The navy are responsible for all activities at sea or in space, and for the transportation of army units at sea or in space. The structure of the navy is based largely around the Ship as the organisational unit. Within the ship there will be sailors and marines. Sailors operate the vessel, and marines engage in man-to-man combat, based from the vessel. The marines use the army rank structure but with ‘Marine’ preceding their rank. The sailor rank structure is below. There will not normally be a legion of marines on one vessel, but instead a number of centuries structured as a cohort under a Marine Major.
Admiral
An admiral commands a fleet. This is an assembly of vessels, usually more than 3, though exactly when a fleet becomes large enough to constitute having an admiral in charge is somewhat arbitrary. The two Admirals who serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff are accorded the rank Praefectus Classis, for life. When fleets are combined for operational purposes, the overall commander is given the temporary rank High Admiral. This rank is not retained once the unit is disbanded.
An admiral has his own flag which is flown from the mast of the vessel on which he is currently sailing. This is the flagship of the fleet. The admiral’s staff are also based on that ship, but the admiral does not have command jurisdiction of the running of that ship.
Rear Admiral
A rear admiral is commander of a flotilla, normally 2 or 3 vessels. He also has a flag.
Captain (Primus)
A Primus, usually called Captain, has absolute command of one vessel. In all matters, the captain is effectively ‘In loco Imperator’ on the ship. He has sufficient experience of sea travel that he can detect and travel the Imperial Seaways.
Secundus
The Secundus is the second in command of the vessel. His job is to assist the Captain in commanding the vessel, and is his deputy if the Captain is unable to command. If both the Captain and the Secundus are incapacitated the Marine-Major is next in rank in a vessel.
Commander
A Commander is normally responsible for one particular part of the operation of a vessel. There will be Gunnery Commander, a Sea (or space) Commander (responsible for propulsion etc), a Damage Commander, and perhaps other commanders also.
Decurion
A Decurion is in charge of up to 30 men doing some particular task within the vessel. This is the lowest operational commissioned officer rank.
Midshipman
The Midshipman is the officer-in-training rank within the navy. Due to the complexity of running vessels, it is standard practice for there to be a number of Midshipmen present on a vessel, learning the trade.
Chief Petty Officer
The Chief Petty Officer, sometimes known as simply Chief, is the senior non-commissioned officer within a ship, and there is only one per ship. He is responsible for training and administration of the other non-commissioned officers and men, and is also responsible for discipline within those ranks. He administers all physical punishments on the vessel. 3 horizontal stripes. The CPO is allowed to carry a pistol and dagger on ship.
Petty Officer
This is the non-commissioned rank that parallels the army Sergeant, usually one per Decurion, acting to assist the officer in the organisation of his unit. 2 horizontal stripes.
Leading Seaman
This rank is the equivalent of the Army’s Lance Corporal. Usually in charge of 5 men. 1 horizontal stripe.
Uniforms
The uniforms of the Marines are similar to that of land soldiers, with the exception that the metal armour is replaced by an armour made from a laminated resin compound, which is light, and does not suffer from exposure to salt water. It will also float. Weaponry is as for land soldiers. Weapons are not carried on ship unless on guard duty or in battle or training.
The uniforms of sailors for other ranks is trousers and a tunic in blue, with no armour, sandals with straps that have a special grip sole, and a dagger, with a helm made of the same laminated resin for the non-commissioned officers. Other rank sailors carry no weapons except for the CPO. The officers have a dress uniform based on Army Formal Dress, except deep blue coloured, with gleaming metal armour, sword, dagger, pistol (if firearms are working), and helm, and a working uniform of white clothing – trousers, shirt, blue ties, white jacket with gold buttons, gold bars for rank. Sword, dagger and pistol are always present for the officers.
Pilots in the Navy
A small scout ship can just about be transported by a Master-Pilot, but generally the larger vessels need a Grand-Pilot to get them through shadow, without following the Imperial Pathways. However, travel and movement are much more deeply attached to the role of the Navy, such that Pilots are given a variety of Ranks.
Tradition is such that a Grand-Pilot in the Navy is usually trained as Captain of a vessel, and accorded the rank Pilot-Captain. Master-Pilots are trained to serve to the Rank of Commander, and usually attain the post of Navigational officer on a larger vessel, taking command of one of its small boats when sent ahead to scout, or deal with matters off the Imperial seaways.
Courier pilots are usually appointed as Pilot-Decurions, and assigned to vessels as the communications officer of the vessel. Their job includes transporting the Captain and Secundus to the flagship when required for conferences, and for the hand transportation of communications and orders between vessels.