Ranks of the Soviet Armed Forces 1955–1992

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article or the following section is not adequately provided with supporting documents ( e.g. individual evidence ). Information without sufficient evidence could be removed soon. Please help Wikipedia by researching the information and including good evidence.

After the reintroduction of epaulets and shoulder boards in the period 1943 to 1955, there were further fundamental changes in the Soviet Army and the other armed forces of the USSR with regard to ranks , badges of distinction and uniforms in the period 1955 to 1991 .

Changes to distinction badges

Shoulder boards field use

In December 1956, the colored piping on the edges of the officers' epaulets was changed. Instead of the system used previously Bordeaux color for commanders and officers with executive functions or cinnamon color / Brown for all other officers, the use thereof has been arms color features.

  • Motorized & Mechanized Riflemen - Raspberry Colors
  • Artillery & Armored Forces - Black, Red
  • Air Force / Aviation - Blue
  • Technical troops of all kinds -

Crews, NCOs and Ensigns (Praporschtschik / Mitschman)

Teams NCOs Ensigns (Praporschtschiks)
Epaulets for
service uniform
basic form
(army) 		Rank insignia of рядовой of the Soviet Army.svg Rank insignia of ефрейтор of the Soviet Army.svg Rank insignia of младший сержант of the Soviet Army.svg Rank insignia of сержант of the Soviet Army.svg Rank insignia of старший сержант of the Soviet Army.svg SA A-inf R8FirstSg 1963v.svg Rank insignia of старшина 2 of the Soviet Army.svg Rank insignia of прапорщик of the Soviet Army.svg Rank insignia of старший прапорщик of the Soviet Army.svg
Epaulets for
service uniform
basic form
(air force) 		Rank insignia of рядовой of the Soviet Air Force.svg Rank insignia of ефрейтор of the Soviet Air Force.svg Rank insignia of младший сержант of the Soviet Air Force.svg Rank insignia of сержант of the Soviet Air Force.svg Rank insignia of старший сержант of the Soviet Air Force.svg BSA A-inf R8FirstSg 1963v.svg Старшина 2 of the Soviet Army.svg Rank insignia of прапорщик of the Soviet Air Force.svg Rank insignia of старший прапорщик of the Soviet Air Force.svg
Rank designation Soldier
(Ryadovoi) 		Private
(Jefreitor) 		NCO
(Mladschi serschant) 		Sergeant
(Serschant) 		Sergeant Major
(Starschi serschant) 		until 1963
Staff Sergeant
(Starschina) 		from 1964
Staff Sergeant
(Starschina) 		from 1971
Praporschtschik
(Praporschtschik) 		from 1981
Oberpraporschtschik
(Starschi praporschtschik)
Teams Boatmen Ensign (Mitschman)
Epaulets for the basic form of the
service uniform
 Rank insignia of матрос of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of старший матрос of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of старшина 2-й статьи of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of старшина 1-й статьи of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of главный старшина of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of главный корабельный старшина of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of главный корабельный старшина 2 of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of мичман of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of старший мичман of the Soviet Navy.svg
Rank designation Sailor ( sailor
, flot) 		Seaman
(Star ski matros, Flot) 		Maat
(Starschina
2 statji) 		Boatswain

(Starschina
1 statji) 		Chief
Boatswain (Glawny starschina) 		Mitschman
(until 1963)
(Mitschman) 		Mitschman (1963–1971)
(Mitschman)
Stabsbootsmann
(from 1971)
(Glawny korabelny starschina) 		Mitschman
(from 1971)
(Mitschman) 		Obermitschman
(from 1981)
(Starschi mitschman)
NATO rank code OR-1 OR-2 OR-5 OR-6 OF-7 OR-8 WO-1 WO-2

Letter codes from 1972:

