Royal Navy other rank insignia

This is a list of Royal Navy ratings rank insignia.^[1]

Insignia

Royal Navy

NATO Code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-2
United Kingdom Rank Insignia (View)
Rank Title:	Warrant Officer 1	Warrant Officer 2	Chief Petty Officer	Petty Officer		Leading Rating	Able Rating
Abbreviation:	WO1	WO2^[a]	CPO	PO		LH	AB

Royal Marines

NATO Code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2
United Kingdom Rank Insignia (View)								No insignia
Rank Title:	Warrant officer class 1	Warrant officer class 2	Colour sergeant	Sergeant		Corporal	Lance corporal	Marine
Abbreviation:	WO1	WO2	CSgt	Sgt		Cpl	LCpl	Mne

Trade (branch) badges

Ratings in the Royal Navy include trade badges on the right sleeve to indicate a specific job. The information on the left arm is the individual's rate - e.g. a leading rate (commonly called a leading hand). One nickname is "Killick", for the Killick-anchor rate badge. Branch badges include stars and crowns above and below the branch logo, indicating an individual's qualification within their branch. One star indicates they have passed the required exam in order to be eligible to be selected for the Leading Rates course in their respective branch. Two stars indicates they have completed the Leading Rates course and are now eligible to study for the Petty Officers (PO) Professional Qualifying Exam (PQE). A crown indicates they have passed the relevant PQE and are eligible to be Petty Officer. The insignia denotes trade and specialty.

Branches and specialities

Trades in the Royal Navy are listed below. Branch sub-specialities are denoted with an abbreviation on the branch badge.^[2] Ratings in the Marine Engineering and Medical branches may obtain "Dolphins" (qualify for the Royal Navy Submarine Service). Some personnel have an additional option to pass the All Arms Commando Course and serve attached to the Royal Marines. The branches were reviewed, revised and published in the Royal Navy's June 2013 BR3 (Book of Reference) edition (now the June 2015 edition).

Engineering

Branch	Titles	Designator
Weapon Engineering	Engineering Technician	ET
Marine Engineering^{[fn 1]}
	Engineering Technician	ET^{[fn 2]}
	Marine Engineering Artificer	MEA
	Marine Engineering Mechanic	MEM
Air Engineering^{[fn 3]}^[3]
	Air Engineering Technician	AET
	Air Engineering Artificer	AEA
	Air Engineering Mechanic	AEM^[4]^[5]^[6]

^ Qualified submariners (i.e. in the Submarine Service) are denoted by "SM". Ratings and Other Ranks in the Engineering Branch further specialise in either mechanical (M) or electrical engineering (L). For example, a leading marine engineering mechanic specialising in electrical engineering is designated LMEM(L).
^ Sub-specialties include Weapon Engineering (WE)
^ Sub-specialties are mechanical (M) and Avionics (Av)

Logistics

Branch	Titles		Designator
Logistics	Logistician	Writer	Wtr
		Supply Chain	SC
		Catering Services (merges Chef and Steward as of 2019)	CS^[7]

Medical

Branch	Titles	Designator
Medical
	Medical Assistant	MA^{[fn 1]}
	Medical Technician	MT
Medical	Medical Technician Operating Department Practitioner	MT(ODP)
Medical	Medical Technician Pharmacy Dispenser	MT(PD)
QARNNS	Naval Nurse	NN^[8]^[9]

^ MAs who are qualified submariners are designated MASM

Warfare

Branch	Titles		Designator
General Service	Warfare Specialist	Abovewater Warfare Weapons (AWW)	WS
		Abovewater Warfare Tactical (AWT)
		Underwater Warfare (UW)
		Electronic Warfare (EW)
		Intelligence (INT)^[10]
	Communication Information Systems Specialist		CIS
	Cryptologic Technician^[11]		CT
	Diver^[12]		D
	Hydrographic & Meteorological Specialist		HM^{[fn 1]}
	Mine Warfare Specialist		MW
	Royal Navy Police	Master-at-arms (Chief Petty Officers), Regulator (Other Ratings)	RNP
	Seamanship		SEA
	Survey Recorder		SR
Weapons Analyst		WA
Fleet Air Arm
	Naval Airman	Aircraft Handler (AH)	NA^{[fn 2]}
		Aircraft Controller (AC)
		Survival Equipment (SE)
	Aircrewman - Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW)^{[fn 3]}		ACMN
Submarine Service	Coxswain (Submarine)		Coxn(SM)
	Communication Information Systems Specialist Submarine		CISSM
	Warfare Specialist	Tactical Submarine (TSM)	WS^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]
	Warfare Specialist	Sensors Submarine (SSM)	WS^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]

