Comparative navy officer ranks of the Commonwealth

Rank comparison chart of naval forces of Commonwealth of Nations states.

Most of the 52 Commonwealth nations have their beginnings in British Empire and have shared naval traditions. By comparison, Gabon and Togo are French colonies, Mozambique is a former Portuguese colony while Rwanda is a German and later, Belgian colony. Even after some had achieved a degree of independent government from the UK, their naval protection was still British; the Royal New Zealand Navy did not exist separately until 1941.

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers					Senior officers				Junior officers
Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard^[1] v t e
Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard^[1] v t e						Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)		Sub-lieutenant
Royal Australian Navy^[2] v t e
Royal Australian Navy^[2] v t e	Admiral of the fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant		Acting sub lieutenant
Royal Bahamas Defence Force^[3] v t e
Royal Bahamas Defence Force^[3] v t e					Commodore	Captain	Senior commander	Commander	Lieutenant commander	Senior lieutenant	Lieutenant	Sub-lieutenant		Acting sub-lieutenant
Bangladesh Navy^[4] v t e
Bangladesh Navy^[4] v t e		এ্যাডমিরাল Aeḍmirāl	ভাইস এ্যাডমিরাল Bhā'is aeḍamirāl	রিয়ার এ্যাডমিরাল Riẏār aeḍamirāl	কমোডোর Kômōḍōr	ক্যাপ্টেন Kaepṭēn	কমান্ডার Kômānḍār		লেফটেন্যান্ট কমান্ডার Lēphṭēnānṭ kômānḍār	লেফটেন্যান্ট Lēphṭēnānṭ		সাব-লেফটেন্যান্ট Sāb-lēphṭēnānṭ	এ্যাক্টিং সাব-লেফটেন্যান্ট Ēyākṭiṁ sāb-lēphṭēn'yānṭ		মিডশিপম্যান Miḍśipmaen
Barbados Coast Guard^[5] v t e
Barbados Coast Guard^[5] v t e					Commodore		Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant		Midshipman
Belize Coast Guard v t e

