Re: NNG.....so why do we stilll have the rank of captain?

John West Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>one could
> reasonably ask why the rank of captain has
> survived. Who knows.
>
> JBWX


Because the "rank" of Captain is just that, a rank in between Commander and Rear Admiral and the equivalant of a full Colonal in the other services. The "title" of Captain is honerary and is used to denote the commander of a vessel, who could be anything from a 2nd. class petty officer in command of a small harbor tug to a Captain commanding an aircraft carrier. Any rank above Captain would command a fleet, not a ship. As mentioned above, the rank of Commodore is only used in wartime for convoy commanders. I belive the rank still exists but is not likely to be used again. Note that there is also a "rank" of Commander and a "title" of Commander.

Still confused? In all but formal occasions the commander of a ship is refered to as the "Skipper'.