World WAR II Naval Officer Ranks

[one on wheels]

Was the rank of Commodore used in the U.S. Navy during World War II?

Who was the last officer to attain the rank of Commodore before the rank was abolished or changed?

Thank you,

 

James

[US82Bravo]

Welcome to the Forum James.

 

Here is a start to answering your question. This is from the "Naval Historical Center - Traditions of Naval Service" section...

 

Officers:

Commodore

 

The Dutch invented the Commodore rank about 1652 during one of their naval wars with England. They found they needed officers to command squadrons but did not want to create more Admirals, perhaps to avoid paying Admirals' salaries. A Commodore's pay was only about half that of an Admiral. The word comes from comendador, which means "having command over others" and might be of French or Spanish origin. The Dutch leader William of Orange introduced the rank to the British navy after he became King William III of England in 1689. Sometime later the British merchant marine began calling the senior officer of a merchant fleet Commodore. The Dutch also used the broad command pennant, a wide swallow-tailed pennant, that has become identified with Commodores in many navies, merchant fleets and yacht clubs.

 

Our Navy used Commodore as an honorary title from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War for Captains commanding two or more ships operating together or had other significant additional responsibilities.

 

In 1862 Commodore became an official rank and the Navy promoted 18 Captains. They wore the single star on their epaulettes. In 1866 they began wearing the two-inch stripe on their sleeve cuffs. The broad stripe was inspired by the Commodore's broad pennant and, in effect, transferred it from his ship's masthead to his sleeve, a practice also adopted by many other navies and yacht clubs.

 

Commodore was a command rank in our Navy from 1862 to 1899. After that it was a rank to which Captains who had served in the Civil War were retired. The rank was reestablished on 9 April 1943 for World War II service, and 147 officers held it as a temporary rank. After the war the flag rank structure reverted to its prewar form. By 1 January 1950, no commodores remained on active duty.

 

When the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act (DOPMA) became law in 1982, O-7 officers were designated commodore admirals. The Navy selected 38 Captains to wear the broad stripe and single star. In 1983 the Defense Authorization bill changed the title to commodore. With President Reagan's signature on the Fiscal year 1986 Defense Authorization bill, O-7 officer were again called rear admiral (lower half).

 

Hope this helps.

 

Larry

[67Rally]

Was the rank of Commodore used in the U.S. Navy during World War II?

Who was the last officer to attain the rank of Commodore before the rank was abolished or changed?

Thank you,

 

James

 

The rank of commodore was changed to Rear Admiral Lower Half in the late 1980s so as to who the last one was is anyone's guess. Positional (billet) Commodores, destroyer squadron (DESRON) commanders hold the rank of Captain (O-60) but are referred to as Commodores.

 

Clear as mud?

[one on wheels]

The rank of commodore was changed to Rear Admiral Lower Half in the late 1980s so as to who the last one was is anyone's guess. Positional (billet) Commodores, destroyer squadron (DESRON) commanders hold the rank of Captain (O-60) but are referred to as Commodores.

 

Clear as mud?

To you maybe but I still can't understand why the rank of Commodore was dropped as an official rank in the United States Navy! Did the officers who held the rank feel slighted by the officers in the other branches of the military of equal rank?

 

James

[Dave]

To you maybe but I still can't understand why the rank of Commodore was dropped as an official rank in the United States Navy! Did the officers who held the rank feel slighted by the officers in the other branches of the military of equal rank?

 

James

 

Because it was also tradition to call the person commanding a squadron of ships a "Commodore". Thus, if someone was an O-5 or O-6 and commanding a squadron of ships, they would have the traditional title of "Commodore". BUT, someone who was an O-7, wearing a single star, would have the same title...it doesn't make sense. It made sense to keep the title "Commodore" with the person commanding a squadron of ships, and simply rename the one-star rank to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) or "RDML".

 

Dave

[67Rally]

...hold the rank of Captain (O-60)...

 

 

Hey, Doofus! There's no such thing as an O-60! I believe that is supposed to have been typed as O-6! Sheesh! What's wrong with the help around here. :ermm:

[Salvage Sailor]

A Commodore also commanded the Standing Naval Forces Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) squadrons serving with NATO. This was often a USN officer, particularly when the flagship was a DLG/DDG "Destroyer Leader" of the Coontz class, which had dedicated staff accomodations for command and control.