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Admiral (Sweden)

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This article is about a Swedish Navy rank. For other countries that use an Admiral rank, see Admiral.
Admiral
Amiral
Flag of the admiral
Shoulder mark and sleeve insignia of a Swedish four-star admiral.
Country Sweden
Service branchSwedish Navy
AbbreviationAm (Swedish),[1] Adm (English)[2]
Rank groupFlag officer
RankFour-star[a]
Formation1522
Next lower rankVice admiral
Equivalent ranksGeneral

Admiral (Adm) (Swedish: Amiral, Am) is a four-star commissioned naval officer rank in the Swedish Navy. Admiral ranks immediately above vice admiral and is equivalent to general.

History

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In Sweden, the admiral's rank first appeared during the reign of Gustav I, who in 1522 gave it to Erik Fleming, a Council of the Realm. During Gustav's reign as king and throughout the latter part of the 16th century, the highest command of a fleet was led by a översteamiral ("colonel admiral"), to whose assistant a underamiral was appointed. It was not until 1569 that a permanent översteamiral was appointed; In 1602 the title was exchanged for riksamiral ("Admiral of the Realm"). The first permanent underamiral was appointed in 1575; his office ceased in 1619. Vice admiral is first mentioned in 1577. The admirals of the Swedish Navy have, incidentally, been as follows: generalamiral ("general admiral"), amiralgeneral ("admiral general"), storamiral ("grand admiral"), överamiral, riksviceamiral ("Vice Admiral of the Realm"), amiralgenerallöjtnant ("admiral lieutenant general"), amirallöjtnant ("lieutenant admiral"), schoutbynacht and konteramiral ("rear admiral"). As names for special positions, there has been: befälhavande amiral ("commanding admiral"), skeppsgårdsamiral ("shipyard admiral"), holmamiral ("islet admiral") and varvsamiral ("shipyard admiral").[3]

Admiral is equivalent to the rank of general[3] in the Swedish Army, the Swedish Air Force, the Swedish Coastal Artillery (until 2000) and as well as in the Swedish Amphibious Corps (from 2000). Historically, during the 20th century, vice admirals were promoted one grade upon retirement to full four-star admiral. The last time this happened was in 1991 when vice admiral Bror Stefenson was promoted to admiral in connection with his retirement from the navy.[4] According to current practice only royals and the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, if he were to come from the Swedish Navy, can hold the rank of a full, four-star, admiral in Sweden.

Following a proposal from the Swedish Armed Forces, the Government of Sweden decides on employment as an admiral.[5]

In everyday speech, admirals of all ranks are addressed as admirals.[6][7]

Uniform

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Shoulder mark

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The shoulder mark of a Swedish admiral contains a 45 mm galloon m/51 and four[b] 25 mm star m/30 in silver embroidery on a white background: The center distance between the stars on the shoulder mark must be 27 mm.[8]

Sleeve insignia

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A flag officer wears on the sleeves a 45 mm galloon (GALON M/51 45MM K) and a rank insignia (GRADBETECKNING M/02 TILL ÄRM FLOTTAN) (round loop, the Amphibious Corps has a pointed loop in form of a grenade).[9]

  • Sleeve insignia for an admiral (2003–present)
    Sleeve insignia for an admiral (2003–present)
  • Carl XVI Gustaf with current sleeve insignia for an admiral (2003–present)
    Carl XVI Gustaf with current sleeve insignia for an admiral (2003–present)
  • Sleeve insignia for an admiral (1972–2003)
    Sleeve insignia for an admiral (1972–2003)
  • Carl XVI Gustaf with old sleeve insignia for an admiral (1972–2003)
    Carl XVI Gustaf with old sleeve insignia for an admiral (1972–2003)
  • Sleeve insignia for an admiral (1878–1972)
    Sleeve insignia for an admiral (1878–1972)
  • Jacket m/78 (1878) with long trousers and vest for admiral. Has been carried by Admiral Åke Lindemalm.
    Jacket m/78 (1878) with long trousers and vest for admiral. Has been carried by Admiral Åke Lindemalm.

