| RAN |
back to top |
| RAN - Officers |
|
| Branch |
Rank |
Rank Abbreviation |
| Seaman Branch |
Admiral |
A |
| |
Vice Admiral |
VA |
| |
Rear Admiral |
RA |
| |
Commodore 1st Class |
|
| |
Commodore 2nd Class |
|
| |
Captain |
C |
| |
Commander |
Cr |
| |
Lieutenant Commander |
Lt Cr |
| |
Lieutenant |
Lt |
| |
Sub Lieutenant |
Sub |
| |
Midshipman |
Mid |
| |
Cadet Midshipman |
C Mid |
| |
Commissioned Gunner |
Cd Gr |
| |
Gunner |
Gr |
| |
Commissioned Boatswain |
Cd B |
| |
Boatswain |
B |
| Engineer Branch |
Engineer Rear Admiral |
E A |
| |
Engineer Captain |
E C |
| |
Engineer Commander |
E Cr |
| |
Commander (E) |
Cr (E) |
| |
Engineer Lieutenant Commander |
E Lt Cr |
| |
Lieutenant Commander (E) |
Lt Cr (E) |
| |
Engineer Lieutenant |
E Lt |
| |
Lieutenant (E) |
Lt (E) |
| |
Sub Lieutenant (E) |
Sub (E) |
| |
Midshipman (E) |
Mid (E) |
| |
Commissioned Engineer |
Cd Eng |
| |
Warrant Engineer |
W Eng |
| |
Commissioned Mechanician |
Cd Mech |
| |
Warrant Mechanician |
W Mech |
| Communications Branch |
Telegraphist Lieutenant |
TL |
| |
Commissioned Telegraphist |
Cd Tel |
| |
Warrant Telegraphist |
W Tel |
| |
Signal Lieutenant |
Sig Lt |
| |
Commissioned Signal Boatswain |
Cd SB |
| |
Signal Boatswain |
SB |
| Artisan Branch |
Shipwright Lieutenant Commander |
Shwt Lt Cr |
| |
Shipwright Lieutenant |
Shwt Lt |
| |
Commissioned Shipwright |
Cd Shwt |
| |
Warrant Shipwright |
W Shwt |
| |
Ordnance Lieutenant Commander |
O Lt Cr |
| |
Ordnance Lieutenant |
O Lt |
| |
Commissioned Ordnance Officer |
Cd O O |
| |
Warrant Ordnance Officer |
W O O |
| |
Electrical Lieutenant |
El Lt |
| |
Commissioned Electrician |
Cd Elec |
| |
Warrant Electrician |
W Elec |
| Medical Branch |
Surgeon Captain |
Sg C |
| |
Surgeon Commander |
Sg Cr |
| |
Surgeon Commander (D) |
Sg Cr (D) |
| |
Surgeon Lieutenant Commander |
Sg Lt Cr |
| |
Surgeon Lieutenant Commander (D) |
Sg Lt Cr (D) |
| |
Surgeon Lieutenant |
Sg Lt |
| |
Surgeon Lieutenant (D) |
Sg Lt (D) |
| |
Wardmaster Lieutenant |
Wdr Lt |
| |
Commissioned Wardmaster |
Cd Wdr |
| |
Warrant Wardmaster |
W Wdr |
| Accountant Branch / Supply and Secretariat Branch |
Paymaster Captain |
P C |
| |
Paymaster Commander |
P Cr |
| |
Paymaster Lieutenant Commander |
P Lt Cr |
| |
Paymaster Lieutenant |
P Lt |
| |
Paymaster Sub Lieutenant |
P Sub |
| |
Paymaster Midshipman |
P Mid |
| |
Paymaster Cadet |
P Cdt |
| |
Commissioned Writer |
Cd W |
| |
Warrant Writer |
W W |
| |
Commissioned Supply Officer |
Cd S O |
| |
Warrant Supply Officer |
W S O |
| Chaplain and Instructor Branch |
Chaplain |
Ch |
| |
Instructor Captain |
I C |
| |
Instructor Commander |
I Cr |
| |
Instructor Lieutenant Commander |
I Lt Cr |
| |
Instructor Lieutenant |
I Lt |
| |
Commissioned Instructor |
Cd I |
| |
