Uniform Insignia Forum

There are some navies, where commodore ranks are not in use. Russian Navy and some navies in South America, for example... Most of European navies use it. Actually, I cannot understand, why do they need this grade. Is there a serious difference between commodore and rear admiral positions, or commodores and captains?

Bornholmer wrote:There are some navies, where commodore ranks are not in use. Russian Navy and some navies in South America, for example... Most of European navies use it. Actually, I cannot understand, why do they need this grade. Is there a serious difference between commodore and rear admiral positions, or commodores and captains?

Hi just for background this topic http://forum.rankinsignia.info/viewtopic.php?t=1374&highlight=commodore gives a pretty good overview of the historical origins of the Commodore. vs Rear Admiral

But yes you are correct, today most Navies have adopted a very simlar style of "Flag grades"

Basically Commodore exists today as the junior level of Flag Officer in most of the Commonwealth navies. The only reason it is still called Commodore is really tradition. The new equivilant of Flotilla Admiral or the USN rank of Rear Admiral (Lower Half) are just newer names for the same grade.

Really today they are all "Flag Officers 1st level" whatever they are actually called. Generally commanding Squadrons or Flotilla's or serving as deputies to Rear Admirals.

So, there is no real difference between rear admiral and commodore (flaggkommendoer, rear admiral lower half or whatever they are called)? I mean, they both do the same? Do they command units (squadrons or flotillas) of the same level?

What is the US Navy equvilent of a Commodre in the Netherlands Navy?

Rear Admiral, Lower Half

Just consider "Commodore" as beeing one-star admiral, sam way as "Brigadier" is one star general ... what really matters is the number of stars on the epaulettes (or rings on the cuff). Commodore was a name used primarily by countries with large navies (UK, US and such) while those without a similarly important navy had rear admiral for the lowest level of flag officer (and some of them are now having a really big headache with this - just look at Romania, which had to come up with a new one-star rank in order to match the UKUSA system and it took some years till they managed to settle with flotilla rear admiral - though I wouldn't bet there will be no more changes in this regard)

Just consider "Commodore" as beeing one-star admiral, sam way as "Brigadier" is one star general ... what really matters is the number of stars on the epaulettes (or rings on the cuff).

That is true, however when the US Navy brought back the grade of commodore in the 1980s, the one-star officers objected because they would not be called "admiral" for short, as brigadier generals were called "general."

Commodore was a name used primarily by countries with large navies (UK, US and such) while those without a similarly important navy had rear admiral for the lowest level of flag officer

Throughout most of their histories, the USN and RN have promoted officers from captain to rear admiral. The confusion came about when RN and army ranks were officially equated in 1747. Commodore, a temporary rank in the navy, was equated with brigadier general, a permanent rank in the army. The US followed the same system and there has been a lot of back-and-forth since.

regards,
Justin