Vice-Admiral (Royal Navy)

Vice-Admiral is a Flag Rank in the Royal Navy, and is the third-most senior officers' rank, ranking above Rear-Admiral and below Admiral. During the Dreadnought Era a Vice-Admiral would normally be found serving as a Senior Officer of a Battle Squadron, as a Commander-in-Chief on a foreign station, or as a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty. A number of Vice-Admirals would be unemployed, and therefore on Half-Pay.

Numbers

In 1870 the number of Vice-Admirals had been lowered to 15. This was raised to 20 in 1895 and 22 in 1898. The increase by two of 1898 was supposed to begin in 1899 with one addition being made per year. However, the first addition was not made until 1 January, 1901, with the promotion of Charles L. Oxley. The full establishment was not reached until James L. Hammet was promoted on 1 January, 1905, five years late.

Permitted Retinue

In 1888, a Royal Navy Vice-Admiral was allotted the Secretary, Flag Lieutenant and Coxswain afforded all flag officers, Commodores First Class and Captains of the Fleet, as well as seven domestics – three fewer than an Admiral enjoyed, and two more than were granted a Rear-Admiral.

Compulsory Retirement

Officers promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral prior to 1 April, 1914 were required to be retired after five years since their last service as a Flag Officer. If they were promoted to the rank of Admiral without service as a Vice-Admiral, they were compulsorily retired.

Officers promoted Vice-Admiral on or after 1 April, 1914 were retired after three years since their last service as a Flag Officer, but not until after one year on the list of Vice-Admirals.

After 1 April, 1914, Flag Officers who reached the age of sixty without hoisting their flag were to be then retired. And Flag Officer who had not hoisted their flag for a period of seven years was to be retired at the expiration of such period.

Officers who retired with the rank of Vice-Admiral were entitled to rise by seniority to the rank of Retired Admiral.