^ Formerly known as Meteorology & Oceanography (METOC)
^ Non-flying Ratings and Other Ranks in the Fleet Air Arm are designated by the general term Naval Airman (NA), followed by their specialty. Also applies to Royal Marines assigned to the Commando Helicopter Force.
^ Royal Marines other ranks who qualify are designated Commando Aircrew (RMAC)

Current (since 1975)

Insignia	Description
Basic device	on entering a sub-branch Able Rate, AB class 2, under training
Basic device with star above	on qualifying professionally for Able Rate, AB class 1, operationally trained to carry out basic tasks and expected to train for next level as Leading Hand.
Basic device with star above and star below	on qualifying professionally for Leading Rate, able to carry out complex tasks and lead others and expected to train for next level as Petty Officer.
Basic device with crown above	on qualifying professionally for Petty Officer, able to command, instruct others and carry out more complex tasks.
Basic device with crown above worn on the on both lapels on number 1 dress.	Chief Petty Officers attain no additional professional qualification, able to show advanced leadership, training abilities and perform the most complex tasks.

1951–1975

The Seaman and Naval Airman branches were:

Insignia	Description
Basic device	Junior or Basic
Basic device with star above	"Star" or third-class part II or specialist qualification (PO and below)
Basic device with star above and star below	Second-class part II or specialist qualification (PO and below)
Basic device with crown above	First-class part II or specialist qualification (PO and below)
Basic device with crown above	Second-class or lower part II or specialist qualification (CPO)
Basic device with crown above star below	First-class part II or specialist qualification (CPO)
Basic device with crown above two stars below	Chief petty officers, petty officers and confirmed

Leading rates qualified as instructors in the following branches:

Radar plot
Torpedo anti-Submarine,
Gunnery
Physical training
Tactical communication
Radio communication

The instructor rate began to disappear in 1972, when fleet chief petty officers (warrant officers) were introduced.

Other branches, including Naval Air Mechanics, were:

Basic device: Junior or Basic Technical qualification
Basic device with star above: Technical qualification for able rate
Basic device with star above and star below: Technical qualification for leading rate*
Basic device with crown above: Petty officer qualified for higher rate of pay
Basic device with crown above: Chief petty officer qualified for lower rate of pay
Basic device with crown above star below: Chief petty officer qualified for higher rate of pay

.*not applicable to Coder, Supply and Secretariat, Artisan and Sick Birth Branches

Before 1947, each branch developed its own device badges and the crowns and stars of one branch did not necessarily have the same meaning as another. In 1948 and 1951, reforms were implemented to bring the branches into line with each other. A star above the badge normally indicates a person of superior qualifications, and another star below denotes that the person has passed for (and is performing) specific duties; e.g. gunnery, captain of turret, torpedo, torpedo-boat coxswain or signals. The crown is the emblem of authority, and is common in most petty officer, CPO, instructor and police badges.

Warrant officers and above do not wear branch badges. Until the late 1990s, artificer apprentices and leading artificers wore the same uniform as petty officers (with a red beret or cap badge, similar to a petty officer's). Apprentices were the last junior ratings not to be dressed as seamen; they did not wear "square rig".

History

Rank group	Senior NCOs					Junior NCOs		Enlisted
(1827 – 1853)								No insignia
(1827 – 1853)				1st class Petty officer	2nd class Petty officer			Able rate	Ordinary rate	Boy
(1853 – 1890)								Trade badge	No insignia
(1853 – 1890)			Chief petty officer^[b]	1st class Petty officer^[c]	2nd class Petty officer^[c]	Leading rate^[c]		Able rate	Ordinary rate	Boy
(1890 – 1901)			No insignia					Trade badge	No insignia
(1890 – 1901)			Chief petty officer	1st class Petty officer	2nd class Petty officer	Leading rate		Able rate	Ordinary rate	Boy
Rank group	Senior NCOs					Junior NCOs		Enlisted
(1901 – 1913)			No insignia					Trade badge	No insignia
(1901 – 1913)			Chief petty officer	1st class Petty officer	2nd class Petty officer	Leading rate		Able rate	Ordinary rate	Junior rate
Royal Navy (1913–1953) v t e			No arm badge					Trade badge	No insignia
Royal Navy (1913–1953) v t e			Chief petty officer	Petty officer		Leading rate		Able rate	Ordinary rate	Junior rate
(1953 – 1970)								Trade badge	No insignia
(1953 – 1970)			Chief petty officer	Petty officer		Leading rate		Able rate	Ordinary rate	Junior rate
NATO code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
(1970 – 1985)								Trade badge	No insignia
(1970 – 1985)	Fleet chief petty officer		Chief petty officer	Petty officer		Leading rate		Able rate	Ordinary rate	Junior rate
(1985 – 1999)								Trade badge	No insignia
(1985 – 1999)	Warrant officer		Chief petty officer	Petty officer		Leading rate		Able rate	Ordinary rate	Junior rate
(1999 – 2004)
(1999 – 2004)	Warrant officer		Chief petty officer	Petty officer		Leading rate		Able rate
NATO code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
(2004 – 2014)
(2004 – 2014)	Warrant officer class 1	Warrant officer class 2	Chief petty officer	Petty officer		Leading rate		Able rate
(2014 – 2020)
(2014 – 2020)	Warrant officer		Chief petty officer	Petty officer		Leading rate		Able rate
(2021 – Present)
(2021 – Present)	Warrant officer class 1	Warrant officer class 2	Chief petty officer	Petty officer		Leading rate		Able rate
NATO code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1

