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".

== 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.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Le Hunsec|first=Mathieu|date=2012-03-15|title=L'amiral, cet inconnu|url=https://journals.openedition.org/rha/7393|journal=Revue historique des armées|language=fr|issue=266|pages=91–107|issn=0035-3299}}</ref>

==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. {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! rowspan=2| NATO code ! rowspan=2| Country<ref name="B-1">{{cite book |author1=NATO |title=STANAG 2116 NATO |date=2021 |publisher=NATO Standardization Agency |edition=7th |location=Brussels, Belgium |pages=B-1–B-3}}</ref> ! colspan=2| English equivalent |- ! UK ! US |- ! OF-10 | Croatia, Portugal | Admiral of the Fleet | Fleet admiral |- ! OF-8 | Poland | Vice admiral | Vice admiral |}

==Gallery==  <gallery class="center"> File:Angola-Navy-OF-9.svg|{{lang|pt|Almirante-da-Armada}} (Angolan Navy)<ref name="Angola_Navy">{{cite web |title=Postos da Marinha |url=https://faa.ao/mga/postos_marinha |website=faa.ao |publisher=Angolan Navy |access-date=27 June 2021 |language=pt}}</ref> File:Generic-Navy-13.svg|Admiral of the fleet (Royal Australian Navy)<ref name="Australia">{{cite web |title=Badges of rank |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/images/Badges_of_rank.pdf |website=defence.gov.au |publisher=Department of Defence (Australia) |access-date=31 May 2021}}</ref> File:Generic-Navy-13.svg|{{lang|ms|Laksamana armada}} (Royal Brunei Navy)<ref name="Brunei_Navy">{{cite web |title=Admiralty Ranks |url=https://navy.mindef.gov.bn/Site%20Pages/Admiralty%20Ranks.aspx |website=navy.mindef.gov.bn |publisher=Royal Brunei Navy |access-date=1 September 2021}}</ref> File:Croatia-Navy-OF-10.svg|{{lang|hr|Admiral flote}} (Croatian Navy)<ref name="Croatia">{{cite web |title=Oznake činova |url=http://www.osrh.hr/#rubData/HTML/HR/RAZNO/OZNAKE/20190401_Galerija_oznaka/Galerija_oznaka_HR.htm |website=osrh.hr |publisher=Republic of Croatia Armed Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=hr |date=1 April 2019}}</ref> File:Generic-Navy-13.svg|Admiral of the fleet (Indian Navy)<ref name="India_Navy">{{cite web |title=Ranks & Insignia |url=https://www.joinindiannavy.gov.in/en/about-us/ranks-insignia.html |website=Join Indian Navy |access-date=12 April 2021}}</ref> File:Generic-Navy-13.svg|{{lang|ms|Laksamana armada}} (Royal Malaysian Navy)<ref name="Malaysia_Officer">{{cite web |title=Pangkat |url=http://www.mafhq.mil.my/index.php/my/mengenai-kami/kerjaya/pangkat |website=mafhq.mil.my |publisher=Malaysian Armed Forces |access-date=4 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429231449/http://www.mafhq.mil.my/index.php/my/mengenai-kami/kerjaya/pangkat |archive-date=29 April 2020 |language=ms}}</ref> File:Generic-Navy-13.svg|Admiral of the fleet (Nigerian Navy)<ref name="Nigeria">{{cite book |last1=Smaldone |first1=Joseph P. |editor1-last=Metz |editor1-first=Helen Chapin |editor-link=Helen Chapin Metz |title=Nigeria: a country study |series=Area Handbook |date=1992 |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |lccn=92009026 |pages=296–297 |edition=5th |url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.nigeriacountryst00metz_0/?sp=340 |access-date=21 October 2021 |chapter=National Security}}</ref> File:Generic-Navy-13.svg|Admiral of the fleet (Royal New Zealand Navy)<ref name="NewZealand">{{cite web |title=Badges of Rank |url=https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/corporate-documents/badges-of-rank/ |website=nzdf.mil.nz |publisher=New Zealand Defence Force |access-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703193648/https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/corporate-documents/badges-of-rank/ |archive-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> File:Poland-Navy-OF-8.svg|{{lang|pl|Admirał floty}} (Polish Navy)<ref name="Poland_Navy">{{cite web |title=Sposób noszenia odznak stopni wojskowych na umundurowaniu Marynarki Wojennej |url=https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/iwsp/u/27/96/27964313-a4b1-4c28-9ea2-08de33e7aa58/08c_oznaki_stopni_wojskowych_na_umundurowaniu_mw_ok.pdf |website=wojsko-polskie.pl |publisher=Armed Forces Support Inspectorate |access-date=7 June 2021 |language=pl}}</ref> File:Generic-Navy-13.svg|{{lang|pt|Almirante da Armada}} (Portuguese Navy)<ref name="Portugal_Navy">{{cite web |title=Os Postos |url=https://www.marinha.pt/pt/a-marinha/Paginas/postos.aspx |website=marinha.pt |access-date=26 February 2021 |language=pt}}</ref> File:Russia-Navy-OF-9-Sleeve.svg|{{lang|ru|Адмирал флота}} {{lang|ru-Latn|Admiral flota}} (Russian Navy)<ref name="Russia_Navy">{{cite book |title=Приказ Министра обороны Российской Федерации от 09.10.2020 № 525 (Зарегистрирован 16.11.2020 № 60927) |date=17 November 2020 |publisher=publication.pravo.gov.ru/ |pages=320–323 |url=http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202011170028?index=318&rangeSize=1 |access-date=15 September 2021 |language=ru}}</ref> File:Generic-Navy-13.svg|Admiral of the fleet (Sri Lanka Navy)<ref>{{cite web |title=Navy Commander calls on Admiral of the Fleet, Wasantha Karannagoda |url=https://news.navy.lk/lead-story/2020/08/11/202008110906/ |website=news.navy.lk |publisher=Sri Lanka Navy |access-date=16 December 2022 |date=10 August 2020}}</ref> File:Russia-Navy-OF-9-1994-everyday.svg|{{lang|tk|Flot admiraly}} (Turkmen Naval Forces)<ref name="Turkmenistan">{{cite web |title=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) |trans-title=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) |url=https://milligosun.gov.tm/storage/file/04-harby-borclulyk-we-harby-gulluk-hakynda-ky9J0pKxTQ.pdf |website=milligosun.gov.tm |publisher=Ministry of Defense (Turkmenistan) |access-date=2 June 2021 |pages=28–29 |language=tk}}</ref> File:Generic-Navy-13.svg|Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)<ref name="UK_Navy">{{cite web |title=Shaping your career |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/navy-life/shaping-your-career |website=royalnavy.mod.uk |publisher=Royal Navy |access-date=24 September 2021}}</ref> File:Generic-Navy-(star v2)-O12.svg|Fleet admiral (United States Navy)<ref name="Dod_Ranks">{{cite web |title=U.S. Military Rank Insignia |url=https://www.war.gov/Resources/Insignia/ |website=United States Department of Defense |publisher=Department of Defense |access-date=13 January 2022}}</ref> </gallery>

== See also == * List of fleet and grand admirals * ''Admiralissimo''

== References == {{Reflist}} {{refbegin}} * Francis E. McMurtrie and Raymond V.B. Blackman (editors), ''Jane's Fighting Ships 1949-50.'' New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1949. {{refend}}

Category:Naval ranks Category:Five-star officers