The rank insignia of the

Austro-Hungarian Navy The Austro-Hungarian Navy or Imperial and Royal War Navy (german: kaiserliche und königliche Kriegsmarine, in short ''k.u.k. Kriegsmarine'', hu, Császári és Királyi Haditengerészet) was the naval force of Austria-Hungary. Ships of the A ...

were worn on and on sleeves for navy jackets and coats, or on

shoulder strap A shoulder strap is a strap over a shoulder. They are often affixed to women's dresses to support its weight or as part of its style. The term is also applied to carrying bags. Dress shoulder strap Image:Camisole.png, Camisole Image:Preprom.jpg, ...

s of shirts and white jackets.

Officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," f ...

s' ranks were indicated by lines of gold braid as were senior

non-commissioned officer A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...

s' ranks, enlisted men's rank was indicated by white stars on their square collar flaps. Senior officers and flag officers would wear a broader gold braid line (''Stabsoffiziers-Distinktionsborte'' or ''General-Distinktionsborte'' resp.) of and resp. beneath smaller lines, in addition flag officers would wear a crown on top of their sleeve insignia.

Rank system

For enlisted men an elaborate rank system existed distinguishing between ''Mannschaften'' (crew), ''Chargen'' (junior non-commissioned officers), ''Unteroffizieren'' ('' Maaten''/NCOs) and ''Bootsleute/Feldwebel'' (senior NCOs). In addition the rank indicated the special training the men had received, indicated by a specialty badge worn on the left sleeve. The basic rank would be combined with the specialty resulting in numerous ratings. Non-commissioned officers would be seamen 1st class (one white star) or '' Gasten'' and '' Quartiermeister'' depending on specialty (two white stars) and ''Maate'' (three white stars). ''Bootsleute'' would wear the blue or white navy jacket with gold braid half stripes of 11 cm length on the sleeves or shoulder straps. They would be called ''Meister'' (master) sometimes ''Untermeister'' in the basic rank, the next senior rank would be 'preceded by ''Stabs-'' (staff), and then ''Oberstabs-''.

Enlisted men and Chargen

Career and specialist insignia indicated on left sleeve.

Maate on junior NCO level

Rank insignia senior NCOs

Commissioned Officers

Officers aspirants

Prospective officers would enter the naval academy and become ''Seekadett'' (officer cadets) and later ''Seefähnrich'' before being commissioned as ''Fregattenleutnant''s. Reserve officer candidates would join as ''Einjährig-Freiwillige'' ( one-year volunteers). These sons of the higher classes who could afford the expenses would then get some training and be commissioned as ''Korvettenleutnant'' if successful. ''Einjährige'' would also wear the blue navy jacket but with two smaller gold braid stripes.

Officers

Flag officers

Notes

References

* * * * * * {{Military ranks by country Austro-Hungarian Navy

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...