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
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
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medical[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Generallæge | Stabslæge I Stabstandlæge I Stabsdyrlæge I | Stabslæge II Stabstandlæge II Stabsdyrlæge II | Overlæge Overtandlæge Overdyrlæge Afdelingslæge Afdelingstandlæge Afdelingsdyrlæge | Reservelæge I Reservetandlæge I Reservedyrlæge I | Reservelæge II Reservetandlæge II Reservedyrlæge II | Reservelæge III Reservetandlæge III Reservedyrlæge III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danish Pay Grade[2] | M406 | M405 | M404 | M403 | M402 | M401 | M332 M331 M322 | M321 | M312 | M311 | M310 |
Rank flags
Rank | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flotilleadmiral | Eskadrechef |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1858–1882 | — | ||||
1882– | |||||
–1979 | |||||
1979–present |
Enlisted
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
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.
- Våben, Artilleri
(Gunner) - Våben, Torpedo
(Torpedo) - Kommunikation
(Communication)
- Naval Dean
- Naval Chaplain
Types of rank insignia
Rank[4] (example) | Shoulder | Sleeve | INTOPS | Epaulette |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chefsergent | None | |||
Orlogskaptajn |
Historical ranks
The sleeve insignia was first introduced in the Royal Navy in 1871 and was based around the British Royal Navy.[5] In order to become more standard, the admiral ranks were changed in 1951.[6]
Timeline of changes
Order of precedence 1671-1730
Rank group | First class | Second class | Third class | Fourth class | Fifth class | Sixth class | Seventh class | Eighth class | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1671–1680[7] | Rigs-Admiral | General-Admiral | Admiral | Vice-Admiral | |||||||
1680–1693 | |||||||||||
1693–1699[8] | General-Admiral | General-Admiral-Lieutenant | Admiral | Vice-Admiral | Schout by Nacht | Commandeur-Capitain til Søes | |||||
1699–1717 | |||||||||||
1717–1730[9] | 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 1858-present
Other ranks
NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1959–1962[15] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overfenrik Chief Petty Officer 1st Class | Fenrik Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class | Oversergent Petty Officer | Sergentelev Student Petty Officer | Sergent Leading Seaman 1st Class | Korporal Leading Seaman 2nd Class | Math Able Seaman 1st Class | Mathelev Able Seaman 2nd Class |
Rank insignia 1937-1951
Rank insignia 1951-1962
References
- 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)