Russian Navy ranks. Military ranks of the Russian army by ascending order and categories

Ranks in the Russian army: comparison table + samples of shoulder straps + 12 interesting facts on the topic + 7 army customs.

Even if at the lessons of military training a mustachioed military instructor forced you to cram ranks in the Russian army, we are sure that nothing remains in your head except the uncontrollable “laughing” in class, the braids of your classmates and the first cigarettes smoked around the corner of the school.

It’s time to fill this gap in order to distinguish a “real colonel” from a “warrant officer Shmatko” at first glance.

Ranks in the Russian army? Where are they “distributed”?

In the Russian army, all military ranks are divided into 2 large categories:

• ship's (those received by brave sailors);
• military (assigned to “land rats”).

Category No. 1. “Ship”: “You are a sailor, I am a sailor...”

Those who serve in:

• Navy(its submarine and surface forces). Oh, these brave officers in naval uniform - how many girls’ hearts they broke!;
• military naval units Ministry of Internal Affairs. Yes, yes, there are also marine policemen!

protection (coastal) Border Service of the Russian FSB.

No, they do not catch poachers with two buckets of crucian carp, but protect water boundaries from illegal immigrants and other violators.

Category No. 2. “Military”: “And I love military men, handsome, hefty ones...”.

Meeting a sea captain in a white jacket is quite a difficult task if you do not live somewhere near the gentle sea. But don't despair!

In the Russian army, ranks are also obtained in:

• Armed Forces;
• Ministry of Internal Affairs (precinct and other police “people”);

Ministry of Emergency Situations (brave “Malibu rescuers”);

“If you think that the work of the Ministry of Emergency Situations is pure heroism and a thriller, then I have to disappoint you: sometimes you just have to carry out explanatory work with priests so that they don’t burn the church with candles, and with them the old women parishioners and the cats from the trees film and tell grandmothers how to light the stove in winter and not suffocate from carbon monoxide. But the title, uniform and social benefits make the work much more bearable.”, - Vadim from Khmelnitsky shares his impressions of the service.

• Intelligence Service (external) (yeah, yeah, those same followers of Stirlitz!);
• Federal Security Service;
• other military units.

All ranks of the Russian army in one table: let’s dispel the “darkness of ignorance”

So that you don’t fall asleep on the third line of a simple listing of ranks in the Russian army, we offer you a simple cheat sheet (military and ship ranks placed on the same line correspond to each other):

	Ranks in the Russian army:
Type	Military	ship
Non-officer	private, corporal, Lance Sergeant, sergeant, staff Sergeant, foreman, ensign, Senior Warrant Officer	sailor, senior sailor, foreman of the second article, foreman of the first article, chief petty officer, chief ship's foreman, midshipman, senior midshipman
Junior officers	junior lieutenant, lieutenant, senior lieutenant, captain	junior lieutenant, lieutenant, senior lieutenant, captain-lieutenant
Senior officers	major, lieutenant colonel, Colonel	captain 1st rank, captain 2nd rank, captain 3rd rank
Senior officers	major general Lieutenant General, Colonel General, army General, Marshal of the Russian Federation	rear admiral, vice admiral, admiral, fleet admiral

As you can see from the table, there is one more military rank! But what!

Find 10 differences: shoulder straps for different ranks in the Russian army

So that at first glance it is clear “who is who?” in the Russian troops, insignia were introduced - sleeve insignia (for sailors) shoulder straps and epaulettes (for all soldiers).

1) Shoulder straps of non-officer ranks

2) Shoulder straps of officer ranks

Top 12 interesting facts about ranks in the Russian army

1. The only one who can command a Marshal of the Russian Federation (even give him the command “Take a prone position!”) ​​is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, who is also the President of the Russian Federation. Moreover, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief is a position, not a rank in the Russian troops.
2. The current President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, left the FSB with the rank of colonel, but now the position allows him to “build” the holders of the highest military ranks.
3. The Minister of Defense commands both sailors and ground forces. Therefore, there is no rank higher than fleet admiral in the Navy.
4. Do not try to express your respect for the brave warriors by carefully writing out their ranks in the Russian armed forces with a capital letter. The fact is that all these words (from sailor to marshal) are written with a small letter;
5. If you are lucky enough to serve in guard units, then the word “guard” is added to the rank, for example, “guard colonel.” Agree, it sounds!

6. Even if you have retired or retired and are quietly growing cucumbers in your dacha, your title is assigned to you with the prefix “reserved” or “retired.”

