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Like many other races and cultures, the Klingons use a hierarchy of ranks, titles and uniform insignia in military and service organizations. (FASA RPG - The Klingons modules: The Klingons: Star Fleet Intelligence Manual, The Klingons: Game Operation Manual)

The FASA RPG's rank insignia only superficially represent those seen in canon. With the exception of that game's insignia, there was no real cohesive visual system of showing Klingon character ranks in Star Trek, with most costume elements used and reused randomly throughout all Klingon appearances.

Rank system[]

During the Heroic Age, or Age of Kahless, great leaders were known as tyrants and warlords. The commanders of their armies carried the title of general.

In the modern age, Klingon officer ranks, like those of the Klingon Defense Force, translated into their equivalent of Starfleet ranks in the 2380s decade.

As of the year 2381, the Klingon ranks generally translated to:

Shipmasters were given the latter two, with commander reserved for shipmasters of smaller vessels, and captain for large ones.

The equivalent of the Klingon general was the Starfleet admiral. The highest military rank was Dahar Master. It was first bestowed by Klingon Emperor Kaldon upon Biroq. The general had led the conquest of the Samnatti of Ty'Gokor, which became the first world outside the Klinzhai star system brought under the flag of the Klingon Empire. Kaldon pronounced Birqo a hero of the Empire and that no existing rank could adequately match Biroq's standing in the military. Thus, Kaldon created the dahar master.

Enlisted soldiers carried the rank of bekk and had the opportunity for promotion to leader. The highest leader rank was the QaS DevwI', meaning "the one guides the troops". The QaS DevwI' was equivalent to an Army sergeant. (ST reference: The Klingon Art of War: Ancient Principles of Ruthless Honor)

In the 25th century, the Khitomer Alliance military forces equated starhip tier rating, equipment mark rating, and rank. The system was shared between Federation Starfleet, Klingon Defense Force, Romulan Republic Navy, and the Jem'Hadar Vanguard Fleet of the Dominion. The dahar master remained the highest military rank in the KDF. (STO - Klingon War missions: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock", "The Hunt is On", "Explore the Flotilla")

Rank equivalence[]

starship tier equipment mark Starfleet rank KDF rank RRN rank Vanguard rank
Tier 1 Mk I-II cadet, ensign, lieutenant junior grade, lieutenant warrior, lieutenant citizen, lieutenant fifth, fourth
Tier 2 Mk III-IV lieutenant commander lieutenant commander centurion third
Tier 3 Mk V-VI commander commander subcommander second
Tier 4 Mk VII-VIII captain captain commander first
Tier 5 Mk IX-X rear admiral, lower half brigadier general subadmiral I master first
Tier 5-U Mk XI-XII rear admiral, upper half major general subadmiral II senior first
Tier 5-U Mk XIII-XIV vice admiral, admiral lieutenant general, general vice admiral, admiral elite first, revered first
Tier 6 Mk XV fleet admiral dahar master fleet admiral honored first

Rank insignia[]

general wear
enlisted/general wear Uniform lapel.[1]
enlisted
recruit[2] (bekk, "warrior"[3])/private second class[2] (mang[4]) Uniform insignia.[2]
crewman second class[2]/private first class[2] (mang[4]) Uniform insignia.[2]
crewman first class[2]/lance corporal[2] (Da'[4]) Uniform insignia.[2]
petty officer second class[2] (DevwI', "leader"[4]) Uniform insignia.[2]
petty officer first class[2] (DevwI', "leader"[4])/sergeant[2] (bu'[4]) Uniform insignia.[2]
chief petty officer[2]/sergeant major[2] Uniform insignia.[2]
student officers
cadet[2] Uniform insignia.[2]
line officers
ensign[2] (lagh[4])/second lieutenant[2] Uniform insignia.[2]
lieutenant junior grade[2]/first lieutenant[2] Uniform insignia.[2]
lieutenant[2] (Sogh[4])/captain (infantry)[2] Uniform insignia.[2]
lieutenant commander[2]/major[2] Uniform insignia.[2]
commander[2] (la'[4])/lieutenant colonel[2] Uniform insignia.[2]
captain[2] (HoD[4])/colonel[2] Uniform insignia.[2][5]
flag officers
commodore (totlh[4])/brigadier ('ech[4]) Uniform insignia.[2]
major general
admiral[2] ('aj[4])/general[2] (Sa'"[4])
fleet admiral

References[]

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