Captain (British Army and Royal Marines): Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Rank of the British Army and Royal Marines}} |
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[[File:UK-Army-OF2.gif|right]] |
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{{for|other versions of this army and marines rank|Captain (armed forces)}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} |
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{{Use British English|date=March 2017}} |
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{{more citations needed|date=January 2012}} |
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{{Infobox military rank |
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| name = Captain |
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| image = {{nobreak|[[File:British Army OF-2.svg|50px]] [[File:British Royal Marines OF-2.svg|50px]]}} |
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| image_size = |
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| caption = Army and Royal Marines insignia |
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| country = {{flag|United Kingdom}} |
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| service branch = {{army|United Kingdom}}<br />{{Marines|United Kingdom}} |
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| abbreviation = Capt |
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| rank = |
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| NATO rank = [[OF-2]] |
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| Non-NATO rank = O-2 |
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| formation = {{circa|1815}} |
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| abolished = |
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| higher rank = [[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] |
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| lower rank = [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|Lieutenant]] |
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| equivalents = {{unbulleted list|[[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]] ([[Royal Navy|RN]])|[[Flight lieutenant]] ([[Royal Air Force|RAF]])}} |
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| history = |
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}} |
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| ⚫ | '''Captain''' ('''Capt''') is a junior officer rank of the [[British Army]] and [[Royal Marines]] and in both services it ranks above [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] and below [[Major (United Kingdom)|major]] with a [[NATO]] ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] in the [[Royal Navy]] and to a [[flight lieutenant]] in the [[Royal Air Force]]. The rank of [[Captain (Royal Navy)|captain]] in the Royal Navy is considerably more senior (equivalent to the Army/RM rank of colonel) and the two ranks should not be confused. |
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In the 21st-century British Army, captains are often appointed to be second-in-command (2IC)<ref>[https://daysackmedia.co.uk/rank/british-army/captain/ British Army Captain Explained]</ref> of a [[Company (military unit)|company]] or equivalent sized unit of up to 120 soldiers.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/32321.aspx |title=Ranks |work=British Army Website |year=2016 |access-date=17 April 2016}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | '''Captain''' ('''Capt''') is a junior officer rank of the [[British Army]] and [[Royal Marines]] |
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==History== |
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A rank of |
A rank of second captain existed in the Ordnance at the time of the [[Battle of Waterloo]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Holmes |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Holmes (military historian) |title=Redcoat - The British Soldier in the Age of Horse and Musket |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2001 |page=176 |isbn=9780002570978}}</ref> |
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From 1 April 1918 to 31 July 1919, the Royal Air Force maintained the junior officer rank of captain. RAF captains had a rank insignia based on the two bands of a naval lieutenant with the addition of an eagle and crown above the bands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Ranks-Uniform/Ranks2.htm |title=Commissioned Ranks of the Royal Air Force, April 1918 – August 1919: Initial Uniform Design |first=M. B. |last=Barrass |work=Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation |year=2015 |access-date=17 April 2016}}</ref> It was superseded by the rank of flight lieutenant on the following day.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.rafweb.org/Ranks-Uniform/Ranks1.htm |title=Commissioned Ranks of the Royal Air Force 1919 – Present: Final Uniform Design |first=M. B. |last=Barrass |work=Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation|year=2015 |access-date=17 April 2016}}</ref> |
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From 1 April 1918 to 31 July 1919, the Royal Air Force maintained the junior officer rank of captain. It was superseded by the rank of flight lieutenant on the following day. |
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==Rank insignia== |
==Rank insignia== |
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[[File:2023 Majlis Ramah Mesra Belait 102.jpg|thumb|A [[Royal Gurkha Rifles]] (RGR) captain as seen in ceremonial dress.]] |
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| ⚫ | Badges of rank for captains were introduced |
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| ⚫ | |||
File:British-Army-Capt(1856-1880)-Collar Insignia.svg|1856 to 1880 captain's rank insignia |
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File:British&Empire-Army-Capt(1881-1902).svg|1881 to 1902 captain's rank insignia |
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| ⚫ | Badges of rank for captains were introduced on 30 January 1855 and were worn on shoulder epaulettes. After the [[Crimean War]] a new rank system was introduced which contained the first complete rank insignia in British Army history. A captain's rank insignia was worn on the collar and displayed a crown and a pip (which is now the rank insignia for a lieutenant-colonel). |
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The rank insignia were returned to the shoulder boards in 1880 for all officers in [[full dress]], when the system of crowns and stars was reorganised. From this time, until 1902, a captain had just two stars. The 1902 change gave captains three stars, which continues to be used. In addition to the shoulder badges, officers' ranks were also reflected in the amount and pattern of gold lace worn on the cuffs of the full-dress tunic. |
