(, ) is a rank used by the Russian Navy and a number of former communist states. The rank is a non-commissioned officer's and is equivalent to in armies and air forces. Within NATO forces, the rank is rated as OR-8 and is equivalent to Warrant officer class 2 or Senior chief petty officer in English speaking navies.
Russia
While the rank is etymologically borrowed from the English rank midshipman, is a very senior and experienced enlisted rank, equivalent to a master chief petty officer or warrant officer, while midshipman is a cadet in training or a very junior officer rank, which, being an officer, is technically higher in rank than any enlisted rank, despite a midshipman's very junior status.
Imperial Russia
was originally an Ober-ofizer rank, in line to the Table of Ranks class XII/XIII in the Imperial Russian Navy equivalent to of the Imperial Russian Army and classified as junior officer rank.
The rank was abolished in 1917 by the Bolsheviks.
Soviet Union and the Russian Federation The rank was reintroduced in 1940.
The ranks of (and in the army and air force, ) were added in 1981. The Russian Federation retained the rank structure of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Insignia change Year 1827 1884 1909 1917 1940 1943 1955 1963 1971 1991 2010 Insignia
Insignia
See also Comparative officer ranks of World War I Ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Army 1943–1955, and Ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces 1955–1991, Ranks and rank insignia of the Russian Federation's armed forces 1994–2010 Naval ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation
References