   “A colonel, even if he is retired or in reserve, will still embarrass the traffic cop sergeant who stopped him for violating traffic rules. The poor guy will scold and scold him and let him go without a fine. That’s how the title works for you!”– military pensioner Alexander from Kharkov says with a laugh.

7. To the ranks of military doctors and lawyers they add “justice” (for example, “captain of justice”) or “medical service” (for example, “colonel of the medical service”).

   This, of course, is not George Clooney from ER, but it also sounds great!

8. Those who entered a military university to study, but so far only see their high ranks in the Russian troops in sweet dreams, are called cadets, and those who have already managed to “sniff gunpowder” (have a military rank) are called listeners.
9. For a whole year of (command) service, the maximum that you “shine” in the Russian army is the rank of sergeant.
10. Since 2012, the ranks of chief petty officer and petty officer have not been assigned (they are simply “skipped over”), but they remain on pieces of paper. This is such a “wonderland”!
11. Although the rank of major is higher than that of lieutenant, by some strange, inexplicable logic, a lieutenant general in the Russian Federation is higher in rank than a major general.

In the Russian army, the next rank is awarded for personal merit and length of service. If your commanders judge your bright moral character and high level of “combat and political training”, then how much time you need to “pipe off” from rank to rank, we will guide you:

No.	Rank in the Russian army	Length of service
1	Private, sailor	5 months
2	Junior sergeant, sergeant major of the second class	1 year
3	Sergeant, petty officer first class	2 years
4	Senior Sergeant, Chief Petty Officer	3 years
5	Ensign, midshipman	3 years
6	Ensign	2 years
7	Lieutenant	3 years
8	Senior Lieutenant	3 years
9	Captain, Lieutenant Commander	4 years
10	Major, captain 3rd rank	4 years
11	Lieutenant Colonel, Captain 2nd Rank	5 years

12. Then, to get another “star” on your uniform, you will have to serve for 5 years. A prerequisite is also to have a position suitable for your new rank:

    Rank	Job title
    Private	All newly drafted into the army, all lower positions (gunner, driver, gun crew number, driver, sapper, scout, radio operator, etc.)
    Corporal	There are no full-time corporal positions. The title is awarded to high-skilled soldiers in lower positions.
    Junior Sergeant, Sergeant	Squad, tank, gun commander
    Staff Sergeant	Deputy Platoon Leader
    Sergeant Major	Company Sergeant Major
    Ensign, Art. ensign	The commander of a platoon of material support, the foreman of the company, the head of the warehouse, the head of the radio station and other non-commissioned officers positions that require high qualifications. Can occupy lower officer positions if there is a shortage of officers
    Ensign	Platoon commander. Usually this rank is awarded in conditions of acute shortage of officers after completing accelerated officer courses
    Lieutenant, Art. lieutenant	Platoon commander, deputy company commander.
    Captain	Company commander, training platoon commander
    Major	Deputy battalion commander. Training company commander
    Lieutenant colonel	Battalion commander, deputy regiment commander
    Colonel	Regiment commander, deputy brigade commander, brigade commander, deputy division commander
    Major General	Division commander, deputy corps commander
    Lieutenant General	Corps commander, deputy army commander
    Colonel General	Army Commander, Deputy District (Front) Commander
    Army General	District (front) commander, Deputy Minister of Defense, Minister of Defense, Chief of the General Staff, other senior positions
    Marshal of the Russian Federation	Honorary title given for special merits

The Russian army does not live by rank alone! 7 interesting military signs and customs

Ranks in the Russian army are, of course, a burning topic, but we also want to talk about interesting traditions, signs and customs in the army:

• Only the lazy have never heard of “washing” a new rank with the ritual dipping of “stars” into a glass of vodka and Sabantuy with their colleagues.

  There are whole instructions for carrying out this important, almost magical ritual - https://www.antik-war.lv/viewtopic.php?p=2140415

  a paratrooper is unlikely to take someone else's parachute.

  We suspect that this sign arose due to the fact that no matter how much you love your brother Seryoga, who sleeps with you in the barracks in the next bed, you cannot be sure that he will prepare the parachute as carefully as you;

  “Even though I still feel every unsuccessful jump in my bones and groan at bad weather, the landing is what made me a real man. And it’s not about shoulder straps, benefits and a normal pension, but the fact that it was there that I learned to do something through “I can’t”, learned what real male friendship is and, thanks to my service, traveled all over the world. I had a chic, rich youth without a mobile phone, the Internet and pretentious coffee shops", - Vladimir from Penza shares his memories.

• One match cannot be used to light cigarettes for three or more fighters.

  Experienced people say that during this time the sniper will have plenty of time to open aimed fire;

  Submariners do not shave during combat missions.

