# Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Navy

"none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see [[WP:SDNONE]] The Royal Danish Navy ranks follows the NATO system of ranks and insignia, as does the rest of the Danish Defence. Outside this ranking system there are physicians (who may wear the same insignia in the Army/Air Force but with a slight variation in the Navy), nurses and veterinarians, while priests and judicial personnel wear completely different insignia and are without rank.

## Current ranks

Besides the NATO-system, the Danish defence utilizes its own system, which for the navy is as follows:
* Military personnel, level 400 (M400, chef-gruppen) Executive level: OF-4 through OF-9
* Military personnel, level 300 (M300, officers-gruppen) Operational level: OF-1 through OF-3
* Military personnel, level 200 (M200, sergent-gruppen) NCO level: OR-5 through OR-9
* Military personnel, level 100 (M100, konstabel-gruppen) Seamen level: OR-1 through OR-4

### Officers

The highest officer's rank is OF-9 (Admiral) which is reserved for the Chief of Defence (only when this seat is occupied by a naval officer). The Prince Consort of Denmark held the rank of Admiral (à la suite). Similarly, OF-8 (Vice-admiral) is reserved for the Vice Chief of Defence). OF-7 (Kontreadmiral) is used by the Chief of the Royal Danish Navy and OF-6 (Flotilleadmiral) by the chief of Danish Task Group as well as keepers of high-office positions. OF-4 and OF-5 are mainly chiefs of squadrons, schools and larger vessels. OF-1 through OF-3 are used in a variety of positions.
| NATO code | OF-9 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF-1 | OF-1 | OF-1 | OF-1 | OF-1 |
| Royal Danish Navy vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Royal Danish Navy vte | Admiral | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flotilleadmiral | Flotilleadmiral | Kommandør | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptajn | Kommandørkaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Kaptajnløjtnant | Kaptajnløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant |
| Medical | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Medical | | | | | | | Generallæge | Generallæge | Stabslæge I Stabstandlæge I Stabsdyrlæge I | Stabslæge I Stabstandlæge I Stabsdyrlæge I | Stabslæge II Stabstandlæge II Stabsdyrlæge II | Stabslæge II Stabstandlæge II Stabsdyrlæge II | Overlæge Overtandlæge Overdyrlæge Afdelingslæge Afdelingstandlæge Afdelingsdyrlæge | Overlæge Overtandlæge Overdyrlæge Afdelingslæge Afdelingstandlæge Afdelingsdyrlæge | Reservelæge I Reservetandlæge I Reservedyrlæge I | Reservelæge I Reservetandlæge I Reservedyrlæge I | Reservelæge II Reservetandlæge II Reservedyrlæge II | Reservelæge II Reservetandlæge II Reservedyrlæge II | Reservelæge II Reservetandlæge II Reservedyrlæge II | Reservelæge III Reservetandlæge III Reservedyrlæge III | Reservelæge III Reservetandlæge III Reservedyrlæge III | Reservelæge III Reservetandlæge III Reservedyrlæge III |
| Danish Pay Grade | M406 | M406 | M405 | M405 | M404 | M404 | M403 | M403 | M402 | M402 | M401 | M401 | M332 M331 M322 | M332 M331 M322 | M321 | M321 | M312 | M312 | M312 | M311 | M311 | M311 |

#### Rank flags

| Rank | Flotilleadmiral |
| 1858–1882 | — |
| 1882–? | — |
| ?–1979 | — |
| 1979–present | |

