Captain

Captain (abbrev: CAPT [naval], CPT [martial]) is an officer paygrade within the Royal Manticoran Navy, the Royal Manticoran Marine Corps, the Royal Manticoran Army, the Grayson Space Navy, and the Republic of Haven Navy.

Historical Context

Naval Use

From Latin, capitaneus, the head or chief. The evolution of the commanding officer of ships derives from the batsuen (boatswain) or the rector in the eleventh century; about 1300, the rank of captain came into general use. The master, although he sailed the ship, was of lower rank than the captain. In a British order in council in 1748, the relative rank was settled with the Army by dividing Navy captains into three grades. It was deemed at that time that any officer in command was entitled to the title of captain while in command, regardless of actual rank. All captains not eligible on the list for promotion to rear admiral were originally called "masters and commanders" and had "C" after their names. The rank was shortened to "commander" in 1794. The term "cdr." in the British Navy was used after the names of commanders in 1826. "Post captain," a term used in the Royal Navy and once used in the American Navy, distinguished captains commanding frigates from master commanders or commanders next in rank. There never was a commission of "post captain." In 1747, the rank of captain was first clearly defined in the British Navy. Captains who commanded post ships took rank, if of three years standing, with colonels in the Army. Until the year 1824, the Royal Navy list classed such captains as post captains. Until 1862, captain was the highest commissioned officer in the US Navy, and according to his duty, ranks with lieutenant colonel, colonel, or brigadier general.

Army/Marine Use

Prior to the professionalization of the armed services of European nations subsequent to the French Revolution, a captain was a nobleman who purchased the right to head a company from the previous holder of that right. He would in turn receive money from another nobleman to serve as his lieutenant. The funding to provide for the troops came from the monarch or his government; the captain had to be responsible for it. If he was not, or was otherwise court-martialed, he would be dismissed ("cashiered"), and the monarch would receive money from another nobleman to command the company. Otherwise, the only pension for the captain was selling the right to another nobleman when he was ready to retire.

TRMN

Within The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc., this rank is used among most of the branches of service:

Royal Manticoran Navy

Within this Navy, the rank of Captain is split into the two subgrades of O-6A and O-6B, which is Captain (jg) (CAPTJG) and Captain of the List or Captain (sg) (CAPTSG), respectively. An officer holding the rank of Captain (jg) is superior to all Commanders, and inferior in seniority to all Captains of the List. Captains of the List are, in turn, inferior to all Commodores.

Captains (jg) are appointed to command any vessel type from Heavy Cruiser to Superdreadnought. They can also be appointed to a headquarters department or division (ie: Director of Publications for the Bureau of Communications). Prior to the issuance of Admiralty Order 1510-02, officers appointed to command superdreadnoughts and LAC Carriers received a brevet promotion to Captain of the List. Following the order, however, promotions to O-6B are controlled by the Admiralty through appointment only.

Captains of the List are typically appointed to command divisions of heavy cruiser and above, or possibly command of larger echelon forces such as squadrons and task groups, although such promotions are not always guaranteed.

Rank Insignia

While both sub-grades of Captain wear the same shoulderboards and sleeve stripes, the difference lies in the collar devices. A Captain (jg) wears a Commander's collar device of four diamonds, while a Captain of the List wears a unique device of a single circle.

Paygrade	Rank	Collar Device	Shoulderboard	Sleeves
O-6A	Captain (jg)
O-6B	Captain of the List Captain (sg)

Promotion & Training

To qualify to hold the rank of Captain (jg), a member must have successfully completed SIA-RMN-0106 (Captain (jg) Examination) from the Saganami Island Naval Academy's Officers Academy, or an equivalent examination from another learning institution. For Captain of the List, one must have successfully completed SIA-RMN-1001 (Captain of the List Examination) from the War College.

Promotion to Captain (jg) may only be conferred by a promotion board and to qualify to stand before the board, an officer must have at least eighteen (18) months' time in grade along with the above stated training. Promotion to Captain of the List is by Admiralty appointment only.

Royal Manticoran Marine Corps

A Captain (CPT) of the Marine Corps is a company grade officer with the paygrade of O-3. Captains are superior to all first lieutenants and inferior in grade to all majors.

Marine captains are usually placed in command of company-sized marine detachment, or may serve as a staff officer within the headquarters company of a larger echelon force, such as a battalion or regiment.

Rank Insignia

Paygrade	Rank	Collar Device	Shoulderboard
O-3	Captain

Promotion & Training

To qualify to hold the rank of Captain within the Marine Corps, a member must have successfully completed SIA-RMMC-0103 (Captain Examination) from the Saganami Island Naval Academy's Officers Academy, or an equivalent examination from another learning institution.

Prior to consideration for promotion to the rank of captain, an officer must have at least six months time in grade as a 1st Lieutenant and the above stated training before standing for a promotion board.

