Question on German Petty Officer Ranks

[LukeFF]

As we know, we can use the German names for crew ranks via programs like SH3 Commander. What I am wondering is, what are the most appropriate rank names for the petty officers? I see the ranks on the first page here listed as "feldwebel," yet on the second link (to the detailed section), they are referred to as "bootsmann." Does one refer to a position and the other a rank?

http://www.feldgrau.com/ranks.html

http://www.feldgrau.com/kmsranks.html

Someone enlighten me, please on the German Navy's ranking system. :p

[Pablo]

Hi!

I would look at this site for a somewhat clearer and comprehensive exposition:

http://chrito.users1.50megs.com/unif...arineranks.htm

I would check this site to see their rough equivalents in the modern U.S. and Royal Navy:

http://www.kbismarck.com/ranks.html

There were two general categories of non-commissioned officers in the Kriegsmarine. In order from higher seniority to lower seniority these were:

1. Unteroffiziere mit Portepee (lit. "Junior officer with sword knot")
2. Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee (lit. "Junior officer without sword knot")

The word "Portepee" comes from the French "Porte-épée" (lit. "carry sword) and refers to the old naval tradition that the most senior type of non-commissioned officers (e.g., warrant officers) were allowed to carry swords, whereas other NCOs and enlisted personnel were not.

These two classes of non-commissioned officers were divided as follows:

• Unteroffiziere mit Portepee (lit. "Junior officer with sword knot")

1. Stabsoberfeldwebel
2. Oberfeldwebel
3. Stabsfeldwebel
4. Feldwebel

• Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee (lit. "Junior officer without sword knot")

1. Obermaat
2. Maat

Each of these six NCO ranks had numerous technical specialties within that rank level. For example, the Feldwebel grade included the ranks of Bootsmann ("Boatswain"), Maschinist ("Machinist"), Steuermann ("Steersman" or "Helmsman"), etc.

The technical specialty of "machinist" had the following NCO ranks within that technical specialty field (from most senior to most junior):

• Stabsobermaschinist (= Stabsoberfeldwebel)
• Obermaschinist (= Oberfeldwebel)
• Stabsmaschinist (= Stabsfeldwebel)
• Maschinist (=Feldwebel)
• Obermaschinistmaat (=Obermaat)
• Maschinistmaat (=Maat)

There were corresponding enlisted personnel ranks below the NCO ranks within a technical specialty field. To continue with the machinist technical specialty from highest to lowest enlisted rank...

• Maschinen-stabsgefreiter
• Maschinen-hauptgefreiter
  
• Maschinen-obergefreiter
• Maschinen-gefreiter
• Matrose

Hope this helps

Pablo

[LukeFF]

Thanks, that helps a lot.