Admiral (United Kingdom)
Encyclopedia
Admiral is a senior rank of the Royal Navy
of the United Kingdom, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-9, outranked only by the rank Admiral of the Fleet
. Royal Navy officers holding the ranks of Rear Admiral
, Vice Admiral
and Admiral of the Fleet are sometimes considered generically to be admirals.
appointed the first English Admiral in 1297 when he named William de Leyburn “Admiral of the sea of the King of England”. The rank of Admiral should not be confused with the office of Admiral of England or Lord High Admiral
, which was an office held by the person with overall responsibility for the Navy.
The Royal Navy has had Vice and Rear Admirals since at least the 16th century. When in command of the fleet, the Admiral would either be in the lead or the middle portion of the fleet. When the Admiral commanded from the middle portion of the fleet his deputy, the Vice Admiral
, would be in the leading portion or van. Below him was another admiral at the rear of the fleet, called Rear Admiral
.
In Elizabethan times the fleet grew large enough to be organized into squadrons
. The admiral’s squadron wore a red ensign
, the vice admiral’s white
, and the rear admiral’s blue
. As the squadrons grew, each was eventually commanded by an Admiral (with Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals commanding sections) and the official titles became Admiral of the White, etc.
The squadrons ranked in order Red, White, and Blue, with admirals ranked according to their squadron:
Promotion up the ladder was in accordance with seniority in the rank of Post-Captain
, and rank was held for life, so the only way to be promoted was for the person above on the list to die or resign. (This created serious problems when Admiral of the Fleet Provo Wallis
lived beyond his 100th birthday.) Another way was to promote captains to the rank of admiral without distinction of squadron (a practice known as yellowing—the Captain so raised became known as a yellow admiral). According to N.A.M. Rodger this was the Navy's first attempt at superannuating older officers: a 'Yellow Admiral' was in effect being retired on half pay.
In the 18th century, the original nine ranks began to be filled by more than one man per rank, although the rank of Admiral of the Red was always filled by only one man and was known as Admiral of the Fleet
, but the organisation of the fleet into coloured squadrons was abandoned in 1864. The Red Ensign was allocated to the Merchant Marine, the White Ensign became the flag of the Royal Navy, and the Blue Ensign was allocated to the naval reserve and naval auxiliary vessels.
The 19th century British Navy also maintained a positional rank known as Port Admiral. A Port Admiral was typically a veteran Captain who served as the shore commander of a British Naval Port and was in charge of supplying, refitting, and maintaining the ships docked at harbour. The most powerful Port Admiral position was the Port Admiral of Portsmouth
, considered the leading harbour of the Royal Navy.
In 1996, the rank of Admiral of the Fleet was put in abeyance in peacetime, except for members of the Royal family
. However, Admirals of the Fleet continue to hold their rank on the active list for life.
s, are entitled to fly a personal flag. An Admiral of the Fleet flies a Union Flag
at the masthead, while an Admiral flies a St George's cross
(red cross on white). Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals fly a St George’s cross with one or two red discs in the hoist, respectively.
The rank of admiral itself is shown in its sleeve lace by a broad band with three narrower bands. Since 2001 it has been designated a four-star rank when the number of stars on the shoulder board were increased to four.
:Category:Royal Navy admirals
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
of the United Kingdom, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-9, outranked only by the rank Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
. Royal Navy officers holding the ranks of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral (Royal Navy)
Rear Admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It is immediately superior to Commodore and is subordinate to Vice Admiral. It is a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7....
, Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral (Royal Navy)
Vice admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It equates to the NATO rank code OF-8 and is immediately superior to rear admiral and is subordinate to the full admiral rank.The Royal Navy has had vice admirals since at least the 16th century...
and Admiral of the Fleet are sometimes considered generically to be admirals.
History
King Edward I of EnglandEdward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
appointed the first English Admiral in 1297 when he named William de Leyburn “Admiral of the sea of the King of England”. The rank of Admiral should not be confused with the office of Admiral of England or Lord High Admiral
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
, which was an office held by the person with overall responsibility for the Navy.
The Royal Navy has had Vice and Rear Admirals since at least the 16th century. When in command of the fleet, the Admiral would either be in the lead or the middle portion of the fleet. When the Admiral commanded from the middle portion of the fleet his deputy, the Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral (Royal Navy)
Vice admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It equates to the NATO rank code OF-8 and is immediately superior to rear admiral and is subordinate to the full admiral rank.The Royal Navy has had vice admirals since at least the 16th century...
