Sveto Letica (4 April 1926 – 6 November 2001) was a

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

, and the first commander of the

Croatian Navy , image = Seal of Croatian Navy.png , caption = Emblem of the Croatian Navy , start_date = 1991 , country = , allegiance = , branch = , type = Navy , role = , size = 1,36330 vessels , command_structure = Armed Forces of Croatia , gar ...

Biography

Letica was born in 1926 in Podgora, where he was involved in creating a Partisan Navy in 1942. He graduated at the Naval and War Academy. For 20 years he served on different warships of the

Yugoslav Navy The Yugoslav Navy ( sh-Cyrl-Latn, Југословенска ратна морнарица, Jugoslavenska ratna mornarica, Yugoslav War Navy), was the navy of Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1992. It was essentially a coastal defense force with the miss ...

. He was Fleet commander, he was chief of a naval region, and before his retirement he served in ''Generalštab'' of JNA. He retired in 1986 with the rank of Vice Admiral in YPA. By decree of the President of the Presidency of the SFRY from September 1986, he was retroactively promoted to the rank of admiral. The long-time experience of Letica was precious for

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

when the

was established in 1991. On 12 September 1991, the President of the Republic,

Franjo Tuđman Franjo Tuđman (; 14 May 1922 – 10 December 1999), also written as Franjo Tudjman, was a Croatian politician and historian. Following the country's independence from Yugoslavia, he became the first president of Croatia and served as p ...

, named him Commander of Croatian Navy. He served as supreme navy commander until his second retirement on 1 June 1996. He was retired by decision of the President. In September 1991 he was confirmed rank of

Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

, and in March 1996 promoted in rank of '' Fleet Admiral'' (admiral flote). He is buried in Lovrinac graveyard in

Split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, enterta ...

Career summary

Duties

* Commander of

- 12 September 1991 - 1 June 1996

Ranks

SFRY

Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

(December 1974) * Vice Admiral (December 1978) *

(September 1986)

Croatia

* Fleet Admiral (March 1996)

Decorations

Order of Duke Trpimir The Order of Duke Trpimir ( hr, Red kneza Trpimira), or more fully the Order of Duke Trpimir with Neck Badge and Morning Star (''Red kneza Trpimira s ogrlicom i Danicom''), is an order of the Republic of Croatia. It ranks sixth in the Croatian or ...

Order of Duke Domagoj The Order of Duke Domagoj ( hr, Red kneza Domagoja) is the 8th most important medal given by the Republic of Croatia and is the nation's highest award for bravery. The order was founded on April 1, 1995. The medal is awarded for valor in combat. ...

Order of Ban Jelačić The Order of Ban Jelačić ( hr, Red bana Jelačića) is the 10th most important medal given by the Republic of Croatia. The order was founded on April 1, 1995. The medal is awarded for excellence in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. It ...

*Order of Croatian Trefoil *Order of Croatian Wattle *

Commemorative Medal of the Homeland War The Homeland War Memorial ( hr, Spomenica Domovinskog rata) is a Croatian state medal awarded to both Croatian and foreign citizens who participated in the nation's Croatian War of Independence as a volunteer, part of the Croatian Army and Croat ...

Commemorative Medal of the Homeland's Gratitude Homeland's Gratitude Medal ( hr, Spomenica domovinske zahvalnosti) is the 19th most important medal in the Croatian honours system. The Homeland's Gratitude Medal has four classes, each for the length of service of 5, 10, 15, and 20 or more yea ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Letica, Sveto 1926 births 2001 deaths Military personnel of the Croatian War of Independence Croatian admirals Yugoslav Partisans members Order of Duke Domagoj recipients Admirals of the Yugoslav People's Army