Captain (Royal Navy)


 * Please see Captain (naval) for other versions of this naval rank.



Captain (Capt) is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the Royal Navy rank. Sometimes the rank is described as Captain RN to distinguish it from the more junior army rank.

In the Royal Navy, the officer in command of any ship is considered the captain even if that officer holds a different rank. Royal Navy officers who rank as captains may serve on ships or on land in naval bases or other service establishments.

The rank insignia features four rings of gold braid with a loop in the upper ring.