Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Navy

The Royal Danish Navy ranks follows the NATO system of ranks and insignia, as does the rest of the Danish Defence. Outside this ranking system there are physicians (who may wear the same insignia in the Army/Air Force but with a slight variation in the Navy), nurses and veterinarians, while priests and judicial personnel wear totally different insignia and are without rank.

Current ranks

Besides the NATO-system, the Danish defence utilizes its own system, which for the navy is as follows:

Military personnel, level 400 (M400): Executive level: OF-5 through OF-9
Military personnel, level 300 (M300): Operational level: OF-1 through OF-4
Military personnel, level 200 (M200): NCO level: OR-5 through OR-9
Military personnel, level 100 (M100): Seamen level: OR-1 through OR-4

Officers

The highest officer's rank is OF-9 (Admiral) which is reserved for the Chief of Defence (only when this seat is occupied by a naval officer). The Prince Consort of Denmark held the rank of Admiral (à la suite). Similarly, OF-8 (Vice-admiral) is reserved for the Vice Chief of Defence). OF-7 (Kontreadmiral) is used by the Chief of the Royal Danish Navy and OF-6 (Flotilleadmiral) by the chief of Danish Task Group as well as keepers of high-office positions. OF-4 and OF-5 are mainly chiefs of squadrons, schools and larger vessels. OF-1 through OF-3 are used in a variety of positions.

NATO code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)
Royal Danish Navy[1]
Royal Danish Navy[1]	Admiral	Viceadmiral	Kontreadmiral	Flotilleadmiral	Kommandør	Kommandørkaptajn	Orlogskaptajn	Kaptajnløjtnant	Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant
Danish Pay Grade[2]	M406	M405	M404	M403	M402	M401	M332 M331 M322	M321	M312	M311	M310

Furthermore, officers of between the ranks of OF-9 and OF-6, have their own standards.

Admiralsflag
Viceadmiralsflag
Kontreadmiralsflag
Flotilleadmiralsflag
Eskadrechefsstander

Enlisted

The Danish OR's also follow the NATO system, though there are no OR-6's. OR-4 (Korporal) is the highest of the M100-level ranks is and not considered a NCO-rank.

NATO code	OR-9		OR-8	OR-7	OR-5		OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Royal Danish Navy[1]
Royal Danish Navy[1]	Søværnschefsergent	Chefsergent	Seniorsergent	Oversergent	Sergent	Sergent SØ	Korporal	Marinespecialist	Marineoverkonstabel	Marinekonstabel
Danish Pay Grade[2]	M232		M231	M221	M212	M211	M113	M112

Other rank insignia
Seniormekaniker
(Senior leading Mechanic)
Overmekaniker af 1. grad
(Leading Mechanic 1st class)
Overmekaniker af 2. grad
(Leading Mechanic 2nd class)
Mekaniker
(Mechanic)
Marinekonstabel uden tjenstegren
(Marinekonstabel with no branch of service)
Marineelev
(Seaman recruit)

The Branch of Service logos are placed in the middle of the ranks, to signify the service.

Branch of Service
Våben, Artilleri
(Gunner)
Våben, Torpedo
(Torpedo)
Kommunikation
(Communication)

Naval Chaplains

Clerical personnel
Naval Dean
Naval Chaplain

Historical ranks

The sleeve insignia was first introduced in the Royal Navy in 1871 and was based around the British Royal Navy.[3] In order to become more standard, the admiral ranks were changed in 1951.[4]

Timeline of changes

Rank group	General/flag officers					Field/senior officers			Junior officers			Officer cadet
1937–1951
1937–1951		Admiral	Viceadmiral	Kontreadmiral		Kommandør	Kommandørkaptajn	Orlogskaptajn	Kaptajnløjtnant	Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant	Søløjtnant II
1951–1970
1951–1970		Admiral	Viceadmiral	Kontreadmiral		Kommandør	Kommandørkaptajn	Orlogskaptajn	Kaptajnløjtnant	Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant	Søløjtnant II
1970–2000
1970–2000		Admiral	Viceadmiral	Kontreadmiral	Flotilleadmiral	Kommandør	Kommandørkaptajn	Orlogskaptajn	Kaptajnløjtnant	Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant	Søløjtnant II
2000–2011
2000–2011		Admiral	Viceadmiral	Kontreadmiral	Flotilleadmiral	Kommandør	Kommandørkaptajn	Orlogskaptajn	Kaptajnløjtnant	Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant
2011–present
2011–present		Admiral	Viceadmiral	Kontreadmiral	Flotilleadmiral	Kommandør	Kommandørkaptajn	Orlogskaptajn	Kaptajnløjtnant	Premierløjtnant	Løjtnant
NATO code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)	Student officer

Other ranks

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
1959–1962[5]
1959–1962[5]							Chief Petty Officer 1st Class		Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class								Petty Officer			Student Petty Officer			Leading Seaman 1st Class				Leading Seaman 2nd Class		Able Seaman 1st Class						Able Seaman 2nd Class

References

"Søværnets Gradstegn" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
"Historik" [History]. forpers.dk (in Danish). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
Balsved, Johnny (25 March 2006). "Uniformshistorie" [Uniform History]. Navalhistory.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
Balsved, Johnny (22 March 2008). "Distinktioner og gradstegn" [Rank Insignia]. Navalhistory.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
United States Department of the Army (1962). "Military Uniforms - DA Pam 355-120 - 1959 to 1962 - Part 2". Archive.org. Retrieved 9 October 2021.

Badges of Rank for the Royal Danish Navy, 2016
Badges of Rank for the Royal Danish Navy, 2016 (in Danish)
Heraldry of the RDN (in Danish)

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[Denmark_Navy-1] "Søværnets Gradstegn" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

[forpers-2] "Historik" [History]. forpers.dk (in Danish). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 September 2018.

[3] Balsved, Johnny (25 March 2006). "Uniformshistorie" [Uniform History]. Navalhistory.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 6 May 2018.

[4] Balsved, Johnny (22 March 2008). "Distinktioner og gradstegn" [Rank Insignia]. Navalhistory.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 6 May 2018.

[US_Department_of_the_Army-5] United States Department of the Army (1962). "Military Uniforms - DA Pam 355-120 - 1959 to 1962 - Part 2". Archive.org. Retrieved 9 October 2021.