  1. The letters CA on the Army shoulder boards OR1 to OR7 stood for "Советская Аpмия" and symbolized membership of the Soviet Army .
  2. The letters printed on the marine epaulettes OR1 to OR7 symbolized the affiliation to the respective large fleet.
  3. More letter symbols
    • BB - Interior Ministry troops (Wnutrennie woiska)
    • ВМУ - (Военно-музыкальное Училище Vojenno -musykalnoje Uchilishche ) - pupil or student of a military music school or cadet of a military band
    • ВС - (Вооружённые Силы, Wooruschonnye Sily ) - armed forces (Soviet Army, later armed forces of the USSR)
    • ГБ - (КГБ, KGB ) - KGB
    • К - (Курсант, cadet ) - cadet
    • H - (Нахимовец, Nachimowez ) - midshipman at a Nakhimov School
    • ПВ - (Пограничные войска, Pogranichnye woiska ) - border troops
    • СШ - (Cпециальная школа, Spezialnaja schkola ) - special school
    • СВУ - (Суворовец, Suvorovets ) - cadet student at a Suvorov school

Officers, generals and flag officers

designation Lieutenant Captains Staff officers Senior Commanders & Commanders
Shoulder piece
for
parade uniform
land forces
(army) 		RAF A F1-3SubLt since 2010 par.svg RAF A F1-2Lt since 2010 par.svg RAF A F1FstLt since 2010 par.svg RAF A F2Capt since 2010 par.svg RAF A F3Major since 2010par.svg RAF A F4LtCol since 2010 par.svg RAF A F5Col since 2010 par.svg RAF A F6MajGen since 2010 par.svg RAF A F7LtGen since 2010 par.svg 1955arm-tu03.svg RAF A F9GenArmy until 1974.svg RAF A F9GenArmy 1974-1991.png Rank insignia of маршал Советского Союза.svg
Air Force Rank insignia of младший лейтенант of the Soviet Air Force.svg RAF AF F1-2Lt since 2010 par.svg RAF AF F1FstLt since 2010 par.svg RAF AF F2Capt since 2010 par.svg Rank insignia of майор of the Soviet Air Force.svg RAF AF F4LtCol since 2010 par.svg RAF AF F5Col since 2010 par.svg RAF AF F6MajGen since 2010parade.svg RAF AF F7LtGen since 2010 par.svg 1955 avi-tu03.svg
Rank designation Sub-lieutenant
(Mladschi chief) 		Lieutenant
(Leitenant) 		First lieutenant
(Starschi chief) 		Captain
(captain) 		Major
(major) 		Lieutenant Colonel
(Podpolkownik) 		Colonel
(Polkownik) 		Major
general 		Lieutenant General
(General Manager) 		Colonel General
(General-polkownik) 		Army General
until 1974 | after 1974
(General armii) 		Marshal of the Soviet Union
(Marshal Sowjetskogo Soyusa)
designation Lieutenant Captains Staff officers Flag officers & commanders
Shoulder piece
for the naval war
fleet parade uniform
 RAF N F1-3SubLt since 2010 par.svg RAF N F1-2Lt since 2010 par.svg RAF N F1FstLt since 2010 par.svg RAF N F2CaptLt since 2010 par.svg RAF N F3LtCom since 2010 par.svg RAF N F4Com since 2010 par.svg RAF N F5CaptNavy since 2010 par.svg RAF N F6RearAdm since 2010par.svg RAF N F7VicAdm since 2010 par.svg RAF N F8Adm since 2010 par.svg RAF N F9 AdmirFleet 1943-1955 par.svg RAF N F9AdmirFleet 1962-94.png RAF N F10AdmFleetSU 1955-1991.svg
Sleeve badge USSR Navy 1943-1991 OF1c insignia.svg USSR Navy 1943-1991 OF1b insignia.svg USSR Navy 1943-1991 OF1a insignia.svg USSR Navy 1943-1991 OF2 insignia.svg USSR Navy 1943 OF3 insignia.svg USSR Navy 1943 OF4 insignia.svg USSR Navy 1943 OF5 insignia.svg USSR Navy 1943 OF6 insignia.svg USSR Navy 1943 OF7 insignia.svg USSR Navy 1943-1991 OF8 insignia.svg USSR Navy 1955-1991 OF9 insignia.svg USSR Navy 1962-1992 OF10 insignia.svg
Rank designation Sub-lieutenant
(Mladschi chief) 		Lieutenant
(Leitenant) 		First lieutenant
(Starschi chief) 		Captainleutnant
(captain-chief) 		Corvette Captain
(Kapitan 3-go ranga) 		Frigate Captain
(Kapitan 2-go ranga) 		Captain of the Sea
(Kapitan 1-go ranga) 		Konteradmiral
(Contr Admiral) 		Vice admiral
(wize admiral) 		Admiral
(admiral) 		Fleet Admiral
(1943–1955) | (1962–1994)
(Admiral flota) 		Fleet Admiral of the Soviet Union
(1955–1991)
(Admiral flota Sowetskowo Sojusa)
NATO rank code OF-1 OF-2 OF-3 OF-4 OF-5 OF-6 OF-7 OF-8 OF-9 OF-10

