BACKGROUND: With the formation of the Imperial Prussian Navy in 1848 Senior NCO’s and Officer ranks adopted a series of rank identifying shoulder insignia for the traditional blue and white uniforms. With the later introduction of the brown tropical uniform and field-grey uniforms for land based personnel the wear of shoulder rank insignia was utilized by all ranks, but only on these specific uniforms. Kriegsmarine field-grey uniforms were first introduced in 1935 for issue to land based personnel and the design of the uniform was based on the army pattern with minor variations. Enlisted ranks shoulder straps indicated the ranks of Matrose, Matrosengefreiter, Matrosenobergefreiter, Matrosenhauptgefreiter and Matrosenstabsgefreiter inclusively with the specific rank determined by the wear of the appropriate rank chevron on the upper left sleeve while specific NCO’s ranks were distinguished by the addition of gilt tress and rank pips on their shoulder straps. On entering Kriegsmarine service all personnel were assigned and trained for a specific career. These careers consisted of a wide variety of specialty trades and functions with some of the careers restricted to certain rank groups. On successful completion of the appropriate training, most personnel were issued distinctive career insignia to be worn on the shoulder boards/straps.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Deep navy blue wool construction, pointed tip, sew on style, shoulder straps with ribbed, gilt, wire, NCO’s tress, machine stitched to all the outer edges, a silver washed, stamped alloy rank pip and a gilt washed, stamped alloy, Artillery Mechanics career cypher. The Artillery Mechanics career cypher features a horizontal cannon barrel superimposed on a vertical anchor.