Lieutenant (navy)

Commissioned officer rank in many nations' navies

For general information on the rank of lieutenant, including army and air force use, see Lieutenant.

Comparative military ranks

| |  Armies,
air forces
(non-Commonwealth)|  Navies,
coast guards|  Air forces
(Commonwealth system)

|
|
|

General officers, Flag officers, Air officers
|  Marshal or
field marshal|  Admiral of the fleet|  Marshal of the air force
|  General or
colonel general or
army general|  Admiral|  Air chief marshal
|  Lieutenant general or
army corps general|  Vice admiral|  Air marshal
|  Major general or
divisional general|  Rear admiral or
counter admiral|  Air vice-marshal
|  Brigadier or
brigadier general|  Commodore or
flotilla admiral|  Air commodore
Senior officers
|  Colonel|  (Ship-of-the-line)
Captain|  Group captain
|  Lieutenant colonel|  Commander or
frigate captain|  Wing commander
|  Major or
commandant|  Lieutenant
commander or corvette captain|  Squadron leader
Junior officers
|  Captain|  Lieutenant|  Flight lieutenant
|  First lieutenant or
lieutenant|  Lieutenant
junior grade or
sub-lieutenant|  Flying officer
|  Second lieutenant or
junior lieutenant|  Ensign or
midshipman|  Pilot officer
Non-commissioned officers
|  Warrant officer or
sergeant major|  Warrant officer or
chief petty officer|  Warrant officer
|  Sergeant|  Petty officer|  Sergeant
|  Corporal or
bombardier|  Leading seaman|  Corporal
Enlisted ranks
|  Lance corporal or
Lance bombardier or
specialist|  Able seaman|  Leading aircraftman or
Air specialist
|  Private or
gunner or
trooper or
sapper|  Seaman|  Aircraftman or
airman or
aviator

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Lieutenant[nb 1] (abbreviated Lt, LT (U.S.), LT(USN), Lieut and LEUT, depending on nation) is a commissioned officer rank in many English-speaking nations' navies and coast guards. It is typically the most senior of junior officer ranks. In most navies, the rank's insignia may consist of two medium gold braid stripes, the uppermost stripe featuring an executive curl in many Commonwealth of Nations; or three stripes of equal or unequal width.

The now immediately senior rank of lieutenant commander was formerly a senior naval lieutenant rank. Many navies also use a subordinate rank of sub-lieutenant. The appointment of "first lieutenant" in many navies is held by a senior lieutenant.

This naval lieutenant ranks higher than an army lieutenants; within NATO countries the naval rank of lieutenant is a OF-2 and is the equivalent rank of an army captain. Other nations will use a naval lieutenant rank equivalent to an army lieutenant.

## History

[edit]

From at least 1580,[1] the lieutenant on a ship had been the officer immediately subordinate to the captain. Before the English Restoration, lieutenants were appointed by their captains, and this inevitably led to abuses and to the widespread appointment of men of insufficient qualification. In 1677, Samuel Pepys, while he was Chief Secretary to the Admiralty, introduced the first examination for lieutenant,[2] and thereafter their seniority was dated from the passing of this examination.

A lieutenant was numbered by his seniority within the ship on which he served, so that a frigate (which was entitled to three) would have a first, a second, and a third lieutenant. A first-rate ship was entitled to six, and they were numbered accordingly. At first, a lieutenant's commission was given only for the particular ship in which he served, but after the loss of HMS Wager in 1741 and the subsequent mutiny, the Royal Navy changed its policy and lieutenants were given more general commissions upon passing their examination.[1]

During the early days of the naval rank, some lieutenants could be very junior indeed, while others could be on the cusp of promotion to captain; those lieutenants ranged across present-day army ranks from a second lieutenant through to a lieutenant colonel. As the rank structure of navies stabilized, and the ranks of commander, lieutenant commander, and sub-lieutenant (or lieutenant, junior grade in the U.S. services) were introduced, the rank of naval lieutenant became less wide-ranging and is today the equivalent of an army captain.

## Promotion

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In the United States Navy, promotion to lieutenant is governed by United States Department of Defense policies derived from the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act (DOPMA) of 1980. The United States Coast Guard follows the same policy regarding promotion to lieutenant. DOPMA guidelines suggest that at least 95% of lieutenants (junior grade) should be promoted to lieutenant after serving a minimum of two years at the lower rank.[3]

In the Royal Navy, promotion to lieutenant is done in line with seniority. Officers are typically promoted after serving as a sub-lieutenants (OF-1) for 30 months.[4] However, promotion may be quicker if a candidate has previous naval service and commissions from the ranks (upper yardsman/senior upper yardsman).[5]

## "First lieutenant" in naval usage

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The first lieutenant (1st Lt or 1LT) in the Royal Navy and other Commonwealth navies, is a post or appointment, rather than a rank. Historically, the lieutenants in a ship were ranked in accordance with seniority, with the most senior being termed the first lieutenant and acting as the second-in-command. Although lieutenants are no longer numbered by seniority, the post of "first lieutenant" remains.

