Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union
Encyclopedia
An Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union was the highest naval
rank of the Soviet Union
.
The rank was largely honorary and could be considered equivalent to Admiral of the Navy
in other nations. It was formally established by the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union on March 3, 1955 and replaced a similarly named rank, Admiral of the Fleet
(Адмирал флота) that was already equivalent to the Marshal of the Soviet Union
since 1945. The holders were entitled to a Marshal's Star
.
Upon its creation, the only two Admirals of the Fleet, Nikolai Kuznetsov
and Ivan Isakov
, were "promoted" to this rank. Less than a year later Kuznetsov was demoted to Vice Admiral for political reasons in 1956 and Isakov remained the only Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union until his death in 1967. His successor, Admiral Sergei Gorshkov, then became the third and final Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. Gorshkov died in 1988 and no further appointments were made before the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
From 1962 onwards, it was one grade higher than Admiral of the Fleet
, which was recreated as an intermediate rank, equivalent to General of the Army.
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
rank of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
The rank was largely honorary and could be considered equivalent to Admiral of the Navy
Admiral of the Navy
Admiral of the navy is a senior-most rank of a naval service.Some navies use the term admiral of the navy as a title bestowed upon a fleet admiral or other senior naval official...
in other nations. It was formally established by the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union on March 3, 1955 and replaced a similarly named rank, Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (USSR)
The rank of Admiral of the Fleet was the highest naval rank of the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1955 and second-highest from 1962.The rank has a rather confusing history...
(Адмирал флота) that was already equivalent to the Marshal of the Soviet Union
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Marshal of the Soviet Union was the de facto highest military rank of the Soviet Union. ....
since 1945. The holders were entitled to a Marshal's Star
Marshal's Star
The marshal's star is an additional badge of rank worn by marshals of the armed forces of the USSR, and subsequently the Russian Federation. The armed forces of the former USSR and the Russian Federation have two such insignia for higher military ranks, both in the form of a five-pointed star of...
.
Upon its creation, the only two Admirals of the Fleet, Nikolai Kuznetsov
Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov
Nikolay Gerasimovich Kuznetsov was a Soviet naval officer who achieved the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union and served as People's Commissar of the Navy during The Second World War....
and Ivan Isakov
Ivan Isakov
Hovhannes Stepani Isakov -Early life:Ivan Isakov was born Hovhannes Ter-Isahakyan in the family of an Armenian railway worker in the village of Hadjikend in the Kars Oblast, then a part of the Russian Empire...
, were "promoted" to this rank. Less than a year later Kuznetsov was demoted to Vice Admiral for political reasons in 1956 and Isakov remained the only Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union until his death in 1967. His successor, Admiral Sergei Gorshkov, then became the third and final Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. Gorshkov died in 1988 and no further appointments were made before the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
From 1962 onwards, it was one grade higher than Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (USSR)
The rank of Admiral of the Fleet was the highest naval rank of the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1955 and second-highest from 1962.The rank has a rather confusing history...
, which was recreated as an intermediate rank, equivalent to General of the Army.
List of Admirals of the Fleet of the Soviet Union
- Nikolai KuznetsovNikolai Gerasimovich KuznetsovNikolay Gerasimovich Kuznetsov was a Soviet naval officer who achieved the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union and served as People's Commissar of the Navy during The Second World War....
(1902–74): Appointed March 3, 1955; demoted February 17, 1956; restored posthumously July 26, 1988 - Ivan IsakovIvan IsakovHovhannes Stepani Isakov -Early life:Ivan Isakov was born Hovhannes Ter-Isahakyan in the family of an Armenian railway worker in the village of Hadjikend in the Kars Oblast, then a part of the Russian Empire...
(1894–1967): Appointed March 3, 1955 - Sergei Gorshkov (1910–88): Appointed October 28, 1967