Admiral of the Fleet

An Admiral of the Fleet or Fleet Admiral, is a military naval officer of the highest rank. In many nations the rank is reserved for wartime or ceremonial appointments. 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:

* Admiral of the Fleet (United Kingdom)
* Admiral of the Fleet (Australia)
* Admiral of the Fleet (New Zealand)
* Admiral of the Fleet (Russia)
* Admiral of the Fleet (Soviet Union)
* Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union (Soviet Union, honorary)
* Admiral ( Netherlands)
* Grande Ammiraglio (Italy)
* Admiral flote (Croatia)
* Admiral of the Fleet (Nigeria)
* Büyükamiral (Turkey)
* Fleet Admiral (United States)
* Fleet Admiral (Imperial Japan)
* Großadmiral (Germany and Austria-Hungary)
* Jom Phon Ruea (Thailand)
* Mushir (Middle East)
* Wonsu (South Korea)
* Archinaúarchos, Greece
* Capitán General de la Armada (Spain)
* Admiral of the Fleet (India,5-star Ceremonial Rank, held for life)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:

* Fleet Admiral (science fiction)
** Fleet Admiral (Star Trek)
** Fleet Admiral (Star Wars)

* Fleet Admiral Nagala (Battlestar Galactica)
* Fleet Admiral Yang Wen-li (Legend of the Galactic Heroes)
* Admiral of the Fleet Horatio Hornblower
* Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood (Halo 2 and Halo 3)
* Fleet Admiral Harper (Halo 2)
* Fleet Admiral Sengoku (One Piece)

Alternate meanings

* Fleet Admiral (race horse)

References

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