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Enlisted Rate Insignia
The "classes" of petty officers were more like pay grades of today, and were not necessarily reflected in the petty officer's title.
Specialty marks were generally based on the wearer's duties. Electricians wore a world globe, said to have originated from a misunderstanding of "globe," meaning light bulb. The mark for sailmakers' mates was a "clew iron." The Geneva cross of the hospital steward and hospital apprentice was red on white as well as blue uniforms. The ratings of medical petty officers were changed in 1898 with the creation of the Hospital Corps.
Chief Petty Officers
First Class Petty Officers
Second Class Petty Officers
Third Class Petty Officers
Chief Petty Officers' cap badge, chin strap and visor
Seaman Branch
Chief Master-at-Arms
Chief Boatswain's Mate
Chief Quartermaster
Chief Gunner's Mate
Artificer Branch
Chief Machinist
Chief Carpenter's Mate
Chief Electrician
authorized April 1898
Special Branch
Chief Yeoman
Apothecary
dis-established
June 1898Hospital Steward
authorized June 1898Bandmaster
Seaman Branch
Master-at-Arms 1st Class
Boatswain's Mate 1st Class
Gunner's Mate 1st Class
Quartermaster 1st Class
Artificer Branch
Machinist 1st Class
Boilermaker
Coppersmith
Water TenderElectrician 1st Class
authorized April 1898Carpenter's Mate 1st Class
Plumber and FitterSailmaker's Mate
Blacksmith
Special Branch
Yeoman 1st Class
First Musician
Schoolmaster
Seaman Branch
Master-at-Arms
2nd ClassBoatswain's Mate
2nd ClassGunner's Mate
2nd ClassQuartermaster
2nd Class
Artificer Branch
Machinist 2nd Class
OilerCarpenter's Mate 2nd Class
Printer
Electrician 2nd Class
authorized April 1898
Special Branch
Yeoman 2nd Class
Seaman Branch
Master-at-Arms 3rd Class
Coxswain
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class
Quartermaster 3rd Class
Artificer Branch
Carpenter's Mate 3rd Class
Painter
Special Branch
Yeoman 3rd Class
Hospital Apprentice
1st Class
authorized June 1898
All text and images © Justin T. Broderick, 2005 unless otherwise indicated.
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