Admiral of the fleet

An admiral of the fleet or shortened to fleet admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to Field marshal and Marshal of the air force. An admiral of the fleet is typically senior to an admiral.

It is also a generic term for a senior admiral in command of a large group of ships, comprising a fleet or, in some cases, a group of fleets. If actually a rank, its name can vary depending on the country. In addition to "fleet admiral" and "admiral of the fleet", such rank names include "admiral of the navy" and "grand admiral".

Etymology

The title admiral of the fleet can trace its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title was typically granted to a nobleman who was appointed by a monarch to raise and command a navy for a specific campaign.^{[citation needed]}

Usage in specific countries

The following articles contain specific information on the rank as it pertains to individual countries:

• Admiral of the fleet (Australia)
• Admiral flote (Croatia)
• Admiral of the fleet (Russia)
  • Admiral of the fleet (Soviet Union)
• Admiral of the fleet (Sri Lanka)
• Chom phon ruea (Thailand)
• Admiral flote (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)
• Admiral of the fleet (United Kingdom)
• Fleet admiral (United States)
  • Admiral of the Navy (United States) (1903-1917)

Ambiguity exists when translating the French amiral into English (into admiral of the fleet or admiral). A French title of amiral de la flotte, outranking a full admiral was created in 1939 for Darlan, who was the only person in French history to hold that title. Amiral de la flotte became a rank in 1942, when Darlan was commander in chief of the military forces of the Vichy Regime. The rank of Amiral de la flotte was still mentioned in French laws in 1957.^[1]

NATO code

While the rank of admiral of the fleet/fleet admiral is used in some of NATO countries, it is ranked differently depending on the country.

NATO code	Country^[2]	English equivalent
		UK	US
OF-10	Croatia, Portugal	Admiral of the Fleet	Fleet admiral
OF-8	Poland	Vice admiral	Vice admiral

Gallery

•  

  Almirante-da-Armada
  (Angolan Navy)^[3]

•  

  Admiral of the fleet
  (Royal Australian Navy)^[4]

•  

  Laksamana armada
  (Royal Brunei Navy)^[5]

•  

  Admiral flote
  (Croatian Navy)^[6]

•  

  Admiral of the fleet
  (Indian Navy)^[7]

•  

  Laksamana armada
  (Royal Malaysian Navy)^[8]

•  

  Admiral of the fleet
  (Nigerian Navy)^[9]

•  

  Admiral of the fleet
  (Royal New Zealand Navy)^[10]

•  

  Admirał floty
  (Polish Navy)^[11]

•  

  Almirante da Armada
  (Portuguese Navy)^[12]

•  

  Адмирал флота
  Admiral flota
  (Russian Navy)^[13]

•  

  Admiral of the fleet
  (Sri Lanka Navy)^[14]

•  

  Flot admiraly
  (Turkmen Naval Forces)^[15]

•  

  Admiral of the Fleet
  (Royal Navy)^[16]

•  

  Fleet admiral
  (United States Navy)^[17]

See also

• List of fleet and grand admirals
• Admiralissimo

References

1. Le Hunsec, Mathieu (2012-03-15). "L'amiral, cet inconnu". Revue historique des armées (in French) (266): 91–107. ISSN 0035-3299.
2. NATO (2021). STANAG 2116 NATO (7th ed.). Brussels, Belgium: NATO Standardization Agency. pp. B-1–B-3.
3. "Postos da Marinha". faa.ao (in Portuguese). Angolan Navy. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
4. "Badges of rank" (PDF). defence.gov.au. Department of Defence (Australia). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
5. "Admiralty Ranks". navy.mindef.gov.bn. Royal Brunei Navy. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
6. "Oznake činova". osrh.hr (in Croatian). Republic of Croatia Armed Forces. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
7. "Ranks & Insignia". Join Indian Navy. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
8. . mafhq.mil.my (in Malay). Malaysian Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
9. Smaldone, Joseph P. (1992). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Nigeria: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 296–297. LCCN 92009026. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
10. . nzdf.mil.nz. New Zealand Defence Force. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
11. "Sposób noszenia odznak stopni wojskowych na umundurowaniu Marynarki Wojennej" (PDF). wojsko-polskie.pl (in Polish). Armed Forces Support Inspectorate. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
12. "Os Postos". marinha.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 February 2021.
13. Приказ Министра обороны Российской Федерации от 09.10.2020 № 525 (Зарегистрирован 16.11.2020 № 60927) (in Russian). publication.pravo.gov.ru/. 17 November 2020. pp. 320–323. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
14. "Navy Commander calls on Admiral of the Fleet, Wasantha Karannagoda". news.navy.lk. Sri Lanka Navy. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
15. "TÜRKMENISTANYŇ KANUNY Harby borçlulyk we harby gulluk hakynda (Türkmenistanyň Mejlisiniň Maglumatlary 2010 ý., № 3, 58-nji madda) (Türkmenistanyň 01.10.2011 ý. № 234-IV Kanuny esasynda girizilen üýtgetmeler we goşmaçalar bilen)" [LAW OF TURKMENISTAN On military service and military service (Information of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, 2010, No. 3, Article 58) (as amended by the Law of Turkmenistan of October 1, 2011 No. 234-IV)] (PDF). milligosun.gov.tm (in Turkmen). Ministry of Defense (Turkmenistan). pp. 28–29. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
16. "Shaping your career". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
17. "U.S. Military Rank Insignia". defense.gov. Department of Defense. Retrieved 13 January 2022.

• Francis E. McMurtrie and Raymond V.B. Blackman (editors), Jane's Fighting Ships 1949-50. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1949.