Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Navy
The ranks in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy are similar to those of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, except that those of the PLA Navy are prefixed by 海军 meaning Naval Force or Navy. See Ranks of the People's Liberation Army or the article on an individual rank for details on the evolution of rank and insignia in the PLAN. This article primarily covers the existing ranks and insignia.
From 1956-65, similar insignia were used following the Soviet model, but unlike the Ground and Air Forces, PLAN ratings used shoulder boards for rank insignia. Line corps officers wore gold and blue shoulder boards on the dress uniform, staff corps officers white and blue. The duty uniform boards were a reverse of the dress uniform boards.
Current ranks
Officer ranks
The current system of officer ranks and insignia dates from 1988 and is a revision of the ranks and insignia used from 1955 to 1965. The rank of Hai Jun Yi Ji Shang Jiang was never held and was abolished in 1994. With the official introduction of the Type 07 uniforms all officer insignia are on either shoulders or sleeves depending on the type of uniform used.| Title | 海军学员 Hai Jun Xue Yuan | 海军少尉 Hai Jun Shao Wei | 海军中尉 Hai Jun Zhong Wei | 海军上尉 Hai Jun Shang Wei | 海军少校 Hai Jun Shao Xiao | 海军中校 Hai Jun Zhong Xiao | 海军上校 Hai Jun Shang Xiao | 海军大校 Hai Jun Da Xiao | 海军少将 Hai Jun Shao Jiang | 海军中将 Hai Jun Zhong Jiang | 海军上将 Hai Jun Shang Jiang |
| Usual Translation | Officer Cadet | Ensign | Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Lieutenant Commander | Commander | Captain | Senior Captain | Rear Admiral | Vice Admiral | Admiral |
| Shoulder Insignia | |||||||||||
| Collar Insignia | |||||||||||
| Sleeve Insignia |
Enlisted and non-commissioned rates
The current system of enlisted ranks and insignia dates from 2009.| Title | 海军列兵 Hai Jun Lie Bing | 海军上等兵 Hai Jun Shang Deng Bing | 海军下士 Hai Jun Xia Shi | 海军中士 Hai Jun Zhong Shi | 海军上士 Hai Jun Shang Shi | 海军四级军士长 Hai Jun Si Ji Jun Shi Zhang | 海军三级军士长 Hai Jun San Ji Jun Shi Zhang | 海军二级军士长 Hai Jun Er Ji Jun Shi Zhang | 海军一级军士长 Hai Jun Yi Ji Jun Shi Zhang |
| Usual Translation | Seaman Apprentice | Seaman | Petty Officer 3rd Class | Petty Officer 2nd Class | Petty Officer 1st Class | Chief Petty Officer | Senior Chief Petty Officer | Master Chief Petty Officer | Command Master Chief Petty Officer |
| Shoulder Insignia | |||||||||
| Collar Insignia |