Royal Manticoran Army

A Captain (CPT) of the Army is a company grade officer with the paygrade of O-3. Captains are superior to all first lieutenants and inferior in grade to all majors.

Army captains are usually placed in command of a company-sized fighting force, or of an installation, such as an Army Outpost. They may also serve as a staff officer within the headquarters company of a larger echelon force, such as a battalion or regiment, or a larger installation such as a Fort.

Rank Insignia

Paygrade	Rank	Collar Device	Shoulderboard
O-3	Captain

Promotion & Training

To qualify to hold the rank of Captain within the Army, a member must have successfully completed KR1MA-RMA-0103 (Advanced Officer Training Examination) from the King Roger I Military Academy's Officer Training Center, or an equivalent examination from another learning institution.

Prior to consideration for promotion to the rank of captain, an officer must have at least six months time in grade as a First Lieutenant and the above stated training before standing for a promotion board.

Grayson Space Navy

Captains within the Grayson Space Navy are field grade officers with the paygrade of O-6. An officer holding the rank of Captain is superior in grade to all Commanders, and inferior all Commodores.

Captains are typically appointed to command any vessel type from Heavy Cruiser to Superdreadnought. They can also be appointed to a headquarters department or division (ie: Staff Communications Officer to the High Admiral of the Grayson Space Navy). They can also be appointed to command divisions of heavy cruiser and above, or possibly command of larger echelon forces such as squadrons and task groups, although such promotions are not always guaranteed.

Rank Insignia

Paygrade	Rank	Insignia
O-6	Captain

Promotion & Training

To qualify to hold the rank of Captain, a member must have successfully completed IMNA-GSN-0106 (Captain Examination) from the Isaiah Mackenzie Naval Academy's Officer Training Center, or an equivalent examination from another learning institution.

Promotion to Captain may only be conferred by a promotion board and to qualify to stand before the board, an officer must have at least eighteen (18) months' time in grade as a Commander, along with the above stated training.

Republic of Haven Navy

A Captain within the Republic of Haven Navy is a field grade officer with the paygrade of O-6. An officer holding the rank of Captain is superior in grade to all Commanders, and inferior all Commodores.

Captains are typically appointed to command any vessel type from Heavy Cruiser to Superdreadnought. They can also be appointed to a headquarters department or division. They can also be appointed to command divisions of heavy cruiser and above, or possibly command of larger echelon forces such as squadrons and task groups, although such promotions are not always guaranteed.

Rank Insignia

Paygrade	Rank	Insignia
O-6	Captain	File:O6r.png

Promotion & Training

To qualify to hold the rank of Captain, a member must have successfully completed SIA-RMN-0106 (Captain (jg) Examination) from the Saganami Island Naval Academy's Officers Academy, or an equivalent examination from another learning institution.

Promotion to Captain may only be conferred by a promotion board and to qualify to stand before the board, an officer must have at least eighteen (18) months' time in grade along with the above stated training.

See Also

• O-6 equivalents from other branches of The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc.:
  • Colonel (Royal Manticoran Marine Corps, Royal Manticoran Army)
  • Kapitän der Sterne (Imperial Andermani Navy)
• O-3 equivalents from other branches of The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc.:
  • Lieutenant (senior grade) (Royal Manticoran Navy, Grayson Space Navy, Republic of Haven Navy
  • Kapitänleutnant‏‎ (Imperial Andermani Navy)

References

TRMN Ranks
Type	Grade	Navy	Marines/Army	Type	Grade	Fleet	Marines/Army
Officers				Enlisted
Flag Officers	F6	AotF HADM GdF	MotC MotA	NCO Ranks	E10	SMCPON OSBdF FSMCPO CSMCPO MCPON SMCPO OSB	SGTMAJRMMC SGTMAJRMA CSGTMAJ RSGTMAJ
	F5	FADM GADM	MSHL FMSHL		E9	MCPO SB	SGTMAJ
	F4	ADM	GEN		E8	SCPO HB	1SGT
	F3	VADM	LTGEN		E7	CPO OB	MSGT
	F2	RADM KADM	MAJGEN		E6	PO1 B	SSGT
	F1	CDRE FADM	BRGEN		E5	PO2 OMT	PSGT
Field Grade Officers	O6	CAPT CAPTSG CAPTJG KDS	COL		E4	PO3 MT	CPL
	O5	CDR FK	LTCOL	Non-Rate Enlisted Ranks	E3	S1C HGEFR	LCPL
	O4	LCDR KK	MAJ		E2	S2C OGEFR	PFC
Company Grade Officers	O3	LTSG KL	CPT		E1	S3C GEFR	PVT
	O2	LTJG OLDS	1LT	Training Ranks	N/A	MID CDT SK
	O1	ENS LDS	2LT
Warrant Officers
W5		W4		W3		W2	W1
MCWO SMCWO		SCWO MCWO		CWO SCWO		WO1 CWO	WO2 WO