### Enlisted

The Danish OR's also follow the NATO system, though there are no OR-6's. OR-4 (Korporal) is the highest of the M100-level ranks is and not considered a NCO-rank.
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-9 | OR-9 | OR-9 | OR-9 | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-7 | OR-5 | OR-5 | OR-5 | OR-5 | OR-5 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-4 | OR-4 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-2 | OR-2 | OR-2 | OR-2 | OR-2 | OR-1 | OR-1 |
| Service uniform | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Royal Danish Navy vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Royal Danish Navy vte | Chefsergent | Chefsergent | Chefsergent | Chefsergent | Chefsergent | Chefsergent | Seniorsergent | Seniorsergent | Oversergent | Oversergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent | Sergent SØ | Sergent SØ | Sergent SØ | Korporal | Korporal | Korporal | Korporal | Marinespecialist | Marinespecialist | Marineoverkonstabel | Marineoverkonstabel | Marineoverkonstabel | Marineoverkonstabel | Marineoverkonstabel | Marineoverkonstabel | Marinekonstabel | Marinekonstabel |
| Danish Pay Grade | M232 | M232 | M232 | M232 | M232 | M232 | M231 | M231 | M221 | M221 | M212 | M212 | M212 | M211 | M211 | M211 | M113 | M113 | M113 | M113 | M112 | M112 | M112 | M112 | M112 | M112 | M112 | M112 | M112 | M112 |

#### Branch of service

The branch of service emblems are worn by all NCOs and enlisted, except for Chefsergent who wears a crown.
| Våben, artilleri | Våben, torpedo | Militærpoliti | Våben, mine |
| Kampinformation | Elektronik | DATA (Informatik) | Automatik |
| Kommunikation | Maskin | Administration (Intendantur) | Sanitet |
| Proviant/forplejning | Tamburkorps | Chefsergent | Sergentelev |

### Additional ranks

| NATO Code | OR-9 | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-1 | OR-1 |
| Rank | | | | | |
| Danish | Søværnschefsergent | Myndighedschefsergent | Myndighedsseniorsergent | Stampersonel SØ | Værnepligtig SØ |
| English | Master chief petty officer of the Navy | Command master chief petty officer | Command senior chief petty officer | Junior rating/Trainee | Conscript |

### Mechanics

| Rank group | Mechanics | Mechanics | Mechanics | Mechanics |
| Shoulder insignia | | | | |
| Sleeve insignia | | | | |
| | Seniormekaniker | Overmekaniker af 1. grad | Overmekaniker af 2. grad | Mekaniker |

### Clerical personnel

| Rank group | Clerical personnel | Clerical personnel |
| Shoulder insignia | | |
| Sleeve insignia | | |
| | Orlogsprovst | Orlogspræst |

## Types of rank insignia

| Rank (example) | Shoulder | Sleeve | INTOPS | Epaulette |
| Chefsergent | | | | None |
| Orlogskaptajn | | | | |

## Historical ranks

The sleeve insignia was first introduced in the Royal Navy in 1871 and was based around the British Royal Navy. In order to become more standard, the admiral ranks were changed in 1951.

### Timeline of changes
#### Order of precedence 1671-1730

| Rank group | First class | First class | First class | Second class | Third class | Fourth class | Fifth class | Sixth class | Seventh class | Eighth class | Eighth class |
| 1671–1680 | Rigs-Admiral | General-Admiral | | | Admiral | Vice-Admiral |
| 1680–1693 | |
| 1693–1699 | | General-Admiral | General-Admiral-Lieutenant | | Admiral | Vice-Admiral | Schout by Nacht | Commandeur-Capitain til Søes |
| 1699–1717 | |
| 1717–1730 | | General-Admiral | General-Admiral-Lieutenant | Admiral | Vice-Admiral | Schout by Nacht | Commandeur til Søes | Commandeur-Capitain til Søes | Capitain | Premier Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant |
| Rank group | First class | First class | First class | Second class | Third class | Fourth class | Fifth class | Sixth class | Seventh class | Eighth class | Eighth class |

