Commander (Royal Navy)

Commander (Cdr) is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.Before 1750, the rank was broadly considered as the limit of advancement for those without patronage, especially those who had been promoted from among a ship's crew.[4] By contrast, those with Parliamentary supporters or family connections were more likely to spend only a nominal period as master and commander of a sloop, before being elevated to post-captain.[3]: 130 Over the later 18th century, the rank evolved into a more regular stage of service between lieutenant and captain.Commanders unable to secure a ship were left ashore on half-pay, with limited prospects for future advancement.
CommanderRoyal Navyrank codeCaptainLieutenant commanderLieutenant colonelRoyal MarinesWing commanderUnited Kingdomships of warpost-captainsailing-masterunratedsloops-of-warfireshipshospital shipspatronageNapoleonic WarsNavy ListfrigatedestroyersubmarineRoyal Air ForceRoyal Naval Air ServiceBritish and U.S. military ranks comparedComparative military ranksRoyal Navy officer rank insigniaMaster and CommanderPatrick O'BrianCommissionedofficerBritish Armed ForcesNATO rank codeService branchOF-10★★★★★MidshipmanSub LtLt CdrAdmiralAdm of the FleetLt ColColonelMaj GenLt GenGeneralCapt Gen RMBritish ArmyField marshalOff CdtPlt OffFg OffFlt LtSqn LdrWg CdrGp CaptAir CdreAir MshlAir Chf MshlMshl of the RAFrear admiralsvice admiralsadmiralsRM full generalsArmy full generalsair chief marshalsfemale senior officers