Lieutenant colonel

Lieutenant colonel (UK: /lɛfˈtɛnənt ˈkɜːrnəl/ or US: /luːˈtɛnənt ˈkɜːrnəl/) is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply “colonel” in conversation and in unofficial correspondence. Sometimes, the term ‘half-colonel’ is used in casual conversation in the British Army. In the United States Air Force, the term ‘light bird’ or ‘light bird colonel’ (as opposed to a ‘full bird colonel’) is an acceptable casual reference to the rank but is never used directly towards the rank holder. A lieutenant colonel is typically in charge of a battalion or regiment in the army.

Lieutenant colonel ranks by country

The following articles deal with the rank of lieutenant colonel (or its equivalent)

Lieutenant-colonel (Canada)
Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)
Lieutenant colonel (United States)
Lieutenant-colonel (France) (in French)

Lieutenant colonel equivalents

Azerbaijan – Polkovnik leytenant
Afghanistan — Dagarman (دګرمن)
Arab world — Moqaddam (مقدم)
Albania — Nënkolonel
Argentina – Teniente Coronel
Armenia — Pokhgndapet (փոխգնդապետ)
Austria — Oberstleutnant
Belgium — Lieutenant-colonel (French language), Luitenant-kolonel (Dutch language)
Bosnia and Herzegovina — Potpukovnik
Brazil — Tenente-coronel
Chile – Teniente Coronel
Bulgaria — Podpolkovnik
Canada — Lieutenant-colonel (French language)
Cambodia — Lok Vorasenito (លោកវរសេនីយ៍ទោ)
Colombia — Teniente Coronel
Croatia – Potpukovnik
Czech Republic — Podplukovník
People’s Republic of China — 中校 (Zhōng xiào)
Republic of China (Taiwan) — 中校 (Zhōng xiào)
Denmark — Oberstløjtnant
Estonia — Kolonelleitnant
Ethiopia — Lieutenant koronel
Finland — Everstiluutnantti, Överstelöjtnant
France — Lieutenant-colonel
Germany — Oberstleutnant
- Nazi Germany — Obersturmbannführer (only in the SS)
Georgia – Vice-colonel (vitse-polkovniki)
Greece — Antisyntagmatarkhis
Honduras — Teniente Coronel
Hungary — Alezredes
India ― Lieutenant Colonel
Indonesia — Letnan kolonel (abbreviated Letkol)
Iran — Sarhang dovom (سرهنگ دوم)
Israel — Sgan aluf (סגן-אלוף / סא”ל)
Italy — Tenente colonnello
Japan — Ni sa (二佐)
North Korea — Jungjwa (중좌)
South Korea — Jungryung (중령)
Latvia — Pulkvežleitnants
Lithuania — Pulkininkas leitenantas
Macedonia – Потполковник (Potpolkovnik)
Malaysia – Leftenan-Kolonel
Malta — Logotenent kurunell
Mongolia — Дэд Хурандаа (Ded Khurandaa)
Netherlands — Luitenant-kolonel
Norway — Oberstløytnant
Pakistan – Lieutenant Colonel
Philippines — Kalakan (Tagalog), Teniente Coronel (Spanish)
Poland — Podpułkownik
Portugal — Tenente-coronel
Romania — Locotenent colonel
Russia — Podpolkovnik
Serbia — Potpukovnik
Slovakia — Podplukovník
Slovenia — Podpolkovnik
Somalia — Gaashaanle Dhexe
South Africa — Commandant/kommandant (1950–1994); Lieutenant-colonel or Luitenant-kolonel (Afrikaans language: pre-1950 and post-1994)
Spain and some Spanish speaking countries — Teniente coronel
Sri Lanka – Lieutenant Colonel
Sweden — Överstelöjtnant
Switzerland — Oberstleutnant (German language), Lieutenant-colonel (French language)
Thailand — พันโท (RTGS: phan tho)
Turkey — Yarbay
Ukraine — Підполковник (Pidpolkovnyk)
Vietnam — Trung Tá