Japanese navy leaders, major's rank?

[plloyd1010]

I've looked at all the scenario books from Guadalcanal to the 2nd edition of Saipan, even the addons, and cannot find an answer. What is the equivalent rank to a major in the Japanese navy? Comparing the standard ranks list, placing it along side the Romanians, because they have an "ensign" rank in their army, I get this: 
Standard    Romanian    Navy
Colonel        Colonel         (Captain)
Lt. Colonel   Lt Colonel    
Major          Major            Commander
Captain       Capitan          Lt. Commander
Lieutenant   Locotenent     Lieutenant
(none)         Plutonier       Ensign
Sergeant        

Alternately it might be this:
Standard    Romanian    Navy
Colonel        Colonel         (Captain)
Lt. Colonel   Lt Colonel      Commander
Major          Major            Lt. Commander
Captain       Capitan    
Lieutenant   Locotenent    Lieutenant
(none)        Plutonier       Ensign
Sergeant        

It kind of makes a difference with rule 6.73 and when a Lt. Commander gets whacked. I understand it as navy captains command ships while commanders nominally command "boats", destroyers, frigates and similar. Lt. Commanders would therefore command small boats, like PT boats, sub-chasers and so on.

So where do commanders and lt. commanders fit in the game? I would like to know by Friday, before I get on killed.

[Grognard Gunny]

Lt. Commander (Maj) would be my guess.... i.e. between Lt (Capt) and Commander (Lt Col).

GG

[treadasaurusrex]

You'd be correct!

IJN rank structure was based on the traditional British Royal Navy system.

[Grognard Gunny]

It goes: Ens, LTjg, LT, Lt Commander, Commander, Captain. (Equivalent Army/MC: 2nd Lt, 1st Lt, Capt, Major, Lt Col, Col. I would assume that the Japanese Navy would do the same (Given nothing stating otherwise).

GG