- Naval ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II
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Imperial Japanese Military Administration Imperial General Headquarters Components Imperial Japanese Army
(Dai Nippon Teikoku Rikugun)Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Railways and Shipping Section Uniforms Imperial Japanese Navy
(Dai Nippon Teikoku Kaigun)Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service Imperial Japanese Navy Land Forces Major battles List of ships List of aircraft Main admirals Rank insignia Army rank insignia Naval rank insignia History of the Japanese Military Military History of Japan during World War II The following graphs present the rank insignia of the Japanese navy during World War II. These designs had been used from 1931-1945, but were discontinued after World War II, when the Imperial Japanese Navy had been dissolved.
The same officer ranks were used for both the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy, the only distinction being the placement of the word Rikugun (Army) or Kaigun (Navy) before the rank. Thus, for example, a Captain in the navy shared the same rank designation as that of a Colonel in the Army-Taisa (Colonel), so the rank of "Rikugun Taisa" denoted an Army Colonel while the rank of "Kaigun Daisa" denoted a Naval Captain.
Contents
Commissioned officer ranks
All-forces ranks IJN Insignia 海軍大将 Kaigun Taishō
(Admiral)海軍中将 Kaigun Chūjō
(Vice-Admiral)海軍少将 Kaigun Shōshō
(Rear-Admiral)海軍大佐 Kaigun Daisa
(Captain)海軍中佐 Kaigun Chūsa
(Commander)海軍少佐 Kaigun Shōsa
(Lieutenant-Commander)海軍大尉 Kaigun Daii
(Lieutenant)海軍中尉 Kaigun Chūi
(Sub-Lieutenant/Lieutenant Junior Grade)海軍少尉 Kaigun Shōi
(Ensign)Cadet and Warrant officer ranks
All-forces ranks IJN Insignia 海軍准尉 Kaigun Jun-i
(Warrant Officer)Single 1/4 in. gold stripe with loop. 海軍少尉候補生 Kaigun Shōi Kōhōsei
(Midshipman)Single 1/4 in. gold stripe Enlisted ranks
All warrant and commissioned officer ranks had the same names as their army counterparts. For non-commissioned officers and enlisted, the naming changed in 1942. The first name is before, the second after that date. Both of them were different from the army names, but were equal in rank.
Before 1942 After 1942 Non-commissioned officers 下士官 (Kashikan) - selected from conscripts and given one year of training in the Navy NCO Academy. 一等兵曹 Ittōheisō
Petty Officer First Class上等兵曹 Jōtōheisō
Chief Petty Officer二等兵曹 Nitōheisō
Petty Officer Second Class一等兵曹 Ittōheisō
Petty Officer First Class三等兵曹 Santōheisō
Petty Officer Third Class二等兵曹 Nitōheisō
Petty Officer Second ClassEnlisted/seamen 兵 (Hei) 一等水兵 Ittōsuihei
Sailor First Class水兵長 Suiheichō
Leading Seaman二等水兵 Nitōsuihei
Sailor Second Class上等水兵 Jōtōsuihei
Able Seaman三等水兵 Santōsuihei
Sailor Third Class一等水兵 Ittōsuihei
Seaman四等水兵 Yontōsuihei
Sailor Fourth Class二等水兵 Nitōsuihei
Seaman RecruitExternal links
See also
- Army ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II
- Comparative military ranks
- Military of Japan
- Military rank
Categories:- Imperial Japanese Navy
- Military ranks of Japan
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