For information specifically on the Royal Navy rank of captain, see Captain (Royal Navy). Please see Captain (naval for other versions of this naval rank

Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in Armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines An Admiral of the Fleet or Fleet Admiral is a military Naval officer of the highest rank For other meanings see Field Marshal (disambiguation Field marshal is a military officer rank Marshal of the Air Force may be used as a generic term for a rank in some Air forces which use a similar title with their air force's name inserted as their most senior rank Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks of the highest Naval officers Air Chief Marshal ( Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a senior Air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force (RAF Vice Admiral is a naval rank equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority Lieutenant General is a Military rank used in many countries The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the This article is about the air force rank Air marshal (or Sky marshal) is also the term given to federal security agents who travel undercover aboard commercial Rear admiral is a Naval Commissioned officer rank above that of a Commodore and Captain, and below that of a Vice Admiral. Major General or Major-General is a Military rank used in many countries Air Vice-Marshal ( AVM) is an Air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. Commodore is a Military rank used in many navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a navy captain, but is less than This article refers to the military rank For the Doctor Who character known as the Brigadier see Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. Air Commodore ( Air Cdre in the RAF, AIRCDRE in the RNZAF and RAAF, A/C in the former RCAF) is a rank in Colonel ( RP ˈkɜnəl GA ˈkɜrnəl is a Military rank of a Commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every country Group Captain ( Gp Capt in the RAF and Indian Air Force, GPCAPT in the RNZAF and RAAF, G/C in the former Commander is a Military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service Lieutenant Colonel ( Lieutenant-Colonel in English from the French grade 's spelling is a rank of Commissioned officer in the armies Wing Commander ( Wg Cdr in the RAF, WGCDR in the RNZAF and RAAF, W/C in the former RCAF) is a commissioned Lieutenant Commander ( Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy) is a Commissioned officer rank in many navies Superior Major is a Military rank the use of which varies according to country Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence Lieutenant (abbreviated Lt or Lieut) is a Military, Naval, Paramilitary, Fire service, Emergency medical services Flight Lieutenant ( Flt Lt in the RAF; FLTLT in the RAAF and RNZAF, F/L in the former RCAF) is a junior Sub-Lieutenant is a military rank It is normally a junior officer rank Lieutenant (abbreviated Lt or Lieut) is a Military, Naval, Paramilitary, Fire service, Emergency medical services Flying Officer ( Fg Off in the RAF FLGOFF in the RAAF FGOFF in the RNZAF F/O in the former RCAF and frequently in the RAF is a junior commissioned A Warrant Officer ( WO) is a member of a military organization holding one of a specific group of ranks. A Sergeant Major is a rank or appointment in many militaries around the world A Warrant Officer ( WO) is a member of a military organization holding one of a specific group of ranks. A Petty Officer is a noncommissioned officer or equivalent in many navies. Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries police forces and other uniformed organizations around the world Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries police forces and other uniformed organizations around the world Leading Rating (or Leading Rate) is the most senior of the junior rates in the British Royal Navy. Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and also by some police forces or other uniformed organizations Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and also by some police forces or other uniformed organizations Seaman as a rate refers to one of the lowest rates in a Navy. A Private is a Soldier of the lowest Military rank (equivalent to NATO Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in Aircraftman ( AC) or Aircraftwoman ( ACW) is the lowest rank in the Royal Air Force and the Air forces of several other Commonwealth The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel. Navies have Military rank systems that often are quite different from those of armies or Air forces Sometimes services that are considered parts of the Colonel ( RP ˈkɜnəl GA ˈkɜrnəl is a Military rank of a Commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every country The equivalent rank in many navies is Ship-of-the-Line Captain. A Ship-of-the-Line Captain is a common naval rank 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

Role

The command of a ship is most often given to the naval rank (equivalent to a commissioned officer between commander (OF-4) and commodore or rear admiral (OF-6)). A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size An officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority Commander is a Military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service Commodore is a Military rank used in many navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a navy captain, but is less than Rear admiral is a Naval Commissioned officer rank above that of a Commodore and Captain, and below that of a Vice Admiral. The Polish Navy is, however, a notable exception naval captain in position of Lieutenant or Captain Lieutenant and OF-5 rank being a "commander" (komandor). Lieutenant (abbreviated Lt or Lieut) is a Military, Naval, Paramilitary, Fire service, Emergency medical services Captain Lieutenant or Captain-Lieutenant is a military rank In particular the term Captain Lieutenant may refer to a rank in the Russian Navy, The naval rank should not be confused with the army, air force or marine rank of captain, which has a NATO code of OF-2.

Title

Any naval officer below the rank of captain who commands a ship, is addressed as "captain" while aboard that ship, by naval custom. The ship's captain also may be referred to as the Skipper. A skipper is a person who has Command of a Boat or Ship, more or less equivalent to " captain. A naval officer with the rank of captain traveling aboard a vessel he does not command is either never referred to by rank, or in some navies, is addressed as Commodore to avoid confusion with the ship's actual commander. Commodore is a Military rank used in many navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a navy captain, but is less than The ship's commander remains in charge of the entire ship. Passengers who would otherwise outrank the ship's commander cannot override the commander in matters of directing the ship's operations.

Historically, throughout the Middle Ages, the Navy was an ad-hoc group of ships contracted for the duration of a given conflict and disbanded thereafter. The ship's Master, who would command the ship during peacetime, would also remain in control of all things nautical during wartime. The Captain was merely the commander of the embarked infantry contingent upon the ship, who with the help of his lieutenants would act as the agent of the king--and hence de facto commander--while the ship was contracted with the Navy. During Tudor times, the title of Captain began to refer to the commander of a ship of the Royal Navy, once that organization became established on an ongoing basis and maintained a standing fleet.

As a matter of etiquette in the U. S. Navy there is only one captain aboard a vessel. If a Marine Corps captain is at the officer's mess, he or she is given the courtesy title of major to be differentiated from the head of the ship. Marines (from the English adjective marine, meaning of the sea, from Latin language mare, meaning sea via French adjective Major is a Military rank the use of which varies according to country

Commands

Captains with sea commands generally command ships of cruiser size or larger. A cruiser is a large type of Warship, which had its prime period from the late 19th century to the end of the Cold War. The more senior the officer, the larger the ship. Commanders of aircraft carriers can be rear admirals, but generally, ship commanders are of captain rank or lower. An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with Rear admiral is a Naval Commissioned officer rank above that of a Commodore and Captain, and below that of a Vice Admiral. Also, many captains are either retired or have desk jobs.

Captain insignia of Royal Navy

Insignia of a U.S. Navy Captain

Captain(N) of the Canadian Forces