Warrant Instructor |
W I |
| |
Headmaster Lieutenant Commander |
Hdmr Lt Cr |
| |
Headmaster Lieutenant |
Hdmr Lt |
| |
Senior Master |
Sen Mr |
| |
Schoolmaster |
Schr |
| |
Schoolmaster holding the rank of |
Schr (CWO) |
| |
Commissioned Officer from Warrant Rank |
|
| |
Schoolmaster Candidate |
Schr C |
| Miscellaneous |
Commissioned Master-at-Arms |
Cd MAA |
| |
Warrant Master-at-Arms |
W MAA |
| |
Commissioned Bandmaster |
Cd Br |
| |
Warrant Bandmaster |
W Br |
| |
Commissioned Officer from Warrant Rank |
Cd W O |
| |
Warrant Officer |
W O |
| |
Senior Naval Instructor |
S N I |
| |
Naval Instructor |
N I |
| |
Inspector, Naval Dockyard Police |
Insp |
| |
Sub Inspector, Naval Dockyard Police |
Sub Insp |
| Officers' Stewards and Cooks |
Commissioned Steward |
Cd S |
| |
Warrant Steward |
|
| |
Commissioned Cook |
Cd Ck |
| |
Warrant Cook |
W Ck |
| Naval Auxiliary Patrol |
Squadron Skipper |
Sq Sk |
| |
Divisional Skipper |
D Sk |
| |
Staff Skipper |
St Sk |
| |
Area Skipper |
Ar Sk |
| |
Skipper |
Sk |
| |
Surgeon Skipper |
Sg Sk |
| |
Communications Officer |
C O |
| |
Liaison Officer |
L O |
| |
Survey Officer |
S O |
| RAN - Ratings |
back to top |
| Branch |
Rank |
Rank Abbreviation |
| Seaman Branch |
Chief Petty Officer |
CPO |
| |
Petty Officer |
PO |
| |
Leading Seaman |
Ldg Sea or Ldg Smn |
| |
Able Seaman |
AB |
| |
Ordinary Seaman |
Ord Sea or Ord Smn |
| |
Ordinary Seaman II |
Ord Sea II or Ord Smn II |
| |
Chief Engine Room Artificer |
CERA |
| Engineroom Branch |
Engine Room Artificer I |
ERA I |
| |
Engine Room Artificer II |
ERA II |
| |
Engine Room Artificer III |
ERA III |
| |
Engine Room Artificer IV |
ERA IV |
| |
Chief Mechanician |
CMech |
| |
Mechanician |
Mech |
| |
Mechanician I |
Mech I |
| |
Mechanician II |
Mech II |
| |
Chief Stoker |
CPO Sto |
| |
Stoker Petty Officer |
Sto PO |
| |
Leading Stoker |
Ldg Sto |
| |
Stoker |
Sto |
| |
Stoker I |
Sto I |
| |
Stoker II |
Sto II |
| |
Stoker III |
Sto III |
| Communications Branch |
Chief Yeoman of Signals |
CYS |
| |
Yeoman of Signals |
Y of S |
| |
Leading Signalman |
Ldg Sig |
| |
Signalman |
Sig |
| |
Ordinary Signalman |
Ord Sig |
| |
Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist |
CPO Tel |
| |
Petty Officer Telegraphist |
PO Tel |
| |
Leading Telegraphist |
Ldg Tel |
| |
Telegraphist |
Tel |
| |
Ordinary Telegraphist |
Ord Tel |
| |
Petty Officer Coder |
|
| |
Leading Coder |
|
| |
Ordinary Coder |
|
| |
Ordinary Coder II |
|
| Artisan Branch |
Chief Shipwright |
|
| |
Shipwright I |
|
| |
Shipwright II |
|
| |
Shipwright III |
|
| |
Shipwright IV |
|
| |
Chief Joiner |
|
| |
Joiner I |
|
| |
Joiner II |
|
| |
Joiner III |
|
| |
Joiner IV |
|
| |
Chief Blacksmith |
|
| |
Blacksmith I |
|
| |
Blacksmith II |
|
| |
Blacksmith III |
