Stabsbootsmann

 Stabsbootsmann  (StBtsm or SB) is the second highest Non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank in the German Navy. It is grouped as OR8 in NATO, equivalent to First Sergeant, Master Sergeant, or Senior Chief Petty Officer in the US Armed forces, and to Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army and Royal Navy.

In navy context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr/ Frau Stabsbootsmann also informally / short Staber.

History
In 1938, grades were introduced by the German Kriegsmarine depending on the particular career as follows:
 * Boatswain (de: Bootsmann): Stabsoberbootsmann (Staff senior boatswain)
 * Steersman (de: Steuermann): Stabsobersteuermann (Staff senior steersman)
 * Engineman (de: Maschinist): Stabsobermaschinist (Staff senior engineman)

These grades were equivalent to the German Wehrmacht ranks Stabsfeldwebel and Stabswachmeister, or the Waffen-SS grade Stabsscharführer.

Grades Stabsfeldwebel and Stabswachmeister have been used in the GDR National People's Army until 1990 as well. The equivalent in the Volksmarine was Stabsmeister.

The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:

Unteroffiziere mit Portepee


 * OR-9: Oberstabsbootsmann / Oberstabsfeldwebel
 * OR-8: Stabsbootsmann / Stabsfeldwebel
 * OR-7: Hauptbootsmann / Hauptfeldwebel
 * OR-6a: Oberbootsmann / Oberfeldwebel
 * OR-6b: Bootsmann / Feldwebel

Equivalent in other NATO countries

 * Flag of Belgium.svg – Premier-maître chef/ Eerste meesterchef
 * Flag of Canada.svg – Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class
 * Flag of Croatia.svg – Stožerni narednik
 * Flag of Denmark.svg – Seniorsergent
 * Flag of France.svg – Premier maître
 * Flag of Greece.svg – Αρχικελευστής/ Archikelefstis
 * Flag of Iceland.svg – no equivalent
 * Flag of Italy.svg – capo di seconda classe
 * Flag of Netherlands.svg – no equivalent
 * Flag of Norway.svg – no equivalent
 * Flag of Poland.svg – Chorąży marynarki
 * Flag of Portugal.svg – Sargento-chefe
 * Flag of Spain.svg – Brigada
 * Flag of the United Kingdom.svg – Warrant Officer Class 2
 * Flag of the United States.svg – Senior Chief Petty Officer