This is a list of Royal Navy ratings rank insignia.[1]
Ratings in the Royal Navy include trade badges on the right sleeve to indicate a specific job. The information on the left arm is the individual's rate - e.g. a leading rate (commonly called a leading hand). One nickname is "Killick", for the Killick-anchor rate badge. Branch badges include stars and crowns above and below the branch logo, indicating an individual'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 Petty Officer.The insignia denotes trade and specialty.
Trades in the Royal Navy are listed below. Branch sub-specialities are denoted with an abbreviation on the branch badge.[2] 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. The branches were reviewed, revised and published in the Royal Navy's June 2013 BR3 (Book of Reference) edition (now the June 2015 edition).
| Branch | Titles | Designator |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon Engineering | Engineering Technician | ET |
| Marine Engineering[3] | ||
| Engineering Technician | ET[4] | |
| Marine Engineering Artificer | MEA | |
| Marine Engineering Mechanic | MEM | |
| Air Engineering[5] [6] | ||
| Air Engineering Technician | AET | |
| Air Engineering Artificer | AEA | |
| Air Engineering Mechanic | AEM[7] [8] [9] |
| Branch | Titles | Designator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logistics | Logistician | Writer | Wtr |
| Supply Chain | SC | ||
| Catering Services (merges Chef and Steward as of 2019) | CS[10] | ||
| Branch | Titles | Designator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical | |||
| Medical Assistant | MA[11] | ||
| Medical Technician | MT | ||
| Medical | Medical Technician Operating Department Practitioner | MT(ODP) | |
| Medical | Medical Technician Pharmacy Dispenser | MT(PD) | |
| Naval Nurse | NN[12] [13] |
| Branch | Titles | Designator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Service | Warfare Specialist | Abovewater Warfare Weapons (AWW) | WS |
| Abovewater Warfare Tactical (AWT) | |||
| Underwater Warfare (UW) | |||
| Electronic Warfare (EW) | |||
| Intelligence (INT)[14] | |||
| Communication Information Systems Specialist | CIS | ||
| Cryptologic Technician[15] | CT | ||
| Diver[16] | D | ||
| Hydrographic & Meteorological Specialist | HM[17] | ||
| Mine Warfare Specialist | MW | ||
| Master-at-arms (Chief Petty Officers), Regulator (Other Ratings) | RNP | ||
| Seamanship | SEA | ||
| Survey Recorder | SR | ||
| Weapons Analyst | WA | ||
| Naval Airman | Aircraft Handler (AH) | NA[18] | |
| Aircraft Controller (AC) | |||
| Survival Equipment (SE) | |||
| Aircrewman - Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW)[19] | ACMN | ||
| Coxswain (Submarine) | Coxn(SM) | ||
| Communication Information Systems Specialist Submarine | CISSM | ||
| Warfare Specialist | Tactical Submarine (TSM) | WS[20] [21] [22] [23] | |
| Sensors Submarine (SSM) | |||
| 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 the 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. |
The Seaman and Naval Airman branches were:
| Insignia | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic device | Junior or Basic | |
| Basic 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 above | First-class part II or specialist qualification (PO and below) | |
| Basic device with crown above | Second-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 below | Chief petty officers, petty officers and confirmed |
Leading rates qualified as instructors in the following branches:
The instructor rate began to disappear in 1972, when fleet chief petty officers (warrant officers) were introduced.
Other branches, including Naval Air Mechanics, were:
.*not applicable to Coder, Supply and Secretariat, Artisan and Sick Birth Branches
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".
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (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[24] | 1st class Petty officer[25] | 2nd class Petty officer[26] | Leading rate[27] | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (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 – 2020) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrant officer | Chief petty officer | Petty officer | Leading rate | Able rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2021 – Present) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Chief petty officer | Petty officer | Leading rate | Able rate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 cordsurmounted 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 otherbadges 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 army and 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. Chevrons on the left sleeve, below the rank badge, are for long service and good conduct (one for each four-year period; no more than three may be worn). A chief petty officer in the blue uniform wears three buttons on their sleeves to indicate rank, the same rank insignia (but topped with a star) used by Chilean Navy midshipmen. 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.[28] It now has been re-instated due to the Navy Command Transformation Programme.[29]