|
| |
Blacksmith IV |
|
| |
Chief Plumber |
|
| |
Plumber I |
|
| |
Plumber II |
|
| |
Plumber III |
|
| |
Plumber V |
|
| |
Chief Painter |
|
| |
Painter I |
|
| |
Painter II |
|
| |
Painter III |
|
| |
Painter IV |
|
| |
Chief Ordnance Artificer |
COA |
| |
Ordnance Artificer I |
OA I |
| |
Ordnance Artificer II |
OA II |
| |
Ordnance Artificer III |
OA III |
| |
Ordnance Artificer IV |
OA IV |
| |
Chief Electrical Artificer |
CEA |
| |
Electrical Artificer |
EA |
| |
Electrical Artificer I |
EA I |
| |
Electrical Artificer II |
EA II |
| |
Electrical Artificer III |
EA III |
| |
Electrical Artificer IV |
EA IV |
| |
Motor Mechanic I |
|
| |
Motor Mechanic II |
|
| |
Motor Mechanic III |
|
| |
Motor Mechanic IV |
|
| |
Petty Officer Wireman |
|
| |
Leading Wireman |
|
| |
Wireman |
|
| Medical Branch |
Sick Berth Chief Petty Officer |
SB CPO |
| |
Sick Berth Petty Officer |
SB PO |
| |
Leading Sick Berth Attendant |
Ldg SBA |
| |
Sick Berth Attendant |
SBA |
| |
Sick Berth Attendant II |
SBA II |
| |
Chief Dental Mechanic |
|
| |
Dental Mechanic |
|
| Accountant Branch/Supply and Secretariat Branch |
Chief Petty Officer Writer |
CPO Wtr |
| |
Petty Officer Writer |
PO Wtr |
| |
Leading Writer |
Ldg Wtr |
| |
Writer |
Wtr |
| |
Supply Chief Petty Officer |
|
| |
Supply Petty Officer |
|
| |
Leading Supply Assistant |
|
| |
Supply Assistant |
|
| |
Supply Probationer |
|
| |
Chief Petty Officer Cook (S) |
|
| |
Petty Officer Cook (S) |
|
| |
Leading Cook (S) |
|
| |
Cook (S) |
|
| |
Assistant Cook (S) |
|
| Officers' Stewards and Cooks |
Officer' Stewards and Cooks |
|
| |
Chief Petty Officer Cook (O) |
|
| |
Petty Officer Cook (O) |
|
| |
Leading Cook (O) |
|
| |
Cook (O) |
|
| |
Assistant Cook (O) |
|
| |
Chief Petty Officer Steward |
CPO Std |
| |
Petty Officer Steward |
PO Std |
| |
Leading Steward |
Ldg Std |
| |
Steward |
Std |
| |
Assistant Steward |
|
| |
Chief Petty Officer Butcher |
|
| |
Petty Officer Butcher |
|
| |
Leading Butcher |
|
| |
Butcher |
|
| Wireless Mechanic Branch |
Wireless Mechanic |
|
| |
Leading Wireless Mechanic |
|
| |
Petty Officer Wireless Mechanic |
|
| |
Chief Petty Officer Wireless Mechanic |
|
| Radio Mechanic Branch |
Ordinary Seaman Radio Mechanic |
Ord Radio Mech (C), (R), (S) or (W)* |
| |
Radio Mechanic |
Radio Mech (C), (R), (S) or (W)* |
| |
Leading Radio Mechanic |
Ldg Radio Mech (C), (R), (S) or (W)* |
| |
Petty Officer Radio Mechanic |
PO Radio Mech (C), (R), (S) or (W)* |
| |
Chief Petty Officer Radio Mechanic |
CPO Radio Mech (C), (R), (S) or (W)* |
* For the above Radio Mechanic Branch, the following text explains the (C), (R), (S) and (W) suffixes:
|
(C)
|
Trained in all forms of radar and wireless telegraphy, electronic navigational aids and radio counter measures.
