Royal Navy

In the Royal Navy in the middle of the 18th century, the term Able Seaman referred to a seaman with at least two years' experience at sea. Seamen with less experience were referred to as landmen or ordinary seamen. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... This article is about a military rank. ...

In 1653 the Royal Navy introduced a new pay scale as part of reforms following defeat in the Battle of Dungeness the previous year. Included in these reforms were, for the first time, separate pay scales for more experienced seaman. It distinguished between an ordinary seaman and an able seaman. The higher ranked able seaman could steer, use the lead and work aloft, traditionally to “hand, reef, and steer.” An able seaman received about 25% higher pay than an ordinary seaman. The naval Battle of Dungeness took place on 10 December 1652 during the First Anglo-Dutch War near the cape of Dungeness in Kent. ...

In time of war (such as the Seven Years' War or the Napoleonic Wars), with many more warships in service, the navy, merchant marine, and privateers competed ferociously for the limited pool of able seamen, leading to the unpopular use of impressment by the Royal Navy to keep its ships manned. In peacetime, with many fewer active warships, there was usually a surplus of unemployed able seamen willing to work in the navy. As late as the Napoleonic Wars, the Royal Navy's practice of stopping American ships to press American sailors, who may have been born British subjects, into involuntary service, was one of the main factors leading to the War of 1812 with the United States. Combatants Kingdom of Prussia Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland Electorate of Hanover Kingdom of Portugal Brunswick Hesse-Kassel Holy Roman/Austrian Empire Kingdom of France Russian Empire Kingdom of Sweden Kingdom of Spain Electorate of Saxony Kingdom of Naples and Sicily Kingdom of Sardinia The Seven Years War (1754... Combatants Allies: Austrian Empire[1] Kingdom of Portugal Kingdom of Prussia[1] Russian Empire[2] Kingdom of Spain[3] Kingdom of Sweden United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland[4] French Empire - Kingdom of Holland - Kingdom of Italy - Kingdom of Naples - Duchy of Warsaw - Kingdom of Bavaria[5] - Kingdom of... Diagrams of first and third rate warships, England, 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... A privateer was a private ship (or its captain) authorized by a countrys government to attack and seize cargo from another countrys ships. ... Look up Impressment in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Combatants United States Native Americans Great Britain, Canadian provincial forces First Nations Peoples Commanders James Madison Henry Dearborn Jacob Brown Winfield Scott Andrew Jackson George Prevost Isaac Brock† Tecumseh† Strength •U.S. Regular Army: 35,800 •Rangers: 3,049 •Militia: 458,463* •US Navy & US Marines: (at start of war...

Notable Able Seamen

Some notable Able Seamen from the Royal Navy include:

• Simon (Amethyst's cat), ship's cat on the HMS Amethyst, promoted to Able Seaman in the Royal Navy
• Alistair MacLean, author
• Sir Fairfax Moresby, English admiral of the Fleet, entered the Navy as an AB
• William Charles Williams, recipient of the Victoria Cross
• George Hinckley, recipient of the Victoria Cross
• William Bligh, best known as "Captain Bligh" for the famous mutiny that occurred against his command aboard HMS Bounty, entered the Navy as an AB
• Admiral of the Fleet Sir Provo William Perry Wallis entered the Navy as an AB at age four
• William Alfred Savage, recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Albert Edward McKenzie, recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Edward Robinson (VC), recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Sir John Borlase Warren, 1st Baronet, English admiral, entered the Navy as an AB
• Michael Byrne (sailor), signed as an able seaman by Captain Bligh on the Bounty primarily to play the fiddle
• Matthew Quintal, able seaman and mutineer aboard the HMS Bounty

British Ratings and Other Ranks Simon was the ships cat who served on HMS Amethyst. ... Alistair Stuart MacLean (April 28, 1922 - February 2, 1987) was a Scottish novelist who wrote successful thrillers or adventure stories, the best known of which are perhaps The Guns of Navarone and Where Eagles Dare. ... William Charles Williams was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... George Hinckley was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... William Bligh in 1814 Vice-Admiral William Bligh FRS RN (9 September 1754 – 7 December 1817) was an officer of the British Royal Navy and colonial administrator. ... Sir Provo William Perry Wallis (May 12, 1791 - April 26, 1892) was a naval war hero and Admiral of the Fleet for the Royal Navy. ... Photo submitted by Simon Manchee William Alfred Savage was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... Albert Edward McKenzie was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... Edward Robinson was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... Matthew Quintal (1776–1799) was an able seaman and mutineer aboard the HMS Bounty. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Military service. ...
	OR-1	OR-2	OR-3	OR-4	OR-5/OR-6	OR-7	OR-8	OR-9
Royal Navy:		ORD - AB		LH	PO	CPO	WO2	WO1
Royal Marines:		MNE	LCpl	Cpl	Sgt	CSgt	WO2	WO1
Army:	Pte	Pte	LCpl	Cpl	Sgt	SSgt / CSgt	WO2	WO1
Royal Air Force:	AC	LAC - SAC - Jnr Tech		Cpl	Sgt	Chf Tech - FS		WO / MAcr

