🇬🇧
United Kingdom vs Germany Military Ranks
The British Army has 19 ranks — 12 officer and 7 enlisted — from Private up to Field marshal. Below: all 78 ranks across 4 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines), aligned tier by tier with their German equivalents.
Branches
4
Ranks documented
78
Active personnel
144K
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 18 of 19 matched
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Field marshal
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
General
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Lieutenant-general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Generalleutnant
|
Major-general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Generalmajor
|
Brigadier
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadegeneral
|
Colonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Oberst
|
Lieutenant colonel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Oberstleutnant
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Captain
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Stabshauptmann
Hauptmann
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant
Leutnant
|
Second lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant
Leutnant
|
Officer cadet
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Oberfähnrich
Fähnrich
Fahnenjunker
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer class 1
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Oberstabsfeldwebel
|
Warrant officer class 2
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Stabsfeldwebel
|
Staff
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Hauptfeldwebel
|
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Oberfeldwebel
Feldwebel
|
Corporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Stabskorporal
Korporal
Oberstabsgefreiter
Stabsgefreiter
|
Lance corporal
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Hauptgefreiter
Obergefreiter
|
| Private | OR-2 Private |
Gefreiter
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 17 of 18 matched
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Admiral of the Fleet
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
Admiral
|
OF-9 General |
Admiral
|
Vice admiral
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Vizeadmiral
|
Rear admiral
|
OF-7 Major General |
Konteradmiral
|
Commodore
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Flottillenadmiral
|
Captain
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Kapitän zur See
|
Commander
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Fregattenkapitän
|
Lieutenant commander
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Korvettenkapitän
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Stabskapitänleutnant
Kapitänleutnant
|
Sub lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant zur See
Leutnant zur See
|
Midshipman
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant zur See
Leutnant zur See
|
Officer Cadet
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Oberfähnrich zur See
Fähnrich zur See
Seekadett
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer class 1
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Oberstabsbootsmann
|
Warrant officer class 2
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Stabsbootsmann
|
Chief petty officer
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Hauptbootsmann
|
Petty officer
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Oberbootsmann
Bootsmann
|
Leading rate
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Stabskorporal
Korporal
Oberstabsgefreiter
Stabsgefreiter
|
Able rate
|
OR-2 Private |
Gefreiter
|
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 21 of 22 matched
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Marshal of the RAF
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
Air chief marshal
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Air marshal
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Generalleutnant
|
Air vice-marshal
|
OF-7 Major General |
Generalmajor
|
Air commodore
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadegeneral
|
Group captain
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Oberst
|
Wing commander
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Oberstleutnant
|
Squadron leader
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Flight lieutenant
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Stabshauptmann
Hauptmann
|
Flying officer
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant
Leutnant
|
Pilot officer / acting pilot officer
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant
Leutnant
|
Officer cadet
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Oberfähnrich
Fähnrich
Fahnenjunker
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Oberstabsfeldwebel
|
Flight sergeant
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Hauptfeldwebel
|
Chief technician
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Hauptfeldwebel
|
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Oberfeldwebel
Feldwebel
|
Corporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Stabskorporal
Korporal
Oberstabsgefreiter
Stabsgefreiter
|
Lance corporal ( RAF Regiment only)
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Hauptgefreiter
Obergefreiter
|
Air specialist (class 1) technician
|
OR-2 Private |
Gefreiter
|
Air specialist (class 1)
|
OR-2 Private |
Gefreiter
|
Air specialist (class 2)
|
OR-2 Private |
Gefreiter
|
| Air recruit | OR-1 Private |
Flieger
|
Marines
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 18 of 19 matched
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Marines | NATO code |
Equivalent in
Germany has no Marines — equivalents from its Army.
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
Captain General Royal Marines
|
OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army | – |
General
|
OF-9 General |
General
|
Lieutenant-general
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
Generalleutnant
|
Major-general
|
OF-7 Major General |
Generalmajor
|
Brigadier
|
OF-6 Brigadier General |
Brigadegeneral
|
Colonel
|
OF-5 Colonel |
Oberst
|
Lieutenant colonel
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
Oberstleutnant
|
Major
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
Major
|
Captain
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
Stabshauptmann
Hauptmann
|
Lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant
Leutnant
|
Second lieutenant
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
Oberleutnant
Leutnant
|
Officer cadet
|
OF-D Student Officer |
Oberfähnrich
Fähnrich
Fahnenjunker
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
Warrant officer class 1
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
Oberstabsfeldwebel
|
Warrant officer class 2
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
Stabsfeldwebel
|
Colour sergeant
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
Hauptfeldwebel
|
Sergeant
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
Oberfeldwebel
Feldwebel
|
Corporal
|
OR-4 Corporal |
Stabskorporal
Korporal
Oberstabsgefreiter
Stabsgefreiter
|
Lance corporal
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
Hauptgefreiter
Obergefreiter
|
| Marine | OR-2 Private |
Gefreiter
|
Overview
The armed forces of the United Kingdom, collectively known as the "British Armed Forces," comprise several branches, each with specific roles and responsibilities:
- British Army: The British Army is the land-based military branch responsible for ground operations. It includes infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. The Army plays a vital role in both national defense and international peacekeeping missions.
- Royal Navy: The Royal Navy is responsible for maritime defense and security. It operates a wide range of vessels, including aircraft carriers, submarines, and surface ships, ensuring the protection of the UK's maritime interests.
- Royal Air Force (RAF): The Royal Air Force is responsible for aerial operations, with a diverse fleet of fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters. It plays a critical role in air defense and global mobility.
- Royal Marines: The Royal Marines are a specialized branch known for amphibious warfare and rapid response capabilities. They serve as the UK's elite naval infantry.
- British Special Forces: The UK has various elite special forces units, including the SAS (Special Air Service) and SBS (Special Boat Service), known for their covert and special operations expertise.
United Kingdom Military
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits
- Sodacan — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Field marshal, General (Army), Lieutenant-general (Army), Major-general (Army), Brigadier (Army), Colonel (Army), Lieutenant colonel (Army), Major (Army), Captain (Army), Lieutenant (Army), Second lieutenant (Army), Officer cadet, Warrant officer class 1 (Army), Warrant officer class 2 (Army), Staff, Sergeant (Army), Corporal (Army), Lance corporal (Army), Admiral of the Fleet, Admiral, Vice admiral, Rear admiral, Warrant officer class 1 (Navy), Warrant officer class 2 (Navy), Chief petty officer, Petty officer, Leading rate, Able rate, Marshal of the RAF, Air chief marshal, Air marshal, Air vice-marshal, Air commodore, Group captain, Wing commander, Squadron leader, Flight lieutenant, Flying officer, Pilot officer / acting pilot officer, Flight sergeant, Chief technician, Sergeant (Air Force), Corporal (Air Force), Lance corporal ( RAF Regiment only), Air specialist (class 1) technician, Air specialist (class 1), Air specialist (class 2), General (Marines), Lieutenant-general (Marines), Major-general (Marines), Brigadier (Marines), Colonel (Marines), Lieutenant colonel (Marines), Major (Marines), Captain (Marines), Lieutenant (Marines), Second lieutenant (Marines), Colour sergeant, Sergeant (Marines), Corporal (Marines), Lance corporal (Marines)
- Skjoldbro — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Commodore, Captain, Commander, Lieutenant commander, Lieutenant, Sub lieutenant, Officer cadet (Air Force), Captain General Royal Marines, Officer cadet (Marines)
- Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Midshipman, Officer Cadet
- Cdjp1 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Warrant officer, Warrant officer class 1
- Dgp4004 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Warrant officer class 2