In minor war vessels, destroyers and frigates, the first lieutenant (either a lieutenant or lieutenant commander) is second in command, executive officer (XO) and head of the executive branch; in larger ships, where a commander of the warfare specialisation is appointed as the executive officer, a first lieutenant (normally a lieutenant commander) is appointed as his deputy. The post of first lieutenant in a shore establishment carries a similar responsibility to that of the first lieutenant of a capital ship.

In the U.S. Navy or U.S. Coast Guard, the billet of first lieutenant describes the officer in charge of the deck department or division, depending on the size of the ship. In smaller ships that have only a single deck division, the billet is typically filled by an ensign; while in larger ships, with a deck department consisting of multiple subordinate divisions, the billet may be filled by a lieutenant commander. On submarines and smaller Coast Guard cutters, the billet of first lieutenant may be filled by a petty officer.

## Rank insignia

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The insignia of a lieutenant in many navies, including the Royal Navy,[6] consists of two medium gold braid stripes (top stripe with loop) on a navy blue or black background. This pattern was copied by the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps), and various air forces (primarily those of the United Kingdom, British Commonwealth, and nations formerly aligned with the Crown) for their equivalent ranks and grades, except that the executive curl is removed (see flight lieutenant).

In the United States, contingent on the type of uniform worn, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, USPHS Commissioned Corps, and NOAA Corps lieutenants also wear pin-on metal collar, shoulder, or headgear insignia, or cloth shoulder, collar, tabbed, or headgear insignia identical to that of a United States Marine Corps captain and similar to that of a United States Army, United States Air Force, or United States Space Force captain.

## Gallery

[edit]

* Lieutenant
(Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard)[7]

* Lieutenant
(Royal Australian Navy)[8]

* Lieutenant
(Royal Bahamas Defence Force)[9]

* Lieutenant
(Bangladesh Navy)[10]

* Lieutenant
(Barbados Coast Guard)

* Lieutenant
(Belize Coast Guard)

* Leftenan
(Royal Brunei Navy)[11]

* Lieutenant
(French: Lieutenant de vaisseau)
(Royal Canadian Navy)[12]

* Lieutenant
(Republic of Fiji Navy)

* Lieutenant
(Gambian Navy)

* Lieutenant
(Ghana Navy)

* Lieutenant
(Guyana Coast Guard)

* Lieutenant
(Indian Navy)[13]

* Lieutenant
(Irish Naval Service)[14]

* Lieutenant
(Jamaican Coast Guard)[15]

* Lieutenant
(Liberian National Coast Guard)[16]

* Leftenan
(Royal Malaysian Navy)[17]

* Lieutenant
(Namibian Navy)[18]

* Lieutenant
(Royal New Zealand Navy)[19]

* Lieutenant
(Nigerian Navy)[20]

* Lieutenant
(Urdu: لیفٹیننٹ, romanized: Leftinent)
(Pakistan Navy)[21]

* Lieutenant
(Papua New Guinea Maritime Element)

* Lieutenant
(Philippine Navy)

* Lieutenant
(Saint Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard)

* Lieutenant
(Sierra Leone Navy)

* Lieutenant
(South African Navy)[22]

* Lieutenant
(Sri Lanka Navy)[23]

* Lieutenant
(Tanzania Naval Command)

* Lieutenant
(Tongan Navy)[24]

* Lieutenant
(Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard)[25]

* Lieutenant
(Royal Navy)[26]

* Lieutenant
(United States Navy)[27]

* Lieutenant
(United States Coast Guard)[27]

* Lieutenant
(Bislama: Lietnen)
(Vanuatu Maritime Wing)

## See also

[edit]

