The rank insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Navy were worn on and on sleeves for navy jackets and coats, or on shoulder straps of shirts and white jackets. Officers' ranks were indicated by lines of gold braid as were senior non-commissioned officers' 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.
Mannschaften Chargen 1 starChargen 2 starsk.u.k. Geschützvormeister 2. Klassek.u.k. Geschützvormeister 1. Klassek.u.k. Geschützgastk.u.k. ...matrose 2. Klassek.u.k. ...matrose 1. Klassek.u.k. ...gast / ...quartiermeisterElektromatrose ... Fliegermatrose ... Küchenmatrose ... Musikmatrose ... Proviantmatrose ... Sanitätsmatrose ... Steuermatrose ... Telegraphenmatrose ... Waffenmatrose ...Elektromatrose ... Fliegermatrose ... Küchenmatrose ... Musikmatrose ... Proviantmatrose ... Sanitätsmatrose ... Steuermatrose ... Telegraphenmatrose ... Waffenmatrose ...Elektrogast / Elektroquartiermeister Fliegergast / Fliegerquartiermeister Küchengast / Küchenquartiermeister Marsgast / ... Minengast / Minenquartiermeister Musikgast / Musikquartiermeister Proviantgast / Proviantquartiermeister Rudergast / Ruderquartiermeister Sanitätsgast / Sanitätsquartiermeister Steuergast / Steuerquartiermeister Telegraphengast / Telegraphen Torpedogast / Torpedoquartiermeister Waffengast / Waffenquartiermeisterk.u.k. Heizer 2. Klasse k.u.k. Heizer 1. Klasse k.u.k. Oberheizer k.u.k. Militärarbeiter 2. Klassek.u.k. Minenvormann 2. Klassek.u.k. Torpedovormann 2. Klassek.u.k. Militärarbeiter 1. Klassek.u.k. Minenvormann 1. Klassek.u.k. Torpedovormann 1. Klassek.u.k. Vorarbeiter ... Vorarbeiter 3. Klasse Vorarbeiter 2.Klassee
Maate on junior NCO level Maate Maate (on Bootsmann grade) k.u.k. Bootsmannsmaat k.u.k. Unterbootsmannk.u.k. Geschützmaat k.u.k. Untergeschützmeisterk.u.k. ...maat k.u.k. ...Elektromaat Fliegermaat Küchenmaat Maschinenmaat Minenmaat Musikmaat Proviantmaat Sanitätsmaat Steuermannsmaat Telegraphenmaat Torpedomaat WaffenmaatElektrounterwärter Fliegeruntermeister Unterküchenmeister Untermaschinenwärter Unterminenmeister Untermusikmeister Unterproviantmeister Untersanitätsmeister Untersteuermann Untertelegraphenmeister Untertorpedomeister Unterwaffenmeisterk.u.k. Vorarbeiter 1.Klasse k.u.k. Unterwerkmeister
Rank insignia senior NCOs Stabsunteroffizierek.u.k. Stabsbootsmann Elektromeister Fliegermeister Küchenmeister Musikmeister Proviantmeister Sanitätsmeister Stabselektrowärter Stabsgeschützmeister Stabsmaschinenwärter Stabswaffenmeister Stabssteuermann Stabsminenmeister Stabstorpedomeister Werkmeisterk.u.k. Oberstabsbootsmann Oberstabsgeschützmeister Oberküchenmeister Oberstabsmaschinenwärter Oberstabswaffenmeister Oberproviantmeister Oberstabssteuermann Oberstabsminenmeister Oberstabsfliegermeister Oberstabselektrowärter Oberstabstorpedomeister Obermusikmeister Oberstabstelegraphenmeister Obersanitätsmeister OberstabswerkmeisterEinjährig-FreiwilligerLonger serving NCOs
Commissioned Officers
Officers aspirants Prospective officers would enter the naval academy and become Seekadett (officer cadets) and later Seefähnrich before being commissioned as Fregattenleutnants. 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 Stabsoffiziere Oberoffiziere Reserveoffizier Fähnriche Sleeve Title German Hungarian English Ship-of-the-line-captain Frigate captain Corvette captain Ship-of-the-line lieutenant Frigate lieutenant Corvette lieutenant Ensign Sea cadet
Flag officers Flaggenoffiziere Sleeve Command flag 1915Never used Title German Hungarian English Grand admiral Admiral Vice admiral Rear Admiral
Notes
References
de:Rangabzeichen der österreichisch-ungarischen Streitkräfte#k.u.k._Kriegsmarine