Ranks in the French Navy

French Navy
(Marine Nationale)
	Naval Ensign of France
	Motto: Honneur, Patrie, Valeur, Discipline
	("Honour, Homeland, Valour, Discipline")
Command
	Naval Ministers
	Maritime Prefect
Components
	Naval Action Force
	Submarine Forces Strategic Oceanic Force (FOST); Squadron of Nuclear Attack Submarines (ESNA);
	Naval Aviation
	FORFUSCO (Marine Commandos, Naval Fusiliers)
	Maritime Gendarmerie
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; Destroyers; Submarines; Ships of the line; Sail frigates;
	Historic fleets
Awards
	Cross of War
	Military Medal
	Legion of Honour
	Ribbons

The rank insignia of the French Navy (French: Marine Nationale) are worn on shoulder straps of shirts and white jackets, and on sleeves for navy jackets and mantels. Until 2005, only commissioned officers had an anchor on their insignia, but enlisted personnel are now receiving them as well. Although the names of the ranks for superior officers contain the word "Capitaine" (Capitaine de corvette, Capitaine de frégate and Capitaine de vaisseau), the appropriate style to address them is "Commandant", "Capitaine" referring to "lieutenant de vaisseau", which is translated as lieutenant. The two highest ranks, Vice-amiral d'escadre and Amiral (Admiral), are functions, rather than ranks. They are assumed by officers ranking Vice-Amiral (Vice-Admiral).

The rank of Vice-Admiral of France (French: Vice-Amiral) was formerly designated as Lieutenant-General of the Naval Armies until 1791, such as in the Levant Fleet and Flotte du Ponant of the Ancien Régime. Major of the French Navy has a similar history to that of the former Lieutenant-General of the Naval Armies.

The only Amiral de la Flotte (Admiral of the Fleet) was François Darlan after he was refused the dignity of Admiral of France. Equivalent to the dignity of Marshal of France, the rank of Admiral of France remains theoretical in the Fifth Republic; 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 to that of his counterpart in the British Royal Navy, who was an Admiral of the Fleet.

Insignia

The insignia below depict the configuration on shoulder boards. Shoulder straps are slightly different, notably without the golden frame for general officers.

Great Officers

Amiral de France
(Grand Admiral)

Officers

Officiers généraux — Flag officers

Contre-Amiral
(Rear Admiral)
Vice-Amiral
(Vice-Admiral) since 1791
Vice-Amiral d'escadre
(Lieutenant Admiral)
Amiral
Admiral

Officiers supérieurs — Senior officers

Capitaine de corvette
(Lieutenant Commander)
Capitaine de frégate
(Commander)
Capitaine de vaisseau
(Captain)

Officiers subalternes — Junior officers

Aspirant
Midshipman
Enseigne de vaisseau de deuxième classe
Ship of the Line ensign second class
(Acting Sub-Lieutenant, Ensign)
Enseigne de vaisseau de première classe
Ship of the Line ensign first class
(Sub-lieutenant
Lieutenant (junior grade))
Lieutenant de vaisseau
(Lieutenant)

Petty officers and enlisted personnel

Officiers mariniers — Petty Officers

Second-maître
Second master
OR5 Petty Officer 2nd Class
Maître
Master
OR6 Petty Officer 1st Class
Premier-maître
First master
OR7 Chief Petty Officer
Maître-principal
Principal master
OR9 Master Chief Petty Officer
Major
Major
OR9 Master Chief Petty Officer

Matelots et quartiers-maîtres — Sailors and quarter-masters

Matelot
Seaman
OR1 Recruit
Matelot breveté
Graduate Seaman
OR2 Apprentice
Quartier-maître de 2e classe
Quarter-master second class
OR3 Seaman
Quartier-maître de 1re classe
Quarter-master first class
OR4 Petty Officer 3rd Class

Attributions

Personnel with a particular attribution may wear distinctive features on their rank insignia. For instance, medical officers bear two red stripes on their insignia. Similarly, the Ingénieur des études et techniques de travaux maritimes wear pearl-grey stripes.

Peintres de la Marine, who are not employed by the navy but have a special status, wear a uniform and officer straps with rank insignia replaced with the words "Peintre officiel".