Comparative navy officer ranks of the Commonwealth

Rank comparison chart of naval forces of Commonwealth of Nations states.

Most of the 52 Commonwealth nations have their beginnings in British Empire and have shared naval traditions. By comparison, Gabon and Togo are French colonies, Mozambique is a former Portuguese colony while Rwanda is a German and later, Belgian colony. Even after some had achieved a degree of independent government from the UK, their naval protection was still British; the Royal New Zealand Navy did not exist separately until 1941.

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard [1] v t e
											Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Sub-lieutenant
Royal Australian Navy [2] v t e
	Admiral of the fleet		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Acting sub lieutenant
Royal Bahamas Defence Force [3] v t e
									Commodore		Captain		Senior commander	Commander	Lieutenant commander		Senior lieutenant	Lieutenant	Sub-lieutenant			Acting sub-lieutenant
Bangladesh Navy [4] v t e
			এ্যাডমিরাল Aeḍmirāl		ভাইস এ্যাডমিরাল Bhā'is aeḍamirāl		রিয়ার এ্যাডমিরাল Riẏār aeḍamirāl		কমোডোর Kômōḍōr		ক্যাপ্টেন Kaepṭēn		কমান্ডার Kômānḍār		লেফটেন্যান্ট কমান্ডার Lēphṭēnānṭ kômānḍār		লেফটেন্যান্ট Lēphṭēnānṭ		সাব-লেফটেন্যান্ট Sāb-lēphṭēnānṭ		এ্যাক্টিং সাব-লেফটেন্যান্ট Ēyākṭiṁ sāb-lēphṭēn'yānṭ		মিডশিপম্যান Miḍśipmaen
Barbados Coast Guard [5] v t e
									Commodore				Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Midshipman
Belize Coast Guard v t e
							Rear admiral		Rear admiral (lower half)		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Ensign
Botswana	No navy
Royal Brunei Navy [6] v t e
	Laksamana armada		Laksamana		Laksamana madya		Laksamana muda		Laksamana pertama		Kepten		Komander		Leftenan komander		Leftenan		Leftenan madya			Leftenan muda
Cameroon Navy [7] [8] [9] v t e
			Amiral d'escadre		Vice-amiral d'escadre		Vice-amiral		Contre-amiral		Capitaine de vaisseau		Capitaine de frégate		Capitaine de corvette		Lieutenant de vaisseau		Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe			Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
Royal Canadian Navy [10] [11] v t e
			Admiral		Vice-admiral		Rear-admiral		Commodore		Captain (N)		Commander		Lieutenant-commander		Lieutenant (N)		Sub-lieutenant			Acting sub-lieutenant
			Amiral(e)		Vice-amiral(e)		Contre-amiral(e)		Commodore		Capitaine de vaisseau		Capitaine de frégate		Capitaine de corvette		Lieutenant(e) de vaisseau		Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe			Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
Cyprus Navy [12] v t e
					Αντιναύαρχος Antinavarchos		Υποναύαρχος Yponavarchos		Αρχιπλοίαρχος Archiploiarchos		Πλοίαρχος Ploiarchos		Αντιπλοίαρχος Antiploiarchos		Πλωτάρχης Plotarchis		Υποπλοίαρχος Ypoploiarchos		Ανθυποπλοίαρχος Anthypoploiarchos			Σημαιοφόρος Simaioforos
Dominica	No navy
Eswatini	No navy
Republic of Fiji Navy v t e
							Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub-Lieutenant			Ensign
Gabonese Navy v t e
			Amiral		Vice-amiral d'escadre		Vice-amiral		Contre-amiral		Capitaine de vaisseau		Capitaine de frégate		Capitaine de corvette		Lieutenant de vaisseau		Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe			Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
Ghana Navy v t e
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant
Grenada	No navy
Guyana Coast Guard v t e
							Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant junior grade			Sub-lieutenant
Indian Navy [13] v t e
			Admiral एडमिरल		Vice admiral वाइस एडमिरल		Rear admiral रियर एडमिरल		Commodore कमोडोर		Captain कैप्टन		Commander कमांडर		Lieutenant commander लेफ़्टिनेंट कमांडर		Lieutenant लेफ्टिनेंट		Sub-lieutenant सब लेफ्टिनेंट			Midshipman मिडशिपमैन
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Jamaican Coast Guard [14] v t e
					Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Sub-lieutenant
Kenya Navy [15] v t e
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Kiribati	No navy
Lesotho	No navy
Royal Malaysian Navy [16] v t e
	Laksamana armada		Laksamana		Laksamana madya		Laksamana muda		Laksamana pertama		Kepten		Komander		Leftenan komander		Leftenan		Leftenan madya			Leftenan muda
Maritime Squadron of Malta [17] v t e
									Brigadier Brigadier		Colonel Kurunell		Lieutenant colonel Logutenent kurunell		Major Maġġur		Captain Kaptan		Lieutenant Logutenent			Second lieutenant Sekond logutenent
Mauritius	No navy
Mozambique Naval Command v t e
			Almirante		Vice-almirante		Contra-almirante				Capitão de mar e guerra		Capitão de fragata		Capitão-tenente		Primeiro-tenente		Segundo-tenente			Guarda-marinha
Namibian Navy [18] v t e
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral junior grade		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant junior grade			Ensign
Namibian Marine Corps v t e
											Marine Commandant		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Ensign
Nauru	No navy
Royal New Zealand Navy [19] v t e
	Admiral of the fleet [20]				Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Ensign
Nigerian Navy [21] v t e
	Admiral of the Fleet		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub-Lieutenant			Midshipman
Pakistan Navy [22] v t e
			Admiral ایڈمرل		Vice admiral وائس ایڈمرل		Rear admiral بحریہ کا امیر		Commodore کموڈور		Captain کپتان		Commander کمانڈر		Lieutenant commander لیفٹیننٹ کمانڈر		Lieutenant لیفٹیننٹ		Sub-lieutenant سب لیفٹیننٹ			Midshipman مڈ شپ مین
Papua New Guinea Maritime Element v t e
							Rear Admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant Commander		Lieutenant		Sub Lieutenant
Rwanda	No navy
Saint Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard v t e
													Commander		Lieutenant Commander		Lieutenant		Sub-Lieutenant			Midshipman
Saint Lucia	No navy
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	No navy
Samoa	No navy
Seychelles Coast Guard [23] [24] v t e
							Major general [a]		Brigadier general		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Sierra Leone Navy v t e
							Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Sub-Lieutenant
Republic of Singapore Navy [25] v t e			No insignia yet
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral (junior grade)		Colonel		Senior lieutenant colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Solomon Islands	No navy
South African Navy [26] v t e
			Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Rear admiral (junior grade)		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Ensign
Sri Lanka Navy [27] v t e
	Admiral of the fleet		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub-lieutenant			Midshipman
Swaziland	No navy
Tanzania Naval Command v t e
					Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Ensign
Togolese Navy [28] v t e
							Vice-amiral		Contre-amiral		Capitaine de vaisseau		Capitaine de frégate		Capitaine de corvette		Lieutenant de vaisseau		Enseigne de vaisseau de 1re classe			Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe
Tongan Navy [29] v t e
									Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Midshipman
Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard [30] v t e
							Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub-lieutenant			Acting sub-lieutenant
Tuvalu	No navy
Uganda	No navy
Royal Navy [31] v t e
	Admiral of the Fleet		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub lieutenant			Midshipman
Royal Marines [32] v t e
			General		Lieutenant-general		Major-general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Vanuatu Maritime Wing v t e
													Commander Komanda		Lieutenant commander Lietnen Komanda		Lieutenant Lietnen		Sub lieutenant Sab-Lietnen
Zambia	No navy
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers

