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Admiral of the Fleet

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An Admiral of the Fleet or Fleet Admiral, is a military naval officer of the highest rank. In the United States, the rank of Fleet Admiral is reserved for war time use, with the last promotions to position coming during World War II. It is usually a rank above Admiral, and is often held by the most senior Admiral of an entire naval service. 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 (equivalent to an army Field Marshal or General of the Army, which ranks above General), its name varies depending on the country, including Fleet Admiral, Admiral of the Fleet, Admiral of the Navy, and Grand Admiral. (In some navies, however, such as the German Kriegsmarine during World War II, "Admiral of the Navy" has been considered an even higher rank than Admiral of the Fleet or its equivalent.) It ranks above Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral and usually full Admiral, and is usually given to a senior Admiral commanding multiple fleets as opposed to just one fleet.

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.

Usage in specific countries

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

Owing to the lack of direct equivalents in many cases between French and Anglo-American naval ranks, it is debatable whether the French rank of Amiral de la Flotte ou Amiral should be translated as Admiral of the Fleet or full Admiral.

Before the fall of the monarchy in 1952, the Egyptian Navy had the equivalent rank of Sayed Elbehar Elazam.

The associated list of Fleet and Grand Admirals provides a summary of those who have held the rank of Fleet Admiral, or its equivalent.

Other countries

The rank also exists or has existed (on paper at least) in France till 1943 (the last one being Admiral Darlan), Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Oman, and Pakistan although not all of these countries have actually ever bestowed the rank on an individual.

Fictional

The following articles contains information about fictional Fleet Admirals:

Alternate meanings

Reference

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



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Last updated on Friday July 25, 2008 at 23:02:15 PDT (GMT -0700)
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