▁cases ▁as ▁an ▁appointment ▁rather ▁than ▁a ▁rank . ▁During ▁World ▁War ▁I ▁the ▁title ▁of ▁" Com mod ore ▁( T )" ▁was ▁the ▁officer ▁who ▁commanded ▁tor ped o ▁boat ▁fl ot illas . ▁ ▁Prom otion ▁path ▁From ▁ 1 5 7 0 ▁to ▁ 1 8 6 4 ▁the ▁Royal ▁Navy ▁was ▁divided ▁into ▁col oured ▁squad rons ▁which ▁determined ▁an ▁officer ' s ▁career ▁path . ▁ ▁Rank ▁ins ign ia ▁and ▁personal ▁flag ▁ ▁A ▁modern ▁comm odore ' s ▁rank ▁ins ign ia ▁consists ▁of ▁a ▁ 4 5 - mill imet re - wide ▁band ▁of ▁gold ▁la ce , ▁with ▁a ▁circle ▁of ▁ 1 3 - mill imet re - wide ▁la ce ▁ 4 5 ▁mill imet res ▁in ▁diameter ▁above . ▁ ▁Form er ▁command ▁flags ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁▁ ▁British ▁and ▁U . S . ▁military ▁ranks ▁compared ▁ ▁Air ▁comm odore ▁ ▁Com mod ore - in - Ch ief ▁ ▁Compar ative ▁military ▁ranks ▁ ▁Royal ▁Navy ▁officer ▁rank ▁ins ign ia ▁ ▁United ▁States ▁one - star ▁rank ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁S ources ▁Per rin , ▁W . ▁G . ▁( Will iam ▁Gordon ) ▁( 1 9 2 2 ). ▁" IV : Flags ▁of ▁Command ". ▁British ▁flags , ▁their ▁early ▁history , ▁and ▁their ▁development ▁at ▁sea ; ▁with ▁an ▁account ▁of ▁the ▁origin ▁of ▁the ▁flag ▁as ▁a ▁national ▁device . ▁Cambridge , ▁England : ▁Cambridge ▁: ▁The ▁University ▁Press . ▁ ▁External