The rank of admiral of the fleet or fleet admiral () was the highest naval rank of the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1955 and second-highest from 1962 to 1991.
It was first created by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet in 1940 as an equivalent to general of the army, but it was not used until 1944, when Ivan Isakov and Nikolai Kuznetsov were promoted to the rank.
The rank was abolished on 3 March 1955 with the establishment of the rank of admiral of the fleet of the Soviet Union. It was restored in 1962 as the second-highest navy rank.
The rank has been retained by the Russian Federation after 1991.
Insignia
The first insignia was only sleeve insignia. In February 1943, traditional Russian ranks were reintroduced and the sleeve insignia was changed and shoulder straps were added with four "Nakhimov stars". In 1945, the stars were replaced with a single, bigger star to look similar to marshal's shoulder boards.
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|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC; text-align:center;"
! Use
! 1940–1943
! 1943–1945
! 1945–1955
! 1962–1974
! 1974–1991
|- style="text-align:center;"
! Insignia
| center|111x111px
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Officers promoted to admiral of the fleet
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Portrait
! Name<br />
! Promoted
! Retired
!
|-
| 80px
| Ivan Isakov<br />
| 31 May 1944
| 11 October 1967 †
|
|-
| 80px
| Nikolai Kuznetsov<br />
| 31 May 1944
| 17 February 1956
|
|-
| 80px
| Sergey Gorshkov<br />
| 28 April 1962
| 13 May 1988
|
|-
| 80px
| Vladimir Kasatonov<br />
| 18 July 1965
| 9 June 1989
|
|-
| 80px
| Nikolai Sergeyev<br />
| 30 April 1970
| 11 January 1992
|
|-
| 80px
| Semyon Lobov<br />
| 28 July 1970
| 12 July 1977 †
|
|-
| 80px
| Georgy Yegorov<br />
| 5 November 1973
| May 1992
|
|-
| 80px
| Nikolay Ivanovich Smirnov<br />
| 5 November 1973
| 11 January 1992
|
|-
| 80px
| Vladimir Chernavin<br />
| 4 November 1983
| 11 January 1992
|
|-
| 80px
| Alexey Sorokin<br />
| 16 February 1988
| May 1992
|
|-
| 80px
| Ivan Kapitanets<br />
| 4 November 1989
| 11 January 1992
|
|-
| 80px
| Konstantin Makarov<br />
| 4 November 1989
| 12 September 1992
|
|}
See also
- Ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Army 1943–1955, and ... 1955–1991
- Army General (Soviet rank)
- Admiral of the fleet (Russia)
- Admiral of the fleet