Hats

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Peaked cap

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A flag officer wears as embellishments a gold embroidered oak leaf wreath (known as scrambled egg) on the visor of the peaked cap (skärmmössa m/48). It also fitted with a hat badge (mössmärke m/78 off för flottan) and with a strap in form of a golden braid.[10]

Side cap and winter hat

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An officer wears a hat badge (mössmärke m/78 off) for the navy and another (mössmärke m/87 off) for amphibious units on the side cap (båtmössa m/48) and on the winter hat (vintermössa m/87).[11]

Personal flags

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Admiral's command flag, which admirals of all ranks carry on ships, where they are as commanders. On a three-masted ship, an admiral's flag flies on top of the main mast (vice admiral's flies on the top of the fore-mast and rear admiral's on top of the mizzen-mast).[12] The command flag of an admiral (and a general) is a double swallowtailed Swedish flag. In the first blue field 4 five-pointed white stars placed two over two[13] (before 1972 by 3 stars placed one over two).

The flag of the admiral (and vice admiral and rear admiral) is flown on ships of the navy, from which officer of the rank now mentioned exercises his command, or on which he travels in the service, but not on ships on which he is in the capacity of exercise leader.[14]

A flag officer (for example an admiral) who holds the position of Supreme Commander, Chief of Operations, Chief of Navy, Chief of Maritime Component Command or naval force commander, may carry an admiral flag on a car in which the commander in question travels in uniform. On airplanes/helicopters, vice admirals (flag officers) may carry a command sign in the form of an image of an admiral flag.[15]

  • Admiral/General[c] command flag (4 stars)[17] (1972–present)
    Admiral/General[c] command flag (4 stars)[17]
    (1972–present)
  • Admiral/General[c] command flag (3 stars)[16] (1905–1972)
    Admiral/General[c] command flag (3 stars)[16]
    (1905–1972)
  • Admiral command flag (1875–1905)[16]
    Admiral command flag
    (1875–1905)[16]
  • Admiral command flag (1836–1844)[16]
    Admiral command flag
    (1836–1844)[16]

Gun salute

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When raising or lowering flags of the commander's, squadron, department or division commander, a gun salute is given with 17 rounds for admiral (15 for vice admiral and 13 for rear admiral).[18]

List of admirals

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Main article: List of Swedish admirals

The following have been promoted to the rank of admiral in the Swedish Navy between 1900 and 2024.   This colour indicates that the person was appointed honorary admiral in the Swedish Navy.

Image Country Name Year
promoted		 Born Died Notes Ref
Sweden Fredrik von Otter 1900 1833 1910 Prime Minister of Sweden (1900–1902) [19]
Sweden Hjalmar af Klintberg 1903 1835 1912 Chief of the Fleet Staff (1889–1903) [20]
United Kingdom Edward VII 1905 1841 1910 Honorary Admiral
King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, Emperor of India (1901–1910)		 [21]
Sweden Gustaf V 1907 1858 1950 King of Sweden (1907–1950)
Russian Empire Nicholas II 1908 1868 1918 Honorary Admiral
Emperor of Russia (1894–1917)		 [22]
Sweden Louis Palander 1910[d] 1842 1920 Minister for Naval Affairs (1901–1905) [23]
Sweden Wilhelm Dyrssen 1923 1858 1929 Commanding Admiral, Stockholm Naval Station (1916–1923) [24]
United Kingdom George V 1923 1865 1936 Honorary Admiral
King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, Emperor of India (1910–1936)		 [25]
Sweden Carl August Ehrensvärd 1926 1858 1944 Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff (1924–1944) [26]
Sweden Henning von Krusenstierna 1927 1862 1933 Chief of the Naval Staff (1916–1927) [27]
Spain Alfonso XIII 1927 1886 1941 Honorary Admiral
King of Spain (1886–1931)		 [25]
Sweden Otto Lybeck 1936 1871 1947 Chief of the Naval Staff (1927–1936) [28]
Sweden Fabian Tamm 1947 1879 1955 Chief of the Navy (1939–1945) [29]
Denmark Frederik IX of Denmark 1947 1899 1972 Honorary Admiral
King of Denmark (1947–1972)		 [30]
Sweden Gustaf VI Adolf 1950 1882 1973 Crown Prince of Sweden (1907–1950)
King of Sweden (1950–1973)
United Kingdom George VI 1951 1895 1952 Honorary Admiral
King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions (1936–1952)		 [31]
Sweden Stig H:son Ericson 1961 1897 1985 Chief of the Navy (1953–1961) [32]
Sweden Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland 1969 1912 1997 Prince of Sweden (1912–1997) [33]
Sweden Åke Lindemalm 1970 1910 2004 Chief of the Navy (1961–1970) [34]
Carl XVI Gustaf in army uniform
Carl XVI Gustaf in army uniform
 Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf 1973 1946 — King of Sweden (1973–present)
Sweden Bengt Lundvall 1978 1915 2010 Chief of the Navy (1970–1978) [35]
Sweden Bror Stefenson 1991[d] 1929 2018 Chief of His Majesty's Military Staff (1990–1997) [4]