Note:
The abbreviation “OF” used in NATO stands for “ English officer / French officier / German  officer / Russian офицер ” .

Description of sleeve rank insignia:

  • OF1c - Second lieutenant: Officer's star (gold-colored small), one stripe wide (gold-colored)
  • OF1b - Lieutenant: Officer's star, one strip narrow (gold-colored), one strip wide
  • OF1a - First Lieutenant: Officer's star, two stripes wide
  • OF2 - Kapitänleutnant: Officer's star, one stripe narrow, two stripes wide
  • OF3 - Corvette Captain: Officer's star, three stripes wide
  • OF4 - Frigate Captain: Officer's star, four stripes wide
  • OF5 - Captain of the Sea: Officer's star, Admiral base stripe (very wide, gold-colored)
  • OF6 - Rear Admiral: Admiral's star (gold embroidery, with hammer & sickle state emblem in the center), Admiral base stripe, one stripe wide
  • OF7 - Vice Admiral: Admiral's star, Admiral base stripe, two stripes wide
  • OF8 - Admiral: Admiral star, Admiral base stripe, three stripes wide
  • OF9 - Fleet Admiral: Marschallstern (gold embroidery, without state emblem), Admiral base stripe, three stripes wide, one narrow stripe
  • OF10 - Fleet Admiral of the Soviet Union: Marshal star with oak leaf wreath open approx. 20 ° at the top, Admiral base strip, four strips wide


Top ranks

Marshals and Commander in Chief of the Soviet Armed Forces
Shoulder piece
for the
parade uniform 		SA A-artil F9Mars 1974v.png SA AF F9Mars 1974v.svg SA A-armor F9Mars 1974v.png SA A-sign F9Mars 1974v.png SA A-engin F9Mars 1974v.png SA A-artil F9ChiefMars 1974v.png SA AF F9ChiefMars 1974 v.svg SA A-armor F9ChiefMars 1974v.png SA A-sign F9ChiefMars 1974v.png SA A-engin F9ChiefMars 1974v.png Rank insignia of маршал Советского Союза.svg Rank insignia of генералиссимус Советского Союза.svg
Rank designation Marshal of the branch of service Main Marshal of the branch of service Marshal of
the Soviet Union 		Generalissimo of
the Soviet Union
(unconfirmed project)
NATO rank code OF-9 OF-10
Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Navy
Shoulder piece
for the
parade uniform 		- - RAF N F10AdmFleetSU 1955-1991.svg -
Rank designation - - Fleet Admiral of
the Soviet Union
(1955–1991) 		-
NATO rank code OF-10

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The abbreviation “OR” used in NATO stands for “ English Other Ranks / French sous-officiers et militaires du rang / German  other ranks, officers excluded / Russian другие ранги, кроме офицеров ” .
  2. ↑ MEYERS UNIVERSALLEXIKON, 3rd edition 1982, order no .: 5769737, license no. 433130/182/82, Volume IV, page 129
  3. ↑ Marshal of the Pioneer Troops (right) - shoulder piece with emblem, made from 1955.
  4. ↑ Chief Marshal of the Pioneer Troops (right) - shoulder piece with emblem in the version from 1955.