Commodore (Royal Navy) Commodore (Royal Navy) Commodore (Cdre) is a rank of the Royal Navy above captain and below rear admiral. It has a NATO ranking code of OF-6. The rank is equivalent to brigadier in the British Army and Royal Marines and to air commodore in the Royal Air Force. The rank of commodore was introduced during the 17th century in November 1674 (though not legally established until 1806). In 1684 the navy introduced two classes of commodore, the first known as a "Commodore Distinction" and the other a "Commodore Ordinary"; these would later evolve into commodores first and second class. In
James Fanshawe (Royal Navy officer) James Fanshawe (Royal Navy officer) Commodore James Fanshawe CBE (born 1953) is a retired Royal Navy officer. Fanshawe has been Chairman of numerous organisations since his retirement in 2005. Fanshawe joined the Royal Navy in 1970 and rose to the rank of Commodore, notably commanding HMS Hurworth, HMS Cleopatra, HMS Fearless, UK Task Group and the Devonport Flotilla. He was Commander of the Coalition Maritime Component in the Middle East and Director of Plans at Permanent Joint Headquarters. He notably planned evacuation and stabilisation operations in Sierra Leone in 2000 which were central to Operation Palliser; he also took control