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ Admiral was a three-star rank until 1972 in the Swedish Armed Forces rank structure.
  2. ^ Four stars has been used for an admiral since 1972. Before that it was three stars.
  3. ^ a b The Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces used admiral's flag since 1942.[16]
  4. ^ a b Upon retirement.

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Försvarsmaktens föreskrifter om personaltjänst (FFS 2019:6)" (PDF) (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 2019-12-02. p. 3. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Försvarsmaktens gemensamma identitet – direktiv för användandet av Försvarsmaktens namn, profil och bild" (PDF). 1.3 (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 2013-09-16. p. 66. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-09-01. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b Meijer 1904, pp. 851–852
  4. ^ a b "Unik amiral i smyg". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1992-01-12. p. 15. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Förordning om ändring i förordningen (2000:555) med instruktion för Försvarsmakten" (PDF) (in Swedish). Swedish Code of Statutes. 20 June 2005. p. 2. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  6. ^ Etikett och god ton: Praktisk handbok i sättet att uppföra sig. 1 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Åhlén & Åkerlund. 1932. p. 130. SELIBR 1353820.
  7. ^ Handbok: parad 6: traditionsvård : H PARAD 6 2016 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarsmakten. 2017. p. 31. SELIBR 22459606.
  8. ^ Laestadius 2015, pp. 460–461
  9. ^ Laestadius 2015, pp. 449–450
  10. ^ Laestadius 2015, pp. 422–424
  11. ^ Laestadius 2015, p. 424
  12. ^ Stenfelt 1920, p. 11
  13. ^ Braunstein 2004, p. 111
  14. ^ Stenfelt 1920, p. 640
  15. ^ Reglemente: parad 2: flaggor, fälttecken & heraldik : R PARAD 2 2017 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarsmakten. 2017. pp. 22, 68. SELIBR 21483386.
  16. ^ a b c d Lybeck 1945, pp. 568–569
  17. ^ Handbok: parad 4: marinen : R PARAD 4 2017 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Försvarsmakten. 2017. p. 14. SELIBR 21485968.
  18. ^ Stenfelt 1920, p. 454
  19. ^ Norberg 1992–1994, p. 440
  20. ^ Broomé 1975–1977, p. 358
  21. ^ Sveriges statskalender för år 1910 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1910. p. 207.
  22. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1916 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: P.A. Nordstedt & Söner. 1916. p. 300.
  23. ^ Odelberg 1992–1994, p. 554
  24. ^ Unger 1945, p. 716
  25. ^ a b Sveriges statskalender för året 1933 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1933. p. 352.
  26. ^ Lybeck 1949, p. 491
  27. ^ Wikland 1975–1977, p. 634
  28. ^ Åberg 1982–1984, p. 424
  29. ^ Dahl & Bohman 1954, p. 452
  30. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1948 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1948. p. 389.
  31. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1952 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1952. p. 422.
  32. ^ Burling 1962, p. 290
  33. ^ Spiegelberg 1984, p. 404
  34. ^ Salander Mortensen 1996, p. 691
  35. ^ Jönsson 2000, p. 749

Sources

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