Oberleutnant zur See

Oberleutnant zur See (OLt zS or OLZS[1] in the German Navy, Oblt.z.S. in the Kriegsmarine) is traditionally the highest rank of Lieutenant in the German Navy. It is grouped as OF-1a in NATO, equivalent to a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the United States Navy, and a Sub-Lieutenant in the British Royal Navy

This article is about the German Marine “Oberleutnant zur See” OF1a. For the equivalent US naval rank, see Lieutenant Junior Grade. For the equivalent Royal Navy rank, see Sub-Lieutenant.

Oberleutnant zur See
shoulder board / cuff title / mounting loop
Rank insignia	German officer rank
Introduction	1898
Rank group	Commissioned officers
Navy	Oberleutnant zur See
Army / Air Force	Oberleutnant
NATO equivalent	OF-1a
Army	First lieutenant
Navy	*Lieutenant Junior Grade *Sub-Lieutenant

The rank was introduced in the Imperial German Navy by renaming the former rank of Premier Lieutenant in 1890. Within the navy officers of this rank were simply addressed as Herr Oberleutnant. To distinguish naval officers from those of the army, the suffix zur See (at sea) was added in official communications, sometimes shortened to z.S. (Oblt.z.S.). The rank has since been used by the Reichsmarine, Kriegsmarine, and Bundesmarine. In the Volksmarine the rank was originally used in the same way until the suffix zur See was dropped. In the Kriegsmarine engineers (Ingenieur – Ing.) of the same rank were distinguished as Oberleutnant (Ing.).

junior rank Leutnant zur See

(German officer rank) Oberleutnant zur See

senior rank Kapitänleutnant

See also: