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From: gjw@cs.glasgow.ac.uk (Mr Garry J. Wardrope)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Rank of military officers
Message-ID: <1991Feb8.015943.19818@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 8 Feb 91 01:59:43 GMT
References: <1991Feb4.063141.20048@cbnews.att.com> <1991Feb5.043249.6192@cbnews.att.com> <1991Feb7.015853.3664@cbnews.att.com>
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From: "Mr Garry J. Wardrope" <gjw@cs.glasgow.ac.uk>

For those of you interested the UK ranks are slightly different ( particularly
the RAF ). Entries at each level in each list are equivalent. 


	Royal Navy		Insignia (Gold lace worn on sleeve or
                                         on shoulder straps )

	Admiral of the Fleet		1 Broad stripe and 4 stripes
	Admiral				1   "      "       3    "
	Vice Admiral			1   "      "       2    "
	Rear Admiral			1   "      "       1    "
	Commodore			1 Broad stripe
	Captain				4 Stripes
	Commander 			3 Stripes
	Lieutenant commander		2 Stripes with one half stripe between
	Lieutenant			2 Stripes
	Sub Lieutenant			1 Stripe
	Midshipman			On each side of the collar of the coat,
                                   	a white patch with a buttonhole of white
					twist and a corresponding button.

(Each branch had a different colour beetween the stripes but this is only used
my the medical branch now.)

Until recently there were different ranks for WRNS but they have now been
integreated with the men. ( No jokes please)


	Army			Insignia (Shoulder straps )

	Field Marshal			Crown, crossed guns surrounded by laurel
	General				Crown, 1 star, crossed sword and gun
	Lieutenant General		Crown, crossed sword and gun
	Major General			1 star, crossed sword and gun
	Brigadier			Crossed sword and gun
	Colonel 			Crown, 2 stars
	Lieutenant Colonel 		Crown, 1 star
	Major				Crown
	Captain				3 stars
	Lieutenant			2 stars
	2nd Lieutenant			1 star
	( Stars are often referred to a pips )


	RAF			Insignia (As RN only narrower stripes and they
					are blue and black)

	Marshal of the Royal Air Force
	Air Chief Marshal
	Air Marshal
	Air Vice Marshal
	Air Commodore
	Group Captain
	Wing Commander
	Squadron Leader
	Flight Lieutenant
	Flying Officer / Observation Officer
	Pilot Officer


Senior Naval Officers (Commodore and above) were shoulder badges when in
dress uniform, similar to the army insignia. Army officers were a type of stripe
system when in dress uniform !

Marines use army ranks. 

Most if not all these ranks are currently in use in the UK armed forces. As far
as the Navy goes there is an Admiral of the Fleet (naughty of me but I've
forgotten his name ) The Senior Naval Officer Middle East is
Commodore Chris Crag. I'm not so up on the army and RAF.  (Dont make bets on the
Army insignia .)



-- 
Mail:	Garry Wardrope, Computing Science Dept.,  Tel: (041) 339 8855 x5322
	Glasgow Univ., 17 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK. 
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