  Well, well, you won’t find young ladies on a submarine during the day with fire, so there’s no one to show off to;

• Submariners don't like the number 9, since many accidents occurred with boats in which this very “nine” was in the number (K-9, K-129, K-159, etc.);
• Paratroopers swimming in fountains on Airborne Forces Day– this is from the “Understand and Forgive” series;

The paratroopers make their first “jumps” from a stool, holding a box of matches between their knees.

Of course, you need to land softly, and the matches should not fall to the floor;

After the official part of the graduation ceremony, graduates of military universities hide several bills under each shoulder strap.

The money is received by the junior cadet who is the first to salute the newly-minted junior lieutenant and congratulate him on his promotion to the rank.

All shoulder straps and ranks of the Russian

Federations in one video:

We hope that the article helped you “discover America” of ranks in the Russian army and deal with this interesting issue once and for all.

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(in order from sailor to high command) mostly go back to those that appeared during the USSR period.

A little history - naval ranks and tables of ranks

As you know, in the last year of the reign of Peter I, the table of ranks was introduced. It was a table where civil and military service positions were divided into fourteen ranks. However, naval ranks were not included in every row of the table.

The XIV rank among naval ranks was given to a midshipman, corresponding to a collegiate registrar, ensign, cornet and artillery bayonet cadet. At the beginning of the reign of Paul I, the rank of midshipman began to refer to the XII rank. Also included in this rank was the rank of non-commissioned lieutenant, which existed until 1732.

A naval lieutenant was classified as rank X until 1884, after which a midshipman was promoted to this rank. The rank of lieutenant, in turn, began to refer to rank IX.

People who managed to rise to rank VIII in the fleet of the Russian Empire acquired the right to personal nobility. These positions included captains of the first three ranks and a senior lieutenant, who appeared in the navy shortly before the First World War. The fifth rank included the rank of captain-commander, which was finally abolished in 1827. Among the famous bearers of this title was the pioneer Vitus Bering.

Achievement in the service of the IV rank opened the door to hereditary nobles in front of a person. In the navy, people who reached the fourth and higher ranks commanded naval formations: rear admiral, vice admiral, admiral and admiral general.

This also included the rank of Shoutbenakht, which did not take root on Russian soil, and was replaced by Rear Admiral. It is noteworthy that this naval rank was used as a pseudonym by the first Russian emperor himself - “Shoutbenacht Pyotr Mikhailov”. To the III rank belonged the general-krieg commissar of the fleet, whose duties included the financial support of the naval forces. The title was abolished in 1817. The highest rank of Admiral General in the history of the Russian Empire was received by six people. Three of them were representatives of the imperial family.

Although the table of ranks ceased to operate after the creation of the USSR, many ranks reappeared in the fleet of the Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation.

Main categories of naval ranks

According to their composition, the employees of the navy can be divided into the following groups:

• Conscript and contract personnel.
• Junior officers.
• Senior officers.
• Senior officers.

Russian citizens undergoing military service in the navy receive the rank of sailor. It roughly corresponds to a private in the ground forces. Sailors appeared in the fleet of the Soviet Union in 1946. Before this, the lowest military rank in the navy was called “red naval officer.”

Next comes the title of "senior sailor", which corresponds to the "corporal" of the ground forces. The senior sailor commands the group or serves as an assistant to the chief petty officer. The rank of senior sailor can be obtained by employees who observe discipline and their duties well.

The following four ranks correspond to the sergeant ranks of the ground forces:

• Foreman of the first article.
• Foreman of the second article.
• Chief Petty Officer.
• Chief ship's foreman.

Following the foremen are the “midshipman” and “senior midshipman.” These naval ranks correspond to the ranks of warrant officer and chief warrant officer.

The modern division of naval ranks goes back to the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, issued in 1943. He approved the division of officers into junior, senior and senior. The decree included titles for each group, which have survived to the present day.

Junior officers of our country's fleet are called: junior lieutenant, lieutenant, senior lieutenant and lieutenant commander. A junior lieutenant can lead a combat post. More senior representatives of this category of officers can be assistant commanders of a ship of the fourth rank or even command such a ship.

Senior officers include captains of the first, second and third ranks. They can also be called captri, kavtorang and caperang. These representatives of the officer corps can command military vessels of the appropriate rank.

In the modern Russian fleet, the rank of a warship is determined based on the complexity of control, the number of personnel and combat power. The first rank includes cruisers, nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers. The second rank includes large landing ships, destroyers, and large missile ships.

The third rank includes small missile and anti-submarine ships, medium landing ships, and minesweepers. The fourth rank includes small landing craft and torpedo boats.

