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Counter admiral is a rank found in many navies of the world, but no longer used in English-speaking countries, where the equivalent rank is rear admiral. The term derives from the French contre-amiral.
In modern navies that use it, rear (counter) admiral is generally, although not always, the lowest flag officer rank (in the German Navy, for instance, Flottillenadmiral ranks below Konteradmiral; in the Royal Canadian Navy, contre-amiral/rear admiral ranks above commodore).
In the navies of Portugal and Brazil, the rank of contra-almirante is the lowest of the permanent flag officer ranks. In the Portuguese Navy there is a flag officer rank below that of contra-almirante, the rank of comodoro (commodore), but this is only a provisional appointment, assigned to some captains.
Until the end of the 19th century, the present rank of contra-almirante was named chefe de esquadra (chief of squadron), both in the Portuguese and the Brazilian navies.
Contre-Amiral is the OF-7 rank of the Marine nationale.
Germany
Konteradmiral is an OF-7 two-star rank equivalent to the Generalmajor (en: Major general) in the German Army and the German Air Force.
See also:
Kontr-Admiral was the lowest flag officer rank of the Soviet Navy and is the lowest flag rank of the Russian Navy, similar to an OF-6 officer.