| Commodore | |
|---|---|
 Flag of a commodore,Royal Navy | |
 Insignia shoulder board and sleeve lace for commodore | |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Service branch | |
| Abbreviation | Cdre |
| Rank | One-star |
| NATOrank code | OF-6 |
| Non-NATO rank | O-7 |
| Formation | 1674 |
| Next higher rank | Rear admiral |
| Next lower rank | Captain |
| Equivalent ranks | |
Commodore (Cdre) is a rank of theRoyal Navy abovecaptain and belowrear admiral. It has aNATO ranking code ofOF-6. The rank is equivalent tobrigadier in theBritish Army and theRoyal Marines and toair commodore in theRoyal Air Force. Commodore has been a substantive rank in the Royal Navy since only 1997. Until then the term denoted a functional position rather than a formal rank, being the title bestowed on the senior officer of a fleet of at least two naval vessels comprising an independent (usually ad hoc and short-term) command. (In this case, for instance, a lieutenant in substantive rank could be a commodore for the term of the command.)
The rank of commodore was introduced during the 17th century in November 1674 (though not legally established until 1806). In 1684 the navy introduced two classes of commodore, the first known as aCommodore Distinction and the other aCommodore Ordinary; these would later evolve into commodores first and second class. In 1734 the title of commodore was formally approved by anorder in council.[1] They were formally separated into first class (those with subordinate line captains) and second class (those commanding ships themselves) in 1826. The previous broad red and blue pennants were abolished in 1864 along with the coloured squadrons, the commodore of the white's broad pennant with the Cross of St George remained as thecommand flag for commodores first class, who wore the same sleeve lace asrear admirals. The white broad pennant with a red ball was introduced as the command flag for commodores second class. The appointment of commodore first class has been inabeyance since 1958, leaving the pennant with a single red ball to cover all Royal Navy commodores.
Modern commodores wear the sleeve lace previously worn by commodores second class. Commodore has only been a substantive rank in the Royal Navy since 1997. Before then it continued to be an appointment conferred on senior captains holding certain positions.[2] For example, the senior commander ofdestroyers within a fleet in the Royal Navy could carry the title of "Commodore (D)", while the fleet's senior commander ofsubmarines could carry the title of "Commodore (S)", although in both cases as an appointment rather than a rank. During World War I the title of "Commodore (T)" was the officer who commandedtorpedo boat flotillas.[3][4]
From 1570 to 1864 the Royal Navy was divided intocoloured squadrons which determined an officer'scareer path.[5]
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A modern commodore's rank insignia consists of a 45-millimetre-wide band of gold lace, with a circle of 13-millimetre-wide lace 45 millimetres in diameter above.[6]
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