Naval ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II

Imperial Japanese Military

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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.

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 Class
Enlisted/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 Recruit

External links

• World Rank Insignia site

See also

• Army ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II
• Comparative military ranks
• Military of Japan
• Military rank