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Development of US Navy Enlisted Rates and Rating Badges, 1885-1894

1886

Before 1885, the US Navy's senior enlisted men had an assortment of rates with differing pay and status, grouped together under the title "petty officer." US Navy Regulation Circular 41 of January 8, 1885¹ set up three classes of petty officer, and classified the various enlisted ratings in relation to each other and to enlisted marines.

US Navy Regulation Circular 41 of 1885.

In the Uniform Regulations of 1886,² a new system of insignia was introduced for the new ratings. The eagle that had been used in rating badges since the 1830s was retained, but was combined with chevrons to indicate grade and a mark to indicate specialty. The chevrons were inspired by those of the US Army and Marine Corps. First class petty officers wore three chevrons with a lozenge above, like a first sergeant, second class petty officers three chevrons like a sergeant, and third class petty officers two, like a corporal. There was no one-chevron rank in the marines at that time. One petty officer, master-at-arms, wore an arch of three stripes above the chevrons. This was comparable to the insignia of a marine sergeant major, to which master-at-arms had been classified as equivalent. The rating badges were redesigned in 1894, but an eagle, specialty mark and chevrons still make up the navy's rating insignia today.

It appears that the new rating badges with chevrons were intended to be comparable in size to the previous eagle and anchor petty officer badge, which was roughly three inches high. The dimensions of the 1886-pattern chevrons were not mentioned in the regulations except for the specialty mark, which was to fit in a one-inch diameter circle. The chevrons of period examples usually measure between 2¼ and 2½ inches wide.

It will be noted that the different classes of petty officer were more like the pay grades of today, and each rate had a unique title. Although seaman branch first class petty officers had the word "chief" in their titles, as did the chief musician (second class grade), these were not chief petty officers in the present day sense.

Illustrations from the 1886 uniform regulations of a first class petty officer (master-at-arms, left) and a second class boatswain's mate (right). Author's collection.

First class petty officers wore double-breasted blue or white coats and visored caps, while lower rates wore standard seaman's jumpers and hats. A single rating badge was worn according to assignment: Sailors assigned to a vessel's port watch wore their badge on the left, and starboard watch on the right. The chevrons were red on all clothing, with white eagle and specialty marks on blue and vice versa. The red chevrons were made of a single piece of cloth and each chevron outlined by black stitching; the chevrons were also padded to stand out slightly. Gold chevrons were authorized for petty officers with three consecutive Good Conduct Medals. Although the regulations don't specify, it is likely that the gold stripes were worn only on the blue coat or jumper, rather than the frequently laundered whites. There are also examples of rating badges on blue cloth with the eagle and specialty mark embroidered in silver, though this was not authorized in the regulations. Petty officers who had qualified as seaman gunners wore a flaming shell mark superimposed on the chevrons.

Red chevrons with white eagle and specialty mark: Worn on blue clothing.	Red chevrons with blue eagle and specialty mark: Worn on white clothing. Seaman gunner's mark shown on chevrons.	Gold chevrons: Worn by holders of three consecutive Good Conduct Medals.

	Seaman Branch	Artificer Branch	Special Branch
First Class Petty Officers	Chief Boatswain's Mate Chief Gunner's Mate Chief Quartermaster	Machinist	Master-at-Arms Equipment Yeoman, Engineer's Yeoman, Paymaster's Yeoman Apothecary Ship's Writer Schoolmaster Bandmaster
Second Class Petty Officers	Boatswain's Mate, Coxswain to a Commander-in-Chief Gunner's Mate Quartermaster	Boilermaker, Water Tender Armorer Carpenter's Mate Blacksmith Sailmaker's Mate	Ship's Corporal Ship's Cook Chief Musician
Third Class Petty Officers	Captain of the Forecastle, Captains of the Tops, Captain of the Afterguard, Coxswain Quarter-gunner	Oiler Printer Painter	Captain of the Hold

1893-1894

In March 1893, the navy's enlisted structure underwent a major revision with the creation of the new senior grade of chief petty officer.³ The 1885 ratings were adjusted to fill the top grades, and petty officers with "class" as part of their titles were introduced. The order that outlined the new rating structure also specified the uniform and insignia for the new chief petty officers: They would wear the jackets and caps formerly used by first class petty officers, and rating badges with three arcs on top, the same as masters-at-arms had used since 1886. First class petty officers kept their former rating badges but would now wear seamen's jumper uniforms.

	Seaman Branch	Artificer Branch	Special Branch
Chief Petty Officers	Chief Master-at-Arms Chief Boatswain's Mate Chief Gunner's Mate Chief Quartermaster	Machinist Chief Carpenter's Mate	Yeoman Apothecary Bandmaster
First Class Petty Officers	Master-at-Arms 1st Class Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Gunner's Mate 1st Class Quartermaster 1st Class Schoolmaster	Boilermaker, Water Tender, Coppersmith Blacksmith Carpenter's Mate 1st Class, Plumber and Fitter Sailmaker's Mate	Writer 1st Class First Musician
Second Class Petty Officers	Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Quartermaster 2nd Class	Oiler Carpenter's Mate 2nd Class Printer	Writer 2nd Class
Third Class Petty Officers	Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Coxswain Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Quartermaster 3rd Class	Carpenter's Mate 3rd Class, Painter	Writer 3rd Class

1894

The rating badges of 1893 were short-lived. In September 1894 a new order introduced a new style of insignia which established the basic pattern that is still used today.⁴ The lowest grade of petty officer, third class, would wear a single chevron, with additional chevrons for second and first class, and a single arc on top for chiefs. The design of the specialty marks were maintained, but overall the rating badge was approximately half-again wider than the previous design. As before, port watch wore the badge on the left and vice-versa for starboard watch. The gold good-conduct stripes were not mentioned in the 1894 order, but were authorized in the 1897 edition of the uniform regulations, which also had illustrations of the badges. ⁵

Dimensions of rating badge as specified in General Order 431, 1894 (click for larger image).

Size comparison, 1894 and 1886 rating badges (click for larger image).

 

Red chevrons with white eagle and specialty mark: Worn on blue clothing.	Red chevrons with blue eagle and specialty mark: Worn on white clothing.	Gold chevrons: Worn by holders of three consecutive Good Conduct Medals (Authorized in 1897).	Gold chevrons with silver eagle and specialty mark: Officially unauthorized version for holders of three consecutive Good Conduct Medals.

	Seaman Branch	Artificer Branch	Special Branch
Chief Petty Officers	Chief Master-at-Arms Chief Boatswain's Mate Chief Gunner's Mate Chief Quartermaster	Machinist Chief Carpenter's Mate	Yeoman Apothecary Bandmaster
First Class Petty Officers	Master-at-Arms 1st Class Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Gunner's Mate 1st Class Quartermaster 1st Class	Boilermaker, Water Tender, Coppersmith Blacksmith Carpenter's Mate 1st Class, Plumber and Fitter Sailmaker's Mate	Writer 1st Class First Musician
Second Class Petty Officers	Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Quartermaster 2nd Class	Oiler Carpenter's Mate 2nd Class Printer	Writer 2nd Class
Third Class Petty Officers	Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Coxswain Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Quartermaster 3rd Class	Carpenter's Mate 3rd Class, Painter	Writer 3rd Class