Ranks in the French Navy

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Marine Nationale

Image:Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svg Motto: Honneur, Patrie, Valeur, Discipline (“Honour, Homeland, Valour, Discipline”) Command Naval Ministers Maritime Prefect Components Force d'action navale Force océanique stratégique Aviation navale FORFUSCO Commandos de Marine Fusiliers de Marine Gendarmerie Navale Equipment Current Fleet Current deployments Personnel Ranks in the French Navy History History of the French Navy Future of the French Navy Ensigns and pennants Historic ships    battleships    cruisers    ships of the line    Sail frigates Historic Fleets Awards Croix de guerre Médaille militaire Légion d'honneur Ribbons

The rank insignia of the Marine Nationale are worn on shoulder straps of shirts and white jackets, and on sleeves for navy jackets and mantels.

Until 2005, only officers had an anchor on their insignia, but warrant officers are now receiving them as well.

Unlike in the Armée de Terre and Armée de l'Air, one does not prepend mon to the name of the rank when addressing an officer (that is, not mon capitaine, but simply capitaine and officers are not called Mon Commandant, but only Commandant). [1] This custom is sometimes said to date back to the Battle of Trafalgar, when Napoleon decided that French Navy officers did not deserve to be called "monsieur" (mon being here elliptical for monsieur, "sir").

Commanding officers have titles of capitaine, but are called commandant (in the army, both capitaine and commandant are ranks, which tends to stir some confusion among the public).

The two highest ranks, vice-amiral d'escadre and amiral, are functions, rather than ranks. They are assumed by officers ranking vice-amiral.

The only amiral de la flotte was François Darlan after he was refused the dignity of Amiral de France. Equivalent to Maréchal de France, the dignity of Amiral de France remains theoretical in the Fifth Republic, as it was last granted in 1869, during the Second Empire, but retained during the Third Republic until the death of its bearer in 1873. The title of amiral de la flotte was created so that Darlan would not have an inferior rank than his British counterpart, who born the rank of Admiral of the Fleet.

Contents 1 Insignia 1.1 Officers 1.1.1 Officiers généraux — General officers 1.1.2 Officiers supérieurs — Senior officers 1.1.3 Officiers subalternes — Junior officers 1.2 Petty officers and enlisted personel 1.2.1 Officiers mariniers — Petty Officers 1.2.2 Matelots et quartiers-maîtres — Sailors and quarter-masters

Insignia

Officers

Officiers généraux — General officers

Grade-contre-amiral.svg Contre-Amiral Counter-Admiral/Rear Admiral (Commodore)

Grade-Vice-Amiral.svg Vice-Amiral Vice-Admiral (Rear Admiral)

Grade-vice-amiral-descadre.svg Vice-Amiral d'escadre Squadron Vice-Admiral (Vice Admiral)

Grade-amiral.svg Amiral Admiral

Officiers supérieurs — Senior officers

Grade-capt-corvette.svg Capitaine de corvette Corvette Captain (Lieutenant Commander)

Grade-capt-fregate.svg Capitaine de frégate Frigate Captain (Commander)

Grade-capt-vaisseau.svg Capitaine de vaisseau Ship-of-the-Line Captain (Captain)

Officiers subalternes — Junior officers

Grade-aspirant.svg Aspirant Midshipman

Grade-enseigne-2classe.svg Enseigne de vaisseau de deuxième classe Ship of the Line ensign second class (Acting Sub-Lieutenant)

Grade-enseigne-1classe.svg Enseigne de vaisseau de première classe Ship of the Line ensign first class (Sub-Lieutenant)

Grade-lieut-vaisseau.svg Lieutenant de vaisseau Ship-of-the-Line Lieutenant (Lieutenant)

Petty officers and enlisted personel

Officiers mariniers — Petty Officers

Gradesmarine-f23.svg Second-maître Second master	Gradesmarine-f24.svg Maître Master	Gradesmarine-f25.svg Premier-maître First master	Gradesmarine-f26.svg Maître-principal Principal master
Gradesmarine-f27.svg Major Major

Matelots et quartiers-maîtres — Sailors and quarter-masters

Gradesmarine-f19.svg Matelot Sailor

Gradesmarine-f20.svg Matelot breveté Diplomed sailor

Gradesmarine-f21.svg Quartier-maître de 2ème classe Quarter-master second class

Gradesmarine-f22.svg Quartier-maître de 1ère classe Quarter-master first class

fr:Grades de l'armée française