World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations

Last Updated 13.07.2023

Ranks

BM Boatswain's Mate (enlisted rank)

Grade	Army		Marine Corps		Navy		Coast Guard		Grade
G5	GA	General of the Army			F.Adm.	Fleet Admiral			G5
G4	GEN	General			Adm.	Admiral			G4
G3	LTG	Lieutenant General	LTG	Lieutenant General	V.Adm.	Vice Admiral			G3
G2	MG	Major General	MG	Major General	R.Adm.	Rear Admiral [1]	R.Adm.	Rear Admiral [1]	G2
G1	BG	Brigadier General	BG	Brigadier General	Comd.	Commodore [1]	Comd.	Commodore [1]	G1
O6	COL	Colonel	COL	Colonel	Capt.	Captain	Capt.	Captain	O6
O5	LTC	Lieutenant Colonel	LTC	Lieutenant Colonel	Cdr.	Commander	Cdr.	Commander	O5
O4	MAJ	Major	MAJ	Major	Lt. Cdr.	Lieutenant Commander	Lt. Cdr.	Lieutenant Commander	O4
O3	CPT	Captain	CPT	Captain	Lt.	Lieutenant	Lt.	Lieutenant	O3
O2	1LT	1st Lieutenant	1LT	1st Lieutenant	Lt. (jg)	Lieutenant (junior grade)	Lt. (jg)	Lieutenant (junior grade)	O2
O1	2LT	2nd Lieutenant	2LT	2nd Lieutenant	Ens.	Ensign	Ens.	Ensign	O1
					BMC	Chief Boatswain Mate [2]	BMC	Chief Boatswain Mate [2]
					MC	Boatswain Mate [3]	MC	Boatswain Mate [3]
[1] During World War II, the US Navy did not formally use the rank of Rear Admiral (Lower Half), abbreviated RDML or "Admiral LH." Instead, Rear Admirals were divided informally into "lower half" (junior, equivalent to G-1 pay, like a brigadier general) and "upper half" (senior, G-2 pay, like a major general), but both wore two-star insignia. On 08.04.1943 the USN revived the one-star rank of commodore for wartime needs, filling the gap between captain and rear admiral for officers leading ship or aircraft detachments. [2] Chief Boatswain Mates (senior enlisted rating = title); besides senior NCO duties, could also be appointed petty officer-in-charge of picketboats, self-propelled barges, tugs, and other yard and district craft, and were occasionally also appointed petty officer-in-charge of ships before they were commissioned. [3] Boatswain Mates (enlisted rating = title).