1WO means...

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

The Obersteurmann is Kriechbaum, the senior man to actually be given a name. His rank is Oberfanrich, which I originally thought of as the equivalent of an American Ensign, but apparently is the closest thing the KM had to an actual Warrant Officer.

I have to disagree. Being an Oberfähnrich would make him a midshipman, and on his way to being a commissioned officer - whereas in the book he is definitely listed among the enlisted men. Ullman, who as a Fähnrich actually is an officer candidate, is the only one listed as an "ensign" in the English translation.

Every source I've looked at indicates that navigation as a career track was an enlisted man's specialty, the Chief Navigator on a boat typically being a high-ranking NCO and not a commissioned officer or in line to become one (the occasional Volksoffizier notwithstanding).