Second master

This article is about the Royal Navy rating. For the educational appointment, see Deputy head teacher.

Second master (French: Second-maître) is a military rank used in multiple Francophone navies across the world as well as a former rating in the Royal Navy.

United Kingdom

Second master was introduced in 1753 and indicated a deputy master on third-rate ships of the line or larger.

Second masters were paid significantly more than master's mates, £5 5s per month. A second master was generally a master's mate who had passed his examination for master and was deemed worthy of being master of a vessel. Second masters were given the first opportunity for master vacancies as they occurred.

Master's mates also acted as second master of vessels too small to be allocated a warranted master.

Gallery

• 
  Tweede meester
  French: Second-maître
  German: Zweiter Meister
  (Belgian Navy)
• 
  Second-maître
  (Cameroon Navy)
• 
  Second-maître
  (Navy of the DR Congo)
• 
  Second-maître
  (Congolese Navy)
• 
  Second-maître
  (Djiboutian Navy)
• 
  Second-maître
  (French Navy)
• 
  Second-maître
  (Gabonese Navy)
• 
  Second-maître
  (Guinean Navy)
• 
  Second-maître
  (Navy of Ivory Coast)
• 
  Segundo maestre
  (Mexican Navy)
• 
  Second-maître
  (Senegalese Navy)
• 
  Second-maître
  (Togolese Navy)