highest rank in the U.S. Navy, Fleet Admiral; officer who holds this rank
An Admiral of the Fleet or Fleet Admiral, is a military
naval officer of the highest rank. The rank of Fleet Admiral has been reserved for war time use only. The last Fleet Admirals were in World War II. It is usually a rank ranking above
Admiral. The rank is often held by the most senior
Admiral of an entire naval service. It is also a generic term for a senior Admiral in command of a large group of
ships, comprising a
fleet or, in some cases, a group of fleets. If actually a rank (equivalent to an army
Field Marshal or
General of the Army, which ranks above
General), its name varies depending on the
country, including Fleet Admiral, Admiral of the Fleet,
Admiral of the Navy, and
Grand Admiral. (In some navies, however, such as the German
Kriegsmarine during World War II, "Admiral of the Navy" has been considered an even higher rank than Admiral of the Fleet or its equivalent.) It ranks above
Vice Admiral,
Rear Admiral and usually full Admiral, and is usually given to a senior Admiral commanding multiple fleets as opposed to just one fleet.
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COMANDANTE IN CAPO DELLA FLOTTA. CAPO DI STATO MAGGIORE DELLA MARINA. GRANDE AMMIRAGLIO