				Rear admiral	Rear admiral (lower half)	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)		Ensign
Botswana	No navy
Royal Brunei Navy^[6] v t e
Royal Brunei Navy^[6] v t e	Laksamana armada	Laksamana	Laksamana madya	Laksamana muda	Laksamana pertama	Kepten	Komander		Leftenan komander	Leftenan		Leftenan madya		Leftenan muda
Cameroon Navy v t e
Cameroon Navy v t e		Amiral d'escadre	Vice-amiral d'escadre	Vice-amiral	Contre-amiral	Capitaine de vaisseau	Capitaine de frégate		Capitaine de corvette	Lieutenant de vaisseau		Enseigne de vaisseau de 1^re classe		Enseigne de vaisseau de 2^e classe
Royal Canadian Navy^[7]^[8] v t e
		Admiral	Vice-admiral	Rear-admiral	Commodore	Captain (N)	Commander		Lieutenant-commander	Lieutenant (N)		Sub-lieutenant		Acting sub-lieutenant
		Amiral(e)	Vice-amiral(e)	Contre-amiral(e)	Commodore	Capitaine de vaisseau	Capitaine de frégate		Capitaine de corvette	Lieutenant(e) de vaisseau		Enseigne de vaisseau de 1^re classe		Enseigne de vaisseau de 2^e classe
Cyprus Navy^[9] v t e
Cyprus Navy^[9] v t e					Αρχιπλοίαρχος Archiploíarchos	Πλοίαρχος Ploíarchos	Αντιπλοίαρχος Antiploíarchos		Πλωτάρχης Plotárchis	Υποπλοίαρχος Ypoploíarchos		Ανθυποπλοίαρχος Anthypoploíarchos		Σημαιοφόρος Simaiofóros
Dominica	No navy
Eswatini	No navy
Republic of Fiji Navy v t e
Republic of Fiji Navy v t e				Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Sub-Lieutenant		Ensign
Gabonese Navy v t e
Gabonese Navy v t e		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 1^re classe		Enseigne de vaisseau de 2^e classe
Ghana Navy v t e
Ghana Navy v t e		Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant
Grenada	No navy
Guyana Coast Guard v t e
Guyana Coast Guard v t e				Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Lieutenant junior grade		Sub-lieutenant
Indian Navy^[10] v t e
Indian Navy^[10] v t e		Admiral एडमिरल	Vice admiral वाइस एडमिरल	Rear admiral रियर एडमिरल	Commodore कमोडोर	Captain कैप्टन	Commander कमांडर		Lieutenant commander लेफ़्टिनेंट कमांडर	Lieutenant लेफ्टिनेंट		Sub-lieutenant सब लेफ्टिनेंट		Midshipman मिडशिपमैन
Rank group	General / flag officers					Senior officers				Junior officers
Jamaican Coast Guard^[11] v t e
Jamaican Coast Guard^[11] v t e			Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)		Sub-lieutenant
Kenya Navy^[12] v t e
Kenya Navy^[12] v t e		General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel		Major	Captain		Lieutenant		Second lieutenant
Kiribati	No navy
Lesotho	No navy
Royal Malaysian Navy^[13] v t e
Royal Malaysian Navy^[13] v t e	Laksamana armada	Laksamana	Laksamana madya	Laksamana muda	Laksamana pertama	Kepten	Komander		Leftenan komander	Leftenan		Leftenan madya		Leftenan muda
Maritime Squadron of Malta^[14] v t e
Maritime Squadron of Malta^[14] v t e					Brigadier Brigadier	Colonel Kurunell	Lieutenant colonel Logutenent kurunell		Major Maġġur	Captain Kaptan		Lieutenant Logutenent		Second lieutenant Sekond logutenent
Mauritius	No navy
Mozambique Naval Command v t e
Mozambique Naval Command v t e		Almirante	Vice-almirante	Contra-almirante		Capitão de mar e guerra	Capitão de fragata		Capitão-tenente	Primeiro-tenente		Segundo-tenente		Guarda-marinha
Namibian Navy^[15] v t e
Namibian Navy^[15] v t e		Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Rear admiral junior grade	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Lieutenant junior grade		Ensign
Namibian Marine Corps v t e
Namibian Marine Corps v t e						Marine Commandant	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)		Ensign
Nauru	No navy
Royal New Zealand Navy^[16] v t e
Royal New Zealand Navy^[16] v t e	Admiral of the fleet^[17]		Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant		Ensign
Nigerian Navy^[18] v t e
Nigerian Navy^[18] v t e	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Sub-Lieutenant		Midshipman
Pakistan Navy^[19] v t e
Pakistan Navy^[19] v t e		Admiral ایڈمرل	Vice admiral وائس ایڈمرل	Rear admiral بحریہ کا امیر	Commodore کموڈور	Captain کپتان	Commander کمانڈر		Lieutenant commander لیفٹیننٹ کمانڈر	Lieutenant لیفٹیننٹ		Sub-lieutenant سب لیفٹیننٹ		Midshipman مڈ شپ مین
Papua New Guinea Maritime Element v t e
Papua New Guinea Maritime Element v t e				Rear Admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant Commander	Lieutenant		Sub Lieutenant
Rwanda	No navy
Saint Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard v t e
Saint Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard v t e							Commander		Lieutenant Commander	Lieutenant		Sub-Lieutenant		Midshipman
Saint Lucia	No navy
Rank group	General / flag officers					Senior officers				Junior officers
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	No navy
Samoa	No navy
Seychelles Coast Guard^[20] v t e
Seychelles Coast Guard^[20] v t e					Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel		Major	Captain		Lieutenant		Second lieutenant
Sierra Leone Navy v t e
Sierra Leone Navy v t e				Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)		Sub-Lieutenant
Republic of Singapore Navy^[21] v t e		No insignia yet
Republic of Singapore Navy^[21] v t e		Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Rear admiral (junior grade)	Colonel	Senior lieutenant colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain		Lieutenant		Second lieutenant
Solomon Islands	No navy
South African Navy^[22] v t e
South African Navy^[22] v t e		Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Rear admiral (junior grade)	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant		Ensign
Sri Lanka Navy^[23] v t e
Sri Lanka Navy^[23] v t e	Admiral of the fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Sub-lieutenant		Midshipman
Swaziland	No navy
Tanzania Naval Command v t e
Tanzania Naval Command v t e			Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant		Ensign
Togolese Navy^[24] v t e
Togolese Navy^[24] v t e				Vice-amiral	Contre-amiral	Capitaine de vaisseau	Capitaine de frégate		Capitaine de corvette	Lieutenant de vaisseau		Enseigne de vaisseau de 1^re classe		Enseigne de vaisseau de 2^e classe
Tongan Navy^[25] v t e
Tongan Navy^[25] v t e		Commander-in-chief			Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant		Midshipman
Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard^[26] v t e
Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard^[26] v t e				Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Sub-lieutenant		Acting sub-lieutenant
Tuvalu	No navy
Uganda	No navy
Royal Navy^[27] v t e
Royal Navy^[27] v t e	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Commodore	Captain	Commander		Lieutenant commander	Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant		Midshipman
Royal Marines^[28] v t e
Royal Marines^[28] v t e	Captain General Royal Marines	General	Lieutenant-general	Major-general	Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel		Major	Captain		Lieutenant		Second lieutenant
Vanuatu Maritime Wing v t e
Vanuatu Maritime Wing v t e							Commander Komanda		Lieutenant commander Lietnen Komanda	Lieutenant Lietnen		Sub lieutenant Sab-Lietnen
Zambia	No navy
Rank group	General / flag officers					Senior officers				Junior officers

