Coxswain
The
coxswain (pronounced
cox-ən; often called the
cox or
Coxs'n) is the person in charge of a
boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from
cock, a cockboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and
swain, which can be rendered as boy, servant or attendant.
Most familiarly, the coxswain is the member of a
rowing crew who sits in the
stern (except in
bowloaders) facing the bow, steers the boat, and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers. However, the term can be used for the skipper of any small muscle or motor-driven boat. The coxswain usually communicates with the crew through a microphone, the most common form being the Neilsen-Kellerman
Cox Box, although coxswains may occasionally use
megaphones if they don't have a Cox Box.
In the
Royal Navy in the days of sail, the Coxswain was a
Petty Officer or
Chief Petty Officer who commanded a
Captain's or
Admiral's
barge. Later he was the senior Chief Petty Officer aboard a smaller vessel such as a
corvette or
submarine, who was responsible for the steering and also assumed the duties which would be performed by the
Chief Boatswain's Mate and
Master-at-Arms aboard larger vessels.
In Royal Navy Sections of the
Combined Cadet Force, the rank of Cadet Coxswain is the highest that a cadet can achieve, except in the rare occurrence that he/she is promoted to the rank of Cadet
Under Officer. The Rank of Coxswain equates to the rank of Cadet
Warrant Officer in the
Royal Air Force Sections, and the rank of Cadet
Regimental Sergeant Major in the Army Sections. A CCF Cadet Under Officer is frequently the most senior cadet in his/her corps, and works with the Contingent Commander along with the Cadet Coxswain, the Cadet Warrant Officer and the Cadet RSM, to run the corps.
In the
Canadian Navy, the appointment of Coxswain (or
capitaine d'armes in
French) is given to the senior non-commissioned officer aboard a ship, the equivalent to a Command Master Chief Petty Officer in the USN. For larger vessels such as a
destroyer,
frigate or
Protecteur class auxiliary vessel, a Coxswain holds the rank of Chief Petty Officer 1st Class (CPO1). For smaller vessels such as a
submarine or
Kingston class patrol vessel, a Coxswain holds the rank of Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class (CPO2).