In 1879 Chief Petty Officers received a fore-and-aft uniform similar to that of the officers, with a cap badge of an anchor within a cord surmounted by a crown. In 1890, they ceased to wear an arm badge. In 1913, the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class was abolished but the other badges remained the same.

In 1920, petty officers with four years' standing also received the fore-and-aft rig with the cap badge formerly worn by CPOs. The CPOs added a wreath to their cap badge, making it similar to the earlier arm badge.

In 1970 a new rank of Fleet chief petty officer was introduced, with insignia of the royal coat of arms on the lower arm (identical to a warrant officer class 1 in the army and RAF, to which the new rank was equivalent). This rank was renamed warrant officer, and then warrant officer class 1.

In 2004 the rank of warrant officer class 2 was formed from those CPOs holding the appointment of charge chief petty officer. The insignia is a crown within a wreath, also worn on the lower arm. The badges are now worn on the shoulders of 3A/B and 4A/B. Chevrons on the left sleeve, below the rank badge, are for long service and good conduct (one for each four-year period; no more than three may be worn). A chief petty officer in the blue uniform wears three buttons on their sleeves to indicate rank, the same rank insignia (but topped with a star) used by Chilean Navy midshipmen. The WO2 rank began to be phased out in April 2014 for most branches except Submariner engineers, with no new appointments; existing holders of the rank retain it until they are promoted or leave the service.^[17] It now has been re-instated due to the Navy Command Transformation Programme.^[18]

Royal Marines band service

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Royal Marines Band Service v t e
Royal Marines Band Service v t e	Warrant officer class 1						Warrant officer class 2, Bandmaster		Drum major Bugle major	Colour sergeant bugler Band colour sergeant	Sergeant bugler Band sergeant												Corporal bugler Band corporal				Lance corporal bugler Band lance corporal								Musician

Notes

^ This rank was phased out in 2014 but re-instated in 2021
^ Made an official rank in 1857, used unofficially since 1853
^ ^a ^b ^c These were white, or gold on the dress uniform, or blue on white uniforms. In 1860, the badges changed from white to red on ordinary uniforms.

References

^ The Dress of the British Sailor HMSO 1957 Badges and Insignia if the British Armed Services published by Adam & Charles Black London 1974 BRD 81 Naval Service Uniform Regulations Chapter 3 (0317) 2009 Naval and Marine Badges and Insignia of World War 2 Guido Rosignoli, Blandford Press
^ BR3 - Annex 39E - ILLUSTRATIONS OF RN & QARNNS BADGES OF RANK/RATE & OTHER INSIGNIA
^ "CHAPTER 76 ENGINEERING BRANCH – AIR ENGINEERING AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT TECHNICIANS" (PDF). royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019. Personnel will no longer specialise in the following legacy trades Electrical (L) and Radio (R)
^ BR3 - Chapter 74 - ENGINEERING BRANCH – MARINE ENGINEERING
^ BR3 - Chapter 76 - ENGINEERING BRANCH – AIR ENGINEERING
^ BR3 - Chapter 75 - ENGINEERING BRANCH – WEAPON ENGINEERING
^ "Catering Jobs | Royal Navy Careers in the Surface Fleet". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
^ BR3 - Chapter 89 - MEDICAL BRANCH – QUEEN ALEXANDRA ROYAL NAVAL NURSING SERVICE
^ BR3 - Chapter 87 - MEDICAL BRANCH – MEDICAL ASSISTANT AND TECHNICIAN
^ "Warfare Intelligence Specialist". Royal Navy.
^ BR3 - Chapter 84 - WARFARE BRANCH – COMMUNICATIONS TECHNICIAN
^ BR3 - Chapter 78 - WARFARE BRANCH – DIVER (GENERAL SERVICE)
^ BR3 - Chapter 77 - WARFARE BRANCH
^ BR3 - Chapter 81 - WARFARE BRANCH – FLEET AIR ARM
^ BR3 - Chapter 80 - WARFARE BRANCH – ROYAL NAVY POLICE
^ BR3 - Chapter 79 - WARFARE BRANCH – SUBMARINE SERVICE
^ "201401 Navy News Jan 14". Content.yudu.com. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
^ @WO1MickTurnbull (2 February 2021). "Good afternoon the WO2 rank was kept in Service for the Royal Marines and Submariner engineers. However as part of Royal Navy Transformation the WO2 Rank has now been introduced across the Service. The first recipients were notified on 18 Jan 21 and others have now been selected" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

