Note the careful timing of the first three appointments. The dates of rank for the corresponding five-star generals are 16, 18, 20, and 21 December 1944, to establish both a clear order of seniority and a near-equivalence between the services.
The insignia for Fleet Admiral comprises five stars in a pentagon design with a thick rank strip, below four smaller stripes, on the service dress blue uniform.
Since the close of the Second World War, there have been no additional Fleet Admirals appointed in the United States Navy. However, the rank still remains listed on official U.S. rank insignia precedence charts and could be reestablished at the discretion of the United States Congress.
U.S. Naval tradition holds that the rank Admiral of the Navy is considered senior to that of Fleet Admiral. The only person to ever hold the rank of Admiral of the Navy was George Dewey.
A FleetAdmiral in the United States Navy is an admiral considered to be the equivalent of the United States Army's General of the Army.
A close contender to the rank of FleetAdmiral was Raymond A. Spruance; however, Congressman Carl Vinson, a strong supporter of William F. Halsey, was reported to have on several occasions blocked the final promotion of Spruance to FleetAdmiral.
U.S. Naval tradition holds that the rank Admiral of the Navy is considered senior to that of FleetAdmiral.
As with the admiral's flag, there was a red version with white stars from 1915 to 1940 to indicate a junior vice admiral in the presence of a senior.
In that case, the admiral's flag is shifted to the starboard main yardarm for the duration of the visit.
The staff on which the admiral's flag is flown and the staff for the ensign in the stern of the boat are topped with the appropriate finial for the admiral's rank, either a spread eagle or a halberd.
Feeds |
Contact