Rear admiral (Royal Navy)

Not to be confused with Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom.

For other uses of "rear admiral", see rear admiral.

Rear admiral (RAdm) is a flag officer rank of the 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.

Rear admiral
Flag of a rear admiral, Royal Navy
Insignia shoulder board and sleeve lace for rear admiral
Country	United Kingdom
Service branch	Royal Navy
Abbreviation	RADM / R Adm
Rank	Two-star
NATO rank code	OF-7
Next higher rank	Vice-admiral
Next lower rank	Commodore
Equivalent ranks	Major-general (Army; Royal Marines) Air vice-marshal (RAF)

The equivalent rank in the British Army and Royal Marines is major-general; and in the Royal Air Force it is air vice-marshal.

History

The rank originated in the 17th century, in the days of naval sailing squadrons when each naval squadron would be assigned an admiral as its head. The admiral would command from the centre vessel and direct the activities of the squadron.

The admiral would in turn be assisted by a vice admiral, who commanded the lead ships which would bear the brunt of a naval battle. In the rear of the naval squadron, a third admiral would command the remaining ships and, as this section of the squadron was considered to be in the least danger, the admiral in command of the rear would typically be the most junior of the squadron admirals. This has survived into the modern age, with the rank of rear admiral the most junior of the admiralty ranks of many navies.

Prior to 1864 the Royal Navy was divided into coloured squadrons which determined career path. The command flags flown by a rear-admiral changed a number of times during this period.

The Royal Navy rank of rear admiral should be distinguished from the office of Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom, which is an Admiralty position usually held by a senior (and possibly retired) "full" admiral.

Rank insignia and personal flag

• 
  Royal Navy rear admiral sleeve insignia
• 
  Royal Navy rear admiral shoulder board
• 
  Royal Navy rear admiral command flag, 1864–present
• 
  Royal Navy rear admiral shoulder board prior to 2001
• 
  World War II Royal Navy rear admiral's steel helmet with two-star insignia

Former command flags

Main article: List of command flags of the Royal Navy

See also

• British and U.S. military ranks compared
• Coloured squadrons of the Royal Navy
• Comparative military ranks
• Rear-Admiral of the Blue
• Rear-Admiral of the White
• Rear-Admiral of the Red
• Royal Navy officer rank insignia
• List of Royal Navy rear admirals

References

Sources

• 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.