| Vice-Admiral | |
|---|---|
 Flag of a vice-admiral, Royal Navy | |
 Insignia shoulder board and Sleeve lace for Vice-admiral | |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Service branch | |
| Abbreviation | VADM |
| Rank | Three-star |
| NATO rank code | OF-8 |
| Non-NATO rank | 8 |
| Next higher rank | Admiral |
| Next lower rank | Rear Admiral |
| Equivalent ranks |
Vice-admiral 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[edit]
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 colored 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[edit]
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]
Sleeve lace
Shoulder board
Shoulder board prior to 2001
Command flag
Former command flags[edit]
See also[edit]
- British and U.S. military ranks compared
- Coloured squadrons of the Royal Navy
- Comparative military ranks
- Royal Navy officer rank insignia
- Vice-Admiral of the Blue
- Vice-Admiral of the White
- Vice-Admiral of the Red
- List of Royal Navy vice admirals
References[edit]
- ^ "History of Naval Ranks and Rates". www.navymuseum.co.nz. National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ 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. pp. 73–109.
- ^ royalnavy.mod.uk Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine — Uniforms and Badges of Rank: Admiral
- ^ Vice-admiral is a three-star rank in NATO, Commonwealth and, since 2001, the Royal Navy (Refer UK DCI (Joint Service) 125/2001).
Sources[edit]
- 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.
| vteCommissioned officer ranks of the British Armed Forces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATO rank code | Student officer | OF-1 | OF-2 | OF-3 | OF-4 | OF-5 | OF-6* | OF-7** | OF-8*** | OF-9**** | OF-10***** | ||
| Royal Navy | O Cdt | Midshipman | Sub-Lt | Lt | Lt Cdr | Cdr | Capt | Cdre | RAdm | VAdm | Adm | Adm of the Fleet | |
| Royal Marines | O Cdt | 2Lt | Lt | Capt | Major | Lt Col | Colonel | Brig | Maj-Gen | Lt-Gen | General | Captain-General | |
| Army | O Cdt | 2Lt | Lt | Capt | Major | Lt Col | Colonel | Brig | Maj-Gen | Lt-Gen | General | Field marshal | |
| Royal Air Force | Off Cdt / SO | APO / Plt Off | Fg Off | Flt Lt | Sqn Ldr | Wg Cdr | Gp Capt | Air Cdre | AVM | Air Mshl | Air Chf Mshl | Mshl of the RAF | |
| Lists |
| ||||||||||||
