Vice admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to lieutenant general and air marshal. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral. In many navies,Vice admiral is a three-star rank in the navies of NATO and Commonwealth countries, including (since 2001) the Royal Navy. (Refer UK DCI (Joint Service) 125/2001) vice admiral is a three-star rank with a NATO code of OF-8, although in some navies like the French Navy it is an OF-7 rank, the OF-8 code corresponding to the four-star rank of squadron vice-admiral.
Rank insignia
The rank insignia for a vice admiral often involves three stars, but this is not always the case. In the navy of Iraq, vice admiral insignia involves one star. In the navies of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Cuba, Iran, Mexico, North Korea, and Russia, vice admiral insignia involves two stars, and in the navy of Turkey, vice admiral insignia involves four stars.
Gallery
File:Royal Australian Navy OF-8.svg|Royal Australian Navy shoulder board
File:13.BNF-ADM.svg|Bangladesh Navy
File:VAArmada.jpg|Brazilian Navy
File:Canada-Navy-OF-8-collected.svg|Royal Canadian Navy
File:Rukav zimske odore viceadmirala HRM.svg|Croatian Navy
File:EgyptianNavyInsignia-ViceAdmiral-shoulderboard.svg|Egyptian shoulder board
File:French Navy-Rama NG-OF7.svg|French Navy
File:MDS 63 Vizeadmiral Trp.svg|''Vizeadmiral'' (German Navy)
File:13-Indian Navy-VADM.svg|Indian Navy
File:Pdu_laksdyatni_komando.png|Indonesian Navy shoulder board (command)
File:16-IIN-Daryasalar-2.png|Imperial Iranian Navy
File:20-Daryasalar.png|Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
File:Vice Admiral50.jpg|Irish Naval Service
File:JMSDF Vice Admiral insignia (b).svg|''Kaishō'' (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force)
File:18.SKN-VADM.svg|''해군중장'' (Republic of Korea Navy)
File:Netherlands-Navy-OF-8.svg|''Vice-Admiraal'' (Royal Netherlands Navy)
File:PN VADM BlkDr-Slv.svg|Vice Admiral Sleeve Insignia (Philippine Navy)
File:PN VADM WhtDr.svg|Vice Admiral Shoulder Insignia (Philippine Navy)
File:POL PMW pagon1 wiceadmirał.svg|Polish Navy ''wiceadmirał'' shoulder insignia
File:RO-Navy-OF-9s.png|Romanian tunic shoulder board of a ''viceamiral''
File:RAF N F7VicAdm since 2010par.svg|Russian Navy (and formerly Soviet Navy)
File:4arm.png|''Vicealmirante'' of the Spanish Navy
File:SWE-NavyOF8.svg|Swedish Navy sleeve insignia
File:RTN OF-8 (Vice Admiral).svg|Royal Thai Navy
File:British Royal Navy (sleeves) OF-8.svg|Sleeve insignia:
Royal Navy (United Kingdom),
Royal Canadian Navy,
Royal Australian Navy,
Royal New Zealand Navy,
Bangladesh Navy,
Indian Navy and
Royal Norwegian Navy File:British Royal Navy OF-8.svg|Royal Navy shoulder board File:US Navy O9 insignia.svg|U.S. Navy File:USCG O9 insignia.svg|U.S. Coast Guard File:Ukraine Vice Admiral shoulderboard.svg|Ukrainian Navy (before 2016) File:UAN shoulder mark 19.svg|Ukrainian Navy (after 2016) File:Vietnam People's Navy Vice Admiral.jpg|Vietnam People's Navy
Australia
In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of vice admiral is held by the Chief of Navy and, when the positions are held by navy officers, by the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, the Chief of Joint Operations, and/or the Chief of Capability Development Group. Vice admiral is the equivalent of air marshal in the Royal Australian Air Force and lieutenant general in the Australian Army.
Bangladesh
Vice admiral is a three-star admiral rank of the Bangladesh Navy.
Canada
In the Royal Canadian Navy, the rank of vice-admiral (VAdm) (''vice-amiral'' or ''Vam'' in French) is equivalent to lieutenant-general of the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force. A vice-admiral is a flag officer, the naval equivalent of a general officer. A vice-admiral is senior to a rear-admiral and major general, and junior to an admiral and general. The rank insignia of a Canadian vice-admiral is as follows: * On the navy blue mess dress jacket and the navy blue service dress tunic: the cuff insignia is one wide gold braid below two standard size gold braids, the superior one includes the executive curl. * On tropical white mess dress and tropical white service dress tunic: three silver maple leaves, beneath silver crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by a St. Edward's Crown located on gold shoulder boards. Two rows of gold oak leaves are located on the black visor of the white service cap. From 1968 to June 2010, the navy blue service dress tunic featured only a wide gold braid around the cuff with three gold maple leaves, beneath crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by a St. Edward's Crown located on cloth shoulder straps. Vice-admirals are addressed by rank and name; thereafter by subordinates as "Sir" or "Ma'am". Vice-admirals are normally entitled to a staff car; the car will normally bear a flag, dark blue with three gold maple leaves arranged one over two. A vice-admiral generally holds only the most senior command or administrative appointments, barring only Chief of Defence Staff, which is held by a full admiral or general. Appointments held by vice-admirals may include: * Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS); * Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (DCDS); * Commander of an operational command (such as Canadian Joint Operations Command); * Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy; * Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of Defence in various capacities; * Commander of, or representative to, a multinational force, alliance, or treaty organization. Charles, Prince of Wales holds the honorary rank of vice admiral in the Royal Canadian Navy.
