Captain (Royal Navy) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Captain |
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A Royal Navy captain's rank insignia
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A Royal Navy captain's rank insignia (left, with a lieutenant at right) during divisions conducted at HMNB Clyde in January 2013.
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Service branch | |
| Abbreviation | Capt |
| NATO rank | OF-5 |
| Next higher rank | Commodore |
| Next lower rank | Commander |
| Equivalent ranks | |
A Captain (often shortened to Capt) is a very important officer rank in the Royal Navy. It is a senior position, meaning it is quite high up in the navy's structure. This rank is above a Commander but below a Commodore. In the NATO military alliance, this rank is known as OF-5. It is similar to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines, and a group captain in the Royal Air Force. Many other navies around the world have a similar rank called Captain too.
Who is "The Captain"?
Even if an officer is not a Captain by rank, they are often called "the captain" when they are in charge of a warship. This is a common informal way to refer to the commanding officer of a ship. In the past, up until the 1800s, Royal Navy officers who were captains by rank and commanded a ship were sometimes called "post-captains." This term is not used anymore.
There used to be a special role called "Captain (D)" or "Captain Destroyers." This officer would command a group of destroyer ships. This role was used for many years, even after the Second World War.
Understanding the Terminology
When you are on land, the rank of captain is often called "captain RN." This helps people know it is a Royal Navy captain, not a more junior captain from the Army or Royal Marines. In naval settings, people might call a captain a "four-ring captain." This refers to the four gold stripes on their uniform. This helps avoid confusion with an officer who is just commanding a ship.
In places like the Ministry of Defence, a captain might have job titles like "DACOS" (Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff) or "AH" (Assistant Head). These are common job names for officers of this rank who work with government officials.
Insignia and Uniform
The rank insignia for a Captain in the Royal Navy shows four gold stripes on their uniform. The top stripe has a special loop design.
When officers wear their formal evening uniforms, called "mess dress," captains and higher-ranking officers wear trousers with gold lace down the sides. These trousers are sometimes jokingly called "tin trousers," and the gold stripes are nicknamed "lightning conductors."
See also
- British and U.S. military ranks compared
- Captain (United States O-6)
- Comparative military ranks
- Royal Navy officer rank insignia
