Oberbootsmann

Oberbootsmann (OBtsm or in lists OB) designates in the German Navy of the Bundeswehr a military person or member of the armed forces. It belongs to the particular rank group Senior NCOs with port epée.

Oberbootsmann
shoulder board[1] / cuff title[2] / mounting loop
Country	Germany
Service branch	German Navy
Abbreviation	OBtsm or OB
Rank insignia	German NCO rank
Rank	Oberbootsmann
NATO rank	OR-6
Formation	1955
Rank group	Non-commissioned officers
Next higher rank	Hauptbootsmann Oberfähnrich zur See
Next lower rank	Bootsmann
Equivalent ranks	Army / Air Force: Oberfeldwebel Army / Navy: Sergeant First Class, Chief Petty Officer Air Force: Senior Master Sergeant

According to the salary class it is equivalent to the Oberfeldwebel of Heer or Luftwaffe. It is grouped as OR6 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 Oberbootsmann also informally / short Oberbootsmann.

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 and Oberfähnrich zur See/ and Hauptfeldwebel and Oberfähnrich
• OR-6a: Oberbootsmann/ Oberfeldwebel
• OR-6b: Bootsmann and Fähnrich zur See/ Feldwebel and Fähnrich