User:Pfly/Ideas for translating Age of Sail Spanish Navy terms
Translating Spanish Navy ranks
Spanish Navy ranks of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with equivalent British Navy ranks of the same period,* and suggested ideas for rendering into modern English.
| Spanish Navy rank | Equivalent in British Navy | Suggested terms to use |
|---|---|---|
| Capitán y Director General de la ArmadaF | "With headquarters in Cádiz, who was also Comandante General".† | |
| Capitán General de la ArmadaF | Admiral of the Fleet | Admiral of the Fleet.† |
| Capitán GeneralF | Admiral | Admiral.† (see Captain General (History: Spain (Navy))) |
| Teniente GeneralF | Vice Admiral | Vice Admiral.† |
| Jefe de Escuadra (also Gefe)F | Rear Admiral | Rear Admiral,† Chief of Squadron, Squad leader (lit.). |
| BrigadierF | Commodore | Brigadier, Commodore.† |
| Capitán de NavíoC | Post-Captain | Ship Captain*, Captain,† (lit. "ship of the line" captain) |
| Capitán de FragataC | Commander | Frigate Captain,* Commander.† |
| Capitán de CorbetaC | Lieutenant Commander | Corvette Captain (lit.), Lieutenant Commander.† |
| Teniente de NavíoC | Lieutenant (senior) | Ship Lieutenant,* Lieutenant.† |
| Teniente de FragataC | Lieutenant (junior), "Commissioned Warrant Officer" | Frigate Lieutenant,* "equiv. of Lieutenant (junior grade) in US Navy.† |
| Alférez de NavíoC | no exact equivalent | Ensign, Ship Ensign,* Sub-Lieutenant.† (see Alférez) |
| Alférez de FragataC | no exact equivalent | Ensign, Frigate Ensign.* "Midshipman's title upon graduation".† |
| Piloto primeroP | Master | Master, Navigator (Pilot, but see note below) |
| Piloto segundoP | Master | Master, Navigator (Pilot, but see note below) |
| PilotínP | Master's mate | Master's Mate, Junior piloto (Junior Pilot, but see note below) |
| PrácticoP | Master's mate? | Master's mate? "Essentially a coastal pilot".† |
| Guardiamarina Guardiamarina, Guardia Marina | no exact equivalent? | Midshipman |
* According to Kendrick
† According to Tovell
F Flag officer
C Commissioned ranks
P Piloto: "Institute-trained, not considered a full member of the marina de guerra. As a naval rank, navigator or master of a ship; does not translate directly to "pilot" in nautical terms". A piloto primero could, at first, earn the rank of alférez de fragata; later he could aspire to rank of either teniente de fragata or teniente de navío. A piloto segundo would be given be given the rank of oficial mayor (warrant officer); later he could aspire to the rank of alférez de fragata or alférez de navío.†
Style
- For person in charge of a vessel use commanded by, or under the command of, or commander. Examples: "The schooner Saturnina commanded by Master's Mate [Don] Juan Carrasco". "The goleta Sutil put to sea under the command of Frigate Captain Dionisio Galiano". "Ship Lieutenant Salvador Fidalgo, commander of the Princesa". "The brig Activa commanded by Pilot Salvador Menendez."
- Use commandant for a person in charge of a base, such as "Ship Captain Quadra, commandant of the establishment at Nootka."
Ships
| Spanish term | Possible English terms |
|---|---|
| fragata | frigate |
| corbeta | corvette, frigate |
| goleta | schooner, goleta |
| bergantín | brig, brigantine |
| balandra | sloop |
| Packet ship, storeship |
Sources
- Kendrick, John (1990). The Voyage of Sutil and Mexicana, 1792: The last Spanish exploration of the Northwest Coast of America. Spokane, Washington: The Arthur H. Clark Company. ISBN 0-87062-203-X.
- Tovell, Freeman M. (2008). At the Far Reaches of Empire: The Life of Juan Francisco De La Bodega Y Quadra. University of British Columbia Press. ISBN 9780774813679.