Notes

References

^ Antigua & Barbuda Defence Force. "Paratus" (PDF). Regional Publications Ltd. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
^ "Badges of rank" (PDF). defence.gov.au. Department of Defence (Australia). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
^ "OFFICER RANKS". rbdf.gov.bs. Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
^ Bangladesh Navy. "Rank of Navy & Equivalent Rank". navy.mil.bd. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
^ "Barbados Defence Force Medal Ceremony". YouTube. Barbados Defence Force. 18 Jul 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
^ "Admiralty Ranks – RBN Admiralty Rank". Navy.MinDef.gov.bn. Royal Brunei Navy Headquarters, Muara Naval Base: Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
^ "Ranks and appointment". canada.ca. Government of Canada. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
^ "The Canadian Armed Forces modernizes military ranks in French". Canada. Government of Canada. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
^ "Βαθμοί" [Ranks]. army.gov.cy (in Greek). Cypriot National Guard. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
^ "Ranks & Insignia". Join Indian Navy. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
^ "BADGES OF RANK". Official Jamaica Defence Force Website. 2019. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
^ "KDF Ranks". mod.go.ke. Ministry of Defence - Kenya. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
^ "Pangkat". mafhq.mil.my (in Malay). Malaysian Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
^ "Rank Insignia". afm.gov.mt. Armed Forces of Malta. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
^ "Government Notice" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. Vol. 4547. 20 August 2010. pp. 99–102. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
^ "Badges of Rank" (PDF). nzdf.mil.nz. New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
^ Shown with cipher of Elizabeth II
^ Smaldone, Joseph P. (1992). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Nigeria: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 296–297. LCCN 92009026. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
^ "LIFE IN PN:RANKS". www.paknavy.gov.pk. Pakistan Navy Official Website. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
^ "Rank structure". spdf.sc. Seychelles People's Defence Forces. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
^ "SAF Rank Insignias". mindef.gov.sg. Ministry of Defence (Singapore). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
^ "Rank Insignia". navy.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
^ "Branches/Ranks". Sri Lanka Navy. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
^ "Journal officiel de la république togolaise" (PDF) (in French). 12 February 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
^ "Tonga Defence Services (Amendment) Regulations 2009" (PDF). Tonga Government Gazette Supplement Extraordinary. 5: 151–153. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
^ "Rank Chart (Commissioned Officers)". 69.0.195.188. Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
^ "Shaping your career". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
^ "RM Officers & Other Ranks Badges of Rank". Royal Navy website. Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-10-05.

