German: Korvettenkapitän (pronounced as /de/;) is the lowest ranking senior officer in a number of Germanic-speaking navies.
| Corvette captain | |
| Native Name: | German: Korvettenkapitän |
| Country: |  Germany |
| Abbreviation: | KKpt |
| Nato Rank: | OF-3 |
| Rank Group: | Field officer |
| Higher Rank: | Fregattenkapitän |
| Lower Rank: | Kapitänleutnant |
| Equivalents: | Major |
Korvettenkapitän, short: KKpt/in lists: KK, is the lowest senior officer rank in the German Navy.[1]
The official manner, in line to ZDv 10/8, of formal addressing of military people with the rank Korvettenkapitän (OF-3) is "Herr/Frau Korvettenkapitän". However, as to German naval traditions the "Korvettenkapitän" will be addressed "Herr/Frau Kapitän", often in line to seamen's language "Herr/Frau Kap'tän".
See also: Ranks of the German Bundeswehr and Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr.
Rank insignia Korvettenkapitän, worn on the sleeves and shoulders, are one five-pointed star above three stripes (or rings on sleeves; without the star when rank loops are worn).
The rank is rated OF-3a[2] in NATO, and equivalent to Major in Heer, and Luftwaffe. It is grade A13 in the pay rules of the Federal Ministry of Defence and is senior to the regular OF-2 rank of Kapitänleutnant (en: Lt), as well as to OF-2 Stabskapitänleutnant.
German Navy officer rank | ||||
| Line officer career | ||||
| junior rank Kapitänleutnant | Korvettenkapitän (Oberstabsarzt) Major | senior rank Fregattenkapitän | ||
| Warrant officer / officer specialist career | ||||
| Kapitänleutnant | Stabskapitänleutnant | end of officer specialist career | ||
See main article: Military ranks of the German Empire, Military ranks of the Weimar Republic and Uniforms and insignia of the Kriegsmarine.
In the Imperial German Navy and Kriegsmarine the "Korvettenkapitän" was the lowest officer rank of the senior officer's rank group. The rank insignia consisted of shoulder strap and sleeve stripes. Shoulder straps had to be worn on uniform jackets and consisted of twisted silver-braids (without pip/star) on padding in navy blue weapon color.
Cuff insignia consisted of three stripes, and a five-point naval star above. The sleeve rings encircled the lower cuffs.
Korvettenkapitän was in the Volksmarine of the GDR the lowest grade of the senior officer's rank group. It was comparable to Major of the NPA Land Force and Air Force.
The rank insignia consisted of shoulder strap and sleeve stripes. Shoulder straps had to be worn on uniform jackets and consisted of twisted silver-braids with one gold pip (star) on padding in navy blue weapon color.
Cuff insignia consisted of three stripes, and a five-point naval star above. In contradiction to Imperial German Navy tradition, where sleeve rings encircled the lower cuffs, the Volksmarine cuff strips formed 40% rings.