See also

• Comparative navy officer ranks of the Americas
• Ranks and insignia of NATO navies' officers

Notes

1. Introduced December 2024

References

1. Antigua & Barbuda Defence Force. "Paratus" (PDF). Regional Publications Ltd. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
2. "Ranks". Royal Australian Navy . Retrieved 2025-08-04.
3. "OFFICER RANKS". rbdf.gov.bs. Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
4. Bangladesh Navy. "Rank & Insignia". navy.mil.bd. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025.
5. "Barbados Defence Force Medal Ceremony". YouTube . Barbados Defence Force. 18 Jul 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
6. "Admiralty Ranks – RBN Admiralty Rank". Navy.MinDef.gov.bn. Royal Brunei Navy Headquarters, Muara Naval Base: Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei . Retrieved 7 January 2024.
7. "Grades Et Appellations Officier Generaux Marine Nationale". Ministère de la défense du Cameroun (in French). 4 August 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
8. "Grades Et Appellations Officier Superieurs Marine Nationale". Ministère de la défense du Cameroun (in French). 4 August 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
9. "Grades Et Appellations Officier Subalternes Marine Nationale". Ministère de la défense du Cameroun (in French). 4 August 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
10. "Ranks and appointment". canada.ca. Government of Canada. Archived from the original on 3 July 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
11. "The Canadian Armed Forces modernizes military ranks in French". Canada. Government of Canada. 3 February 2022. Archived from the original on 28 March 2025. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
12. Διακριτικά Βαθμών [Rank insignia](PDF). gov.cy (in Greek). Cypriot National Guard. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
13. "Ranks & Insignia". Join Indian Navy. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
14. "BADGES OF RANK". Official Jamaica Defence Force Website. 2019. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
15. "KDF Ranks". mod.go.ke. Ministry of Defence - Kenya. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
16. "Pangkat". mafhq.mil.my (in Malay). Malaysian Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
17. "Rank Insignia". Armed Forces of Malta. Archived from the original on 7 November 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
18. "Government Notice" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. Vol. 4547. 20 August 2010. pp. 99–102. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
19. "Badges of Rank" (PDF). nzdf.mil.nz. New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
20. Shown with cipher of Elizabeth II
21. Smaldone, Joseph P. (1992). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Nigeria: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 296–297. LCCN   92009026 . Retrieved 21 October 2021.
22. "LIFE IN PN: RANKS". www.paknavy.gov.pk. Pakistan Navy Official Website. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
23. "Rank structure". spdf.sc. Seychelles People's Defence Forces. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
24. "Seychelles Strengthens Military Leadership with Key Appointments". Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles. 31 December 2024. Archived from the original on 9 October 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
25. "SAF Rank Insignias". mindef.gov.sg. Ministry of Defence (Singapore). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
26. "Rank Insignia". navy.mil.za. Department of Defence (South Africa). Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
27. "Branches/Ranks". Sri Lanka Navy. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
28. "Journal officiel de la république togolaise" (PDF) (in French). 12 February 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
29. "Tonga Defence Services (Amendment) Regulations 2009" (PDF). Tonga Government Gazette Supplement Extraordinary. 5: 151–153. 10 May 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
30. "Rank Chart (Commissioned Officers)". 69.0.195.188. Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
31. "Shaping your career". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
32. "RM Officers & Other Ranks Badges of Rank". Royal Navy website. Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-10-05.