What navy rank's epaulet is three bars, with a circle that has an X inside?
December 12, 2005 1:25 PM   Subscribe

I purchased a navy surplus coat, and it came with epaulets. I've been wearing them sometimes, and strangers jokingly call me "captain" on the street. I'd like to know what rank these epaulets truly are.

The epaulets are three thick gold bars, of equal width. The (top? bottom?) bar is looped, with a thick 'X' embroidered in the centre. It looks very similar to the UK Royal navy rank of Commander, except there is no gold between the gold bars, and except for the 'X', which I assume is the officer's specialty or shipboard duty.
posted by Mozai to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (6 answers total)
 
Navy Rank Insignia website.
posted by ericb at 1:45 PM on December 12, 2005


is it possible the X was added when the coat was sent to surplus, so that it couldn't be confused with a genuine officers uniform?
posted by sergeant sandwich at 1:59 PM on December 12, 2005


This site has all of them listed.
posted by blackkar at 2:00 PM on December 12, 2005


and according to the royal navy's website there are no gold bars between the stripes - i think the presence indicates some kind of specialty (red for medic, etc) but the basic insignia just has spaces between them.
posted by sergeant sandwich at 2:07 PM on December 12, 2005


It seems that reserve officers have an "R" in the loop, but I haven't seen an "X".
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 4:29 PM on December 12, 2005


Response by poster: ericb and blackkar, no points for you : contrary to what you may believe, only the United States of America uses United States of America's rank insignia.

"all of them listed," indeed. You should be ashamed. I even mentioned British Royal Navy and a link to similiar insignias.
posted by Mozai at 6:41 AM on December 13, 2005


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