| Captain lieutenant | |
| Country: |  Germany |
| Abbreviation: | KptLt |
| Rank: | Commissioned officer |
| Nato Rank: | OF-2 |
| Non-Nato Rank: | A11 or A12 |
| Higher Rank: | |
, short: KptLt/in lists: KL, (English: [[captain lieutenant]] or lieutenant captain) is an officer grade of the captains' military hierarchy group of the German . The rank is rated OF-2[1] in NATO, and equivalent to in the Heer and Luftwaffe. It is grade A11 or A12 in the pay rules of the Federal Ministry of Defence.
In line with ZDv 10/8, the formal manner of addressing people with the rank (OF-2) is "Herr/Frau Kapitänleutnant". However, in German tradition and in line with seamen's language, the title is abbreviated to "Herr/Frau Kaleu" in verbal communication (contemporary usage). Historically, in the Wehrmacht, the abbreviation spoken was "Herr Kaleun".
See also: Ranks of the German Bundeswehr and Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr. The United States Navy's rank of lieutenant is equal to in NATO's military hierarchy (classed as OF-2). However, German Navy might be assigned to the so-called "line officer career" (de: Truppendienstlaufbahn or Truppendienstoffizier) or "officer specialist career" (de: Fachdienstlaufbahn or Fachdienstoffizier, officially: Offizier des militärfachlichen Dienstes).
Its rank insignia, worn on the sleeves and shoulders, are one golden five-pointed star above two golden stripes with one half stripes between them (without the star when rank loops are worn).
A (line officer) may command smaller ships (e.g. submarine class 206A, minehunter class 332) or serve as principal warfare officer on larger warships, giving the rank responsibilities more along those of a Lieutenant commander in the U.S. or Royal navies.
| junior Rank | German Navy officer rank (Line officer career) | senior Rank Korvettenkapitän (Line officer grad) |
The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
might be a senior officer specialist rank, comparable to US warrant officer, however, junior to .Military people of the "line officer career" skip over the rank, by regular promotion from (OF-2) to Korvettenkapitän (OF-3).
| junior rank | German Navy officer rank (Warrant officer career)' | senior rank |
(Hauptmann) |