Colonel (United Kingdom)

Colonel
Colonel Insignia
Country United Kingdom
Service branch British Army
 Royal Marines
AbbreviationCol
NATO rank codeOF-5
FormationMid-16th century
Next higher rankBrigadier
Next lower rankLieutenant colonel
Equivalent ranks

Colonel (Col) is a rank of the British Army and Royal Marines, ranking below brigadier, and above lieutenant colonel. British colonels are not usually field commanders; typically they serve as staff officers between field commands at battalion and brigade level. The insignia is two diamond-shaped pips (properly called "Bath Stars") below a crown. The crown has varied in the past with different monarchs; Elizabeth II's reign used St Edward's Crown. The rank is equivalent to captain in the Royal Navy and group captain in the Royal Air Force.