Fleet Admiral

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A Fleet Admiral or Admiral of the Fleet, as it was first coined, is a military naval officer of very high rank, if not the highest. It is also a generic term for a senior Admiral in command of a large group of ships, comprising a fleet or, in some cases, a group of fleets. If actually a rank (equivalent to an army Field Marshal or General of the Army, which ranks above General), its name varies depending on the country, including Fleet Admiral, Admiral of the Fleet, Admiral of the Navy, and Grand Admiral. It ranks above Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral and usually full Admiral, and is usually considered senior Admiral commanding fleets as opposed to just one fleet.

1 Usage in specific countries
2 Other countries
3 Fictional
4 Alternate meanings

[edit] Usage in specific countries

The following articles contain specific information on the rank as it pertains to individual countries:

Admiral of the Fleet (United Kingdom)
Admiral of the Fleet (Russia)
Admiral of the Fleet (Soviet Union)
Admiral flote (Croatia)
Büyükamiral (Turkey)
Fleet Admiral (United States)
Grand Admiral (Germany and Austria-Hungary)
Mushir (Middle East)
Jom Phon Ruea (Thailand)
Wonsu (South Korea)
Fleet Admiral (Imperial Japan)

The associated list of Fleet and Grand Admirals provides a summary of those who have held the rank of Fleet Admiral, or its equivalent.

[edit] Other countries

The rank also exists or has existed (on paper at least) in France till 1943 (the last one being Admiral Darlan), Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, Oman, and Pakistan although not all of these countries have actually ever bestowed the rank on an individual.