Maat (rank)

Maat is a naval rank of the German Navy equivalent to the army/ air force rank of Unteroffizier. It is grouped as OR5 in NATO, equivalent to Petty officer, second class in the US Navy. However, Maate is also the collective name to all junior NCO-ranks (ranks: Maat, Seekadett, and Obermaat) in the modern day's German Navy.

Maat
Shoulder board / cuff title / mounting loop
Country Germany
Service branch German Navy
AbbreviationMT
NATO rankOR-5
Formation1955 Modern
Next higher rankObermaat
Next lower rankOberstabsgefreiter
Equivalent ranksUnteroffizier (Army & Air force)

In navy context NCOs of this rank were formally addressed as Herr/ Frau Maat also informally / short Maat. The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows:
Unteroffizier ohne Portepee

History

The term is derived from the low German māt (comrade).[1] Via the Dutch language, the word became a nautical term and described the assistant to a deck officer. Since the second half of the 17th century Maate were the lowest class of non-commissioned officers aboard a warship. In the Prussian Navy and the Kaiserliche Marine Maate were Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee. According to their specialization, Maate would be known as e.g. Steuermannsmaat (Coxswain's Mate), Feuerwerksmaat (Ordnance Mate), Bootsmannsmaat (Boatswain's Mate) or Maschinistenmaat (Machinist's Mate).[2] Maate were recruited among conscripts who volunteered to serve for a minimum of six years. After approximately four years they could expect to become Maat. Re-enlistment was common but in most specialities the career options would end with achieving the rank of Obermaat; only after 18 years in service was a promotion as supernumary Vizefeldwebel possible, and only if there was a billet open. The 1914/15 naval budget included 7857 billets for Maate and 5237 for Obermaate.[3]

Maat Nazi-Kriegsmarine until 1945
Maate (Unteroffiziere ohne Portepee)
Title Maat
Collar tab
Sleeve insignia
SteuermannmaatBootsmannmaat
Soulder strap
Wehrmacht equivalent Unteroffizier
US Equivalent Petty officer, third class
NATO equivalent OR-5b
Source:[4]
junior rank
Matrosenoberstabsgefreiter
(Kriegsmarine ranks)
Maat		 senior rank
Obermaat

Equivalent in other NATO countries
  • – Second-maître/ Tweede meester
  • – Master Seaman/ Matelot-chefe classe
  • – Desetnik
  • – Sergent
  • – Second-Maître
  • – no equivalent
  • – sergente
  • – secondo capo
  • – Sergeant
  • – Kvartermester
  • – Bosman
  • – Primerio-subsargento/ Segundo-subsargento
  • – Cabo mayor
  • – RN: no equivalent
  • – USN: Petty Officer Second Class
Preceded by
junior Rank
Oberstabsgefreiter

(German NCO rank)
Maat

Succeeded by
senior Rank
Obermaat

See also

References
  1. Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Deutschen. sv Maat
  2. Wörterbuch zur deutschen Militärgeschichte, sv Maat.
  3. Deutsche Militärgeschichte 1648-1939. Vol. VIII, p.283,285,292.
  4. Handbook on German Military Forces 1945. TM-E 30-451. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, plate XVI, XVII.
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