Bootsmann (lit. 'Boatswain') is a naval rank used in some navies.
Finland
Germany
Boatswain Bootsmann (German) | |
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![]() ![]() Shoulder and sleeve insignia | |
Country | ![]() |
Service branch | ![]() |
Abbreviation | Btsm |
Rank group | Non-commissioned officer |
Next higher rank | Oberbootsmann |
Next lower rank | Obermaat |
Equivalent ranks | Feldwebel |
The German term Bootsmann translates to Boatswain, i.e. the senior crewman of the deck department.
In a military context, Bootsmann (Btsm or B) is the lowest Portepeeunteroffizier (NCO with portepeé) rank in the German Navy. It belongs to the particular rank group Senior NCOs with port épée. It is grouped as OR6 in NATO, equivalent to Petty Officer First Class in the US Navy, and to Petty Officer in the British Royal Navy.
In navy context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr Bootsmann also informally / short Bootsmann.
The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
Unteroffiziere mit Portepee
- OR-9: Oberstabsbootsmann / Oberstabsfeldwebel
- OR-8: Stabsbootsmann / Stabsfeldwebel
- OR-7: Hauptbootsmann / Hauptfeldwebel
- OR-6a: Oberbootsmann / Oberfeldwebel
- OR-6b: Bootsmann / Feldwebel
Latvia
Netherlands
Poland
Russia
These names were adopted for the Russian Navy as botsman (боцман) botsmanmat (боцманмат) by Peter the Great, among many other Prussian and Holland military ranks; they were initially treated as positions rather than ranks.
See also
- Ranks of the German Bundeswehr
- Rank insignia of the German Bundeswehr
- Ranks and insignia of NATO navies enlisted
References
- Schult, J. Segler-Lexikon. (in German). p. 61.
- "Oekonomische Encyklopädie von J. G. Krünitz (1773 bis 1858)" (in German). University of Trier.[permanent dead link]