Stabsbootsmann

 Stabsbootsmann  (StBtsm or SB) is the second highest Non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in the German Navy. It is grouped as OR8 in NATO, equivalent to First Sergeant, Master Sergeant, or Senior Chief Petty Officer  in the US Armed forces, and to Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army and Royal Navy.

In navy context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr Stabsbootsmann also informally / short Staber.

The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows: The abbreviation "OR" stands for "Other Ranks / fr: sous-officiers et militaires du rang / ru:другие ранги, кроме офицероф"!
 * OR-9: Oberstabsbootsmann / Oberstabsfeldwebel
 * OR-8: Stabsbootsmann / Stabsfeldwebel
 * OR-7: Hauptbootsmann / Hauptfeldwebel
 * OR-6a: Oberbootsmann / Oberfeldwebel
 * OR-6b: Bootsmann / Feldwebel
 * Remark:


 * See also:

History
In 1938 OR8-grades were introduced by the German Kriegsmarine depending on the particular career as follows:
 * Boatswain (de: Bootsmann): Stabsoberbootsmann (Staff senior boatswain)
 * Steersman (de: Steuermann): Stabsobersteuermann (Staff senior steersman)
 * Engineman (de: Maschinist): Stabsobermaschinist (Staff senior engineman)

These grades were equivalent to the German Wehrmacht ranks Stabsfeldwebel and Stabswachmeister, or the Waffen-SS grade Stabsscharführer.

OR8-grades Stabsfeldwebel and Stabswachmeister have been used in the GDR National People's Army until 1990 as well. The equivalent in the Volksmarine was Stabsmeister.

Equivalent in other NATO countries

 * Flag of Belgium.svg – Premier-maître chef/ Eerste meesterchef
 * Flag of Canada.svg – Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class/ Premier maître de 2e classe
 * Flag of Croatia.svg – Stožerni narednik
 * Flag of Denmark.svg – Seniorsergent
 * Flag of France.svg – Premier maître
 * Flag of Greece.svg – Αρχικελευστής/ Archikelefstis
 * Flag of Iceland.svg – no equivalent
 * Flag of Italy.svg – capo di seconda classe; capo di terza classe
 * Flag of Netherlands.svg – no equivalent
 * Flag of Norway.svg – no equivalent
 * Flag of Poland.svg – Chorąży marynarki
 * Flag of Portugal.svg – Sargento-chefe
 * Flag of Spain.svg – Brigada
 * Flag of the United Kingdom.svg – Warrant Officer Class 2
 * Flag of the United States.svg – Senior Chief Petty Officer