Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Navy
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) and the King of Denmark. 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 | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Rank flags
Rank | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flotilleadmiral | Eskadrechef |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1858–1882 | — | ||||
1882–? | |||||
?–1979 | |||||
1979–present[4] |
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Service uniform | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
Branch of service
The branch of service emblems are worn by all NCOs and enlisted, except for Chefsergent who wears a crown.
Våben, artilleri | Våben, torpedo | Militærpoliti | Våben, mine |
Kampinformation | Elektronik | DATA (Informatik) | Automatik |
Kommunikation | Maskin | Administration (Intendantur) |
Sanitet |
Proviant/forplejning | Tamburkorps | Chefsergent | Sergentelev |
Additional ranks
NATO Code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-1 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rank[3] | |||||||||
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 |
Mechanics
Rank group | Mechanics | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Shoulder insignia[3] | ||||
Sleeve insignia | ||||
Seniormekaniker | Overmekaniker af 1. grad | Overmekaniker af 2. grad | Mekaniker |
Clerical personnel
Rank group | Clerical personnel | |
---|---|---|
Shoulder insignia[3] | ||
Sleeve insignia | ||
Orlogsprovst | Orlogspræst |
Types of rank insignia
Rank[5] (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.[6] In order to become more standard, the admiral ranks were changed in 1951.[7]
Timeline of changes
Modern ranks 1858-present
Other ranks
Rank group | NCOs | Enlisted | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1923–1951 | ||||||||||
Overbaadsmand | Baadsmand | Underbaadsmand | Matrosoverkonstabel | Overmatros | Matroskonstabel 1. klasse | Matroskonstabel 2. klasse | Matroskonstabel 3. klasse | |||
1959–1962[16] | ||||||||||
Overfenrik | Fenrik | Oversergent | Sergent | Korporal | Sergentelev | Math | Mathelev | |||
1962–? | ||||||||||
Seniorsergent af 1. grad | Seniorsergent af 2. grad | Oversergent | Sergent | Korporal | Marineoverkonstabel | Marinekonstable | Marinekonstabelelev | |||
1982–2008 | ||||||||||
Chefsergent | Seniorsergent | Oversergent | Sergent | Korporal | Marinespecialist | Marineoverkonstabel | Marinekonstable | Marinekonstabelelev |
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "Historik" [History]. forpers.dk (in Danish). Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ "FKOBST L.202 - 4: Ceremoniel i Forsvaret" (in Danish). Danish Defence. October 2019. p. Bilag 2 til Tillæg A. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ "Uniformsbestemmelse for Søværnet (FKOBST SV.628-501)" (PDF). Forsvaret (in Danish). September 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ Balsved, Johnny (25 March 2006). "Uniformshistorie" [Uniform History]. Navalhistory.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ Balsved, Johnny (22 March 2008). "Distinktioner og gradstegn" [Rank Insignia]. Navalhistory.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ Borg 1974, p. 31.
- ^ Borg 1974, p. 39.
- ^ Borg 1974, pp. 52, 57.
- ^ Borg 1974, pp. 57–60.
- ^ Borg 1974, p. 61.
- ^ Borg 1974, pp. 61–64.
- ^ Borg 1974, pp. 75, 180.
- ^ Borg 1974, p. 76.
- ^ 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)