The highest officer ranks of our country's fleet were first established in 1940 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council. This is the system we are familiar with:

In the ground forces, these ranks correspond (in ascending order) to major general, lieutenant general, colonel general and army general. A rear admiral can lead a squadron or serve as an assistant to a flotilla commander. A vice admiral may command a flotilla or operational squadron and also serves as deputy fleet commander. At the head of a separate fleet is an admiral. In modern Russia there is one fleet admiral, who is the commander-in-chief of the naval forces of our country.

The rank of "fleet admiral" was introduced in the Soviet Union in 1940. It corresponded to “general of the army.” None of the naval commanders of the country of the Soviets received it at that moment. In fact, the highest rank was admiral.

In 1944, two naval commanders received it. The first was Nikolai Kuznetsov, who at that time held the post of People's Commissar of the Fleet. He was a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, and Nikolai Kuznetsov’s actions in commanding the country’s fleet were successful. In 1945, the title of “Admiral of the Fleet” was given to Ivan Isakov, who led the main naval headquarters during the war before his injury.

In 1955, an additional decree was issued that adjusted the highest naval ranks of the country of the Soviets. To the rank of “Admiral of the Fleet” was added “Soviet Union”. Holders of this rank had the right to wear the "Marshal's Star" - an insignia introduced in 1940.

This highest naval rank was abolished in 1993 because the country referred to in its name no longer existed. The highest rank of naval officers became again "admiral of the fleet".

Introduced in 1955, the rank was personal. In the history of the Soviet state, only three people received the title “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union.” Immediately after the introduction of a new military rank, it was received by N.G. Kuznetsov and I.S. Isakov. A year later, Kuznetsov fell into disgrace and lost his highest rank. He was returned to the naval commander posthumously during the years of Perestroika. In 1967, Sergei Gorshkov was awarded the highest naval rank, who went through the war with the rank of rear admiral and supervised the construction and rearmament of the fleet in the post-war years.

The rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union corresponded in the 1960-1990s to the rank of Marshal of the USSR. In turn, the “admiral of the fleet”, who was of lower rank, corresponded to the general of the army and the marshal of the military branch.

The Commander-in-Chief of our country's naval forces may bear the rank of admiral or admiral of the fleet. Thus, the first naval officer to hold this position in post-Soviet Russia, Felix Gromov, became commander-in-chief in 1992, being an admiral. He received the rank of Admiral of the Fleet four years later, shortly before his retirement.

The next commanders-in-chief (Vladimir Kuroyedov and Vladimir Masorin) took this post as admirals, and after that they received a higher rank. Vladimir Vysotsky and Vladimir Chirkov were commanders-in-chief, remaining with the rank of admiral. Also, the current Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Korolev retains the rank of admiral, received in 2013.

The chiefs of the General Staff of the Fleet, who were the first deputies of the commander-in-chief, as a rule, bore the rank of vice admiral or admiral. Andrei Volozhinsky, who began serving in this post in 2016, retains the rank of vice admiral.

The navy of modern Russia became the successor to the navy. Most of the senior naval officers began their service in the Soviet fleet. For this reason, the ranks in the fleet in modern Russia (in order from sailor to admiral) have not undergone fundamental changes compared to the Soviet period.

In order to know exactly how, according to the regulations, you are supposed to address a military personnel, you need to understand the ranks. Ranks in the Russian Army and shoulder straps provide clarity in relationships and allow you to understand the chain of command. In the Russian Federation there is both a horizontal structure - military and naval ranks, and a vertical hierarchy - from the rank and file to the highest officers.

Rank and file

Private is the lowest military rank in the Russian Army. Moreover, the soldiers received this title in 1946, before that they were addressed exclusively as fighters or Red Army soldiers.

If the service is carried out in a guards military unit or on a guards ship, then when addressing a private, it is worth adding the same word "guard". If you want to contact a military personnel who is in the reserve and has a diploma of higher legal or medical education, then you should contact - "Private Justice", or "private medical service". Accordingly, it is worth adding the appropriate words to someone who is in reserve or retired.

In a ship, the rank of private corresponds to sailor.

Only senior soldiers who perform the best military service are given the rank Corporal. Such soldiers can act as commanders during the latter's absence.

All additional words that were applicable for a private remain relevant for a corporal. Only in the Navy, this rank corresponds to Senior sailor.