|
|
(R)
|
Trained for radar equipment and general service.
|
|
(S)
|
Trained for wireless telegraphy equipment in stations ashore.
|
|
(W)
|
Trained for part radar, part wireless telegraphy and general service.
|
|
| Miscellaneous |
Master-at-Arms |
MAA |
| |
Regulating Petty Officer |
RPO |
| |
Chief Bandmaster |
|
| |
Bandmaster |
|
| |
Band Corporal |
|
| |
Bandsman |
|
| Canteen |
Canteen |
|
| |
Canteen Manager |
|
| |
Canteen Assistant |
|
| RAN - Royal Australian Naval Nursing Service |
back to top |
| Branch |
Rank |
Rank Abbreviation |
| All Branches |
Matron |
|
| |
Superintending Sister |
|
| |
Sister |
|
| |
Staff Officer |
|
| RAN - Women's Royal Australian Naval Service |
back to top |
| Branch |
Rank |
Rank Abbreviation |
| Officers |
Chief Officer |
|
| |
First Officer |
|
| |
Second Officer |
|
| |
Third Officer |
|
| Wrans |
Chief Petty Officer Wran |
CPO Wran |
| |
Petty Officer Wran |
PO Wran |
| |
Leading Wran |
Ldg Wran |
| |
Wran |
Wran |
| Army |
back to top |
| Army - Commissioned ranks |
|
| Branch |
Rank |
Rank Abbreviation |
| All Branches |
Field Marshal |
FM |
| |
General |
Gen |
| |
Lieutenant General |
Lt-Gen |
| |
Major General |
Maj-Gen |
| |
Brigadier |
Brig |
| |
Colonel |
Col |
| |
Lieutenant Colonel |
Lt-Col |
| |
Major |
Maj |
| |
Captain |
Capt |
| |
Lieutenant |
Lt |
| |
Second Lieutenant |
2Lt |
| |
Chaplain |
Chap |
| Army - Non Commissioned ranks |
back to top |
| Branch |
Rank |
Rank Abbreviation |
| All Branches |
Company Sergeant Major |
CSM |
| |
Warrant Officer Class 1 |
WO1 |
| |
Warrant Officer Class 2 |
WO2 |
| |
Staff Sergeant |
S-Sgt |
| |
Sergeant |
Sgt |
| |
Lance Sergeant |
L-Sgt |
| |
Corporal |
Cpl |
| |
Bombardier |
Bdr |
| |
Lance Bombardier |
L-Bdr |
| |
Lance Corporal |
L-Cpl |
| |
Private |
Pte |
| |
Pioneer |
Pnr |
| |
Gunner |
Gnr |
| |
Craftsman |
Cfn |
| |
Driver |
Dvr |
| |
Signalman |
Sig |
| |
Sapper |
Spr |
| |
Trooper |
Tpr |
| Army - Australian Women's Army Service |
back to top |
The ranks used for members of the Australian Women's Army Service are the same as those above.
|
| Army - Australian Army Medical Womens' Service (formerly Voluntary Aid Detachments) |
back to top |
The ranks used for members of the Australian Army Medical Womens' Service (formerly Voluntary Aid Detachments) are the same as those above.
|
| Army - Australian Army Nursing Service |
back to top |
The ranks below applied to members of the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) until March 1943. After that date, members of the AANS used the same standard ranks detailed above, eg: Lieutenant, Captain.
