How were Warrant Officers appointed to Royal Navy ships during the Age of Sail?

What were the ship ranks in the Age of Sail?

Typical jobs on board included cook, parson, surgeon, master gunner, boatswain (in charge of the sails), carpenter and quartermaster. Other members of the crew would, of course, carry out all the duties, including keeping watch, handling sails, and cleaning decks.

What were the ranks of officers in the 18th century Royal Navy?

The early Royal Navy also had only three clearly established shipboard ranks: captain, lieutenant, and master.

How do you become a warrant officer in the Navy?

Warrant Officers



The Warrant Officer Program is open to all enlisted Navy people with the rank of chief petty officer or above and have completed at least 12 years of naval service. Warrant officers are senior to all enlisted chief petty officers and junior to all ensigns.

What is the history of the warrant officer?

It was first used during the 13th century, in the Royal Navy, where warrant officers achieved the designation by virtue of their accrued experience or seniority, and technically held the rank by a warrant, rather than by a formal commission (as in the case of a commissioned officer).

What rank was a sailing master?

The master, or sailing master, is a historical rank for a naval officer trained in and responsible for the navigation of a sailing vessel. The rank can be equated to a professional seaman and specialist in navigation, rather than as a military commander.

What was the most powerful ship in the Age of Sail?

USS Pennsylvania was a four-decked 140-gun ship of the line of the United States Navy, named for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She was the largest sailing warship ever built for the United States, the equivalent of a first-rate of the British Royal Navy.

What is the lowest rank sailor in the Royal Navy?

Typically, you’ll start your career as a Midshipman. All officers join the Royal Navy at this rank, on an average annual salary of £25,727, which goes up to £30,923 once you’ve completed your initial training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC).

What army rank is equivalent to a Royal Navy commander?

lieutenant colonel

In the 20th and 21st centuries, the rank has been assigned the NATO rank code of OF-4, matching the army rank of lieutenant colonel.



What does a Royal Navy warrant officer do?

A warrant officer was a sailor who became an officer by being awarded a warrant. Warrant officers are junior to commissioned officers and senior to ratings and their ranks include master, purser, engineer, boatswain, gunner, carpenter, surgeon, armourer, chaplain, cook, master at arms, sailmaker and schoolmaster.

What are the ranks on a sailing ship?

Our ships’ crew

  • Captain (or Master) The Captain is in command of the ship and is responsible for the safety of all crew and the vessel.
  • Mate (or 1st Mate, 1st Officer)
  • 2nd Mate (or 2nd Officer)
  • Bosun (or 3rd Mate / Officer)
  • Chief Engineer.
  • 2nd Engineer.
  • Medical Purser.
  • Cook.

What are the ranks of sailors?

A common deck crew for a ship includes:

  • (1) Captain / Master.
  • (1) Chief Officer / First Mate.
  • (1) Second Officer / Second Mate.
  • (1) Third Officer / Third Mate.
  • (1) Boatswain (unlicensed Petty Officer: Qualified member Deck Dept.)
  • (2) Able seamen (unlicensed qualified rating)
  • (2) Ordinary seamen (entry-level rating)

What were the jobs ranks on a pirate ship?

Ranks in a crew



  • Captain.
  • Quartermaster.
  • First Mate.
  • Second Mate.
  • Third Mate.
  • Boatswain (often named “Bo’sun”)
  • Cabin Boy.
  • Carpenter.

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