Ranks in the French Navy
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The rank insignia of the French Navy (French: Marine Nationale) are worn on shoulder straps of shirts and white jackets, and on sleeves for navy jackets and mantels. Until 2005, only commissioned officers had an anchor on their insignia, but enlisted personnel are now receiving them as well. Although the names of the ranks for superior officers contain the word "Capitaine" (Capitaine de corvette, Capitaine de frégate and Capitaine de vaisseau), the appropriate style to address them is "Commandant", "Capitaine" referring to "lieutenant de vaisseau", which is translated as lieutenant. The two highest ranks, Vice-amiral d'escadre and Amiral (Admiral), are functions, rather than ranks. They are assumed by officers ranking Vice-Amiral (Vice-Admiral).
The rank of Vice-Admiral of France (French: Vice-Amiral) was formerly designated as Lieutenant-General of the Naval Armies until 1791, such as in the Levant Fleet and Flotte du Ponant of the Ancien Régime. Major of the French Navy has a similar history to that of the former Lieutenant-General of the Naval Armies.
The only Amiral de la Flotte (Admiral of the Fleet) was François Darlan after he was refused the dignity of Admiral of France. Equivalent to the dignity of Marshal of France, the rank of Admiral of France remains theoretical in the Fifth Republic; it was last granted in 1869, during the Second Empire, but retained during the Third Republic until the death of its bearer in 1873. The title of Amiral de la Flotte was created so that Darlan would not have an inferior rank to that of his counterpart in the British Royal Navy, who was an Admiral of the Fleet.
Contents
1 Insignia
1.1 Great Officers
1.2 Officers
1.2.1 Officiers généraux — Flag officers
1.2.2 Officiers supérieurs — Senior officers
1.2.3 Officiers subalternes — Junior officers
1.3 Petty officers and enlisted personnel
1.3.1 Officiers mariniers — Petty Officers
1.3.2 Matelots et quartiers-maîtres — Sailors and quarter-masters
2 Attributions
Insignia
Great Officers
Amiral de France
Admiral of France
(Grand Admiral)
Officers
Officiers généraux — Flag officers
Contre-Amiral
Counter-Admiral
(Rear Admiral)
Vice-Amiral
Vice-Admiral
(Vice Admiral) since 1791
Vice-Amiral d'escadre
Squadron Vice-Admiral
(Lieutenant Admiral)
Amiral
Admiral
Officiers supérieurs — Senior officers
Capitaine de corvette
Corvette Captain
(Lieutenant Commander)
Capitaine de frégate
Frigate Captain
(Commander)
Capitaine de vaisseau
Ship-of-the-Line Captain
(Captain)
Officiers subalternes — Junior officers
Aspirant
Midshipman
Enseigne de vaisseau de deuxième classe
Ship of the Line ensign second class
(Acting Sub-Lieutenant, Ensign)
Enseigne de vaisseau de première classe
Ship of the Line ensign first class
(Sub-lieutenant,
Lieutenant (junior grade) )
Lieutenant de vaisseau
Ship-of-the-Line Lieutenant
(Lieutenant)
Petty officers and enlisted personnel
Officiers mariniers — Petty Officers
Second-maître
Second master
Maître
Master
Premier-maître
First master
Maître-principal
Principal master
Major
Major
Matelots et quartiers-maîtres — Sailors and quarter-masters
Matelot
Seaman
Matelot breveté
Graduate Seaman
Quartier-maître de 2e classe
Quarter-master second class
Quartier-maître de 1re classe
Quarter-master first class
Attributions
Personnel with a particular attribution may wear distinctive features on their rank insignia. For instance, medical officers bear two red stripes on their insignia. Similarly, the Ingénieur des études et techniques de travaux maritimes wear pearl-grey stripes.
Peintres de la Marine, who are not employed by the navy but have a special status, wear a uniform and officer straps with rank insignia replaced with the words "Peintre officiel".
Captain
Doctor
Chief engineer first class
Peintre de la Marine
Supply officer
