitenant ter zee der 2de klasse			Luitenant ter zee der 3de klasse			Sergeant-Adelborst		Korporaal-Adelborst		Adelborst
Royal Norwegian Navy[15] v t
			Admiral		Viseadmiral		Kontreadmiral		Flaggkommandør		Kommandør		Kommandørkaptein		Orlogskaptein		Kapteinløytnant		Løytnant			Fenrik			Kadett
Polish Navy[16] v t																															Various
	Marszałek Polski		Admirał		Admirał floty		Wiceadmirał		Kontradmirał		Komandor		Komandor porucznik		Komandor podporucznik		Kapitan marynarki		Porucznik marynarki			Podporucznik marynarki									Podchorąży
Portuguese Navy[17] v t
	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[18] v t
	Mareșal		Amiral		Viceamiral		Contraamiral		Contraamiral de flotilă		Comandor		Căpitan-comandor		Locotenent-comandor		Căpitan		Locotenent			Aspirant
Slovakia	No navy
Slovenian Navy[19] v t
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Kontraadmiral		Kapitan		Kapitan bojne ladje		Kapitan fregate		Kapitan korvete		Poročnik fregate		Poročnik korvete			Podporočnik
Spanish Navy[20] v t
	Capitán general		Almirante general		Almirante		Vice almirante		Contra almirante		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 Navy Marines[20] v t
					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[21] v t																									No equivalent						Various [a]
	Büyük amiral		Genelkurmay başkanlığı	Oramiral	Koramiral		Tümamiral		Tuğamiral		Albay		Yarbay		Binbaşı		Yüzbaşı		Üsteğmen		Teğmen		Asteğmen								Bahriyeli
Royal Navy v t
	Admiral of the Fleet		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Midshipman			Officer Cadet
Corps of Royal Marines v t
	Captain General Royal Marines		General		Lieutenant-general		Major-general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer cadet
United States Navy v t
	Fleet admiral		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral (lower half)		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Ensign			Midshipman / officer candidate (Various insignia)
United States Marine Corps[22] v t
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Midshipman / officer candidate (Various insignia)
United States Coast Guard v t																									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.

NATO rank	WO-5		WO-4		WO-3		WO-2		WO-1
United States Navy v t
	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	No equivalent								No equivalent
			Chief warrant officer 4		Chief warrant officer 3		Chief warrant officer 2
United States Marine Corps v t
	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.^[23] 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

Notes[]

References[]

• Davis, Brian L. (1989). NATO Forces: An Illustrated Reference to Their Organization and Insignia. Blandford Press. ISBN 978-0713717372.