#### Modern ranks 1858-present

| Rank group | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers |
| 1801–1812 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1801–1812 | | | Admiral | Admiral | Vice-Admiral | Vice-Admiral | Contre-Admiral | Contre-Admiral | | | Commandeur | Commandeur | Commandeur-Capitain | Commandeur-Capitain | Capitain | Capitain | Capitain-Lieutenant | Capitain-Lieutenant | Premier-Lieutenant | Premier-Lieutenant | Second-Lieutenant | Second-Lieutenant | Maaneds-Lieutenant | Maaneds-Lieutenant |
| 1812–1822 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1812–1822 | | | Admiral | Admiral | Vice-Admiral | Vice-Admiral | Contre-Admiral | Contre-Admiral | | | Commandeur | Commandeur | Commandeur-Capitain | Commandeur-Capitain | Capitain | Capitain | Capitain-Lieutenant | Capitain-Lieutenant | Premier-Lieutenant | Premier-Lieutenant | Second-Lieutenant | Second-Lieutenant | Maaneds-Lieutenant | Maaneds-Lieutenant |
| 1841–1856 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1841–1856 | | | Admiral | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Kontreadmiral | | | Kommandør | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptajn | Kommandørkaptajn | Kaptajn | Kaptajn | Kaptajnløjtnant | Kaptajnløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Sekondløjtnant | Sekondløjtnant | Sekondløjtnant |
| 1858–1868 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1858–1868 | | | Admiral | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Kontreadmiral | | | | | | | Orlogskaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Kaptajnløjtnant | Kaptajnløjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant |
| 1868–1871 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1868–1871 | | | Admiral | Admiral | | | | | | | Kommandør | Kommandør | | | | | Kaptajn | Kaptajn | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Sekondløjtnant | Sekondløjtnant | Sekondløjtnant |
| 1871–1880 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1871–1880 | | | Admiral | Admiral | | | | | | | Kommandør | Kommandør | | | | | Kaptajn | Kaptajn | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Sekondløjtnant | Sekondløjtnant | Sekondløjtnant |
| 1909–1922 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1909–1922 | | | Admiral | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Kontreadmiral | | | Kommandør | Kommandør | | | | | Kaptajn | Kaptajn | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant | Sekondløjtnant | Sekondløjtnant |
| 1922–1937 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1922–1937 | | | Admiral | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Kontreadmiral | | | Kommandør | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptajn | Kommandørkaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Kaptajnløjtnant | Kaptajnløjtnant | Søløjtnant af 1. grad | Søløjtnant af 1. grad | Søløjtnant af 1. grad | Søløjtnant af 2. grad | Søløjtnant af 2. grad | Søløjtnant af 2. grad |
| 1937–1951 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1937–1951 | | | Admiral | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Kontreadmiral | | | Kommandør | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptajn | Kommandørkaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Kaptajnløjtnant | Kaptajnløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant | Søløjtnant II | Søløjtnant II |
| 1951–1970 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1951–1970 | | | Admiral | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Kontreadmiral | | | Kommandør | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptajn | Kommandørkaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Kaptajnløjtnant | Kaptajnløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant | Søløjtnant II | Søløjtnant II |
| 1970–2000 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1970–2000 | | | Admiral | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flotilleadmiral | Flotilleadmiral | Kommandør | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptajn | Kommandørkaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Kaptajnløjtnant | Kaptajnløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant | Søløjtnant II | Søløjtnant II |
| 2000–2011 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2000–2011 | | | Admiral | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flotilleadmiral | Flotilleadmiral | Kommandør | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptajn | Kommandørkaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Kaptajnløjtnant | Kaptajnløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant |
| 2011–present | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2011–present | | | Admiral | Admiral | Viceadmiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flotilleadmiral | Flotilleadmiral | Kommandør | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptajn | Kommandørkaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Kaptajnløjtnant | Kaptajnløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant | Løjtnant |
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF-1 | OF-1 | OF-1 | OF-1 | OF-1 |

### Other ranks

| Rank group | NCOs | NCOs | NCOs | NCOs | NCOs | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |
| 1959–1962 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1959–1962 | Overfenrik | Fenrik | Oversergent | Sergent | Korporal | Sergentelev | | Math | Mathelev |
| 1962–? | |
| 1962–? | Seniorsergent af 1. grad | Seniorsergent af 2. grad | Oversergent | Sergent | Korporal | | Marineoverkonstabel | Marinekonstable | Marinekonstabelelev |
| 1982–2008 | |
| 1982–2008 | Chefsergent | Seniorsergent | Oversergent | Sergent | Korporal | Marinespecialist | Marineoverkonstabel | Marinekonstable | Marinekonstabelelev |