Naval officer ranks

Navies have military rank systems that often are quite different from those of armies or air forces. Sometimes, services that are considered parts of the navy – marine or amphibious corps – use the army-style ranks instead, while the ranks listed here are reserved for fleets.

Admirals and Commodores

These are the highest naval ranks. Ranks above OF-10 level are exceptional and not in contemporary use (see e.g. Admiral of the Navy (U.S.)). OF-10 ranks are normally only used in war-time.

	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6
Argentina		Almirante	Vicealmirante	Contraalmirante
Denmark		Admiral	Viceadmiral	Kontreadmiral	Flottilleadmiral
Finland		Amiraali Admiral	Vara-amiraali Viceadmiral	Kontra-amiraali Konteradmiral	Lippueamiraali Flottiljadmiral
France		Amiral	Vice-Amiral d'Escadre	Vice-Amiral	Contre-Amiral
Germany		Admiral	Vizeadmiral	Konteradmiral	Flottillenadmiral
Italy		Ammiraglio di Squadra con incarichi speciali	Ammiraglio di Squadra e Ammiraglio Ispettore Capo	Ammiraglio di Divisione e Ammiraglio Ispettore	Contrammiraglio
Mexico		Almirante	Vicealmirante	Contralmirante
Netherlands	Admiraal der Vloot	Luitenant-Amiraal	Vice-Admiraal	Schout-bij-nacht	Commandeur
Norway		Admiral	Viseadmiral	Kontreadmiral	Flaggkommandør
Portugal	Almirante de Armada	Almirante	Vice-almirante	Contra-almirante	Comodoro
South Africa		Admiraal	Vise-Admiraal	Skout-Admiraal	Skout-Admiraal (JR)
Spain	Capitán general	Almirante general/Almirante	Vicealmirante	Contralmirante
Sweden		Amiral	Viceamiral	Konteramiral	Flottiljamiral
United Kingdom and in some other English-speaking Commonwealth countries	Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice-Admiral	Rear Admiral	Commodore
United States	Fleet Admiral	Admiral	Vice Admiral	Rear Admiral (UH)	Rear Admiral (LH)

Other officers

Captain is the common address to commanders of a naval ship, regardless of his actual rank. As a rank, naval Captains are in most services far senior to army Captains, and equivalent to Colonels. An exception is the Swedish Navy, where kapten refers to the same rank as in the army.

	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Argentina	Capitán de navío	Capitán de fragata	Capitán de corbeta	Teniente de navío	Teniente de fragata	Teniente de corbeta
Denmark	Kommandør	Kommandør-kaptajn	Orlogskaptajn	Kaptajnløjtnant	Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant
Finland	Kommodori Kommodor	Komentaja Kommendör	Komentajakapteeni Kommendörkapten	Kapteeniluutnantti Kaptenlöjtnant Yliluutnantti Premiärlöjtnant	Luutnantti Löjtnant	Aliluutnantti Underlöjtnant
France	Capitaine de Vaisseau	Capitaine de Fregate	Capitaine de Corvette	Lieutenant de Vaisseau	Enseigne de Vaisseau de 1re Classe	Enseigne de Vaisseau de 2e Classe
Germany	Kapitän zur See	Fregattenkapitän	Korvettenkapitän	Stabskapitänleutnant/Kapitänleutnant	Oberleutnant zur See	Leutnant zur See
Italy	Capitano di Vascello	Capitano di Fregata	Capitano di Corvetta	Primo Tenente di Vascello/Tenente di Vascello	Sottotenente di Vascello	Guardiamarina
Mexico	Capitán de Navío	Capitán de Fragata	Capitán de Corbeta	Teniente de Navío	Teniente de Corbeta	Guardiamarina
Netherlands	Kapitein ter zee	Kapitein-Luitenant ter zee	Luitenant ter zee der 1e klasse	Luitenant ter zee der 2e klasse oudste categorie	Luitenant ter zee der 2e klasse	Luitenant ter zee der 3e klasse
Norway	Kommandør	Kommandørkaptein	Orlogskaptein	Kapteinløytnant	Løytnant	Fenrik
Portugal	Capitão-de-mar-e-guerra	Capitão-de-fragat	Capitão-tenente	Primeiro-tenente	Segundo-tenente	Guarda-marinha ou Subtenente
South Africa	Kaptein	Kommandeur	Luitenant-Kommandeur	Luitenant	Onderluitenant	Vaandrig
Spain	Capitán de navío	Capitán de fragata	Capitán de corbeta	Teniente de navío	Alférez de navío	Alférez de fragata
Sweden	Kommendör	Kommendörkapten	Örlogskapten	Kapten	Löjtnant	Fänrik
United Kingdom and in some other English-speaking Commonwealth countries	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant-Commander	Lieutenant	Sub-Lieutenant	Acting Sub-Lieutenant
United States	Captain	Commander	Lieutenant Commander	Lieutenant	Lieutenant, junior grade	Ensign