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... Leading Seaman (or Leading Rate) is the most senior of the junior rates in the British Royal Navy. ... A Petty Officer is a noncommissioned officer or equivalent in many navies. ... Chief Petty Officer is a non-commissioned officer or equivalent in many navies. ... Warrant Officer Class 2 (abbreviated WO2) is a rank in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and British Army. ... Warrant Officer Class 1 (abbreviated WO1) is the highest non-commissioned rank in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and British Army. ... The Royal Marines (RM), are the Royal Navys elite fighting forces. ... A Marine is an elite warrior whose primary function is to serve aboard a ship and/or assault the land from the sea in amphibious warfare. ... Lance Corporal (LCpl or L/Cpl) is a military rank used by some elements of the British, Commonwealth, and U.S. armed forces. ... Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries, police forces or other uniformed organizations around the world. ... Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organisations around the world. ... Colour Sergeant (CSgt or C/Sgt) is an non-commissioned rank in the Royal Marines, ranking above Sergeant and below Warrant Officer Class 2. ... Warrant Officer Class 2 (abbreviated WO2) is a rank in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and British Army. ... Warrant Officer Class 1 (abbreviated WO1) is the highest non-commissioned rank in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and British Army. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to Nato Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). ... A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to Nato Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). ... Lance Corporal (LCpl or L/Cpl) is a military rank used by some elements of the British, Commonwealth, and U.S. armed forces. ... Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries, police forces or other uniformed organizations around the world. ... Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organisations around the world. ... United States Military Staff Sergeant insignia (U.S. Air Force) Staff Sergeant is the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Airman and below Technical Sergeant. ... Colour Sergeant (CSgt or C/Sgt) is an non-commissioned rank in the Royal Marines, ranking above Sergeant and below Warrant Officer Class 2. ... Warrant Officer Class 2 (abbreviated WO2) is a rank in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and British Army. ... Warrant Officer Class 1 (abbreviated WO1) is the highest non-commissioned rank in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and British Army. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Aircraftman (AC) (or Aircraftwoman (ACW)) is the lowest rank in the Royal Air Force, ranking below Leading Aircraftman and having a NATO rank code of OR-1. ... Leading Aircraftman (LAC) (or Leading Aircraftwoman (LACW)) is a rank in the Royal Air Force, ranking between Aircraftman and Senior Aircraftman and having a NATO rank code of OR-2. ... Senior Aircraftman (SAC), or Senior Aircraftwoman (SACW), is a rank in the Royal Air Force, ranking between Leading Aircraftman and Junior Technician (although SACs in non-technical trades progress directly to Corporal) and having a NATO rank code of OR-2. ... Junior Technician (JT) is a rank in the Royal Air Force, ranking between Senior Aircraftman and Corporal, with a NATO rank code of OR-2. ... Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries, police forces or other uniformed organizations around the world. ... Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organisations around the world. ... Chief Technician (CT or Ch Tech) is a non_commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force which is only held by airmen in technical trades and by musicians. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Two Bermuda Regiment Warrant Officers. ... Master Aircrew (MAcr) is the highest non-commissioned rank held by aircrew in the Royal Air Force. ...

Canadian Navy

In the Canadian Navy, Able Seaman (AB) is the second-lowest of the non-commissioned member ranks, ranking above Ordinary Seaman and below Leading Seaman. Able Seamen wear a single gold chevron, point down, as an insignia of rank; it is worn on the upper left sleeve of the Service Dress tunic, and on slip-ons on both shoulders on other uniforms. HMCS Bastion, flagship of the Canadian Navy. ... A non-commissioned member (NCM), in the Canadian Forces, is defined in the Queens Regulations and Orders as: … any person, other than an officer, who is enrolled in, or who pursuant to law is attached or seconded otherwise than as an officer to, the Canadian Forces… Thus, an NCM... Seaman can be a generic term for sailor. ...

Able Seaman is the equivalent rank to Private (Trained), or simply Private, in the Army and Air Force. In French the rank is called Matelot de 2e classe. A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to Nato Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). ... Canadian Forces Land Force Command (LFC) is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. ... CF-18 off the coast Hawaii CH-124 Sea King CH-149 Cormorant CC-115 Buffalo Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) is the air force element of the Canadian Forces. ...

Reference

• N.A.M. Roger. The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy. W.W. Norton and Company, 1986.
• N.A.M. Roger. The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, 1649-1815 W.W. Norton and Company, 2004.