The rank insignia were returned to the shoulder boards in 1880 for all officers in [[full dress]], when the system of crowns and stars was reorganised. From this time, until 1902, a captain had just two stars. The 1902 change gave captains three stars, which continues to be used. In addition to the shoulder badges, officers' ranks were also reflected in the amount and pattern of gold lace worn on the cuffs of the full-dress tunic. |
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From 1902, a complex system of markings with bars and loops in thin drab braid above the cuff (known irreverently as the asparagus bed) was used at first but this was replaced in the same year by a combination of narrow rings of worsted braid around the cuff, with the full-dress style shoulder badges on a three-pointed cuff flap. Based on equivalent naval ranks, captains had two rings of braid. In the case of Scottish regiments, the rings were around the top of the gauntlet-style cuff and the badges on the cuff itself. |
From 1902, a complex system of markings with bars and loops in thin drab braid above the cuff (known irreverently as the asparagus bed) was used at first but this was replaced in the same year by a combination of narrow rings of worsted braid around the cuff, with the full-dress style shoulder badges on a three-pointed cuff flap. Based on equivalent naval ranks, captains had two rings of braid. In the case of Scottish regiments, the rings were around the top of the gauntlet-style cuff and the badges on the cuff itself. |
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During World War I, some officers took to wearing similar jackets to the men, with the rank badges on the shoulder, as the cuff badges made them conspicuous to snipers. This practice was frowned on outside the trenches but was given official sanction in 1917 as an alternative, being made permanent in 1920 when the cuff badges were abolished. |
During World War I, some officers took to wearing similar jackets to the men, with the rank badges on the shoulder, as the cuff badges made them conspicuous to snipers. This practice was frowned on outside the trenches but was given official sanction in 1917 as an alternative, being made permanent in 1920 when the cuff badges were abolished. |
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==See also== |
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{{stack|{{Portal|United Kingdom}}}} |
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*[[British and U.S. military ranks compared]] |
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*[[British Army Other Ranks rank insignia]] |
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*[[British Army officer rank insignia]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Latest revision as of 14:03, 16 February 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2012) |
| Captain | |
|---|---|
  Army and Royal Marines insignia | |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Service branch |  British Army Royal Marines |
| Abbreviation | Capt |
| NATO rank code | OF-2 |
| Non-NATO rank | O-2 |
| Formation | c. 1815 |
| Next higher rank | Major |
| Next lower rank | Lieutenant |
| Equivalent ranks | |
Captain (Capt) is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines and in both services it ranks above lieutenant and below major with a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force. The rank of captain in the Royal Navy is considerably more senior (equivalent to the Army/RM rank of colonel) and the two ranks should not be confused.
In the 21st-century British Army, captains are often appointed to be second-in-command (2IC)[1] of a company or equivalent sized unit of up to 120 soldiers.[2]
History
[edit]A rank of second captain existed in the Ordnance at the time of the Battle of Waterloo.[3]
From 1 April 1918 to 31 July 1919, the Royal Air Force maintained the junior officer rank of captain. RAF captains had a rank insignia based on the two bands of a naval lieutenant with the addition of an eagle and crown above the bands.[4] It was superseded by the rank of flight lieutenant on the following day.[5]
Rank insignia
[edit]
-
1856 to 1880 captain's rank insignia -
1881 to 1902 captain's rank insignia -
1902 to 1920 captain's rank insignia (general pattern) -
1902 to 1920 captain's rank insignia (Scottish pattern)
-Collar_Insignia.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
Badges of rank for captains were introduced on 30 January 1855 and were worn on shoulder epaulettes. After the Crimean War a new rank system was introduced which contained the first complete rank insignia in British Army history. A captain's rank insignia was worn on the collar and displayed a crown and a pip (which is now the rank insignia for a lieutenant-colonel).
The rank insignia were returned to the shoulder boards in 1880 for all officers in full dress, when the system of crowns and stars was reorganised. From this time, until 1902, a captain had just two stars. The 1902 change gave captains three stars, which continues to be used. In addition to the shoulder badges, officers' ranks were also reflected in the amount and pattern of gold lace worn on the cuffs of the full-dress tunic.
From 1902, a complex system of markings with bars and loops in thin drab braid above the cuff (known irreverently as the asparagus bed) was used at first but this was replaced in the same year by a combination of narrow rings of worsted braid around the cuff, with the full-dress style shoulder badges on a three-pointed cuff flap. Based on equivalent naval ranks, captains had two rings of braid. In the case of Scottish regiments, the rings were around the top of the gauntlet-style cuff and the badges on the cuff itself.
During World War I, some officers took to wearing similar jackets to the men, with the rank badges on the shoulder, as the cuff badges made them conspicuous to snipers. This practice was frowned on outside the trenches but was given official sanction in 1917 as an alternative, being made permanent in 1920 when the cuff badges were abolished.
See also
[edit]
- British and U.S. military ranks compared
- British Army Other Ranks rank insignia
- British Army officer rank insignia
References
[edit]- ^ British Army Captain Explained
- ^ "Ranks". British Army Website. 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ Holmes, Richard (2001). Redcoat - The British Soldier in the Age of Horse and Musket. HarperCollins. p. 176. ISBN 9780002570978.
- ^ Barrass, M. B. (2015). "Commissioned Ranks of the Royal Air Force, April 1918 – August 1919: Initial Uniform Design". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ Barrass, M. B. (2015). "Commissioned Ranks of the Royal Air Force 1919 – Present: Final Uniform Design". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 17 April 2016.