|
| Branch |
Rank |
Rank Abbreviation |
| All Branches |
Matron-in-Chief |
|
| |
Matron |
|
| |
Sister |
|
| |
Staff Nurse |
|
| RAAF |
back to top
|
| RAAF - Commissioned ranks |
|
| Branch |
Rank |
Rank Abbreviation |
| All Branches |
Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force (King George VI) |
|
| |
Air Marshal |
AM |
| |
Air Vice Marshal |
AVM |
| |
Air Commodore |
AC |
| |
Group Captain |
GC |
| |
Wing Commander |
Wg Cr |
| |
Squadron Leader |
SL |
| |
Flight Lieutenant |
FL |
| |
Flying Officer |
FO |
| |
Pilot Officer |
PO |
| RAAF - Non Commissioned ranks |
back to top |
| Branch |
Rank |
Rank Abbreviation |
| All Branches |
Warrant Officer |
WO |
| |
Flight Sergeant |
F/Sgt |
| |
Sergeant |
Sgt |
| |
Corporal |
Cpl |
| |
Leading Aircraftman |
LAC |
| |
Aircraftman Class II |
AC2 |
| |
Aircraftman Class 1 |
AC1 |
| RAAF - Nursing Service |
back to top |
| Branch |
Rank |
Rank Abbreviation |
| All Branches |
Matron-in-Chief |
|
| |
Principal Matron |
|
| |
Senior Sister |
|
| |
Sister |
|
| RAAF - WAAAF Commissioned ranks |
back to top |
| Branch |
Rank |
Rank Abbreviation |
| All Branches |
Group Officer |
Gr 0 |
| |
Wing Officer |
Wg O |
| |
Squadron Officer |
Sq O |
| |
Flight Officer |
Fl O |
| |
Section Officer |
SO |
| |
Assistant Section Officer |
ASO |
| RAAF - WAAAF Non Commissioned ranks |
back to top |
| Branch |
Rank |
Rank Abbreviation |
| All Branches |
Warrant Officer |
WO |
| |
Flight Sergeant |
F/Sgt |
| |
Sergeant |
Sgt |
| |
Corporal |
Cpl |
| |
Leading Aircraftwoman |
LACW |
| |
Aircraftwoman Class II |
ACW2 |
| |
Aircraftwoman Class 1 |
ACW1 |
| Merchant Navy |
back to top |
| Merchant Navy - All Branches |
|
The abbreviations in this section are typical of the many variations of capacities (ranks) recorded in the service records.
|
| Branch |
Capacity |
Capacity Abbreviation |
| All Branches |
Able Seaman |
Ab |
| |
Apprentice |
App'tce, appce, appr'tce, apptc, apptce |
| |
Assistant Engineer |
|
| |
Assistant Engineer Steward |
|
| |
Assistant Purser |
|
| |
Assistant Steward |
|
| |
Baker |
|
| |
Boiler Attendant |
B/a, b/att, b/attd, blr attdt, blr attndt, blr/attdt, boiler att |
| |
Boilermaker |
|
| |
Bosun |
Bos'n, Bosn |
| |
Butcher |
|
| |
Cabin Boy |
|
| |
Cadet |
Cdt |
| |
Cadet Steward |
Cad Std, Cadet Std, Cadet Stwd, Cdt Std, Cdt Stwd, Cdt/Std |
| |
Carpenter |
Carpt, carptr |
| |
Cattleman |
|
| |
Chief Clerk |
Ch Clerk |
| |
Chief Cook |
C/Cook, Ch Cook, Ch/Cook |
| |
Chief Electrician |
Ch Elect |
| |
Chief Officer |
Ch Officer |
| |
Chief Radio Officer |
Ch Ro |
| |
Chief Steward |
C/Stwd, C/Std, C/Stwd, Ch Stwd, Ch Std |
| |
Cleaner |
|
| |
Cook |
