This is a list of Royal Navy ratings rank insignia.[1]

Insignia

Royal Navy

Royal Navy ratings wearing rank insignia above good conduct badges on the left arm.
Rank insignia of the ratings of the Royal Navy[2][3]
Rank group Warrant officers Senior ratings Junior ratings
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-2
Arm insignia No insignia
Shoulder insignia
Rank Warrant officer 1 Warrant officer 2 Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading rating Able rating
Abbreviation WO1 WO2 CPO PO LH AB

All ratings may be awarded Good Conduct Badges (GCB),[4] although they are only worn by petty officers and below, under their rank insignia on the left arm. They are of a 'V' shape and are similar in appearance to the chevrons worn by NCOs in the Royal Marines, British Army and the Royal Air Force, but in the Royal Navy they do not denote rank. A set of one indicates 4 years of good conduct, two for 8 years and three for 12 years.[5]

Royal Marines

Rank insignia of the other ranks of the Royal Marines
Rank group Warrant officers Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Marines
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2
Insignia No insignia
Typical appointment Corps regimental sergeant major Regimental sergeant major Regimental quartermaster sergeant /
company sergeant major 		Company quartermaster sergeant
Rank Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Colour sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Marine
Abbreviation WO1 WO2 CSgt Sgt Cpl LCpl Mne

Royal Marines band service

NATO codeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
Royal Marines Band Service



Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2, Bandmaster Drum major
Bugle major		 Colour sergeant bugler
Band colour sergeant		 Sergeant bugler
Band sergeant		 Corporal bugler
Band corporal		 Lance corporal bugler
Band lance corporal		 Musician

Branch and speciality badges

Royal Navy ratings wearing branch badges on the right arm

Ratings in the Royal Navy wear branch badges (colloquially known as trade badges or 'tiffs') on the right sleeve to indicate a specific job, whilst rate insignia is worn on the left sleeve. Branches in the Royal Navy are listed below. Branch sub-specialities are denoted with an abbreviation on the branch badge.[6] 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.

Branch badges[7][5][6]
Branch Specialisation Sub-specialisation Badge
Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) Cyber
EMA
Warfare Surface & UW Exploitation Seamanship (SEA)
Mine Warfare (MW)
Diver (MCD)
Above Water Tactical (AWT)
Above Water Weapons (AWW)
Underwater Warfare (UW)
Hydrography (H)
Information Intelligence (INT)
Cryptologic Technician (CT)
Geo-Meteorological and Oceanographic (IW METOC)
Photographer (Phot)
Submarine (SM) Warfare Specialist (Tactical Submariner) (WS(TSM))
Warfare Specialist (Sonar Submariner) (WS(SSM))
Coxswain Submariner (Coxn SM)
Aviation Aircraft Control (AC)
Aircrewman (ACMN)
Aircraft Handler (AH)
Aviation (AV)
Engineering Air Engineering Air Engineering Technician (Avionics) (AET(AV))
Air Engineering Technician (Mechanical) (AET(M))
Air Engineering Technician (Electrical) (AET(L))
Survival Equipment Technician (SET)
Marine Engineering (General Service) (MEGS) Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) (ET(ME))
Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering)(Electrical) (ET(ME)(EL))
Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering)(Mechanical) (ET(ME)(ML))
Weapon Engineering (General Service) (WEGS) Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering) (ET(WE))
Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering)(Sensors) (ET(WE)(S))
Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering)(Weapons) (ET(WE)(W))
Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering)(Communication & Information Systems) (ET(WE)(CIS))
Marine Engineering (Submarine Service) (MESM) Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submariner) (ET(MESM))
Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submariner)(Electrical) (ET(MESM)(EL))
Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submariner)(Mechanical) (ET(MESM)(ML))
Weapon Engineering (Submarine Service) (WESM) Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering Submariner) (ET(WESM))
Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering Submariner) (Strategic Weapon Systems) (ET(WESM)(SWS))
Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering Submariner) (Tactical Weapon Systems) (ET(WESM)(TWS))
Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering Submariner) (Communication & Information Systems) (ET(WESM)(CIS))
Logistics & Personnel Writer (General and Submarine Services)
Catering Services (General and Submarine Services)
Supply Chain (General and Submarine Services)
Welfare
Physical Training Instructor (PTI)
Royal Navy Police (RNP)
Healthcare & Medical Nursing Multiple primary and healthcare specialties
Medical Services Medical Assistant (General and Submarine Services, and Commando)
Allied Healthcare Profession (Operating Department Practitioner; Biomedical Scientist; Radiographer)
Dentistry Dental Nurse
Dental Hygienist

Qualifications

Royal Navy branch badges in 1944

Branch badges include stars and crowns indicating a rating'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 a petty officer.

1975–present

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 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.

1951–1975

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:

  • Radar plot
  • Torpedo anti-Submarine
  • Gunnery
  • Physical training
  • Tactical communication
  • Radio communication

The instructor rate began to disappear in 1972, when fleet chief petty officers (warrant officers) were introduced.

Other branches, including naval air mechanics, were:

  • Basic device: junior or basic technical qualification
  • Basic device with star above: technical qualification for able rate
  • Basic device with star above and star below: technical qualification for leading rate[a]
  • Basic device with crown above: petty officer qualified for higher rate of pay
  • Basic device with crown above: chief petty officer qualified for lower rate of pay
  • Basic device with crown above star below: chief petty officer qualified for higher rate of pay

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".

History

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 cord surmounted 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 other badges 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 British Army and the 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. 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.[8] It now has been re-instated due to the Navy Command Transformation Programme.[9]

Timeline

Rank group Warrant officers Senior ratings Junior ratings
(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[b] 1st class petty officer[c] 2nd class petty officer[c] Leading rate[c] 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
(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
(1913–1953) No insignia
Trade badge No insignia
Chief petty officer 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
(2014–2023)
Warrant officer Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading rate Able rate
(2021–2023)
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading rate Able rate
(2023–present)
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Chief petty officer Petty officer Leading rate Able rate
NATO codeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Not applicable to coder, supply and secretariat, artisan or sick birth branches
  2. ↑ Made an official rank in 1857, used unofficially since 1853
  3. 1 2 3 These were white, or gold on the dress uniform, or blue on white uniforms. In 1860, the badges changed from white to red on ordinary uniforms.

References

  1. ↑ The Dress of the British Sailor HMSO 1957 Badges and Insignia if the British Armed Services published by Adam & Charles Black London 1974 BRD 81 Naval Service Uniform Regulations Chapter 3 (0317) 2009 Naval and Marine Badges and Insignia of World War 2 Guido Rosignoli, Blandford Press
  2. ↑ "The Queen's Regulations for the Royal Navy" (PDF). Royal Navy. Ministry of Defence. April 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Naval Personnel Management" (PDF). Royal Navy. Ministry of Defence. July 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "JSP 761 : Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces" (PDF). GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. February 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Naval Personnel Management" (PDF). Royal Navy. Ministry of Defence. July 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Defence Clothing Catalogue - Section 3-6: DMC CB - Badges and Insignia of the Royal Navy" (PDF). GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. July 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "Royal Navy's current branches, specialisations and sub-specialisations". WhatDoTheyKnow. 25 June 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "201401 Navy News Jan 14". Content.yudu.com. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  9. ↑ @WO1MickTurnbull (2 February 2021). "Good afternoon the WO2 rank was kept in Service for the Royal Marines and Submariner engineers. However as part of Royal Navy Transformation the WO2 Rank has now been introduced across the Service. The first recipients were notified on 18 Jan 21 and others have now been selected" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy_rating_rank_insignia