External links

[4] Qualified submariners (i.e. in the Submarine Service) are denoted by "SM". Ratings and Other Ranks in the Engineering Branch further specialise in either mechanical (M) or electrical engineering (L). For example, a leading marine engineering mechanic specialising in electrical engineering is designated LMEM(L).

[5] Sub-specialties include Weapon Engineering (WE)

[6] Sub-specialties are mechanical (M) and Avionics (Av)

[12] MAs who are qualified submariners are designated MASM

[18] Formerly known as Meteorology & Oceanography (METOC)

[19] Non-flying Ratings and Other Ranks in the Fleet Air Arm are designated by the general term Naval Airman (NA), followed by their specialty. Also applies to Royal Marines assigned to the Commando Helicopter Force.

[20] Royal Marines other ranks who qualify are designated Commando Aircrew (RMAC)

[2] This rank was phased out in 2014 but re-instated in 2021

[25] Made an official rank in 1857, used unofficially since 1853

[1860colours-26] These were white, or gold on the dress uniform, or blue on white uniforms. In 1860, the badges changed from white to red on ordinary uniforms.

[1] The Dress of the British Sailor HMSO 1957 Badges and Insignia if the British Armed Services published by Adam & Charles Black London 1974 BRD 81 Naval Service Uniform Regulations Chapter 3 (0317) 2009 Naval and Marine Badges and Insignia of World War 2 Guido Rosignoli, Blandford Press

[3] BR3 - Annex 39E - ILLUSTRATIONS OF RN & QARNNS BADGES OF RANK/RATE & OTHER INSIGNIA

[7] "CHAPTER 76 ENGINEERING BRANCH – AIR ENGINEERING AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT TECHNICIANS" (PDF). royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019. Personnel will no longer specialise in the following legacy trades Electrical (L) and Radio (R)

[8] BR3 - Chapter 74 - ENGINEERING BRANCH – MARINE ENGINEERING

[9] BR3 - Chapter 76 - ENGINEERING BRANCH – AIR ENGINEERING

[10] BR3 - Chapter 75 - ENGINEERING BRANCH – WEAPON ENGINEERING

[11] "Catering Jobs | Royal Navy Careers in the Surface Fleet". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2019.

[13] BR3 - Chapter 89 - MEDICAL BRANCH – QUEEN ALEXANDRA ROYAL NAVAL NURSING SERVICE

[14] BR3 - Chapter 87 - MEDICAL BRANCH – MEDICAL ASSISTANT AND TECHNICIAN

[15] "Warfare Intelligence Specialist". Royal Navy.

[16] BR3 - Chapter 84 - WARFARE BRANCH – COMMUNICATIONS TECHNICIAN

[17] BR3 - Chapter 78 - WARFARE BRANCH – DIVER (GENERAL SERVICE)

[21] BR3 - Chapter 77 - WARFARE BRANCH

[22] BR3 - Chapter 81 - WARFARE BRANCH – FLEET AIR ARM

[23] BR3 - Chapter 80 - WARFARE BRANCH – ROYAL NAVY POLICE

[24] BR3 - Chapter 79 - WARFARE BRANCH – SUBMARINE SERVICE

[27] "201401 Navy News Jan 14". Content.yudu.com. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2015.

[28] @WO1MickTurnbull (2 February 2021). "Good afternoon the WO2 rank was kept in Service for the Royal Marines and Submariner engineers. However as part of Royal Navy Transformation the WO2 Rank has now been introduced across the Service. The first recipients were notified on 18 Jan 21 and others have now been selected" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

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