The one who commands a squad or combat vehicle receives the rank Lance Sergeant. In some cases, this rank is assigned to the most disciplined corporals upon transfer to the reserve, if such a staff unit was not provided for during service. In the ship's composition it is "sergeant major of the second article"

Since November 1940, the Soviet army received a rank for junior command personnel - sergeant. It is awarded to cadets who have successfully completed the sergeant training program and graduated with honors.
A private can also receive the rank - Lance Sergeant, who has proven himself worthy to be awarded the next rank, or upon transfer to the reserve.

In the Navy, a sergeant of the ground forces corresponds to the rank foreman.

Next comes the Senior Sergeant, and in the Navy - chief petty officer.

After this rank, there is some overlap between land and sea forces. Because after senior sergeant, in the ranks of the Russian army appears Sergeant Major. This title came into use in 1935. Only the best military personnel who served excellently in sergeant positions for six months deserve it, or upon transfer to the reserve, the rank of sergeant major is awarded to senior sergeants certified with excellent results. On the ship it is - chief petty officer.

Next come warrant officers And midshipmen. This is a special category of military personnel, close to junior officers. Complete the rank and file, senior warrant officer and midshipman.

Junior officers

A number of junior officer ranks in the Russian Army begin with the rank Ensign. This title is awarded to final year students and graduates of higher military educational institutions. However, in the event of a shortage of officers, a graduate of a civilian university can also receive the rank of junior lieutenant.

Lieutenant Only a junior lieutenant can become a junior lieutenant who has served a certain amount of time and received a positive educational certificate. Further - senior lieutenant.

And closes the group of junior officers - Captain. This title sounds the same for both land and naval forces.

By the way, the new field uniform from Yudashkin obliged our military personnel to duplicate the insignia on the chest. There is an opinion that the “runaways” from the leadership do not see the ranks on our officers’ shoulders and this is done for their convenience.

Senior officers

Senior officers begin with rank Major. In the Navy, this rank corresponds to Captain 3rd rank. The following Navy ranks will only increase the rank of captain, that is, the rank of land Lieutenant Colonel will correspond Captain 2nd rank, and the rank Colonel – Captain 1st rank.

Senior officers

And the highest officer corps completes the hierarchy of military ranks in the Russian army.

Major General or Rear Admiral(in the navy) - such a proud title is worn by military personnel who command a division - up to 10 thousand people.

Above the Major General is Lieutenant General. (The lieutenant general is higher than the major general because the lieutenant general has two stars on his shoulder straps and the major general has one).

Initially, in the Soviet army, it was more likely not a rank, but a position, because the Lieutenant General was an assistant to the general and took on part of his functions, in contrast to Colonel General, who can personally fill senior positions, both in the General Staff and in the Ministry of Defense. In addition, in the Russian armed forces, a Colonel General may be the deputy commander of a military district.

And finally, the most important serviceman who has the highest military rank in the Russian army is Army General. All previous links are obliged to obey him.

About military ranks in video format:

Well, new guy, have you figured it out now?)

Since the time when the boats of our distant ancestors began to accommodate not one, but several people, the one who steered the boat with a steering oar began to stand out among them, while the rest, following his instructions, rowed or set the sail. This man enjoyed the unlimited confidence of the crew, since he was able to steer the ship, relying on his own experience and intuition, and was the first helmsman, navigator and captain all rolled into one.

Subsequently, as the size of ships grew, so did the number of people required to set the ship in motion and control it. A natural division of labor began, when everyone became responsible for their specific business and, all together, for the successful outcome of the voyage. This is how gradation and specialization began among seafarers - positions, titles, and specialties appeared.

History has not preserved the first names of those whose destiny was navigation, but it can be assumed that already thousands of years before our era, the coastal peoples had terms that defined people’s belonging to the maritime profession.

One of the seven class castes in Ancient Egypt was the helmsman caste. These were brave people, almost suicide bombers according to Egyptian standards. The fact is that, leaving the country, they were deprived of the protection of their native gods...

The first reliable information about the system of naval ranks dates back to the times of Ancient Greece; it was later adopted by the Romans. Arab sailors developed their own system of maritime knowledge. Thus, the word “admiral”, derived from the Arabic “amir al bahr”, which means “lord of the seas,” has become firmly established in all European languages. Europeans learned about many of these Arabic terms from the oriental tales “A Thousand and One Nights,” in particular from “The Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor.” And the very name of Sinbad - a collective image of Arab merchants - is a distortion of the Indian word “Sindhaputi” - “ruler of the sea”: this is how the Indians called shipowners.

After the 13th century, a distinctive system of naval ranks arose among the southern Slavs: shipowner - "brodovlastnik" (from "brod" - ship), sailor - "brodar" or "ladyar", oarsman - "oarer", captain - "leader", crew - “posada”, head of the naval forces - “Pomeranian governor”.