, would be in the leading portion or van. Below him was another admiral at the rear of the fleet, called Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral (Royal Navy)
Rear Admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It is immediately superior to Commodore and is subordinate to Vice Admiral. It is a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7....
.
In Elizabethan times the fleet grew large enough to be organized into squadrons
Squadron (naval)
A squadron, or naval squadron, is a unit of 3-4 major warships, transport ships, submarines, or sometimes small craft that may be part of a larger task force or a fleet...
. The admiral’s squadron wore a red ensign
Red Ensign
The Red Ensign or "Red Duster" is a flag that originated in the early 17th century as a British ensign flown by the Royal Navy and later specifically by British merchantmen. The precise date of its first appearance is not known, but surviving receipts indicate that the Navy was paying to have such...
, the vice admiral’s white
White Ensign
The White Ensign or St George's Ensign is an ensign flown on British Royal Navy ships and shore establishments. It consists of a red St George's Cross on a white field with the Union Flag in the upper canton....
, and the rear admiral’s blue
Blue Ensign
The Blue Ensign is a flag, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated with the United Kingdom. It is used either plain, or defaced with a badge or other emblem....
. As the squadrons grew, each was eventually commanded by an Admiral (with Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals commanding sections) and the official titles became Admiral of the White, etc.
The squadrons ranked in order Red, White, and Blue, with admirals ranked according to their squadron:
- Admiral of the Red (Admiral of the Fleet)
- Admiral of the White
- Admiral of the Blue
- Vice Admiral of the Red
- Vice Admiral of the White
- Vice Admiral of the Blue
- Rear Admiral of the Red
- Rear Admiral of the White
- Rear Admiral of the Blue
Promotion up the ladder was in accordance with seniority in the rank of Post-Captain
Post-Captain
Post-captain is an obsolete alternative form of the rank of captain in the Royal Navy.The term served to distinguish those who were captains by rank from:...
, and rank was held for life, so the only way to be promoted was for the person above on the list to die or resign. (This created serious problems when Admiral of the Fleet Provo Wallis
Provo Wallis
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Provo William Perry Wallis, GCB was a Royal Navy officer and naval war hero. He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was 100 years old when he died....
lived beyond his 100th birthday.) Another way was to promote captains to the rank of admiral without distinction of squadron (a practice known as yellowing—the Captain so raised became known as a yellow admiral). According to N.A.M. Rodger this was the Navy's first attempt at superannuating older officers: a 'Yellow Admiral' was in effect being retired on half pay.
In the 18th century, the original nine ranks began to be filled by more than one man per rank, although the rank of Admiral of the Red was always filled by only one man and was known as Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
, but the organisation of the fleet into coloured squadrons was abandoned in 1864. The Red Ensign was allocated to the Merchant Marine, the White Ensign became the flag of the Royal Navy, and the Blue Ensign was allocated to the naval reserve and naval auxiliary vessels.
The 19th century British Navy also maintained a positional rank known as Port Admiral. A Port Admiral was typically a veteran Captain who served as the shore commander of a British Naval Port and was in charge of supplying, refitting, and maintaining the ships docked at harbour. The most powerful Port Admiral position was the Port Admiral of Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, considered the leading harbour of the Royal Navy.
In 1996, the rank of Admiral of the Fleet was put in abeyance in peacetime, except for members of the Royal family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
. However, Admirals of the Fleet continue to hold their rank on the active list for life.
Rank insignia and personal flag
The current ranks are Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, Admiral and Admiral of the Fleet, also known as flag ranks because admirals, known as Flag OfficerFlag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
s, are entitled to fly a personal flag. An Admiral of the Fleet flies a Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
at the masthead, while an Admiral flies a St George's cross
St George's Cross
St George's Cross is a red cross on a white background used as a symbolic reference to Saint George. The red cross on white was associated with St George from medieval times....
(red cross on white). Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals fly a St George’s cross with one or two red discs in the hoist, respectively.
The rank of admiral itself is shown in its sleeve lace by a broad band with three narrower bands. Since 2001 it has been designated a four-star rank when the number of stars on the shoulder board were increased to four.
See also
- British ensignsBritish ensignsThis article concerns the ensigns flown by vessels and aircraft of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and by certain nations of the Commonwealth....
:Category:Royal Navy admirals
- Royal Navy officer rank insigniaRoyal Navy officer rank insignia-Officers:Uniforms for naval officers were not authorized until 1748. At first the cut and style of the uniform differed considerably between ranks and specific rank insignia only sporadically used...
External links
- Squadronal Colours factsheet from the Royal Naval museum.