| 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, (en|[[captain lieutenant]] or lieutenant captain) is an officer grade of the captains' military hierarchy group of the modern 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.
The rank first appeared in the German Empire and continued in use through the Weimar Republic and into the Third Reich.
In line with ZDv 10/8, the formal manner of addressing people with the rank 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. 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) |