In pre-Petrine Russia there were no naval ranks and there could not have been, since the country did not have access to the sea. However, river navigation was very developed, and in some historical documents of those times there are Russian names for ship positions: captain - “head”, pilot - “vodich”, senior over the crew - “ataman”, signalman - “makhonya” (from “waving” ). Our ancestors called sailors “sar” or “sara”, so in the menacing cry of the Volga robbers “Saryn to the kichka!” (on the bow of the ship!) "saryn" should be understood as "ship's crew."

In Rus', the shipowner, captain and merchant in one person were called “shipman”, or guest. The original meaning of the word "guest" (from Latin hostis) is "alien". In Romance languages ​​it went through the following path of semantic changes: stranger - foreigner - enemy. In the Russian language, the development of the semantics of the word “guest” took the opposite path: stranger - foreigner - merchant - guest. (A. Pushkin in “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” uses the words “guests-gentlemen” and “shipmen” as synonyms.)

Although under Peter I the word “shipman” was supplanted by new, foreign-language ones, it existed as a legal term in the Code of Laws of the Russian Empire until 1917.

The first document in which, along with the old Russian words “shipman” and “feeder”, foreign words were found, was the “Article Articles” of David Butler, who led the team of the first warship “Eagle”. This document was a prototype of the Naval Charter. On its translation from Dutch by the hand of Peter I it is written: “The articles are correct, against which all ship captains or initial ship men deserve to be used.”

During the reign of Peter I himself, a stream of new, hitherto unknown job titles and titles poured into Russia. “For this reason,” he considered it necessary to “create” the Naval Regulations, so that on every large and small ship “everyone knew his position, and no one would excuse himself by ignorance.”

Let's try to take at least a quick look at the history of the origin of the main terms related to the composition of the ship's crew - the crew of a yacht or boat.

BATTALER- the one who manages clothing and food supply. The word has nothing to do with “battle”, since it comes from the Dutch bottelen, which means “to pour into bottles,” hence bottelier - cupbearer.

BOATSWAIN- the one who monitors order on deck, the serviceability of the spar and rigging, manages general ship work, and trains sailors in maritime affairs. It is formed from the Dutch boot or English boat - "boat" and man - "man". In English, along with boatsman, or “boat (ship) man”, there is the word boatswain - this is the name of the “senior boatswain”, who has several “junior boatswains” under his command (boatswain’mate, where our old “boatswain’s mate” comes from).

In Russian, the word “boatswain” is first found in D. Butler’s “Article Articles” in the forms “botsman” and “butman”. In the same place, for the first time, the scope of his duties was defined. In the merchant marine, this title was officially introduced only in 1768.

WATCH MAN- this initially “land” word came into the Russian language from German (via Poland), in which Wacht means “guard, guard”. If we talk about maritime terminology, then the Naval Charter of Peter I includes the word “watchman” borrowed from Dutch.

DRIVER- helmsman on a boat. In this meaning, this Russian word appeared recently as a direct translation of the English draiver. However, in the domestic maritime language it is not so new: in the pre-Petrine era, words of the same root - “vodich”, “ship leader” - were used to call pilots.

“Navigator” is a currently existing and purely official term (for example, in maritime law), as is “amateur navigator” - in the meaning of “captain”, “skipper” of a small recreational and tourist fleet.

DOCTOR- a completely Russian word, it has the same root as the word “liar”. They come from the Old Russian verb “to lie” with a primary meaning of “talk nonsense, idle talk, speak” and a secondary meaning of “conspiracy”, “heal”.

CAPTAIN- sole commander on the ship. This word came to us in a complex way, entering the language from medieval Latin: capitaneus, which is derived from caput - “head”. It appears for the first time in written records in 1419.

The military rank of “captain” first appeared in France - this was the name given to the commanders of detachments numbering several hundred people. In the navy, the title "captain" probably came from the Italian capitano. On the galleys, the captain was the first assistant to the “saprokomit” in military matters; he was responsible for the training of soldiers and officers, led in boarding battles, and personally defended the flag. This practice was later adopted by sailing military and even merchant ships, which hired armed detachments for protection. Even in the 16th century, those who could better protect the interests of the crown or the shipowner were often appointed to the position of first person on a ship, since military qualities were valued above maritime knowledge and experience. Thus, the title “captain” became mandatory on warships of almost all nations from the 17th century. Later, captains began to be divided into ranks in strict accordance with the rank of the ship.