France
In France, ''vice-amiral'' is the most senior of the ranks in the French Navy; higher ranks, ''vice-amiral d'escadre'' and ''amiral'', are permanent functions, style and position (in French ''rang et appellation'') given to a ''vice-amiral''-ranking officer. The ''vice-amiral'' rank used to be an OF-8 rank in NATO charts, but nowadays, it is more an OF-7 rank. The rank of ''vice-amiral d'escadre'' (literally, "squadron vice-admiral", with more precision, "fleet vice-admiral") equals a NATO OF-8 rank. In the ''ancien régime'' Navy, between 1669 and 1791. The office of "Vice-Admiral of France" (''Vice-amiral de France'') was the highest rank, the supreme office of "Admiral of France" being purely ceremonial. Distinct offices were : * 1669–1791 Vice-admiral of the West (Atlantic Ocean). * 1669–1791 Vice-admiral of the East (Mediterranean Sea). * 1778–1791 Vice-admiral of the Asian and American Seas (American shores). * 1784–1788 Vice-admiral of the Indian Seas (Indian Ocean).
Germany
''Vizeadmiral'' is an OF-8 three-star rank equivalent to the German ''Heer'' and ''Luftwaffe'' rank of ''Generalleutnant''.
India
In India, vice admiral is a three-star admiral rank of the Indian Navy.
Italy
In Italy, the equivalent to vice admiral is the ''ammiraglio di squadra'' or ''squadron admiral''.
Philippines
In the Philippines, the rank vice admiral is the highest-ranking official of the Philippine Navy. He is recognized as the flag officer in-command of the navy, an equivalent post to the Chief of Naval Operations in the U.S. Navy.
Poland
Before World War II, the vice admiral was the highest rank in the Polish Navy. Jozef Unrug was one of the only two officers to achieve the rank. The other was Jerzy Świrski. Poland had only one sovereign sea port, Port of Gdynia, and was slowly building a small modern navy that was to be ready by 1950. The navy was not a priority for obvious reasons. At present, it is a "two-star" rank. The stars are not used; however, the stars were used in between 1952 and 1956 and are still used in the vice admiral's pennant.
Sweden
In Sweden, vice admiral is a three-star admiral rank of the Swedish Navy.
United Kingdom
In the Royal Navy the rank of vice-admiral should be distinguished from the office of "Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom", which is an Admiralty position usually held by a retired "full" admiral, and that of "Vice-Admiral of the Coast", a now obsolete office dealing with naval administration in each of the maritime counties.
History
United States
Vietnam
In Vietnam, the equivalent to vice admiral is the ''phó đô đốc'' which is a 2-star rank. It is below the admiral (3 stars) and above rear admiral (1 star).
References
See also
* Comparative military ranks {{Highest Military Ranks Category:Military ranks of Canada Category:Military insignia Category:Naval ranks Category:Military ranks of Australia Category:Military ranks of Singapore
Rank insignia
The rank insignia for a vice admiral often involves three stars, but this is not always the case. In the navy of Iraq, vice admiral insignia involves one star. In the navies of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Cuba, Iran, Mexico, North Korea, and Russia, vice admiral insignia involves two stars, and in the navy of Turkey, vice admiral insignia involves four stars.
Gallery
Royal Navy (United Kingdom),
Royal Canadian Navy,
Royal Australian Navy,
Royal New Zealand Navy,
Bangladesh Navy,
Indian Navy and
Royal Norwegian Navy File:British Royal Navy OF-8.svg|Royal Navy shoulder board File:US Navy O9 insignia.svg|U.S. Navy File:USCG O9 insignia.svg|U.S. Coast Guard File:Ukraine Vice Admiral shoulderboard.svg|Ukrainian Navy (before 2016) File:UAN shoulder mark 19.svg|Ukrainian Navy (after 2016) File:Vietnam People's Navy Vice Admiral.jpg|Vietnam People's Navy
Australia
In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of vice admiral is held by the Chief of Navy and, when the positions are held by navy officers, by the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, the Chief of Joint Operations, and/or the Chief of Capability Development Group. Vice admiral is the equivalent of air marshal in the Royal Australian Air Force and lieutenant general in the Australian Army.
