In the British Royal Navy, only commissioned officers and marines have a 'rank', with sailors instead assigned a 'rate' and called 'ratings'. The equivalent term in the British Army, Royal Marines and the Royal Air Force is 'other ranks' and in the United States is 'enlisted ranks'. Rate insignia consists of a combination of symbols, including fouled anchors, the Imperial Crown, laurel wreaths, buttons and the Royal Arms.

Insignia Royal Navy

All ratings may be awarded Good Conduct Badges (GCB), although they are only worn by petty officers and below, under their rate insignia on the left arm. They are of a 'V' shape and are similar in appearance to the chevrons worn by NCOs in the Royal Marines, British Army and the Royal Air Force, but in the Royal Navy they do not denote rank or rate. A set of one indicates 4 years of good conduct, two for 8 years and three for 12 years.

Royal Marines

Royal Marines band service

Branch and speciality badges

Ratings in the Royal Navy wear branch badges (colloquially known as trade badges or 'tiffs') on the right sleeve to indicate a specific job, whilst rate insignia is worn on the left sleeve. Branches in the Royal Navy are listed below. Branch sub-specialities are denoted with an abbreviation on the branch badge. 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.

+ Branch badges Branch Specialisation Sub-specialisation Badge Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) Cyber EMA Warfare Surface & UW Exploitation Seamanship (SEA) Mine Warfare (MW) Diver (MCD) Above Water Tactical (AWT) Above Water Weapons (AWW) Underwater Warfare (UW) Hydrography (H) Information Intelligence (INT) Cryptologic Technician (CT) Geo-Meteorological and Oceanographic (IW METOC) Photographer (Phot) Submarine (SM) Warfare Specialist (Tactical Submariner) (WS(TSM)) Warfare Specialist (Sonar Submariner) (WS(SSM)) Coxswain Submariner (Coxn SM) Aviation Aircraft Control (AC) Aircrewman (ACMN) Aircraft Handler (AH) Aviation (AV) Engineering Air Engineering Air Engineering Technician (Avionics) (AET(AV)) Air Engineering Technician (Mechanical) (AET(M)) Air Engineering Technician (Electrical) (AET(L)) Survival Equipment Technician (SET) Marine Engineering (General Service) (MEGS) Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) (ET(ME)) Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering)(Electrical) (ET(ME)(EL)) Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering)(Mechanical) (ET(ME)(ML)) Weapon Engineering (General Service) (WEGS) Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering) (ET(WE)) Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering)(Sensors) (ET(WE)(S)) Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering)(Weapons) (ET(WE)(W)) Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering)(Communication & Information Systems) (ET(WE)(CIS)) Marine Engineering (Submarine Service) (MESM) Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submariner) (ET(MESM)) Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submariner)(Electrical) (ET(MESM)(EL)) Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submariner)(Mechanical) (ET(MESM)(ML)) Weapon Engineering (Submarine Service) (WESM) Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering Submariner) (ET(WESM)) Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering Submariner) (Strategic Weapon Systems) (ET(WESM)(SWS)) Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering Submariner) (Tactical Weapon Systems) (ET(WESM)(TWS)) Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering Submariner) (Communication & Information Systems) (ET(WESM)(CIS)) Logistics & Personnel Writer (General and Submarine Services) Catering Services (General and Submarine Services) Supply Chain (General and Submarine Services) Welfare Physical Training Instructor (PTI) Royal Navy Police (RNP) Healthcare & Medical Nursing Multiple primary and healthcare specialties Medical Services Medical Assistant (General and Submarine Services, and Commando) Allied Healthcare Profession (Operating Department Practitioner; Biomedical Scientist; Radiographer; Pharmacy Technician; Paramedic) Dentistry Dental Nurse Dental Hygienist

Qualifications

Branch badges include stars and crowns indicating a rating'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 a petty officer.

1975–present 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 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:

InsigniaDescriptionBasic deviceJunior or basicBasic 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 aboveFirst-class part II or specialist qualification (PO and below)Basic device with crown aboveSecond-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 belowChief 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

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 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 British Army and the 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. 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. It now has been re-instated due to the Navy Command Transformation Programme.

Timeline Rate group Warrant officers Senior ratings Junior ratings (1827–1853) No insignia 1st class petty officer 2nd class petty officer Able rate Ordinary rate Boy (1853–1890) Trade badge No insignia Chief petty officer 1st class petty officer 2nd class petty officer Leading rate Able rate Ordinary rate Boy (1890–1901) No insignia Trade badge No insignia Chief petty officer 1st class petty officer 2nd class petty officer Leading rate Able rate Ordinary rate Boy (1901–1913) No insignia Trade badge No insignia Chief petty officer 1st class petty officer 2nd class petty officer Leading rate Able rate Ordinary rate Junior rate (1913–1953) No insignia Trade badge No insignia Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading rate Able rate Ordinary rate Junior rate (1953–1970) Trade badge No insignia Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading rate Able rate Ordinary rate Junior rate (1970–1985) Trade badge No insignia Fleet chief petty officer Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading rate Able rate Ordinary rate Junior rate (1985–1999) Trade badge No insignia Warrant officer Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading rate Able rate Ordinary rate Junior rate (1999–2004) Warrant officer Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading rate Able rate (2004–2014) Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading rate Able rate (2014–2023) Warrant officer Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading rate Able rate (2021–2023) Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading rate Able rate (2023–present) Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading rate Able rate

See also Ranks and insignia of the officers of the Royal Navy Ranks and insignia of the other ranks of the British Army Ranks and insignia of the other ranks of the RAF Ranks and insignia of NATO navies enlisted Ranks of the cadet forces of the United Kingdom Uniforms of the Royal Navy Uniforms of the Royal Marines

Notes

References

External links Royal Navy BR 3(1) Part 8 Royal Navy ranks, professions, trades and badges of rank in World War 2