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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.
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
Amiral de France
(Grand Admiral or Admiral of the France)
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Officers
Officiers généraux — Flag officers
Contre-Amiral
(Rear Admiral)
Vice-Amiral
(Vice-Admiral) since 1791
Vice-Amiral d'escadre
(Lieutenant Admiral or Vice Admiral of the Squadron)
Amiral
Admiral
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Officiers supérieurs — Senior officers
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Officiers subalternes — Junior officers
Aspirant
Midshipman
Enseigne de vaisseau de première classe
Ensign of the Vessel First Class
(Sub-lieutenant or
Lieutenant (junior grade))
Lieutenant de vaisseau
Lieutenant of the Vessel (Lieutenant)
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Warrant, Petty Officers and Enlisted Personnel
Officiers mariniers — Warrant and Petty Officers
Second-maître
Second master
OR5 Petty Officer 2nd Class
Maître
Master
OR6 Petty Officer 1st Class
Premier-maître
First master
OR7 Chief Petty Officer
Maître-principal
Principal master
OR9 Master Chief Petty Officer
Major
Major
OR9 Master Chief Petty Officer
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Matelots et quartiers-maîtres — Sailors and quarter-masters
Matelot
Seaman
OR1 Recruit
Matelot breveté
Graduate Seaman
OR2 Apprentice
Quartier-maître de 2e classe
Quarter-master second class
OR3 Seaman
Quartier-maître de 1re classe
Quarter-master first class
OR4 Petty Officer 3rd Class
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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".
Capitaine de vaisseau Captain of the Vessel (Captain)
Chief Surgeon First Class
Chief engineer first class
Peintre de la Marine
Chief War Commissar First Class
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- Vice-amiral de France (Vice Admiral of France)
- Lieutenant général des armées navales
- Chef d'escadre
- Brigadier des armées navales and Chef de division
- Major de vaisseau
- Capitaine de vaisseau et de port
- Lieutenant de vaisseau et de port
- Capitaine de brûlot
- Lieutenant de frégate
- Capitaine de flûte
- Sous-lieutenant de vaisseau
- Sous-lieutenant de port
- Enseigne de vaisseau non entretenu
- Élèves de la Marine
- Garde de la marine
- Maître amiral
- Maître vice-amiral
- Contre maître
- Aide pilote
- Second maître appelés
- Second maître de 1re classe
- Second maître de 2e classe
- Quartier-maitre-chef de carrière