The Royal Danish Navy ranks follows the NATO system of ranks and insignia, as does the rest of the Danish Defence. Outside this ranking system there are physicians (who may wear the same insignia in the Army/Air Force but with a slight variation in the Navy), nurses and veterinarians, while priests and judicial personnel wear completely different insignia and are without rank.

Current ranks

Besides the NATO-system, the Danish defence utilizes its own system, which for the navy is as follows:

• Military personnel, level 400 (M400, chef-gruppen^[1]) Executive level: OF-4 through OF-9^[2]
• Military personnel, level 300 (M300, officers-gruppen) Operational level: OF-1 through OF-3
• Military personnel, level 200 (M200, sergent-gruppen) NCO level: OR-5 through OR-9
• Military personnel, level 100 (M100, konstabel-gruppen) Seamen level: OR-1 through OR-4

Officers

The highest officer's rank is OF-9 (Admiral) which is reserved for the Chief of Defence (only when this seat is occupied by a naval officer). The Prince Consort of Denmark held the rank of Admiral (à la suite). Similarly, OF-8 (Vice-admiral) is reserved for the Vice Chief of Defence). OF-7 (Kontreadmiral) is used by the Chief of the Royal Danish Navy and OF-6 (Flotilleadmiral) by the chief of Danish Task Group as well as keepers of high-office positions. OF-4 and OF-5 are mainly chiefs of squadrons, schools and larger vessels. OF-1 through OF-3 are used in a variety of positions.

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Royal Danish Navy[3] v t e
			Admiral		Viceadmiral		Kontreadmiral		Flotilleadmiral		Kommandør		Kommandørkaptajn		Orlogskaptajn		Kaptajnløjtnant		Premierløjtnant			Løjtnant
Danish Pay Grade[2]			M406		M405		M404		M403		M402		M401		M332 M331 M322		M321		M312			M311			M310

Rank flags

Rank	Admiral	Viceadmiral	Kontreadmiral	Flotilleadmiral	Eskadrechef
1858–1882				—
1882–
–1979
1979–present

Enlisted

The Danish OR's also follow the NATO system, though there are no OR-6's. OR-4 (Korporal) is the highest of the M100-level ranks is and not considered a NCO-rank.

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Royal Danish Navy[3] v t e
	Chefsergent						Seniorsergent		Oversergent								Sergent			Sergent SØ			Korporal				Marinespecialist		Marineoverkonstabel						Marinekonstabel
Danish Pay Grade[2]	M232						M231		M221								M212			M211			M113				M112

Additional ranks

NATO Code	OR-9		OR-8	OR-1
Rank
Danish	Søværnschefsergent	Myndighedschefsergent	Myndighedsseniorsergent	Stampersonel SØ	Værnepligtig SØ
English	Master chief petty officer of the Navy	Command master chief petty officer	Command senior chief petty officer	Junior rating/Trainee	Conscript

• Other rank insignia
• 
  Seniormekaniker
  (Senior leading Mechanic)
• 
  Overmekaniker af 1. grad
  (Leading Mechanic 1st class)
• 
  Overmekaniker af 2. grad
  (Leading Mechanic 2nd class)
• 
  Mekaniker
  (Mechanic)

The Branch of Service logos are placed in the middle of the ranks, to signify the service.

• Branch of Service
• 
  Våben, Artilleri
  (Gunner)
• 
  Våben, Torpedo
  (Torpedo)
• 
  Kommunikation
  (Communication)

Naval Chaplains

• Clerical personnel
• 
  Naval Dean
• 
  Naval Chaplain

Historical ranks

The sleeve insignia was first introduced in the Royal Navy in 1871 and was based around the British Royal Navy.^[4] In order to become more standard, the admiral ranks were changed in 1951.^[5]

Timeline of changes

Order of precedence

Modern ranks

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
1858–1868[9]
			Admiral		Viceadmiral		Kontreadmiral								Orlogskaptajn		Kaptajnløjtnant		Løjtnant
1868–1871[10]
			Admiral								Kommandør						Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant			Sekondløjtnant
1871–1880[11]
			Admiral								Kommandør						Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant			Sekondløjtnant
1909–1922[12]
			Admiral		Viceadmiral		Kontreadmiral				Kommandør						Kaptajn		Premierløjtnant		Løjtnant		Sekondløjtnant
1922–1937[13]
			Admiral		Viceadmiral		Kontreadmiral				Kommandør		Kommandørkaptajn		Orlogskaptajn		Kaptajnløjtnant		Søløjtnant af 1. grad			Søløjtnant af 2. grad
1937–1951
			Admiral		Viceadmiral		Kontreadmiral				Kommandør		Kommandørkaptajn		Orlogskaptajn		Kaptajnløjtnant		Premierløjtnant			Løjtnant			Søløjtnant II
1951–1970
			Admiral		Viceadmiral		Kontreadmiral				Kommandør		Kommandørkaptajn		Orlogskaptajn		Kaptajnløjtnant		Premierløjtnant			Løjtnant			Søløjtnant II
1970–2000
			Admiral		Viceadmiral		Kontreadmiral		Flotilleadmiral		Kommandør		Kommandørkaptajn		Orlogskaptajn		Kaptajnløjtnant		Premierløjtnant			Løjtnant			Søløjtnant II
2000–2011
			Admiral		Viceadmiral		Kontreadmiral		Flotilleadmiral		Kommandør		Kommandørkaptajn		Orlogskaptajn		Kaptajnløjtnant		Premierløjtnant			Løjtnant
2011–present
			Admiral		Viceadmiral		Kontreadmiral		Flotilleadmiral		Kommandør		Kommandørkaptajn		Orlogskaptajn		Kaptajnløjtnant		Premierløjtnant			Løjtnant
NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer

Other ranks

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
1959–1962[14]
							Chief Petty Officer 1st Class		Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class								Petty Officer			Student Petty Officer			Leading Seaman 1st Class				Leading Seaman 2nd Class		Able Seaman 1st Class						Able Seaman 2nd Class