Vice Admiral

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Vice Admiral is a naval rank of three star level, equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority. A Vice Admiral is typically senior to a Rear Admiral and junior to an Admiral.

1 Canada
2 France
3 Italy
4 United Kingdom
5 United States
6 See also

[edit] Canada

In the Canadian Navy, the rank of Vice-Admiral (VAdm) (Vice-amiral or Vam in French) is equal to a Lieutenant General of the Canadian Army or Canadian Air Force. A Vice-Admiral is a Flag Officer, the naval equivalent of a General Officer. A Vice-Admiral is senior to a Rear-Admiral or Major General, and junior to an Admiral or General.

The rank insignia for a Vice-Admiral is three gold maple leaves, beneath crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by St. Edward's Crown, worn on the shoulder straps of the Service Dress tunic, and on slip-ons on other uniforms. The Service Dress tunic also features a wide strip of gold braid around the cuff. On the visor of the service cap are two rows of gold oak leaves.

Vice-Admirals are addressed by rank and name; thereafter by subordinates as "Sir" or "Ma'am". Vice-Admirals are normally entitled to staff cars; the car will normally bear a flag, dark blue with three gold maple leaves arranged one over two.

A Vice-Admiral generally holds only the most senior command or administrative appointments, barring only Chief of the Defence Staff, which is held by a full Admiral or General. Appointments held by Vice-Admirals may include Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS); Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (DCDS); Commander of an operational command (such as Canada Command); Chief of the Maritime Staff (CMS); Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of Defence in various capacities; or commander of or representative to a multinational force, alliance, or treaty organization. Positions currently (as of August 30, 2006) held by Vice-Admirals are:

Chief of the Maritime Staff (CMS): Vice-Admiral Drew W. Robertson, OMM, MSC, CD[1]
Chief Military Personnel: Vice-Admiral Gregory E. Jarvis, CMM, CD[2]
Canadian Military Representative to the Military Committee at NATO Headquarters: Vice-Admiral Glenn V. Davidson, CMM, CD[3]

[edit] France

Image:Marque VA.jpg

Image:UK-Navy-OF8-Flag.svg

In France, vice-amiral is the most senior of the ranks in the French Navy; higher ranks, vice-amiral d'escadre and amiral, are functions given to a vice-amiral-ranking officer.

[edit] Italy

In Italy, the equivalent to Vice Admiral is the Ammiraglio di Squadra.

[edit] United Kingdom

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.

Insignia of a United States Vice Admiral.

[edit] United States

In the United States Navy, Vice Admirals generally command the numbered fleets around the world that make up the naval components of each of the regional unified commands. Of the five numbered fleets, four have command ships which act as the Vice Admiral's flagship. American Vice Admirals fly a blue flag with three white stars as a command flag.

In the United States Coast Guard, the Vice Commandant, the Chief of Staff, and the Atlantic and Pacific Area commanders hold the rank of Vice Admiral.

[edit] See also

	Student Officer	OF(D)	OF-1		OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9	OF-10
Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British officer ranks
Royal Navy:	O/C	Mid	SLt		Lt	Lt Cdr	Cdr	Capt	Cdre	RAdm	VAdm	Adm	Adm of the Fleet
Royal Marines:	OCdt		2Lt	Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen
Army:	OCdt		2Lt	Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen	FM
Royal Air Force:	OC / SO		APO / PO	Fg Off	Flt Lt	Sqn Ldr	Wg Cdr	Gp Capt	ACdre	AVM	AM	ACM	MRAF

	Student Officer	O-1	O-2	O-3	O-4	O-5	O-6	O-7	O-8	O-9	O-10	O-11 (wartime only)	Special Grade
Image:Flag of the United States.svg U.S. commissioned officer ranks
United States Navy:	MIDN/OC	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RDML	RADM	VADM	ADM	FADM	Admiral of the Navy
United States Marine Corps:	Midn	2ndLt	1stLt	Capt	Maj	LtCol	Col	BGen	MajGen	LtGen	Gen	(no equivalent)	(no equivalent)
United States Army:	CDT/OC	2LT	1LT	CPT	MAJ	LTC	COL	BG	MG	LTG	GEN	General of the Army	General of the Armies
United States Air Force:	Cadet	2nd Lt	1st Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig Gen	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen	General of the Air Force	(no equivalent)
United States Coast Guard:	CDT	ENS	LTJG	LT	LCDR	CDR	CAPT	RDML	RADM	VADM	ADM	(no equivalent)	(no equivalent)