The Imperial Sourcebook contains a reference to a chap getting promoted from Commodore to Rear-Admiral upon leaving the Imperial Navy. The rank of Commodore is actually below that of Rear-Admiral. So what we have here is somebody clearly transposing the two titles by mistake. However, if we were to attempt to fix this problem in the same way that people want to resolve the problem of Destroyers being bigger than cruisers, we'd get this rank system.

I must say I concur with Borleias about the placement of High Admiral. I recall that it's an unnecessary rank created for the head of the Imperial Navy within a Sector. I say unnecessary because the Moff seems to be seen as the de facto Naval commander, whilst the highest ranking Fleet Admiral runs fleet ops - e.g. Flashpoint Brak Sector, which contained a fairly well maintained Imp Fleet of 30ish ISDs just after Yavin.

I'm a bit uncertain about the differences between Air Marshal and Star Marshal and between Field Marshal and Grand Marshal. what sort of forces are we looking at for command purposes here? I'm a bit confused by the US terminology, too, I fear I still think in terms of my - currently less than militarily adequate - nation's air ranks. But a Squad leader commands a squad, we know a Wing Commander takes 6 Sqs. A group leader takes at least 2 Wings, possibly he would command an ISD taskforce's fighter force? I suggest this because he'd otherwise be of the same rank level as a normal Navy Captain, which could (dates of commission apart) cause friction. A Star Commodore must control at least 2 Groups.

Ah, yes. The Vice-Marshal takes 4 Groups, the Marshal 8, the chief marshal 16, the Force Marshal at least 32. We'll waive the requirements of the High Marshal, because he may be the same nominal post as High Admiral. Anyway, with 12 pilots to a squadron, 72 to a wing, and at least 144 to a group, we end up with a minimum force of 4,608 fighters or 64 wings.

Executor types require at least 2 Wings, according to WEG, but are capable of far larger forces, according to Saxton.

For example, a Commodore might be in command of 4 Groups, thus allowing a reduction in the number of higher officers. One could even run the whole, 1,000 sector Galactic Empire on this basis.

If each level after Sq Leader takes 6 of the formations below him to constitute his command (as is the case with the number of squadrons in a wing), then a Chief Marshal would command 1,296 Groups (6 Wings for each Group, in this instance), and 46,656 of these Groups would be subordinated to the High Marshal. That's 279,936 Wings, and the whole Star Fleet is only about >24,000 ISDs (24 per sector and 1,000 sectors), requiring 24,000 wings. Hmmm, time to do some essay, methinks.