Ryttmästare

Ryttmästare
Country	Sweden
Service branch	Army
Rank	Captain
NATO rank code	OF-2
Formation	16th century
Abolished	1972
Next higher rank	Major
Next lower rank	Lieutenant
Equivalent ranks	Captain

Ryttmästare (from the German word Rittmeister) was a military rank in the Swedish cavalry in the Swedish Army. The rank corresponded to the rank of captain in other service branches. The rank was abolished in 1972.

History

The military rank of ryttmästare as a designation for the rank of captain had been used since the 16th century.^[1] The name was then used for the commander of a company of riders (several of them were usually part of a squadron). Ryttmästare later became squadron commander.^[2] Since the 17th century it was the title for a company officer of the highest rank in the Swedish cavalry with position between lieutenant and major (corresponding to the rank of captain in other branches).^[3][4] A 1967 inquiry (Tjänsteställningsutredningen 1967) considered that the position of ryttmästare as a designation for the rank of captain in the cavalry should be retained as long as the cavalry remained as a service branch in the organization.^[1] The rank was abolished after a reform in 1972 (Tjänsteställningsreformen 1972).^[5]

Uniform

Field uniform model 1958/1959 – rank structure of 1949

• 
  Collar patch m/58

Uniform model 1939 – rank structure of 1949

• 
  Shoulder mark m/39
• 
  Badge m/46 to field cap

Uniform model 1939

• 
  Shoulder mark m/39
• 
  Badge m/40 to field cap

Uniform model 1923

• 
  Shoulder mark on greatcoat
• 
  Collar patch
• 
  Cap m/23

Uniform model 1910

• 
  Shoulder mark m/10
• 
  Badge m/14 for fur cap
• 
  Badge m/10-14 for hat

Uniform model 1906

• 
  Sleeve insignia m/1906

Other

• 
  Coat m/1872 for a ryttmästare in the Life Guards of Horse (K 1).
• 
  Kollett m/1871 for a ryttmästare in the Life Guards of Horse (K 1).
• 
  Dolman m/1895 for a ryttmästare in the Life Regiment Hussars (K 3).

References