Counter admiral

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).

  1. ^ Oxford English Dictionary. counter-admiral, n. Second edition, 1989; online version June 2011. <http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/42655>; accessed 22 June 2011.