In Russian, the title of "captain" has been known since 1615. The first "ship captains" were David Butler, who led the crew of the Orel ship in 1699, and Lambert Jacobson Gelt, who led the crew of the yacht built together with the Orel. Then the title of "captain" received an official status in the Amusing Troops of Peter I (Peter himself was the captain of the bombardment company of the Preobrazhensky Regiment). In 1853, the rank of captain in the navy was replaced by "ship commander". On the ships of the ROPiT since 1859 and the Voluntary Fleet since 1878, skippers from officers of the navy began to be informally called "captains", and officially this rank in the civil fleet was introduced in 1902 instead of "skipper".

COOK- a cook on a ship, has been called that since 1698. The word came into Russian from Dutch. Derived from Lat. cocus - "cook".

COMMANDER- head of the yacht club, leader of a joint trip of several yachts. Initially, it was one of the highest degrees in knightly orders, then, during the time of the Crusades, it was the title of commander of an army of knights. The word is derived from the Latin: the preposition cum - “with” and the verb mandare - “to order”.

In the Russian navy at the beginning of the 18th century, the officer rank "commander" was introduced (between a captain of the 1st rank and a rear admiral; it still exists in foreign fleets). The commanders wore admiral's uniforms, but epaulettes without an eagle. Since 1707, instead of it, the title of "captain-commander" was assigned, which was finally abolished in 1827. This title was worn by outstanding navigators V. Bering, A.I. Chirikov, and one of the last - I.F. Krusenstern.

CILEM(English cooper, Dutch Kuiper - “cooper”, “cooper”, from kuip - “tub”, “tub”) - a very important position on wooden ships. He not only maintained the barrels and tubs in good condition, but also monitored the watertightness of the ship's hull. The foreign word “cork” quickly entered everyday Russian speech, forming the derivatives “cork” and “uncork.”

PILOT- a person who knows the local navigation conditions and takes upon himself the safe navigation and mooring of the vessel. Usually this is a middle-aged navigator, about whom sailors jokingly, remembering the lights installed for the pilot vessel, say: “White hair - red nose.” Initially, pilots were crew members, but in the XIII-XV centuries there appeared those who worked only in their own specific area. The Dutch called such a “pilot” a “pilot” (loodsman, from lood - “lead”, “sinker”, “lot”). The first document regulating the activities of pilots appeared in Denmark (the “Naval Code” of 1242), and the first state pilotage service was organized in England in 1514.

In Rus', the pilot was called the “ship’s leader,” and his assistant, who measured the depth at the bow with a lot, was often called the “noser.” In 1701, by decree of Peter I, the term “pilot” was introduced, but until the middle of the 18th century the term “pilot” could also be found. The first state pilotage service in Russia was created in 1613 in Arkhangelsk, and the first manual for them was the instructions for pilots of the St. Petersburg port, published in 1711 by Admiral K. Kruys.

SAILOR- perhaps the “darkest” word in origin. All that is known for certain is that it came to us in the 17th century from the Dutch sea tongue in the form of “matros”. And although in the Naval Regulations of 1724 the form “sailor” is already found, until the middle of the 19th century “matros” was still more common. It can be assumed that this word comes from the Dutch mattengenoot - “bed mate”: matta - “matting”, “mat”, and genoot - “comrade”.

In the middle of the century, the word mattengenoot, in the truncated form matten, came to France and was transformed into the French matelot - sailor. And after some time, this same “matlo” returned to Holland again and, unrecognized by the Dutch, turned first into matrso, and then into the more easily pronounced matroos.

There is another interpretation. Some etymologists see the Dutch matt - “comrade” in the first part of the word, others - mats - “mast”. Some scholars see Viking heritage in this word: in Icelandic, for example, mati - “comrade” and rosta - “battle”, “fight”. And together “matirosta” means “combat friend”, “comrade in arms”.

DRIVER- the word is relatively young. It appeared at a time when sails in the navy began to be replaced by the steam engine, and was borrowed from it. Mashinist (from the Old Greek machina), but first noted in Russian in 1721! Naturally, at that time this maritime specialty did not yet exist.

MECHANIC- the origin is similar to the word “machinist”, but in the Russian language in the form “mechanicus” it was noted even earlier - in 1715.

SAILOR- a person who has chosen the maritime profession as his destiny. This profession is believed to be about 9,000 years old. Our ancestors called its representatives “morenin”, “sailor” or “sailor”. The root "hod" is very ancient. The expression “walking on the sea” is found already in the chronicle when describing the campaign of Prince Oleg to Constantinople in 907. One can also recall “Walking across the Three Seas” by Afanasy Nikitin.