Bangladesh
Vice admiral is a three-star admiral rank of the Bangladesh Navy.
Canada
In the Royal Canadian Navy, the rank of vice-admiral (VAdm) (''vice-amiral'' or ''Vam'' in French) is equivalent to lieutenant-general of the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force. A vice-admiral is a flag officer, the naval equivalent of a general officer. A vice-admiral is senior to a rear-admiral and major general, and junior to an admiral and general. The rank insignia of a Canadian vice-admiral is as follows: * On the navy blue mess dress jacket and the navy blue service dress tunic: the cuff insignia is one wide gold braid below two standard size gold braids, the superior one includes the executive curl. * On tropical white mess dress and tropical white service dress tunic: three silver maple leaves, beneath silver crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by a St. Edward's Crown located on gold shoulder boards. Two rows of gold oak leaves are located on the black visor of the white service cap. From 1968 to June 2010, the navy blue service dress tunic featured only a wide gold braid around the cuff with three gold maple leaves, beneath crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by a St. Edward's Crown located on cloth shoulder straps. Vice-admirals are addressed by rank and name; thereafter by subordinates as "Sir" or "Ma'am". Vice-admirals are normally entitled to a staff car; the car will normally bear a flag, dark blue with three gold maple leaves arranged one over two. A vice-admiral generally holds only the most senior command or administrative appointments, barring only Chief of Defence Staff, which is held by a full admiral or general. Appointments held by vice-admirals may include: * Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS); * Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (DCDS); * Commander of an operational command (such as Canadian Joint Operations Command); * Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy; * Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of Defence in various capacities; * Commander of, or representative to, a multinational force, alliance, or treaty organization. Charles, Prince of Wales holds the honorary rank of vice admiral in the Royal Canadian Navy.
France
In France, ''vice-amiral'' is the most senior of the ranks in the French Navy; higher ranks, ''vice-amiral d'escadre'' and ''amiral'', are permanent functions, style and position (in French ''rang et appellation'') given to a ''vice-amiral''-ranking officer. The ''vice-amiral'' rank used to be an OF-8 rank in NATO charts, but nowadays, it is more an OF-7 rank. The rank of ''vice-amiral d'escadre'' (literally, "squadron vice-admiral", with more precision, "fleet vice-admiral") equals a NATO OF-8 rank. In the ''ancien régime'' Navy, between 1669 and 1791. The office of "Vice-Admiral of France" (''Vice-amiral de France'') was the highest rank, the supreme office of "Admiral of France" being purely ceremonial. Distinct offices were : * 1669–1791 Vice-admiral of the West (Atlantic Ocean). * 1669–1791 Vice-admiral of the East (Mediterranean Sea). * 1778–1791 Vice-admiral of the Asian and American Seas (American shores). * 1784–1788 Vice-admiral of the Indian Seas (Indian Ocean).
Germany
''Vizeadmiral'' is an OF-8 three-star rank equivalent to the German ''Heer'' and ''Luftwaffe'' rank of ''Generalleutnant''.
India
In India, vice admiral is a three-star admiral rank of the Indian Navy.
Italy
In Italy, the equivalent to vice admiral is the ''ammiraglio di squadra'' or ''squadron admiral''.
Philippines
In the Philippines, the rank vice admiral is the highest-ranking official of the Philippine Navy. He is recognized as the flag officer in-command of the navy, an equivalent post to the Chief of Naval Operations in the U.S. Navy.
Poland
Before World War II, the vice admiral was the highest rank in the Polish Navy. Jozef Unrug was one of the only two officers to achieve the rank. The other was Jerzy Świrski. Poland had only one sovereign sea port, Port of Gdynia, and was slowly building a small modern navy that was to be ready by 1950. The navy was not a priority for obvious reasons. At present, it is a "two-star" rank. The stars are not used; however, the stars were used in between 1952 and 1956 and are still used in the vice admiral's pennant.
Sweden
In Sweden, vice admiral is a three-star admiral rank of the Swedish Navy.
United Kingdom
In the Royal Navy the rank of vice-admiral should be distinguished from the office of "Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom", which is an Admiralty position usually held by a retired "full" admiral, and that of "Vice-Admiral of the Coast", a now obsolete office dealing with naval administration in each of the maritime counties.
History
United States
Vietnam
In Vietnam, the equivalent to vice admiral is the ''phó đô đốc'' which is a 2-star rank. It is below the admiral (3 stars) and above rear admiral (1 star).
References
See also
* Comparative military ranks {{Highest Military Ranks Category:Military ranks of Canada Category:Military insignia Category:Naval ranks Category:Military ranks of Australia Category:Military ranks of Singapore