What are the ranks in the Royal Navy?

Officers are the leaders, strategists and navigators of the fleet. Their responsibilities range from commanding ships to overseeing operations and engineering departments. Within the British Royal Navy's officer class, there are the following ranks: 

• Midshipman: A junior officer in training; often young men learning navigation, leadership and seamanship. 
• Sub-lieutenant: The first commissioned officer rank, responsible for assisting senior officers in managing crew and operations. 
• Lieutenant: The backbone of naval command, Lieutenants often led divisions on board and were responsible for gunnery or navigation. 
• Lieutenant commander: A senior rank often found commanding smaller ships or serving as second-in-command on larger ones. 
• Commander: Typically responsible for frigates, destroyers or submarines, commanders were men of both tactical skill and leadership. 
• Captain: The commanding officer of a major vessel or shore establishment. Captains carried enormous authority and responsibility. 
• Commodore and admiral ranks (rear admiral, vice admiral, admiral, admiral of the fleet): Senior officers commanding squadrons, fleets or entire naval operations — figures of great prestige within the Royal Navy. 

Many officers began their careers as midshipmen, quite literally 'learning the ropes'. Promotions often came through years of naval service, demonstrated leadership and acts of bravery under fire. 

Below the officers were the ratings - the skilled sailors, engineers and gunners who kept the ships running. Life was tough, disciplined and often dangerous, but these men were the heart of the Navy. 

• Ordinary seaman/ able seaman: The entry-level sailors, performing hands-on duties aboard the ship. 
• Leading seaman: A senior sailor responsible for small teams and assisting petty officers. 
• Petty officer: A respected non-commissioned rank, overseeing daily discipline, training and technical work. 
• Chief petty officer/ warrant officer: Senior specialists and leaders who bridged the gap between enlisted men and officers. 

These ranks carried immense practical importance. An able seaman might have manned the guns at Jutland, while a chief petty officer could have overseen engine maintenance deep below deck. 

When exploring Royal Navy service records on sites like Findmypast, a person's rank is often your key to understanding their story. It can indicate their trade, level of experience and even the likelihood of surviving particular engagements. 

Service records, pension registers, and medal rolls can all list rank changes - showing a sailor's progression over time. For example, a man who began as a stoker (engine room crew) might later appear as a petty officer, signalling years of service and promotion. 

Newspapers, ship logs and muster rolls can help bring the experiences of naval ranks to life. A simple note in a local newspaper - 'Petty Officer William Harris of Portsmouth awarded the Distinguished Service Medal' - suddenly transforms a name on a page into a story of courage and endurance. 

Understanding Royal Navy ranks helps you do more than trace lineage - it allows you to step into your ancestor's world, to see the ship through their eyes and understand their place within one of Britain's proudest institutions.