Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1955–1991)

The ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces between 1955 and 1991 were distinguished by the reorganisation of the Soviet armed forces after the death of Stalin, resulting in changes to ranks, insignia, and uniforms.

Changes to distinction insignia edit

Shoulder straps to field utilization edit

In December 1956 the coloured border piping on officers' shoulder straps was changed. A cinnamon-brown color was used instead of the burgundy red previously worn by commanders and commanding officers. All other officers and other ranks wore corps colours as follows:

  • Motorised & mechanised rifles – raspberry
  • Artillery & armored troops – black, red
  • Air Force & aviation – blue
  • Technical troops of any kind and the navy – black

The regimental numberings of the 1943 system were removed altogether.

Enlisted men, non-commissioned officers, warrant officers, and michman edit

Army, Air Force edit

Rank group Warrant officers Non-commissioned officers Enlisted men
Shoulder boards
(motorized infantry troops)
                 
Shoulder boards
(artillery, rocket, tank, engineering, construction, automobile, railway troops, signal-corps, troops of radiation, chemical and biological protection)
                 
Shoulder boards
(air force & aviation)
                 
(introduced 1981) (introduced 1971) (from 1964) (until 1963)
Ста́рший пра́порщик
Stárshiy práporshchik
Пра́порщик
Práporshchyk
Старшина́
Starshyná
Ста́рший сержа́нт
Stárshiy serzhánt
Сержа́нт
Serzhánt
Мла́дший сержа́нт
Mládshiy serzhánt
Ефре́йтор
Efréĭtor
Рядово́й
Ryadovóy

US equivalent[1] Chief warrant officer Warrant officer Command sergeant major Sergeant major Master sergeant Sergeant Private first class Private

Colors by type of troops:

  • motorized infantry troops – red (scarlet);
  • artillery, rocket, tank, engineering, construction, automobile, railway troops, signal-corps, troops of radiation, chemical and biological protection – black;
  • air force and airborne troops – sky blue;
  • state security troops (KGB troops) – dark blue, instead of the letters "СА" (Советская Армия) the letters "ГБ" (Государственная Безопасность – State Security);
  • internal troops (Interior Ministry troops) – crimson (dark red), instead of the letters "СА" (Советская Армия) the letters "ВВ" (Внутренние Войска);
  • border troops – green, instead of the letters "СА" (Советская Армия) the letters "ПВ" (Пограничные Войска).

Ratings of the Navy, coastal services and other shore commands edit

Rank group Warrant officers Boatswain/petty officers Enlisted men
Shoulder boards                  
(introduced 1981) (from 1971) (from 1964) (until 1963)
Старший мичман
Starshy michman
Мичман
Michman
Главный корабельный старшина
Glavny korabelny starshina
Главный старшина
Glavny starshina
Старшина 1 статьи
Starshina 1 statie
Старшина 2 статьи
Starshina 2 statie
Старший матрос
Starshina matros
Матрос
Matros
(Michman until 1971)

Coastal services &
shore commands
Ста́рший пра́порщик
Stárshiy práporshchik
Пра́порщик
Práporshchyk
Старшина́
Starshyná
Ста́рший сержа́нт
Stárshiy serzhánt
Сержа́нт
Serzhánt
Мла́дший сержа́нт
Mládshiy serzhánt
Старший матрос
Starshina matros
Матрос
Matros

US equivalent[2] Chief warrant officer Warrant officer Fleet/force master chief petty officer Senior chief petty officer Chief petty officer Petty officer second class Seaman Seaman recruit

Letter codes from 1972 onward edit

Army officers and generals (all services) edit

Rank group General officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Shoulder boards
(Ground forces)
                         
