BACKGROUND: On entering Kriegsmarine service all personnel were assigned and trained for a specific career. These careers consisted of a wide variety of specialty trades and functions with some of the careers restricted to certain rank groups. On successful completion of the appropriate training, personnel were issued distinctive career insignia to be worn on the upper left sleeve of the uniforms. For EM/NCO’s the career insignia could be worn combined with the rank insignia or as separate insignia. Regulations dictated that the base color of the insignia was to match the color of the uniform it was worn on. Of Note: Rank designations were tied to the career the individual was assigned to. In this case the proper rank designation is Artilleriemechaniker-Gefreiter.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The insignia consists of a navy blue wool base with an inverted triangular bottom and a semi-circular top. The top of the base has hand embroidered, multi-cogged wheel superimposed on crossed artillery barrels in golden yellow threads positioned above three rank chevrons. Uniform removed.