HC Deb 17 February 1978 vol 944 cc422-8W
Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons were occupying each rank in each of the Armed Forces at the latest available date.

Dr. Gilbert

At 30th June 1977 the rank structure of United Kingdom Service personnel was as given in the attached list.

NATO RANK CODES AND UNITED KINGDOM SERVICE DESIGNATIONS
MALES
Royal Navy Royal Marines Army Royal Air Force
OF-10 … … … … Admiral of the Fleet — Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force
OF-9 … … … … Admiral General General Air Chief Marshal
OF-8 … … … … Vice-Admiral Lieutenant-General Lieutenant-General Air Marshal
OF-7 … … … … Rear-Admiral Major-General Major-General Air Vice-Marshal
OF-6 … … … … Commodore* Brigadier* Brigadier Air Commodore
OF-5 … … … … Captain Colonel/Lieutenant-Colonel Colonel Group Captain
OF-4 … … … … Commander Major Lieutenant-Colonel Wing Commander
OF-3 … … … … Lieutenant-Commander Captain Major Squadron Leader
OF-2 … … … … Lieutenant Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant
OF-1 … … … … Sub-Lieutenant — Lieutenant/Second Lieutenant Flying Officer/Pilot Officer
OF(D) … … … … Officer Designate Officer Designate Officer Designate Officer Designate
OR-9 … … … … Fleet Chief Petty Officer Warrant Officer Class I Warrant Officer Class I Warrant Officer
OR-8 … … … … — Warrant Officer Class II Warrant Officer Class II —
OR-7 … … … … Chief Petty Officer Colour Sergeant Staff Sergeant Flight Sergeant/Chief Technician
OR-6 … … … … Petty Officer Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant
OR-4 … … … … Leading Rate Corporal Corporal Corporal
OR-3 … … … … — — Lance-Corporal —
OR-2 … … … … Able Rate Marine (1st Class) Private (Classes 1 to 3) Senior Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftman/Junior Technician
OR-1 … … … … Ordinary Rate/Junior Marine (2nd class)/Junior Private (Class 4)/Junior Aircraftman
* Commodore (RN) and Brigadier (RM) are appointments not ranks.
FEMALES
Women's Services Nursing Services
WRNS WRAC WRAF QARNNS QARANC PMRAFNS
OF-6 … … Commandant Brigadier Air Commodore Matron-in-Chief Brigadier Air Commandant
OF-5 … … Superintendent Colonel Group Captain Principal Matron Colonel Group Officer
OF-4 … … Chief Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Wing Commander Matron Lieutenant-Colonel Wing Officer
OF-3 … … First Officer Major Squadron Leader Superintending Sister Major Squadron Officer
OF-2 … … Second Officer Captain Flight Lieutenant Senior Nursing Sister Captain Flight Officer
OF-1 … … Third Officer Lieutenant/Second Lieutenant Flying Officer/Pilot Officer Nursing Sister Lieutenant/Second Lieutenant Flying Officer
OF(D) … Officer Designate Officer Designate Officer Designate — Officer Designate —
OR-9 … Fleet Chief Wren Warrant Officer Class I Warrant Officer — Warrant Officer Class I Warrant Officer
OR-8 … — Warrant officer Class II — — Warrant Officer Class II —
OR-7 … Chief Wren Staff Sergeant Flight Sergeant/Chief Technician Head Naval Nurse Staff Sergeant Flight Sergeant/Chief Technician
OR-6 … Petty Officer Wren Sergeant Sergeant Assistant Head Naval Nurse Sergeant Sergeant
OR-4 … Leading Wren Corporal Corporal Senior Naval Nurse Corporal Corporal
OR-3 … — Lance-Corporal — — Lance-Corporal —
OR-2 … Able Wren Private (Classes 1 to 3) Senior Aircraftwoman/Leading Aircraftwoman/Junior Technician Naval Nurse Private (Classes 1 to 3) Senior Aircraftwoman/Leading Aircraftwoman/Junior Technician
OR-1 … Ordinary Wren Private (Class 4) Aircraftwoman Probationer Naval Nurse Private (Class 4) Aircraftwoman
OFFICERS
Total OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 Number OF(D)
Males
Total … … … 41,651 1 24 38 168 394 1,477 4,717 11,903 15,545 5,726 1,658
Royal Navy … 9,096 1 6 14 39 27 399 1,291 2,305 3,297 764 953
Royal Marines … 604 — 1 1 5 — 30 74 158 269 — 66
Army … … 17,148 — 9 11 78 245 621 1,931 5,602 5,029 3,105 517
Royal Air Force … 14,803 — 8 12 46 122 427 1,421 3,838 6,950 1,857 122
Females
Total … … … 1,901 — — — — 6 26 55 293 799 669 53
Women's Services
Total … … 958 — — — — 3 11 25 109 322 436 52
WRNS … 280 — — — — 1 3 10 31 100 110 25
WRAC … 337 — — — — 1 5 10 44 134 131 12
WRAF … 341 — — — — 1 3 5 34 88 195 15
Nursing Services
Total … … 943 — — — — 3 15 30 184 477 233 1
QARNNS … 169 — — — — 1 2 3 33 112 18 —
QARANC … 504 — — — — 1 11 20 100 237 134 1
PMRAFNS … 270 — — — — 1 2 7 51 128 81 —
SERVICE MEN AND SERVICE WOMEN
Total OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 Number OR-1
Males
Total … … … … … 270,966 5,362 5,792 23,998 35,289 47,073 21,938 97,522 33,992
Royal Navy … … … 54,969 834 — 9,237 8,665 10,006 — 14,786 11,441
Royal Marines … … … 6,945 20 178 338 673 1,016 — 3,792 928
Army … … … … 142,521 2,172 5,614 7,321 15,882 21,981 21,938 49,693 17,920
Royal Air Force … … … 66,531 2,336 — 7,102 10,069 14,070 — 29,251 3,703
Females
Total … … … … … 12,537 49 60 192 689 1,645 835 7,480 1,587
Women's Services
Total … … … … 10,469 48 57 169 617 1,418 688 6,130 1,342
WRNS … … … 3,030 12 — 78 245 620 — 1,418 657
WRAC … … … 3,827 19 57 70 295 506 688 1,763 429
WRAF … … … 3,612 17 — 21 77 292 — 2,949 256
Nursing services
Total … … … … 2,068 1 3 23 72 227 147 1,350 245
QARNNS … … … 507 — — 10 19 100 — 313 65
QARANC … … … 1,072 1 3 13 52 113 147 590 153
PMRAFNS … … … 489 — — — 1 14 — 447 27

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