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 |  [1]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| enlisted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| recruit[2] (bekk, "warrior"[3])/private second class[2] (mang[4]) |  [2]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| crewman second class[2]/private first class[2] (mang[4]) |  [2]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| crewman first class[2]/lance corporal[2] (Da'[4]) |  [2]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| petty officer second class[2] (DevwI', "leader"[4]) |  [2]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| petty officer first class[2] (DevwI', "leader"[4])/sergeant[2] (bu'[4]) |  [2]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| chief petty officer[2]/sergeant major[2] |  [2]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| student officers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| cadet[2] |  [2]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| line officers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ensign[2] (lagh[4])/second lieutenant[2] |  [2]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| lieutenant junior grade[2]/first lieutenant[2] |  [2]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| lieutenant[2] (Sogh[4])/captain (infantry)[2] |  [2]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| lieutenant commander[2]/major[2] |  [2]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| commander[2] (la'[4])/lieutenant colonel[2] |  [2]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| captain[2] (HoD[4])/colonel[2] |  [2][5]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| flag officers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| commodore (totlh[4])/brigadier ('ech[4]) |  [2]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| major general | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| admiral[2] ('aj[4])/general[2] (Sa'"[4]) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| fleet admiral | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References[]
- ↑ Uniforms seen without insignia in canon Star Trek productions.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.37 2.38 2.39 Insignia used in FASA RPG - The Klingons modules: The Klingons: Star Fleet Intelligence Manual, The Klingons: Game Operation Manual.
- ↑ DS9 episode: "Sons and Daughters".
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 ST reference: The Klingon Dictionary
- ↑ TOS - Worlds Apart novel: The Final Reflection