Ranks and Insignia of the Royal Navy

-- This article contains incorrect information about the ranks and rates of the Royal Navy it's people and it's structure. Some terminology is American and not reflective of the UKAF. Anyone interested in knowing more about the Royal Navy should visit it's official webpage and not follow anything about this TV series.

The Royal Navy command structure is divided into Commissioned and Non-Commissioned (Enlisted) officers. There are also various titles and roles seperate to ranks that have their own individual markers and insignia.

Due to the multitude of ranks, the ones listed below only include those shown held by characters who appear in the series.

## Commissioned Officers

Commissioned Officers (CO) are more the more senior portion of the leadership of the Royal Navy, who derive their authority from a commission; a document issued to them by the Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II. They have authority over non-commissioned officers.

The two primary routes to becoming a Commissioned Officer in the Royal Navy are:

* Receive ones commission and directly enter after completion of a military academy such as Britannia Royal Naval College.
* Undergoing a 30 week conversion course from the enlisted ranks upon attaining a senior non-commissioned officer rank.

### Rear Admiral

**Rear Admiral (RAdm)** is a flag officer rank, immediately superior to Commodore and subordinate to Vice Admiral. It is a two star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7.

List of Rear Admirals:

* Shaw - overseer of the Trident *Vanguard* class submarine fleet

### Commander

**Commander (Cdr)** is a senior officer rank, above Lieutenant Commander and below Captain. It has a NATO ranking of OF-4. Confusingly in the Royal Navy, any officer in command of a warship or submarine of or above the rank of Commander will be referred to as **the Captain**, even if they hold a more junior rank. The officer in charge, be they a Captain or a lower rank is also formally titled as **commanding officer** or **CO**.

List of Commanders:

* Neil Newsome - Captain and Commanding Officer of HMS *Vigil*
* Miller - Captain and Commanding Officer of an unnamed Astute class submarine
* Haney - Captain and Commanding Officer of HMS *Audacious*

### Lieutenant Commander

**Lieutenant Commander (LtCdr)** is a senior officer rank, immediately junior to Commander and senior to Lieutenant. NATO ranking code of OF-3. In certain situations, officers with the title will be referred to as **Commander** if there is no actual ranked Commander present.

List of Lieutenant Commanders:

* Erin Branning - senior leadership at HM Naval Base Dunloch
* Mark Prentice - Executive Officer of HMS *Vigil*
* Hennessey - Weapons Engineering Officer of HMS *Vigil*
* Fleming - Executive Officer of HMS *Archer*

### Lieutenant

**Lieutenant (Lt)** is a commissioned officer rank, junior to a Lieutenant Commander and senior to a Sub-Lieutenant. The NATO ranking code is OF-2.

List of Lieutenants:

* Simon Hadlow - Engineering Officer on HMS *Vigil*
* Tiffany Docherty - Medical Officer on HMS *Vigil*

## Senior Ratings

Senior Rating officers are navy officers with a level of authority who has not earned a commission. They usually obtain their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. They are the equivalent of a **Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO)**  in the Army or Air Force, however the Royal Navy does not use this specific term.

### Chief Petty Officer

**Chief Petty Officer (CPO)** is the most senior non-commissioned rank, above Petty Officer and below Warrant Officer I. It's NATO ranking code is OR-7. A Chief Petty Officer may also be appointed as a **Coxswain (Coxn)**, a supervisory and welfare role that gives them seniority over other non-commissioned officers but not commissioned officers.

List of Chief Petty Officers:

* Elliot Glover - Coxswain of HMS *Vigil*
* Craig Burke - HMS *Vigil*
* Gary Walsh - HMS *Vigil*
* Matthew Doward - HMS *Vigil*
* Adams - HMS *Vigil*
* Snaith - HMS *Vigil*
* Grey - HMS *Vigil*
* Wingate - HMS *Vigil*

Coxswain Chief Petty Officer (TV Design)Chief Petty Officer Epaulette (TV Design)
### Petty Officer

**Petty Officer (PO)** is the most junior of the non-commissioned roles in the Royal Navy. They are immediatley junior to Chief Petty Officers, but are superior to Leading Seaman and Able Seaman. The NATO ranking code varies between OR-5 and OR-6.

List of Petty Officers:

* Jackie Hamilton - HMS *Vigil*
* Tara Kierly - HMS *Vigil*

Petty Officer Epaulette (TV Design)
## Junior Ratings

Junior Rating officers are low level enlisted members of the Royal Navy early in their careers who are no longer cadets. Their immediate seniors are those with Senior Rating rank, with the lowest of those being Petty Officer.

### Leading Seaman

**Leading Seaman**, previously called **Leading Hand (LH)** is the most senior of the junior enlisted ranks. They are superior to Able Seamen, but junior to Petty Officers. NATO ranking code is OR-4.

List of Leading Seaman:

* Heather Cronin - HMS *Vigil*
* Anderton - HMS *Vigil*
* Ross Harmison - HMS *Riffa*

Leading Seaman Epaulette (TV Design)
### Able Seaman

**Able Seaman (AB)** is the lowest enlisted rank in the Royal Navy.

List of Able Seaman:

* Agarwal - HMS *Vigil*
* Mallon - HMS *Vigil*
* Wano - HMS *Vigil*
* Patel - HMS *Vigil*

Able Seaman Epaulette (TV Design)
## Warrant Officers

### Warrant Officer I

* McGarth - HMS *Vigil*
* Flemming - HMS *Vigil*

### Warrant Officer II

* Garden - HMS *Vigil*
* Swaith - HMS *Vigil*