Admiral of the Fleet

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Navies (English-speaking world)	Armies and some Air Forces	Air Forces (Commonwealth)
Common military ranks
Admiral of the Fleet	Field Marshal	Marshal of the Air Force
Admiral	General	Air Chief Marshal
Vice Admiral	Lieutenant General	Air Marshal
Rear Admiral	Major General	Air Vice Marshal
Commodore	Brigadier	Air Commodore
Captain	Colonel	Group Captain
Commander	Lieutenant Colonel	Wing Commander
Lieutenant Commander	Major	Squadron Leader
Lieutenant	Captain	Flight Lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Flying Officer
Warrant Officer	Warrant Officer	Warrant Officer
Petty Officer	Sergeant	Sergeant
Leading Rate	Corporal	Corporal
Seaman	Private	Aircraftman

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 the rank during World War II. It is usually a rank ranking above Admiral. The rank 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.

1 Usage in specific countries
2 Other countries
3 Fictional
4 Alternate meanings

[edit] 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 flote (Croatia)
Admiral of the Fleet (Nigeria)
Büyükamiral (Turkey)
Fleet Admiral (United States)
Fleet Admiral (Imperial Japan)
Grand Admiral (Germany and Austria-Hungary)
Jom Phon Ruea (Thailand)
Mushir (Middle East)
Wonsu (South Korea)
Archinaúarchos, Greece
Capitán General de la Armada (Spain)

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

[edit] Other countries

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