Ship-of-the-Line Captain

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Ship-of-the-Line Captain (French - capitaine de vaisseau; German - Linienschiffskapitän; Spanish - Capitán de Navío; Croatian - Kapetan bojnog broda) is a rank that appears in several navies. The name of the rank derives from the fact the rank corresponded to command of one a ship of the largest class of warship, the Ship-of-the-Line, as opposed to smaller types of warship (corvettes and frigates). It is normally above the rank of Frigate Captain.

Ship-of-the-Line Captain is equivalent to the naval rank of captain in the Commonwealth and USA, and to the rank of captain at sea used in Germany and the Netherlands. Ship-of-the-Line Captain is rank OF-5 in the NATO rank codes, and equates to the land-forces rank of full colonel.

Austrian Empire

Linienschiffskapitän was an officer rank in the Austro-Hungarian Navy, equivalent to oberst in the land forces or Kapitän zur See in the Kaiserliche Marine. It is still partly used by the navies of the Empire's successor states, such as Yugoslavia and Croatia.

In order, the other officer ranks below Ship-of-the-Line Captain were Frigate Captain, Corvette Captain (Major in the army), Ship-of-the-Line Lieutenant (Hauptmann in the army), Frigate Lieutenant and Corvette Lieutenant.

Belgium

In the Belgian Navy the rank of capitaine de vaisseau or Kapitein-ter-zee is the third grade of superior officer, equivalent to colonel in the land forces. Its insignia is made up of four bands. He or she commands a capital ship (cruiser, battleship or aircraft carrier) or a shore establishment. Smaller vessels such as destroyers and frigates are commanded by a Kapitein-Luitenant.

Brazil

Captain of Sea and War is a rank in the navy of Brazil, which corresponds to the rank of ship-of-the-line Captain.

Canada

In the Canadian Forces or the navy of Ancien Régime France, the rank of Captain (Navy) or Captain (N) (Capt(N)) (French: Capitaine de vaisseau or capv) is a Naval rank equal to a Colonel of the Army or Air Force. Like Colonel, Captain (N) is the highest rank of senior officer. A Captain (N) is senior to a Commander or an Army or Air Force Lieutenant-Colonel, and junior to a Commodore or Brigadier-General.

Typical appointments for Captains (N) include:

• Commanding Officer of a Canadian Forces Base;
• Commanding Officer of a large school or research establishment, such as the Canadian Forces Maritime Warfare Centre;
• Commanding Officer of a Protecteur class auxiliary vessel;
• Chief of Staff of a formation staff, or a Director-General position on an administrative staff;
• Foreign military attaché.

The rank insignia for a Captain (N) is four ½" stripes, worn on the cuffs of the Service Dress jacket, and on slip-ons on other uniforms. On the visor of the service cap is one row of gold oak leaves along the edge. Captains wear the officers' pattern cap badge, which is an anchor on a black oval, surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. Specialist officers in such branches as administration, medical, etc. wear their branch cap badge.

The "(Navy)" or "(N)" is a part of the rank descriptor, and is used in official publications and documents to distinguish a Captain (N) from a captain in the Army or Air Force. It is also important to distinguish between the rank of Captain and the appointment of captain, meaning the commanding officer of a ship, regardless of his or her rank.

A Captain (N) is addressed initially as "Captain Bloggins", thereafter by superiors and peers as "Captain" and by subordinates as "Sir" or "Ma'am". The "(Navy)" or "(N)" is not part of the address.

Note: Before Unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, rank structure and insignia followed the British pattern.

Navy uniform variations

Dress uniform tunic

Uniform shirts

shoulder boards for short-sleeve shirt and tropical white tunic

CADPAT uniform

Mess uniform variations

Number 2 mess uniform

Number 2A summer mess white uniform Shoulder Boards

Shoulder Boards for the Number 2C Shipboard mess uniform.

Sleeve Number 2D Canadian Forces Mess Standard for members that have joined the CF before 1987.

France

Insignia in the French Navy

Capitaine de vaisseau (CV) is a rank in the French Navy, corresponding to that of colonel in the French Army. They usually command the Navy's most important ships.

He has five stripes and is addressed as 'commandant'. In naval slang, he is also known as a "cap' de veau".

Italy

Insignia in the Italian Navy

The rank of Ship-of-the-Line Captain also exists in the Italian Navy, the correct definition of the rank is : " Capitano di vascello " in others terms " Navy Vessel Captain ". He is addressed as " Comandante ".

Portugal

Captain of Sea and War is a rank in the navy of Portugal, which corresponds to the rank of ship-of-the-line Captain.

Vietnam

Đại tá Hải quân (Captain of the Navy) is a rank in the Vietnamese People's Navy, corresponding to that of colonel in the Vietnam People's Army. He has four stars with two stripes on shoulder rank.

See also

• Captain at Sea
• Captain (naval)