Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Navy

Summary

The Royal Danish Navy ranks follows the NATO system of ranks and insignia, as does the rest of the Danish Defence. Outside this ranking system there are physicians (who may wear the same insignia in the Army/Air Force but with a slight variation in the Navy), nurses and veterinarians, while priests and judicial personnel wear completely different insignia and are without rank.

Current ranks edit

Besides the NATO-system, the Danish defence utilizes its own system, which for the navy is as follows:

  • Military personnel, level 400 (M400, chef-gruppen[1]) Executive level: OF-4 through OF-9[2]
  • Military personnel, level 300 (M300, officers-gruppen) Operational level: OF-1 through OF-3
  • Military personnel, level 200 (M200, sergent-gruppen) NCO level: OR-5 through OR-9
  • Military personnel, level 100 (M100, konstabel-gruppen) Seamen level: OR-1 through OR-4

Officers edit

The highest officer's rank is OF-9 (Admiral) which is reserved for the Chief of Defence (only when this seat is occupied by a naval officer). The Prince Consort of Denmark held the rank of Admiral (à la suite). Similarly, OF-8 (Vice-admiral) is reserved for the Vice Chief of Defence). OF-7 (Kontreadmiral) is used by the Chief of the Royal Danish Navy and OF-6 (Flotilleadmiral) by the chief of Danish Task Group as well as keepers of high-office positions. OF-4 and OF-5 are mainly chiefs of squadrons, schools and larger vessels. OF-1 through OF-3 are used in a variety of positions.

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
  Royal Danish Navy[3]
                   
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Flotilleadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Løjtnant
Danish Pay Grade[2] M406 M405 M404 M403 M402 M401 M332
M331
M322
M321 M312 M311 M310

Rank flags edit

Rank Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Flotilleadmiral Eskadrechef
1858–1882      
1882–      
–1979      
1979–present          

Enlisted edit

The Danish OR's also follow the NATO system, though there are no OR-6's. OR-4 (Korporal) is the highest of the M100-level ranks is and not considered a NCO-rank.

NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
  Royal Danish Navy[3]
                 
Chefsergent Seniorsergent Oversergent Sergent Sergent SØ Korporal Marinespecialist Marineoverkonstabel Marinekonstabel
Danish Pay Grade[2] M232 M231 M221 M212 M211 M113 M112

Additional ranks edit

NATO Code OR-9 OR-8 OR-1
Rank          
Danish Søværnschefsergent Myndighedschefsergent Myndighedsseniorsergent Stampersonel SØ Værnepligtig SØ
English Master chief petty officer of the Navy Command master chief petty officer Command senior chief petty officer Junior rating/Trainee Conscript

The Branch of Service logos are placed in the middle of the ranks, to signify the service.

Naval Chaplains edit

Historical ranks edit

The sleeve insignia was first introduced in the Royal Navy in 1871 and was based around the British Royal Navy.[4] In order to become more standard, the admiral ranks were changed in 1951.[5]

Timeline of changes edit

Order of precedence edit

Rank group First class Second class Third class Fourth class Fifth class Sixth class Seventh class Eighth class
1671–1680[6] Rigs-Admiral General-Admiral Admiral Vice-Admiral
1680–1693
1693–1699[7] General-Admiral General-Admiral-Lieutenant Admiral Vice-Admiral Schout by Nacht Commandeur-Capitain til Søes
1699–1717
1717–1730[8] General-Admiral General-Admiral-Lieutenant Admiral Vice-Admiral Schout by Nacht Commandeur til Søes Commandeur-Capitain til Søes Capitain Premier Lieutenant Second Lieutenant
Rank group First class Second class Third class Fourth class Fifth class Sixth class Seventh class Eighth class

Modern ranks edit

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
1858–1868[9]            
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Løjtnant
1868–1871[10]          
Admiral Kommandør Kaptajn Premierløjtnant Sekondløjtnant
1871–1880[11]          
Admiral Kommandør Kaptajn Premierløjtnant Sekondløjtnant
1909–1922[12]                
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kaptajn Premierløjtnant Løjtnant Sekondløjtnant
1922–1937[13]                  
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Søløjtnant af 1. grad Søløjtnant af 2. grad
1937–1951                    
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Løjtnant Søløjtnant II
1951–1970                    
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Løjtnant Søløjtnant II
1970–2000                      
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Flotilleadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Løjtnant Søløjtnant II
2000–2011                    
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Flotilleadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Løjtnant
2011–present                    
Admiral Viceadmiral Kontreadmiral Flotilleadmiral Kommandør Kommandørkaptajn Orlogskaptajn Kaptajnløjtnant Premierløjtnant Løjtnant
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

Other ranks edit

NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
1959–1962[14]              
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Petty Officer Student Petty Officer Leading Seaman 1st Class Leading Seaman 2nd Class Able Seaman 1st Class Able Seaman 2nd Class

References edit

  1. ^ Danish Ministry of Defence Personnel Agency (23 March 2022). "Selvvalgt afsked og TUL". forpers.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Historik" [History]. forpers.dk (in Danish). Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Søværnets Gradstegn" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. October 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  4. ^ Balsved, Johnny (25 March 2006). "Uniformshistorie" [Uniform History]. Navalhistory.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  5. ^ Balsved, Johnny (22 March 2008). "Distinktioner og gradstegn" [Rank Insignia]. Navalhistory.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  6. ^ danmarkshistorien.dk (17 May 2017). "Rangforordningen, 25. maj 1671" (in Danish). danmarkshistorien.dk. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  7. ^ danmarkshistorien.dk (21 June 2016). "Rangforordningen, 11. februar 1693" (in Danish). danmarkshistorien.dk. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  8. ^ Ilsøe, Lars. "Holberg og rangvæsenet". holbergsskrifter.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  9. ^ Borg 1974, pp. 57–60.
  10. ^ Borg 1974, p. 61.
  11. ^ Borg 1974, pp. 61–64.
  12. ^ Borg 1974, pp. 75, 180.
  13. ^ Borg 1974, p. 76.
  14. ^ United States Department of the Army (1962). "Military Uniforms - DA Pam 355-120 - 1959 to 1962 - Part 2". Archive.org. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  • Borg, Erik (1974). Den Danske Marines Uniformer Gennem Tre Århundreder [Uniforms of the Danish Navy Through Three Centuries] (in Danish). Strubes Forlag. ISBN 87 7508 1644.
  • Badges of Rank for the Royal Danish Navy, 2016
  • Badges of Rank for the Royal Danish Navy, 2016 (in Danish)
  • Heraldry of the RDN (in Danish)