Rear admiral
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Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank that is usually two-star rank ranking below Vice Admiral. It originated from the days of Naval Sailing Squadrons and can trace its origins to the Royal Navy. Each Naval Squadron would be assigned an admiral as its head, who would command from the centre vessel and direct the activities of the squadron. The admiral would in turn be assisted by a vice, or vice admiral, who commanded the lead ships which would bear the brunt of a naval assault.
In the rear of the Naval Squadron, a third admiral would command the remaining ships and, as this section of the squadron was considered the least dangerous, the admiral in command of the rear would typically be the most junior of the squadron admirals. This has survived into the modern age, with the rank of rear admiral the first and junior-most of the admiralty ranks of most navies.
In some European navies (eg that of France) and in the Canadian Forces French rank translations, the rank of rear admiral is known as counter admiral. In the Royal Netherlands Navy this rank is known as schout-bij-nacht (lit: Supervisor during nighttime - denoting the role junior to the squadron admiral).
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[edit] United Kingdom
The Royal Navy maintains a rank of rear admiral.
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Royal Navy rear admiral sleeve/shoulder insignia |
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Royal Navy rear admiral shoulder board |
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Royal Navy rear admiral command flag |
| Officer ranks of the Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Armed Forces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Officer | OF(D) | OF-1 | OF-2 | OF-3 | OF-4 | OF-5 | OF-6 | OF-7 | OF-8 | OF-9 | OF-10 | ||
| Royal Navy: | Mid | SLt | Lt | Lt Cdr | Cdr | Capt | Cdre | RAdm | VAdm | Adm | Adm of the Fleet | ||
| Royal Marines: | 2Lt | Lt | Capt | Maj | Lt Col | Col | Brig | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | Gen | |||
| Army: | OCdt | 2Lt | Lt | Capt | Maj | Lt Col | Col | Brig | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | Gen | FM | |
| Royal Air Force: | OC | APO / Plt Off | Fg Off | Flt Lt | Sqn Ldr | Wg Cdr | Gp Capt | Air Cdre | AVM | Air Mshl | Air Chf Mshl | MRAF | |
[edit] Canada
In the Canadian Forces, the rank of rear-admiral (RAdm) (contre-amiral or cam in French) is a Navy rank equal to a major-general of the Army or Air Force. A rear-admiral is a flag officer, the naval equivalent of a general officer. A rear-admiral is senior to a commodore or brigadier-general, and junior to a vice-admiral or lieutenant-general.
The rank insignia for a rear-admiral is two gold maple leaves beneath crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by St. Edward's Crown, worn on the shoulder straps of the Service Dress jacket, and on slip-ons on other uniforms. The Service Dress tunic also features a wide strip of gold braid around the cuff. On the visor of the service cap are two rows of gold oak leaves.
Rear-admirals are initially addressed by rank and name; thereafter by subordinates as "Sir" or "Ma'am", as applicable. Rear-admirals are normally entitled to staff cars.
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Dress uniform tunic |
Navy slip-on RAdm.png
Uniform shirts |
Navy shoulder board RAdm.png
shoulder boards for short-sleeve shirt and tropical white tunic |
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CADPAT uniform |
[edit] Links
Canadian Forces ranks and insignia
[edit] United States
[edit] See also
de:Konteradmiralfr:Contre-amiral it:Contrammiraglio nl:Schout-bij-nacht hu:Ellentengernagy pl:Kontradmirał ru:Контр-адмирал sl:kontraadmiral sv:Konteramiral uk:Контр-адмірал vi:Chuẩn đô đốc
