Captain (navy)
The captain is a commissioned rank and is the highest authority on board a ship. In Astoria and Retland, captains formally refer to commanders of rated ships, though the title is extended by courtesy to commanders of unrated ships. Formally, the officer in charge of an unrated vessel is a commander and does not wear a captain's epaulettes. In all other countries, the captain is the commanding officer of any warship regardless of size.
Qualifications
Astoria
A captain is expected to have commanded unrated vessels for at least two years. Admirals often put forward the names of promising commanders, and a commander who has distinguished himself in battle is more likely to be promoted.Requirements
Astoria
In order to become a captain, the officer must have served at least four years as a senior lieutenant. He must be fit to command, though there is no definition as to what that means. It is commonly understood that physical injuries earned in battle don't count against an officer's fitness.Appointment
Astoria
A newly appointed captain receives his commission orders in the post. At some point later, typically between a week and a month after receiving orders, his name and command appear in The Royal Service Journal and The Daily Post. This serves to publically confirm the captain's rank and is called "being posted".Duties
The captain is in charge of the whole ship, leads her crew into battle, keeps his ship in fighting condition and properly manned, and carries out orders. He must be a gentleman and leader to all those below him. Also, he may not leave his ship until she's decommissioned. In legal matters, he is the judge, jury, and executioner at sea. Finally, he writes reports to the admiralty and maintains the ship's logs.
Responsibilities
On land, the captain is responsible for making sure that his ship is fully stocked with supplies, food, and armaments. He also works with the purser to manage the ship's expenses and double checks inventory reports. He supplies his own larder and tableware. The captain is in charge of recruitment and hiring the necessary warrant officers.
At sea, he charts the ship's course, rations stores, is the final authority on sailing orders, maintains morale, oversees the conduct of his officers, promotes the spiritual well-being of his crew, and ensures that his ship is kept clean and orderly.
Accoutrements & Equipment
Astoria
The captain's uniform consists of a dark blue tailed jacket with red facing, gold ribbon, and gold buttons bearing a fouled anchor and a bicorne hat with gold braid worn fore and aft. He is also expected to carry a sabre as part of his dress uniform and into battle. Seniority is denoted through epaulettes. These are gold with the crown and anchor on the spine. A single epaulette worn on the right shoulder denotes a captain under three years seniority while senior captains wear two epaulettes.Grounds for Removal/Dismissal
Astoria
Captains may be dismissed from service through courts martial. The most common offenses are for cowardice and being unfit for command. Though addressed on a case by case basis, losing a ship whether to wreck or the enemy may also be grounds for dismissal. Witnesses are required to testify that the captain didn't take sufficient action to avoid loss of ship. However, most rulings fall under either cowardice or unfit for command, and more specific reasons are difficult to obtain.
Type
Civic, Military, Commissioned
Alternative Naming
Capitaine, Kapitan
Equates to
Colonel
Reports directly to
Related Organizations
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