1951 To 1975
For the Seaman and Naval Airman branches were as follows:
| Insignia | Description |
|---|---|
| Basic device | Junior or Basic |
| Basic device with star above | “Star” or third class Part II or Specialist Qualification (PO and below) |
| Basic device with star above and star below | Second class Part II or Specialist Qualification (PO and below) |
| Basic device with crown above | First class Part II or Specialist Qualification (PO and below) |
| Basic device with crown above | Second class or lower Part II or Specialist Qualification (CPO) |
| Basic device with crown above star below | First class Part II or Specialist Qualification (CPO) |
| Basic device with crown above two stars below | Chief Petty Officers, Petty Officers and Confirmed |
Leading Rates Qualified as Instructors in the following branches:
- Radar Pilots,
- Torpedo Anti-Submarine,
- Gunnery,
- Physical Training,
- Tactical Communication
- Radio Communication
The Instructor Rate began to disappear in 1972 when Fleet Chief Petty Officers (Warrant Officers) were introduced.
Other branches including Naval Air Mechanics were as follows:
Basic device: Junior or Basic Technical qualification.
Basic device with star above: Technical qualification for Able Rate*
Basic device with star above and star below: Technical qualification for Leading Rate*.
Basic device with crown above: Petty Officer qualified for Higher Rate of Pay.
Basic device with crown above: Chief Petty Officer qualified for Lower Rate of Pay.
Basic device with crown above star below: Chief Petty Officer qualified for Higher Rate of Pay.
.*not applicable to Coder, Supply and Secretariat, Artisan and Sick Birth Branches.
Before 1947 each branch had developed its own device badges in its own way and the crowns and stars of one branch did not necessarily have the same meaning as another. In 1948 and 1951 reforms were put in place to bring the branches into line with each other.
A star above the badge normally indicates a man of superior qualifications, and another star below denotes that this man has passed for and is performing certain specific duties e.g.: Gunnery, captain of turret, Torpedo, torpedo-boat coxswain, Signals, passed for highest grade.
The crown is the emblem of Authority, and is common with most Petty Officer, CPO, Instructor and Police badges.
Warrant Officers and above do not wear branch badges as well as Artificers (also known as "Tiffs"). Until the late 90s, Artificer Apprentices and Leading Artificers wore the same uniform as Petty Officers but with a red beret or cap badge similar to a Petty Officer's. Apprentices were the last junior ratings not to be dressed as seamen, i.e. they did not wear 'square rig'.
Read more about this topic: Royal Navy Ratings Rank Insignia