Ranks in the French Navy
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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 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
Great Officers
Officers
Officiers généraux — Flag officers
Amiral
Admiral
Officiers supérieurs — Senior officers
Officiers subalternes — Junior officers
Aspirant
Midshipman
Enseigne de vaisseau de première classe
Ship of the Line ensign first class
(Sub-lieutenant,
Lieutenant (junior grade) )
Petty officers and enlisted personnel
Officiers mariniers — Petty Officers
Second-maître
Second master
Maître
Master
Premier-maître
First master
Maître-principal
Principal master
Major
Major
Matelots et quartiers-maîtres — Sailors and quarter-masters
Matelot
Seaman
Matelot breveté
Graduate Seaman
Quartier-maître de 2e classe
Quarter-master second class
Quartier-maître de 1re classe
Quarter-master first 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 officier straps with rank insignia replaced with the words "Peintre officiel".
Captain
Doctor
Supply officer