Senior NCOs

The dress regulations regarding the clothing of Senior NCOs were complicated and changed often. Gradually by phases from the late 19th century, the clothing of the Feldwebel and Vizefeldwebel assumed the form of the officer and warrant officer.

Prior to 1913, Feldwebel and Vize-Feldwebel with 25 years service were permitted the deck officer uniform minus the shoulder straps. In 1913 the service time for this distinction was reduced to 15 years. Those Senior NCOs with less than this amount of service continued to wear a jacket of the pattern worn by ratings but with a peaked cap of deck officer pattern, white shirt, bow tie, officers' sabre and swordknot.

Although the situation is not entirely clear it would appear that from the 21st March 1914 all Senior NCOs were wearing the deck officer/officer  type service jacket with their rate badge on the upper left sleeve with either one or two chevrons beneath depending on grade and either one or two cuff braids. It is assumed that those senior Feldwebeln (i.e. 15 years +) already in possession of the frock coat would have continued to wear it for more formal occasions. The insignia worn on it were the rate badges on the upper left sleeve and the three anchor buttons on the cuff as the deck officers.

In addition to the officers' swordknot, the Feldwebel and Vize-Feldwebel carried the officers' sabre and wore officer quality cockades on the headdress.
 

Feldwebel/Wachtmeister	Vize-Feldwebel/Wachtmeister	Frockcoat as worn by those with excess of 15 years service.