Commander - Commander As A Naval Rank

Commander As A Naval Rank

Hierarchy of naval officer ranks
Flag officers:
Admiral of the navy

Admiral of the fleet • Fleet admiral
General admiral • Grand admiral • Admiral
Squadron admiral • Flotilla admiral
Vice admiral • Lieutenant admiral
Rear admiral • Counter admiral
Commodore admiral • Schout-bij-nacht
Port admiral • Commodore

Senior officers:

Fleet captain • Post captain
Captain • Ship-of-the-line captain
Captain of sea and war • Captain at sea
Corvette captain • Commander
Frigate captain • Lieutenant commander

Junior officers:

Captain lieutenant • Flag lieutenant
Lieutenant • Ship-of-the-line lieutenant
Corvette lieutenant • Frigate lieutenant
Lieutenant (junior grade) • Sub-lieutenant
Ensign

Training officers:

Passed midshipman • Midshipman
Naval cadet

Commander is a rank used in navies but is very rarely used as a rank in armies (except in special forces where it designates the team leader). The title (originally "master and commander") originated in the 18th century to describe naval officers who commanded ships of war too large to be commanded by a Lieutenant but too small to warrant the assignment of a post-captain, or (before about 1770) a sailing-master; the commanding officer served as his own Master. In practice, these were usually unrated sloops-of-war of no more than 20 guns. The Royal Navy shortened "master and commander" to "commander" in 1794; however, the term "master and commander" remained (unofficially) in common parlance for several years. The equivalent American rank master commandant remained in use until changed to commander in 1838. A corresponding rank in some navies is frigate captain. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the rank has been assigned the NATO rank code of OF-4.

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Famous quotes containing the words commander, naval and/or rank:

    A good old commander and a most kind gentleman.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    The world was a huge ball then, the universe a might harmony of ellipses, everything moved mysteriously, incalculable distances through the ether.
    We used to feel the awe of the distant stars upon us. All that led to was the eighty-eight naval guns, ersatz, and the night air-raids over cities. A magnificent spectacle.
    After the collapse of the socialist dream, I came to America.
    John Dos Passos (1896–1970)

    Only what is rare is valuable.
    Let no one dare to call another mad who is not himself willing to rank in the same class for every perversion and fault of judgment. Let no one dare aid in punishing another as criminal who is not willing to suffer the penalty due to his own offenses.
    Margaret Fuller (1810–1850)