Shoulder boards
(Air force)
See below                    
(from 1974) (until 1974)
Маршал советского союза
Márshal sovetskogo soyuza
Генера́л а́рмии
Generál ármii
Генера́л-полко́вник
Generál-polkóvnik
Генера́л-лейтена́нт
Generál-leytenánt
Генера́л-майо́р
Generál-mayór
Полко́вник
Polkóvnik
Подполко́вник
Podpolkóvnik
Майо́р
Majór
Kапита́н
Kapitán
Старший лейтена́нт
Stárshiy leytenánt
Лейтенант
Leytenant
Mла́дший лейтена́нт
Mládshiy leytenánt
Курсант
Kursant

US equivalent[1] General of the Army General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Cadet / Officer candidate

Marshals of the branch edit

The rank of Army general was only awarded to officers of the army from the infantry branch directly, all other branches and services were promoted to the ranks of marshal and chief marshal of the branch.

Rank Chief marshal of the branch
Insignia          
Rank designation Главный маршал артиллерии
Glavnyy marshal artillerii
Главный маршал авиации
Glavnyy marshal aviatsii
Главный маршал бронетанковых войск
Glavnyy marshal bronetankovykh voysk
Главный маршал войск связи
Glavnyy marshal voysk svyazi
Главный маршал инженерных войск
Glavnyy marshal inzhenernykh voysk
Translation Chief marshal of artillery Chief marshal of aviation Chief marshal of the armoured troops Chief marshal of the signal troops Chief marshal of the engineer troops
Rank Marshal of the branch
Insignia          
Rank designation Маршал артиллерии
Marshal artillerii
Маршал авиации
Marshal aviatsii
Маршал бронетанковых войск
Marshal bronetankovykh voysk
Маршал войск связи
Marshal voysk svyazi
Маршал инженерных войск
Marshal inzhenernykh voysk
Translation Marshal of artillery Marshal of aviation Marshal of the armoured troops Marshal of the signal troops Marshal of the engineer troops

Naval officers and flag officers (all services) edit

Rank group Flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Shoulder board                          
(from 1974) (until 1974)
Sleeve insignia                        
Адмирал флота советского союза
Admiral flota sovietskogo soyuza
Адмирал флота
Admiral flota
Адмирал
Admiral
Вице-адмирал
Vitse-admiral
Контр-адмирал
Contre-admiral
Капитан 1-го ранга
Kapitan 1-go ranga
Капитан 2-го ранга
Kapitan 2-go ranga
Капитан 3-го ранга
Kapitan 3-go ranga
Капитан-лейтенант
Kapitan-leytenant
Старший лейтенант
Starshey leytenant
Лейтенант
Leytenant
Младший лейтенант
Mladshiy leytenant
Курсант
Kursant
(from 1962)

Coastal services &
shore commands
Генера́л-полко́вник
Generál-polkóvnik
Генера́л-лейтена́нт
Generál-leytenánt
Генера́л-майо́р
Generál-mayór
Полко́вник
Polkóvnik
Подполко́вник
Podpolkóvnik
Майо́р
Majór
Kапита́н
Kapitán
Старший лейтена́нт
Stárshiy leytenánt
Лейтенант
Leytenant
Mла́дший лейтена́нт
Mládshiy leytenánt
Курсант
Kursant

US equivalent[2] Fleet admiral Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Rear admiral
(lower half)
Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant
(junior grade)
Ensign Midshipman Officer Candidate

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Soper 1991, p. 740.
  2. ^ a b Soper 1991, p. 744.
  3. ^ Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, 3th[clarification needed] edition 1982, order number: 576 973 7, licence number: 433 130/182/82, volume IV, page 128-129 "Rank insignia of the Soviet Navy"

Bibliography edit

  • Barker, A. J. (1976). Soviet Army Uniforms & Insignia 1945-1975. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 0-85368-390-5.
  • Soper, Karl Wheeler (1991). "Armed Forces and Defence Organization". In Zickel, Raymond E. (ed.). Soviet Union: a country study. Area Handbook (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 695–753. LCCN 90025756. Retrieved 28 October 2021.