Vice Admiral

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vice Admiral is a naval rank equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority. A Vice Admiral is typically senior to a Rear Admiral and junior to an Admiral. In most navies,^[1] Vice Admiral is a 3 star rank.

1 Australia
2 Canada
3 France
4 Italy
5 Philippines
6 United Kingdom
7 United States Armed Forces & Uniformed Services
8 Notes
9 See also

[edit] Australia

RAN Vice Admiral shoulder board

Main article: Vice Admiral (Australia)

In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of Vice Admiral is held by the Chief of Navy (currently VADM Russ Shalders) 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 the Capability Development Executive (currently VADM Matt Tripovich).

Vice Admiral is the equivalent of Air Marshal in the Royal Australian Air Force and Lieutenant General in the Australian Army.

[edit] Canada

In the Canadian Navy, the rank of Vice-Admiral (VAdm) (Vice-amiral or Vam in French) is equal to a Lieutenant General of the Canadian Army or 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 or Major General, and junior to an Admiral or General.

The rank insignia for a Vice-Admiral is three gold maple leaves, beneath crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by St. Edward's Crown, worn on the shoulder straps of the Service Dress tunic, 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.

Vice-Admirals are addressed by rank and name; thereafter by subordinates as "Sir" or "Ma'am". Vice-Admirals are normally entitled to staff cars; the car will normally bear a flag, dark blue with three gold maple leaves arranged one over two.

Canadian Navy uniform variations
Dress uniform tunic	Uniform shirts	Shoulder board for short sleeve shirt or tropical white tunic	arid-region CADPAT uniform

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 Defence Staff (VCDS); Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (DCDS); Commander of an operational command (such as Canada Command); Chief of the Maritime Staff (CMS); Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of Defence in various capacities; or commander of or representative to a multinational force, alliance, or treaty organization. Positions currently (as of August 30, 2006) held by Vice-Admirals are:

Chief of the Maritime Staff (CMS): Vice-Admiral Drew W. Robertson, OMM, MSC, CD[1]
Chief Military Personnel: Vice-Admiral Gregory E. Jarvis, CMM, CD[2]
Canadian Military Representative to the Military Committee at NATO Headquarters: Vice-Admiral Glenn V. Davidson, CMM, CD[3]

[edit] 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 permanents function, 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.

Pennant of a French vice-amiral.

Shoulder insignia

[edit] Italy

In Italy, the equivalent to Vice Admiral is the Ammiraglio di Squadra.

[edit] Philippines

In Philippines, the rank Vice Admiral is the highest ranking official of the Philippine Navy. He is recognized as the Flag Officer in-charge of the Navy. The rank Vice-Admiral in the Philippines, has the same ranking in the U.S Navy.

[edit] 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.

Royal Navy Vice-Admiral sleeve insignia

Royal Navy Vice-Admiral shoulder board^[1]

Royal Navy Vice-Admiral command flag

Royal Navy Vice-Admiral shoulder board prior to 2001^[1]

v • d • e Commissioned Officer ranks of the 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	O Cdt	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	O Cdt		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] United States Armed Forces & Uniformed Services

Main article: Vice Admiral (United States)

v • d • e U.S. commissioned officer ranks
	Officer Candidate	O-1	O-2	O-3	O-4	O-5	O-6	O-7	O-8	O-9	O-10	Special (wartime only) Inactive grade	Special (post war honor only)
													(no authorized insignia)
Air Force:	Cadet (CDT)/OT	2nd Lt	1st Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig Gen	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen	Gen of the Air Force	(no equivalent)
Army:	CDT/OC	2LT	1LT	CPT	MAJ	LTC	COL	BG	MG	LTG	GEN	GA	General of the Armies
Marine Corps:	Midn/Cand	2ndLt	1stLt	Capt	Maj	LtCol	Col	BGen	MajGen	LtGen	Gen	(no equivalent)	(no equivalent)
Navy:	MIDN/OC	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RDML	RADM	VADM	ADM	FADM	Admiral of the Navy
Coast Guard:	CDT	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RDML	RADM	VADM	ADM	(no equivalent)	(no equivalent)
PHSCC:	(no equivalent)	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RDML	RADM	VADM	ADM	(no equivalent)	(no equivalent)
NOAA Corps:	(no equivalent)	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RDML	RADM	VADM	(no equivalent)	(no equivalent)	(no equivalent)