From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Military rank in the Royal Navy
A
vice-admiral
(
VAdm
) is a
flag officer
rank of the
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.
The equivalent rank in the
British Army
and
Royal Marines
is
lieutenant-general
; and in the
Royal Air Force
, it is
air marshal
.
History
[
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]
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
.
[1]
Prior to 1864 the Royal Navy was divided into coloured 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
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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]
Former command flags
[
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]
See also
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]
References
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]
Sources
[
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]
- 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.