Counter admiral is a rank found in many navies of the world, but no longer used in English-speaking countries, where the equivalent rank is rear admiral. The term derives from the French contre-amiral.[1] Depending on the country, it is either a one-star or two-star rank.
In modern navies that use it, rear (counter) admiral is generally, although not always, the lowest flag officer rank (in the German Navy, for instance, Flottillenadmiral ranks below Konteradmiral; in the Royal Canadian Navy, contre-amiral/rear admiral ranks above commodore).
Portugal and Brazil
Sleeve insignia (Portuguese Navy)
Shoulder insignia (Brazilian Navy)
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In the navies of Portugal and Brazil, the rank of contra-almirante is the lowest of the permanent flag officer ranks. In the Portuguese Navy there is a flag officer rank below that of contra-almirante, the rank of comodoro (commodore), but this is only a provisional appointment, assigned to some captains.
Until the end of the 19th century, the present rank of contra-almirante was named chefe de esquadra (chief of squadron), both in the Portuguese and the Brazilian navies.
Finland
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Counter admiral is the more direct translation of Finnish kontra-amiraali, a two-star rank used in the Finnish Navy and the Finnish Border Guard. However, it is usually translated as rear admiral in international use.
France
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Contre-Amiral is the OF-6 rank of the Marine nationale.
Germany
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Konteradmiral is an OF-7 two-star rank of Deutsche Marine (German Navy), equivalent to the Generalmajor (en: Major general) in the German Army and the German Air Force.
See also:
Former USSR and Russia
Shoulder insignia (Soviet Navy)
Shoulder insignia (Russian Navy)
Sleeve insignia (Russian Navy)
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Kontr-admiral was the lowest flag officer rank of the Soviet Navy and is the lowest flag rank of the Russian Navy, similar to an OF-6 officer.
References
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary. counter-admiral, n. Second edition, 1989; online version June 2011. <http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/42655>; accessed 22 June 2011.
| Junior Rank Flottillenadmiral | ){kind=logo} German Navy officer rank Konteradmiral | Senior Rank Vizeadmiral |