World War II Armed Forces – Orders of Battle and Organizations

Last Updated 03.10.2008

British, Dominion, and Commonwealth Armed Forces Ranks

 

•		Royal Navy		US Navy	British Army Royal Marines		US Army USAAF USMC	Royal Air Force
		Abbrev	Definition		Abbrev	Definition		Abbrev	Definition
G5		–	Admiral of the Fleet	Fleet Admiral	FM	Field-Marshal	General of the Army	–	Marshal of the Royal Air Force
G4		Adm	Admiral	Admiral	GEN	General	General	ACM	Air Chief Marshal
G3		V Adm	Vice-Admiral	Vice Admiral	LTG	Lieutenant- General	Lieutenant General	AM	Air Marshal
G2		R Adm	Rear-Admiral	Rear Admiral	MG	Major-General	Major General	AVM	Air Vice Marshal
G1		Com	Commodore [1]	Commodore [2]	BG	Brigadier [3]	Brigadier General	Air Com	Air Commodore
O6		Capt	Captain	Captain	COL	Colonel	Colonel	Grp Cpt	Group Captain
O5		Cdr	Commander	Commander	LTC	Lieutenant- Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Wng Cdr	Wing Commander
O4		Lt Cdr	Lieutenant- Commander	Lieutenant Commander	MAJ	Major	Major	Sqdn Ldr	Squadron Leader
O3		Lt	Lieutenant	Lieutenant	CPT	Captain	Captain	Flt Lt	Flight Lieutenant
O2		Sub Lt	Sub-Lieutenant	Lieutenant (junior grade)	1LT	Lieutenant	1st Lieutenant	Flg Off	Flying Officer
O1		Mid	Midshipman	Ensign	2LT	2nd Lieutenant	2nd Lieutenant	Plt Off	Pilot Officer
Skipper was a rank used in the Royal Naval Reserve for captains of fishing boats who were members of the service. It was equivalent to Warrant Officer. Skippers could also be promoted to Chief Skipper (equivalent to Commissioned Warrant Officer) and Skipper Lieutenant.
[1]   A temporary title in the Royal Navy. It was bestowed upon Captains who commanded squadrons of more than one vessel. (It was not until 1996 that Commodore was made a rank in the Royal Navy.) [2]   Up to April 1943 the USN G1 grade was Rear Admiral (Lower Half), and the G2 grade was know as Rear Admiral (Upper Half). [3]   In the British Army, a Brigadier was considered as a field grade officer, not a general.