The coxswain (pronounced cox-ən; often called the cox) is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. Most familiarly, the coxswain is the member of a rowing crew who sits in the stern (except in bowloaders) facing the bow, steers the boat, and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers. However, the term can be used for the skipper of any small power-driven boat. Lobster boat A boat is a watercraft, usually smaller than most ships. ... Rowing in the Amstel River by a student rowing club. ... Aft of the Soleil Royal, by Jean Bérain the Elder. ... A bowloader is a crew shell (a type of boat used in sport rowing) in which the coxswain lies semi-supine in the bow, as opposed to the normal seated position at the stern. ...

In the Royal Navy in the days of sail, the coxswain was a Petty Officer or Chief Petty Officer who commanded a Captain's or Admiral's barge. Later he was the senior Chief Petty Officer aboard a smaller vessel such as a corvette or submarine, who was responsible for the steering and also assumed the duties which would be performed by the Chief Boatswain's Mate and Master-at-Arms aboard larger vessels. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... A Petty Officer is a noncommissioned officer or equivalent in many navies. ... Good conduct variation Chief Petty Officer insignia Chief Petty Officer is the seventh enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above Petty Officer First Class and below Senior Chief Petty Officer, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... Captain is both a nautical term and a rank in various uniformed organizations. ... Admiral is a word from the Arabic term Amir-al-bahr (commander of the sea). ... Self propelled barge carrying bulk crushed stone A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. ... French steam corvette Dupleix (1856-1887) Canadian corvettes on antisubmarine convoy escort duty during World War II. A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, smaller than a frigate. ... HMS Vanguard, a Vanguard-class nuclear ballistic missile (SSBN) submarine HMCS Windsor, a Victoria-class diesel-electric hunter-killer (SSK) submarine HMAS Rankin, a Collins-class diesel-electric guided missile (SSG) submarine USS Virginia, a Virginia-class nuclear attack (SSN) submarine A submarine is a specialized watercraft that can operate... A boatswain (pronounced and often spelt bosun, derived from boat and swain meaning a young man, a follower, retainer or servant. ... A Master-at-Arms (MAA) is a rating responsible for discipline aboard a naval ship. ...

In Royal Navy Sections of the Combined Cadet Force, the rank of Cadet Coxswain is the highest that a cadet can achieve, except in the rare occurence that he/she is promoted to the rank of Cadet Under Officer. The Rank of Coxswain equates to the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer in the Royal Air Force Sections, and the rank of Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major in the Army Sections. A CCF Cadet Under Officer is frequently the most senior cadet in his/her corps, and works with the Contingent Commander along with the Cadet Coxswain, the Cadet Warrant Officer and the Cadet RSM, to run the corps. The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. ... Under Officer is a rank held by Officer Cadets at the British military academies, in the Officers Training Corps and sometimes in the Combined Cadet Force. ... A warrant officer (WO) is a member of a military organization holding one of a specific group of ranks. ... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Sergeant Major. ...

In the Canadian Navy, the appointment of Coxswain (or capitaine d'armes in French) is given to the senior non-commissioned officer aboard a ship, the equivalent to a Command Master Chief Petty Officer in the USN. For larger vessels such as a destroyer, frigate or Protecteur class auxiliary vessel, a Coxswain holds the rank of Chief Petty Officer 1st Class (CPO1). For smaller vessels such as a submarine or Kingston class patrol vessel, a Coxswain holds the rank of Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class (CPO2). Flag ship HMCS Algonquin, HMCS , and HMCS Protecteur. ... USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft). ... Frigate is a name which has been used for several distinct types of warships at different times. ... Protecteur-class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) ships are used by the Canadian Navy to resupply ships at sea with food, munitions, fuel and spare parts. ... HMS Vanguard, a Vanguard-class nuclear ballistic missile (SSBN) submarine HMCS Windsor, a Victoria-class diesel-electric hunter-killer (SSK) submarine HMAS Rankin, a Collins-class diesel-electric guided missile (SSG) submarine USS Virginia, a Virginia-class nuclear attack (SSN) submarine A submarine is a specialized watercraft that can operate... HMCS Moncton, a Canadian Kingston Class Patrol Vessel The Kingston class consists of 12 naval vessels of Canadian Forces Maritime Command constructed under the Maritime Coastal Defense Vessel (MCDV) project. ...

External links

• http://www.coxie.com/
• http://www.coxswaincafe.com/