Ranks in the Austro-Hungarian Navy

The rank insignia of the Austro-Hungarian Navy were worn on and on sleeves for navy jackets and coats, or on shoulder straps of shirts and white jackets. Officers' ranks were indicated by lines of gold braid as were senior non-commissioned officers' ranks, enlisted men's rank was indicated by white stars on their square collar flaps. Senior officers and flag officers would wear a broader gold braid line ("Stabsoffiziers-Distinktionsborte" or "General-Distinktionsborte" resp.) of and resp. beneath smaller lines, in addition flag officers would wear a crown on top of their sleeve insignia.
Rank system.
For enlisted men an elaborate rank system existed distinguishing between "Mannschaften" (crew), "Chargen" (junior non-commissioned officers), "Unteroffizieren" ("Maaten"/NCOs) and "Bootsleute/Feldwebel" (senior NCOs). In addition the rank indicated the special training the men had received, indicated by a specialty badge worn on the left sleeve. The basic rank would be combined with the specialty resulting in numerous ratings. Non-commissioned officers would be seamen 1st class (one white star) or "Gasten" and "Quartiermeister" depending on specialty (two white stars) and "Maate" (three white stars). "Bootsleute" would wear the blue or white navy jacket with gold braid half stripes of 11 cm length on the sleeves or shoulder straps. They would be called "Meister" (master) sometimes "Untermeister" in the basic rank, the next senior rank would be 'preceded by 'Stabs-" (staff), and then "Oberstabs-".
Enlisted men and Chargen.
Career and specialist insignia indicated on left sleeve.
Commissioned Officers.
Officers aspirants.
Prospective officers would enter the naval academy and become "Seekadett" (officer cadets) and later "Seefähnrich" before being commissioned as "Fregattenleutnant"s. Reserve officer candidates would join as "Einjährig-Freiwillige" (one-year volunteers). These sons of the higher classes who could afford the expenses would then get some training and be commissioned as "Korvettenleutnant" if successful. "Einjährige" would also wear the blue navy jacket but with two smaller gold braid stripes.