In modern language, the root “move” has become entrenched in the terms “seaworthiness”, “navigability”, “propulsion”, etc. Peter I tried to instill the foreign Italian-French name for a military sailor - “mariner” (from the Latin mare - sea). It has been found since 1697 in the forms “mari-nir”, “marinal”, but by the end of the 18th century it fell out of use, leaving only a trace in the word “midshipman”. Another Dutch term, “zeeman” or “zeiman,” suffered the same fate. It existed only until the end of the first quarter of the 19th century.

PILOT- driver (less often - navigator) of a racing boat; an obvious borrowing from aviation “as a sign of respect” for high speeds. During the early Middle Ages, this was the personal rank of a pilot who accompanied the ship throughout the entire passage from the port of departure to the port of destination. This word came to us through the Italian pilota, and its roots are ancient Greek: pedotes - “helmsman”, derived from pedon - “oar”.

STEERING- the one who directly controls the progress of the ship, standing at the helm. The word goes back to the Dutch pyp ("rudder") and in this form is mentioned in the Naval Regulations of 1720 ("Inspect the Ruhr before going on a voyage"). By the middle of the 18th century, the word "ruhr" finally replaced the ancient Russian "helm", however, the title of "steerman" was officially retained in the Russian galley fleet until the last decade of the same century.

SALAG- inexperienced sailor. Contrary to the original “interpretations”, for example, on the topic of a historical anecdote about the mythical island of Alag (“Where are you from?” “From Alag”), the prosaic version is closer to the truth, connecting this word with “herring” - small fish. “Salaga” in some Russian dialects, mainly in the northern provinces, has long been the name for small fish. In the Urals, the use of the word “herring” as a nickname has been recorded, that is, in the meaning of “new fish”.

SIGNALER- a sailor who transmits messages from ship to ship or to shore by means of manual semaphore or raising signal flags. The word “signal” came to us under Peter I through the German Signal from Latin (signum - “sign”).

STARPOM- both parts of this word come from Old Slavonic roots. The senior (from the stem "hundred") here has the meaning of "chief", because it should be the most experienced of the captain's assistants. And “helper” originates from the now lost noun “moga” - “strength, might” (its traces have been preserved in the words “help”, “nobleman”, “infirmity”).

SKIPPER- captain of a civil ship. The word represents the "namesake" of the "shipman" - "schipor", and then goll. schipper (from schip - "ship"). Some etymologists see the formation from a word from Norman (Old Scandinavian Skipar) or Danish (skipper) with the same meaning. Others point to the proximity of the word to the German Schiffer (from schiff (s) herr - "master, head of the ship").

In Russian, the word first occurs at the beginning of the 18th century as a junior officer rank. According to the Naval Charter, the skipper had to "see that the ropes were well folded and that they lay neatly in the tank"; "in throwing and taking out the anchor, it is guilty to be at the biting [biting] and look over the tying of the anchor rope."

In the merchant fleet, the rank of skipper was introduced only in 1768 with the obligatory passing of examinations at the Admiralty. In 1867, the rank was divided into long-distance and coastal skippers, and in 1902 it was abolished, although the position of "sub-skipper" - the owner of the ship's supply for the deck part - still exists on large ships, like the word "skipper pantry".

Shkotovy- a sailor working on sheets (from the Dutch schoot - floor). The word "sheet" (tackle for controlling the clew angle of the sail) is first found in the Naval Charter of 1720 in the form "shkhot".

NAVIGATOR- navigation specialist. This word in Russian was first noted in the form “sturman” in the “Article Articles” of D. Butler, then in “Painting of supplies for the barcolon...” by K. Kruys (1698) in the forms “sturman” and “sturman” and Finally, in the Naval Charter of 1720 the modern form of the word is found. And it comes from the Dutch stuur - “steering wheel”, “to rule”. During the heyday of navigation, when the ships of the Dutch East India Company were already sailing the waters of the Indian Ocean and the role of navigators increased enormously, the Dutch word “navigator” became international. So in the Russian language it replaced the ancient “helmsman” or “kormshchiy” (from “stern”, where since ancient times there was a ship control post). According to the “Article Articles”, the navigator had to inform the captain “the acquired height of the pole (pole) and show his notebook about the ship’s navigation and the book of the sea navigation in order to best advise on the preservation of the ship and people...”.

CABIN BOY- a boy on a ship studying seamanship. This word appeared in Russian vocabulary under Peter I (from the Dutch jongen - boy). At that time, there were “cabin cabin boys” recruited as servants, and “deck cabin boys” for deck work. Many famous admirals began their naval service as cabin boys, including the “admiral of admirals” - Horatio Nelson.