Cook |
| |
Cook Steward |
Cook Stwd, Cook/Steward |
| |
Cook Attendant |
Cook Attd, Cook Attdt |
| |
Deck Attendant |
D Att, Deck Attdt, Deck Attend, Dk Att, Dk Attend |
| |
Deck Boy |
D boy, d'boy, d/boy, dk boy, dk/boy |
| |
Deck Cadet |
D/Cadet, Dk Cadet, Dk Cdt |
| |
Deck Hand |
Dk Hand, Dk/Hand |
| |
Deck Man |
D/Man, Dk Man |
| |
Donkey Man |
Dkyman |
| |
Donkeyman Greaser |
Dk greaser, dky greaser, dky gres, dky grser, dky grsr, dky/greaser |
| |
Donkey Boy |
Dky Boy |
| |
Electrical Engineer |
Elect Eng |
| |
Electrician |
Elect, electn, electrn |
| |
Engine Room Attendant |
E room attndt, er att, er attdt |
| |
Engineer |
Eng, engn, engr |
| |
Executive Engingeer |
Ex Engr |
| |
Executive Officer |
Ex Officer |
| |
Extra Purser |
|
| |
Fireman |
F'man, f/man |
| |
Fireman Attendant |
F attd, f'man att, f/man attdt |
| |
Fireman Greaser |
F'man & grsr, f'man greaser, f'man grsr, f'man gssr |
| |
Fireman Trimmer |
F&T, F'man & Trimmer, F'man Trim, F/Man Trim, Fman & Trim, Fman trim |
| |
Fireman Wiper |
F'man Wiper |
| |
First Grade Steward |
1 Gd Std, 1 Gd Stew, 1 Gd Stw |
| |
First Mate |
1 MATE, 1/MATE |
| |
Galley Boy |
G/Boy |
| |
General Servant |
|
| |
General Steward |
G/Steward |
| |
Greaser |
Grsr,Grs |
| |
Hairdresser |
|
| |
Head Waiter |
1 /C HD WAITER |
| |
Hospital Attendant |
Hosp Attdt |
| |
Junior Engineer |
|
| |
Junior Ordinary Seaman |
Jos, jnr os |
| |
Kitchen Porter |
Kit port, kit porter,kit pter, kit pur |
| |
Laundress |
L'dress |
| |
Laundryman |
L'dyman |
| |
Linen Keeper |
|
| |
Messman |
|
| |
Motorman |
|
| |
Musician |
|
| |
Night Watch |
N watch, nightwatch |
| |
Officer Steward |
Off Stwd |
| |
Oil Burner |
|
| |
Oiler |
|
| |
Ordinary Seaman |
Os |
| |
Pantry Man |
Pyman |
| |
Pantry Steward |
Pantry Std |
| |
Plumber |
Plum |
| |
Printer |
Printer/Gde |
| |
Probationer Steward |
Prob stwd, pro std |
| |
Purser |
|
| |
Radio Officer/Radio Operator |
R/o, radio, ro, r/officer, r/off, r/offr, rad off |
| |
Room Boy |
|
| |
Sailor |
|
| |
Saloon Boy |
Sal boy |
| |
Scullion |
|
| |
Seaman |
|
| |
Second Officer |
2 OFF |
| |
Section Man |
|
| |
Ships Carpenter |
S carpt, s/carpenter, ship cpter |
| |
Ships Joiner |
|
| |
Shipwright |
S/Wright |
| |
Steward |
Std, stwd, stw |
| |
Signaller |
|
| |
Steward Boy |
Std boy, stwd boy |
| |
Steward In Charge |
Std i/c, std in chge |
| |
Storekeeper |
|
| |
Surgeon |
|
| |
Third Officer |
3 Rd Off |
| |
Trimmer |
|
| |
Utility Man |
Utility M |
| |
Utility Steward |
Utility stwd, utility stewd |
| |
Wiper |
|
| |
Youngman |
Yman |
|
Commonwealth of Australia 2002. |
|
End of page
32
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|
