Vice-admiral (Royal Navy)

Vice-admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy and equates to the NATO rank code OF-8. It is immediately superior to the rear admiral rank and is subordinate to the full admiral rank.

For other nations that use the rank, see vice admiral.
Vice-Admiral
Flag of a vice-admiral, Royal Navy
Insignia shoulder board and Sleeve lace for Vice-admiral
Country United Kingdom
Service branch
AbbreviationVADM
RankThree-star
NATO rankOF-8
Non-NATO rank8
Next higher rankAdmiral
Next lower rankRear Admiral
Equivalent ranks

The equivalent rank in the British Army and Royal Marines is lieutenant-general; and in the Royal Air Force, it is air marshal.

History

The Royal Navy has had vice-admirals since at least the 16th century. When the fleet was deployed, the vice-admiral would be in the leading portion or van, acting as the deputy to the admiral. The rank of Vice-Admiral evolved from that of Lieutenant of the Admiralty (1546-1564) that being an officer who acted as secretary to the Lord Admiral of England and lapsed in 1876 but was revived in 1901 by King Edward VII and is now the most senior rank within the Navy.[1] Prior to 1864 the Royal Navy was divided into colored squadrons which determined his career path. The command flags flown by a Vice-Admiral changed a number of times during this period included.[2]

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.

Rank insignia and personal flag

Vice-admirals are entitled to fly a personal flag. A vice-admiral flies a St George’s cross defaced with a red disc in the hoist.

The rank of vice-admiral itself is shown in its sleeve lace by a broad band with two narrower bands. Since 2001, it has been designated a three-star rank, when the number of stars on the shoulder board were increased to three.[3][4]

  • Sleeve lace
  • Shoulder board
  • Shoulder board prior to 2001
  • Command flag

Former command flags
Main article: List of command flags of the Royal Navy
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See also

References
  1. "History of Naval Ranks and Rates". www.navymuseum.co.nz. National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  2. Perrin, W. G. (William Gordon) (1922). "IV:Flags of Command". British flags, their early history, and their development at sea; with an account of the origin of the flag as a national device. Cambridge, England: Cambridge : The University Press. pp. 73–109.
  3. royalnavy.mod.uk Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine — Uniforms and Badges of Rank: Admiral
  4. Vice-admiral is a three-star rank in NATO, Commonwealth and, since 2001, the Royal Navy (Refer UK DCI (Joint Service) 125/2001).

Sources
  • Perrin, W. G. (William Gordon) (1922). "IV:Flags of Command". British flags, their early history, and their development at sea; with an account of the origin of the flag as a national device. Cambridge, England: Cambridge : The University Press.
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