McCoy's rank

[MarsWeeps]

So, what was Dr. McCoy's rank during TOS 3 year run? Was there an episode that mentioned it? Also, since he was the Chief Medical Officer, why didn't his arrowhead insignia have the red Cross (like Nurse Chapel's) instead of the Science insignia like Spock had?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Lieutenant Commander

 

[Avro Arrow]

Also, since he was the Chief Medical Officer, why didn't his arrowhead insignia have the red Cross (like Nurse Chapel's) instead of the Science insignia like Spock had?

McCoy's department was officially "Life Sciences".

 

[J.T.B.]

So, what was Dr. McCoy's rank during TOS 3 year run? Was there an episode that mentioned it?

"Court Martial" and "The Immunity Syndrome" that I know of.

 

[Poltargyst]

He's a Lt. Commander because he has two rings around his cuff and one of the rings is broken dots. His dots are smaller than Scotty's so Scotty outranks him, but he is a Lt. Cmdr.

 

[Nerys Myk]

He's a Lt. Commander because he has two rings around his cuff and one of the rings is broken dots. His dots are smaller than Scotty's so Scotty outranks him, but he is a Lt. Cmdr.

Really? The dots are smaller?

 

[Poltargyst]

Really? The dots are smaller?

I've always thought so.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I've always thought so.

You'd think they'd use the same size for both.

 

[Poltargyst]

Actually as I go back and look at pictures, it looks like some episodes their dots were closer together than other episodes.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

why didn't his arrowhead insignia have the red Cross

That's a good point, actually...

 

[CorporalCaptain]

That's a good point, actually...

Fixed in at least some scenes in nuTrek (McCoy with the red cross insignia).

 

[Kor]

WNMHGB established that the ship's physician Is also head of the "Life Sciences" Department, which has broader scope and function than just medicine. So it's just fine For McCoy to wear the sciences emblem.

Kor

 

[J.T.B.]

Actually as I go back and look at pictures, it looks like some episodes their dots were closer together than other episodes.

There was some variation in the spacing of the sleeve braid over the course of the show, both between the stripes vertically (for Kirk and Spock) and horizontally for the "dashes." The desire to position and sew on fewer dashes is understandable, I suppose.

 

[CrazyMatt]

Interestingly enough, the only other starship ship's surgeon/senior medical officer we see on the series, Dr. Carter of the USS Exeter, was a full commander.

 

[MarsWeeps]

Interestingly enough, the only other starship ship's surgeon/senior medical officer we see on the series, Dr. Carter of the USS Exeter, was a full commander.

There was also Dr. M'Benga. Not sure of his rank.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

AFAIK, M'Benga was never actually seen in a regular Starfleet uniform - only a medical jumpsuit. So his rank was never shown onscreen.

 

[The Wormhole]

Also, since he was the Chief Medical Officer, why didn't his arrowhead insignia have the red Cross (like Nurse Chapel's) instead of the Science insignia like Spock had?

The better question is why did Chapel have a red cross instead of the science insignia in her arrowhead. Doctors Piper and M'Benga also had the science insignia in their arrowheads. IIRC, Chapel was the only one in all TOS to have a red cross in hers.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

AFAIK, M'Benga was never actually seen in a regular Starfleet uniform - only a medical jumpsuit. So his rank was never shown onscreen.

Not the jumpsuit, but the special short-sleeve medical officer shirt (also without visible rank).

http://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/2x19hd/aprivatelittlewarhd0539.jpg

 

[MarsWeeps]

The better question is why did Chapel have a red cross instead of the science insignia in her arrowhead. Doctors Piper and M'Benga also had the science insignia in their arrowheads. IIRC, Chapel was the only one in all TOS to have a red cross in hers.

Probably because she was just a nurse instead of a doctor. Also, you can see that the red Cross was just a couple of red stripes glued over the top of one of the other insignias.

 

[Nerys Myk]

The better question is why did Chapel have a red cross instead of the science insignia in her arrowhead. Doctors Piper and M'Benga also had the science insignia in their arrowheads. IIRC, Chapel was the only one in all TOS to have a red cross in hers.

Several other nurses sport the red cross.