[Antigua&Barbuda-1] Antigua & Barbuda Defence Force. "Paratus" (PDF). Regional Publications Ltd. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 2 March 2020.

[Australia-2] "Badges of rank" (PDF). defence.gov.au. Department of Defence (Australia). Retrieved 31 May 2021.

[Bahamas-OF-3] "OFFICER RANKS". rbdf.gov.bs. Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2021.

[Bangladesh_Navy-4] Bangladesh Navy. "Rank of Navy & Equivalent Rank". navy.mil.bd. Retrieved 27 May 2021.

[Medals_Parade-5] "Barbados Defence Force Medal Ceremony". YouTube. Barbados Defence Force. 18 Jul 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2022.

[Brunei_Navy-6] "Admiralty Ranks – RBN Admiralty Rank". Navy.MinDef.gov.bn. Royal Brunei Navy Headquarters, Muara Naval Base: Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei. Retrieved 7 January 2024.

[Canada-7] "Ranks and appointment". canada.ca. Government of Canada. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[CA-Female-8] "The Canadian Armed Forces modernizes military ranks in French". Canada. Government of Canada. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2024.

[Cyprus-9] "Βαθμοί" [Ranks]. army.gov.cy (in Greek). Cypriot National Guard. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

[India_Navy-10] "Ranks & Insignia". Join Indian Navy. Retrieved 12 April 2021.

[Jamaica-11] "BADGES OF RANK". Official Jamaica Defence Force Website. 2019. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2019.

[Kenya-12] "KDF Ranks". mod.go.ke. Ministry of Defence - Kenya. Retrieved 9 December 2022.

[Malaysia_Officer-13] "Pangkat". mafhq.mil.my (in Malay). Malaysian Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.

[Malta-14] "Rank Insignia". afm.gov.mt. Armed Forces of Malta. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

[Namibia-15] "Government Notice" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. Vol. 4547. 20 August 2010. pp. 99–102. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

[NewZealand-16] "Badges of Rank" (PDF). nzdf.mil.nz. New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 28 July 2022.

[17] Shown with cipher of Elizabeth II

[Nigeria-18] Smaldone, Joseph P. (1992). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Nigeria: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 296–297. LCCN 92009026. Retrieved 21 October 2021.

[Pakistan_Navy_Official_Websites-19] "LIFE IN PN:RANKS". www.paknavy.gov.pk. Pakistan Navy Official Website. Retrieved 7 August 2018.

[Seychelles-20] "Rank structure". spdf.sc. Seychelles People's Defence Forces. Retrieved 4 June 2021.

[Singapore-21] "SAF Rank Insignias". mindef.gov.sg. Ministry of Defence (Singapore). Retrieved 7 June 2021.

[SouthAfrica_Navy-22] "Rank Insignia". navy.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.

[SriLanka_Navy-23] "Branches/Ranks". Sri Lanka Navy. Retrieved 25 August 2024.

[Togo-24] "Journal officiel de la république togolaise" (PDF) (in French). 12 February 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2021.

[Tonga-25] "Tonga Defence Services (Amendment) Regulations 2009" (PDF). Tonga Government Gazette Supplement Extraordinary. 5: 151–153. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2021.

[Trinidad&Tobago_Officer-26] "Rank Chart (Commissioned Officers)". 69.0.195.188. Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. Retrieved 27 May 2021.

[UK_Navy-27] "Shaping your career". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 24 September 2021.

[Royal_Marines-28] "RM Officers & Other Ranks Badges of Rank". Royal Navy website. Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-10-05.

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Comparative navy officer ranks of the Commonwealth

Contents

Officers

See also

Notes

References