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France: Naval rank flags

Admiral of France
Admiral
Squadron Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Rear Admiral
Ship-of-the-Line Captain
Senior Officer afloat

See also:

Admiral of France

Flag at sea of an Admiral of France - Image by Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001

According to Album des Pavillons [pay00], the flag of an Admiral of France (Amiral de France) is a square tricolour flag with two blue Marshal's batons placed in saltire in the middle of the white stripe.

Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001

The car flag of Marshals of France and Admirals of France is described in the Instruction n° 849/ARM/SGA/DMCA/SHD/DHS/DSD (10 april 2024) a "7:8 Pennant without fringe, with in its blue part seven white stars embroidered in white and, in its white part two crossed marshal batons (10 cm large) embroidered with real colours. White cravat with golden fringe (braids of 3 cm) fixed under the finial."

The Decision on Car Flags, 2 September 1963, stated that the Marshals of France and Admirals of France were entitled to have a car pennant, and had a white cravat with gold fringes.

Olivier Touzeau, 29 August 2025

Admiral

Flag at sea of an Admiral - Image by Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001

According to Album des Pavillons [pay00], The flag of an Admiral (Amiral) is a square tricolour flag with five blue stars placed 1-1-2-1 in the middle of the white stripe.

Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001

Squadron Vice Admiral

Flag at sea of a Squadron Vice Admiral - Image by Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001

According to Album des Pavillons [pay00], the flag of a Squadron Vice Admiral (Vice-Amiral d'Escadre) is a square tricolour flag with four blue stars placed 1-2-1 in the middle of the white stripe.
The car flag of a Squadron Vice Admiral is similar but with proportions 7:8.

Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001

Vice Admiral

Flag at sea of a Vice Admiral - Image by Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001

According to Album des Pavillons [pay00], the flag of a Vice Admiral (Vice-Amiral) is a square tricolour flag with three white stars placed 1-2 in canton.

Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001

Rear Admiral

Flag at sea of a Rear Admiral - Image by Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001

According to Album des Pavillons [pay00], the flag of a Rear Admiral (Contre-Amiral) is a square tricolour flag divided by a white cross and with two white stars placed horizontally in canton.

On 1 January 2002, Rear Admiral Chantal Desbordes, aged 52, shall be the first woman appointed as General Officer in the French Navy. When she started her naval career 30 years ago, women were not allowed to embark on Navy vessels. They are now allowed to serve on all vessels except submarines.

Željko Heimer & Ivan Sache, 20 December 2001

Ship-of-the-Line Captain

Flag of a Ship-of-the-Line Captain - Images by Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001
left, commissioned as the Chief of a Division;
right, commanding a Division, a Naval Force, a Maritime Area, the Navy overseas or in Paris, or Major General.

According to Album des Pavillons [pay00], the flag of a Ship-of-the-Line Captain (Capitaine de Vaisseau) is a tricolour swallow-tailed flag. with a white star in canton, proportion 1:2.
A white star is added in canton when the Captain is the Chief of a Division.

Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001

Senior Officer afloat

Flag of the Senior Officer afloat - Images by Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001
left, when only French vessels are present;
right, when no Navy vessels is present.

According to Album des Pavillons [pay00],the flag of the Senior Officer afloat is a blue triangular flag, with proportions 1:2. It should be used only when no foreign vessel is present.
When no warhsip is present, the senior merchant captain flies the same flag, but divided blue-white.

NATO seniority pennant - Image by Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001

The standard NATO seniority pennant, a trapezoid flag vertically divided green-white-green, with proportions 3:10, is used on French vessels when among NATO fleet.

Željko Heimer, 13 November 2001