Ranks in the French Navy

Template:Short description Template:Template other The rank insignia of the French Navy (Template:Langx) 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" (, and ), the appropriate style to address them is "", "" referring to "lieutenant de vaisseau", which is translated as lieutenant. The two highest ranks, and (Admiral), are functions, rather than ranks. They are assumed by officers ranking (Vice-Admiral).

The rank of Vice-Admiral of France (Template:Langx) 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 (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 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.

Insignia

The insignia below depict the configuration on shoulder boards. Shoulder straps are slightly different, notably without the golden frame for general officers.

Great officers

NATO rank	Rank insignia		Name
	Shoulder	Sleeve	French	English translation
OF-10	File:French Navy NG-OF10.svg	File:France-Navy-OF-10 Sleeve.svg		Admiral of France

Officers

– flag officers

NATO rank	Rank insignia			Name
	Shoulder	Sleeve	Flag	French	English translation
OF-9	File:French Navy-Rama NG-OF9.svg	File:France-Navy-OF-9 Sleeve.svg	File:Marque amiral.svg		Admiral
OF-8	File:French Navy-Rama NG-OF8.svg	File:France-Navy-OF-8 Sleeve.svg	File:Marque VAE.svg		Squadron vice-admiral
OF-7	File:French Navy-Rama NG-OF7.svg	File:France-Navy-OF-7 Sleeve.svg	File:Marque VA.svg		Vice-admiral
OF-6	File:French Navy-Rama NG-OF6.svg	File:France-Navy-OF-6 Sleeve.svg	File:Contre-Amiral.svg		Counter admiral

– senior officers

NATO rank	Rank insignia		Name
	Shoulder	Sleeve	French	English translation
OF-5	File:French Navy-Rama NG-OF5.svg	File:France-Navy-OF-5 Sleeve.svg		Ship-of-the-line captain
OF-4	File:French Navy-Rama NG-OF4.svg	File:France-Navy-OF-4 Sleeve.svg		Frigate Captain
OF-3	File:French Navy-Rama NG-OF3.svg	File:France-Navy-OF-3 Sleeve.svg		Corvette Captain

– junior officers

NATO rank	Rank insignia		Name
	Shoulder	Sleeve	French	English translation
OF-2	File:French Navy-Rama NG-OF2.svg	File:France-Navy-OF-2 Sleeve.svg		Ship-of-the-line lieutenant
OF-1	File:French Navy-Rama NG-OF1b.svg	File:France-Navy-OF-1b Sleeve.svg		Ship-of-the-line ensign, first class
	File:French Navy-Rama NG-OF1.svg	File:France-Navy-OF-1a Sleeve.svg		Ship-of-the-line ensign, second class
OF-(D)	File:French Navy NG-aspirant.svg	File:France-Navy-OF-(D2) Sleeve.svg		Midshipman

Warrant, petty officers and enlisted personnel

– warrant and petty officers

NATO rank	Rank insignia		Name
	Shoulder	Sleeve	French	English translation
OR-9	File:French Navy-Rama NG-SO5.svg	File:France-Navy-OR-9b Sleeve.svg		Major
	File:French Navy-Rama NG-SO4.svg	File:France-Navy-OR-9a Sleeve.svg		Principal master
OR-8	File:French Navy-Rama NG-SO3.svg	File:France-Navy-OR-8 Sleeve.svg		First master
OR-6	File:French Navy-Rama NG-SO2.svg	File:France-Navy-OR-6 Sleeve.svg		Master
OR-5	File:French Navy-Rama NG-SO1.svg	File:France-Navy-OR-5 Sleeve.svg		Second master

– sailors and quarter-masters

NATO rank	Rank insignia		Name
	Shoulder	Sleeve	French	English translation
OR-4	File:French Navy-Rama NG-M3.svg	File:France-Navy-OR-4 Sleeve.svg		Quartermaster first class
OR-3	File:French Navy-Rama NG-M2.svg	File:France-Navy-OR-3 Sleeve.svg		Quartermaster second class
OR-2	File:French Navy-Rama NG-M1.svg	File:France-Navy-OR-2 Sleeve.svg		Able seaman
OR-1	File:French Navy-Rama NG-M0.svg	File:Generic-Navy sleeve.svg		Seaman

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 wear pearl-grey stripes.

, 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 "".

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  Captain of the Vessel
  (Captain)
• Chief Surgeon First Class
  Chief Surgeon First Class
• Chief engineer first class
  Chief engineer first class
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• Chief War Commissar First Class
  Chief War Commissar First Class

Military chaplains

Chief Military Chaplain	File:Aum chef cat prot.gif File:Aum chef isr.gif File:Aum chef mus.gif
Deputy Chief Military Chaplain	File:Mar aumadj cath prot.gif File:Mar aumadj isr.gif
Regional military chaplain	File:Ter aumreg cath prot.gif File:Ter aumreg isr.gif File:Ter aumreg mus.gif
Military chaplain	File:Mar aum cath prot.gif File:Mar aum isr.gif

Ranks formerly used in the Navy

• (Vice Admiral of France)
• and

See also

• French Navy