* Captain lieutenant
* List of comparative military ranks

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The pronunciation of lieutenant is generally split between /lɛfˈtɛnənt/ lef-TEN-ənt, /lɪf-/ lif-, generally in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and /luːˈtɛnənt/ ⓘ loo-TEN-ənt, /lə-/, generally associated with the United States. See lieutenant.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Officer Ranks in the Royal Navy - Lieutenant". Royal Naval Museum. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
2. ^ J. D. Davies, Gentlemen and Tarpaulins (Oxford University Press, 1991, ISBN 978-0-19-820263-9), p. 40
3. ^ https://www.congress.gov/115/chrg/CHRG-115shrg44116/CHRG-115shrg44116.pdf [bare URL PDF]
4. ^ "Royal Navy Life | Shaping Your Career Progression". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
5. ^ "BR3, Chapter 50 - Royal Navy Promotions" (PDF).
6. ^ "Uniforms and Badges of Rank - Royal Navy website". Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
7. ^ Antigua & Barbuda Defence Force. "Paratus" (PDF). Regional Publications Ltd. pp. 12–13\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
8. ^ "Badges of rank" (PDF). defence.gov.au. Department of Defence (Australia). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
9. ^ "OFFICER RANKS". rbdf.gov.bs. Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
10. ^ Bangladesh Navy. "Rank of Navy & Equivalent Rank". navy.mil.bd. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
11. ^ "Admiralty Ranks". navy.mindef.gov.bn. Royal Brunei Navy. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
12. ^ "Ranks and appointment". canada.ca. Government of Canada. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
13. ^ "Ranks & Insignia". Join Indian Navy. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
14. ^ "Naval Service Rank Markings". military.ie. Defence Forces (Ireland). Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
15. ^ "BADGES OF RANK". Official Jamaica Defence Force Website. 2019. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
16. ^ "Defense Act of 2008" (PDF). 3 September 2008. p. 8. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
17. ^ "Pangkat". mafhq.mil.my (in Malay). Malaysian Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
18. ^ "Government Notice" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. Vol. 4547\. 20 August 2010. pp. 99–102. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
19. ^ "Badges of Rank" (PDF). nzdf.mil.nz. New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
20. ^ Smaldone, Joseph P. (1992). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Nigeria: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 296–297\. ISBN 978-0-8444-0738-8. LCCN 92009026. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
21. ^ "LIFE IN PN:RANKS". www.paknavy.gov.pk. Pakistan Navy Official Website. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
22. ^ "Rank Insignia". navy.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
23. ^ "Branches/ Ranks". navy.lk. Sri Lanka Navy. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
24. ^ "Tonga Defence Services (Amendment) Regulations 2009" (PDF). Tonga Government Gazette Supplement Extraordinary. 5: 151–153\. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
25. ^ "Rank Chart (Commissioned Officers)". 69.0.195.188. Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. Retrieved 27 May 2021.[permanent dead link]
26. ^ "Shaping your career". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
27. ^ a b "U.S. Military Rank Insignia". defense.gov. Department of Defense. Retrieved 13 January 2022.

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Commissioned officer ranks of the British Armed Forces

| NATO rank code /
Service branch | N/A  | OF-1  | OF-2  | OF-3  | OF-4  | OF-5  | OF-6
★ | OF-7
★★ | OF-8
★★★ | OF-9
★★★★ | OF-10
★★★★★

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Royal Navy | OC | Midshipman | Sub Lt | Lt | Lt Cdr | Cdr | Captain | Cdre | RAdm | VAdm | Admiral | Adm of the Fleet
Royal Marines | OCdt | 2Lt | Lt | Capt | Major | Lt Col | Colonel | Brig | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | General | Capt Gen RM
British Army | OCdt | 2Lt | Lt | Capt | Major | Lt Col | Colonel | Brig | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | General | Field marshal
Royal Air Force | Off Cdt | APO / Plt Off | Fg Off | Flt Lt | Sqn Ldr | Wg Cdr | Gp Capt | Air Cdre | AVM | Air Mshl | Air Chf Mshl | Mshl of the RAF
lists  |

* rear admirals
* vice admirals
* admirals
* RM full generals
* Army full generals
* air chief marshals
* female senior officers

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United States uniformed services commissioned officer and officer candidate ranks

| Pay grade / branch of service  | Officer
candidate  | O-1 | O-2 | O-3 | O-4 | O-5 | O-6 | O-7 | O-8 | O-9 | O-10 | Wartime
grade | Special
grade

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Insignia  | [1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | [2]
Army | CDT / OC | 2LT | 1LT | CPT | MAJ | LTC | COL | BG | MG | LTG | GEN | GA[3] | GAS[2]
Marine Corps | Midn / Cand | 2ndLt | 1stLt | Capt | Maj | LtCol | Col | BGen | MajGen | LtGen | Gen | [5] | [5]
Navy | MIDN / OC | ENS | LTJG | LT | LCDR | CDR | CAPT | RDML | RADM | VADM | ADM | FADM[3] | [5]
Air Force | Cdt / OT | 2d Lt | 1st Lt | Capt | Maj | Lt Col | Col | Brig Gen | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | Gen | GAF[3] | [5]
Space Force | Cdt / OT | 2d Lt | 1st Lt | Capt | Maj | Lt Col | Col | Brig Gen | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | Gen | [5] | [5]
Coast Guard | CDT / OC | ENS | LTJG | LT | LCDR | CDR | CAPT | RDML | RADM | VADM | ADM | [5] | [5]
PHS Corps | OC | ENS | LTJG | LT | LCDR | CDR | CAPT | RDML | RADM | VADM | ADM | [5] | [5]
NOAA Corps | OC | ENS | LTJG | LT | LCDR | CDR | CAPT | RDML | RADM | VADM | [4] | [5] | [5]
[1] No universal insignia for officer candidate rank
[2] No official insignia and not currently listed by the Army as an obtainable rank. John J. Pershing's GAS insignia:  (collar)  (epaulettes)
[3] These ranks are reserved for wartime use only, and are still listed as ranks within their respective services
[4] Grade is authorized by the U.S. Code for use but has not been created
[5] Grade has never been created or authorized

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