Commander (Royal Navy): Difference between revisions
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'''Commander''' is a rank in the [[Royal Navy]], superior to {{LCommRN}} and junior to {{CaptRN}}. | '''Commander''' is a rank in the [[Royal Navy]], superior to {{LCommRN}} and junior to {{CaptRN}}. | ||
Commanders often were executive officers of capital ships, or the captain of small vessels such as [[Destroyer|destroyers]]. They were to be "duly qualified officer[s]." | Commanders often were executive officers of capital ships, or the captain of small vessels such as [[Destroyer|destroyers]] or [[light cruiser]]s on foreign stations. They were to be "duly qualified officer[s]." | ||
==Requirements== | |||
In 1879 the requirements for promotion to the rank of Commander were: | |||
<blockquote>To qualify a Lieutenant for promotion to the rank of Commander on the Active List, he must have completed 4 years' sea service as Lieutenant or its equivalent in Harbour Service, but 3 years of such period must be Sea Service in a ship of war at sea.<br>2. A Lieutenant may be promoted to the rank of Commander for gallantry in action, provided he has completed 2 years' Sea Service or its equivalent in the rank of Lieutenant.<ref>''The Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions'' (1879). p. 56.</ref></blockquote> | |||
At the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 the qualifications for the rank of Commander were: | |||
<blockquote>'''Commander.'''—To qualify a Lieutenant for promotion to the rank of Commander on the active list, he must have completed four years service as Lieutenant, of which three years must have been in a ship-of-war at sea.<br> | |||
2. Lieutenants who have passed as Cadets into the "Britannia" or other training establishment in or after January 1903, will be required, at any time after attaining five years' seniority, to pass a qualifying examination for promotion to the rank of Commander, in the following subjects:—<br> | |||
Court-martial procedure.<br> | |||
International law.<br> | |||
Knowledge of British and foreign warships, guns, torpedoes, &c.<br> | |||
Naval history.<br> | |||
Signals.<br> | |||
Strategy.<br> | |||
Tactics and battle formations.<br>3. A Lieutenant may be promoted to the rank of Commander for gallantry in action, provided he has completed two years' service, of which one year must have been in a ship-of-war at sea.<br>4. '''Supplementary Officers.'''—A Lieutenant on the supplementary list may | |||
be promoted to the active list of Commanders for distinguished service during | |||
war operations.<ref>''The King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions'' (1913). '''Volume I'''. p. 264.</ref></blockquote> | |||
==Acting as Captains== | ==Acting as Captains== | ||
Commanders were often placed in command of smaller vessels, acting as captains. This did not affect his actual rank, but did entitle him to wield the authority of a ship's captain aboard his ship except at courts-martial.<ref>''The King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions | Commanders were often placed in command of smaller vessels, acting as captains. This did not affect his actual rank, but did entitle him to wield the authority of a ship's captain aboard his ship except at courts-martial.<ref>''The King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions'' (1913). '''Volume I'''. p. 73.</ref> | ||
==Insignia== | ==Insignia== | ||
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==Equivalent Ranks== | ==Equivalent Ranks== | ||
*[[Engineer Commander (Royal Navy)|Engineer Commander]] | |||
*[[Fleet Surgeon (Royal Navy)|Fleet Surgeon]] | *[[Fleet Surgeon (Royal Navy)|Fleet Surgeon]] | ||
==Footnotes== | ==Footnotes== | ||
Revision as of 14:24, 14 September 2012
Commander is a rank in the Royal Navy, superior to Lieutenant-Commander and junior to Captain.
Commanders often were executive officers of capital ships, or the captain of small vessels such as destroyers or light cruisers on foreign stations. They were to be "duly qualified officer[s]."
Requirements
In 1879 the requirements for promotion to the rank of Commander were:
To qualify a Lieutenant for promotion to the rank of Commander on the Active List, he must have completed 4 years' sea service as Lieutenant or its equivalent in Harbour Service, but 3 years of such period must be Sea Service in a ship of war at sea.
2. A Lieutenant may be promoted to the rank of Commander for gallantry in action, provided he has completed 2 years' Sea Service or its equivalent in the rank of Lieutenant.[1]
At the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 the qualifications for the rank of Commander were:
Commander.—To qualify a Lieutenant for promotion to the rank of Commander on the active list, he must have completed four years service as Lieutenant, of which three years must have been in a ship-of-war at sea.
2. Lieutenants who have passed as Cadets into the "Britannia" or other training establishment in or after January 1903, will be required, at any time after attaining five years' seniority, to pass a qualifying examination for promotion to the rank of Commander, in the following subjects:—
Court-martial procedure.
International law.
Knowledge of British and foreign warships, guns, torpedoes, &c.
Naval history.
Signals.
Strategy.
Tactics and battle formations.
3. A Lieutenant may be promoted to the rank of Commander for gallantry in action, provided he has completed two years' service, of which one year must have been in a ship-of-war at sea.
4. Supplementary Officers.—A Lieutenant on the supplementary list may be promoted to the active list of Commanders for distinguished service duringwar operations.[2]
Acting as Captains
Commanders were often placed in command of smaller vessels, acting as captains. This did not affect his actual rank, but did entitle him to wield the authority of a ship's captain aboard his ship except at courts-martial.[3]
Insignia
On their sleeves, Commanders wore 3 rows of ½-inch gold lace.
Equivalent Ranks
Footnotes
Bibliography
