Oberstabsbootsmann

Oberstabsbootsmann (OStBtsm or OSB) is the highest Non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in the German Navy. It is grouped as OR9 in NATO, equivalent to an Sergeant Major in the United States Navy, and an Warrant Officer Class 1 in the British Royal Navy

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

The rank was introduced in the German Navy equivalent to the German Heer and German Luftwaffe grad Oberstabsfeldwebel in 1995, and belongs to the grad group Unteroffiziere mit Portepee.

The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group (Senior NCOs with portepee) 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:

History
The rank has never been used before by the Reichsmarine, the Kriegsmarine as well as in the GDR Volksmarine.

Equivalent in other countries

 * Flag of Belgium.svg - Maître-principal/ Oppermeester
 * Flag of Canada.svg- Chief Petty Officer 1st Class/ Premier maître de 1re classe
 * Flag of Croatia.svg- Časnički namjesnik
 * Flag of Denmark.svg - Chefsergent
 * Flag of France.svg - Maître principal
 * Flag of Greece.svg – Ανθυπασπιστής/ Anthypaspistis
 * Flag of Iceland.svg - Petty officer/specialist
 * Flag of Italy.svg - capo di prima classe
 * Flag of Netherlands.svg - Adjudant-onderofficer
 * Flag of Poland.svg - Starszy chorąży marynarki
 * Flag of Portugal.svg - Sargento-mor
 * Flag of Spain.svg - Subteniente
 * Flag of the United Kingdom.svg - Warrant Officer Class 1
 * Flag of the United States.svg - Master chief petty officer