Military ranks of the Soviet Union (1955–1991)

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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.

Contents

Army and air forces

Shoulder straps to field utilization

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:

The regimental numberings of the 1943 system were removed altogether.

Non-commissioned officers and enlisted men

Rank groupWarrant officersNon-commissioned officersEnlisted men
Shoulder boards
(motorized infantry troops)
Rank insignia of starshii praporshchik of the Soviet Army.svg Rank insignia of praporshchik of the Soviet Army.svg Rank insignia of starshina 2 of the Soviet Army.svg SA A-inf R8FirstSg 1963v.svg Rank insignia of starshii serzhant of the Soviet Army.svg Rank insignia of serzhant of the Soviet Army.svg Rank insignia of mladshii serzhant of the Soviet Army.svg Rank insignia of efreitor of the Soviet Army.svg Rank insignia of riadovoi of the Soviet Army.svg
Shoulder boards
(artillery, rocket, tank, engineering, construction,
automobile, railway troops, signal-corps,
troops of radiation, chemical and biological protection)
Rank insignia of starshii michman of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of michman of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of glavnyi korabel'nyi starshina 2 of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of glavnyi korabel'nyi starshina of the Soviet Navy.svg Starshii serzhant sa chernyi.svg Serzhant sa chernyi.svg Mlashii serzhant sa chernyi.svg Efreitor sa chernyi.svg Riadovoi sa chernyi.svg
Shoulder boards
(air force & aviation)
Rank insignia of starshii praporshchik of the Soviet Air Force.svg Rank insignia of praporshchik of the Soviet Air Force.svg Starshina 2 of the Soviet Army.svg BSA A-inf R8FirstSg 1963v.svg Rank insignia of starshii serzhant of the Soviet Air Force.svg Rank insignia of serzhant of the Soviet Air Force.svg Rank insignia of mladshii serzhant of the Soviet Air Force.svg Rank insignia of efreitor of the Soviet Air Force.svg Rank insignia of riadovoi of the Soviet Air Force.svg
(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:

Officers

Marshals of the branch

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 (equivalents, respectively, to the ranks of Army general and Marshal of the Soviet Union [2] ).

Rank Chief marshal of the branch
Insignia SA A-artil F9ChiefMars 1974A.png SA AF F9ChiefMars 1974 v.svg SA A-armour F9ChiefMars 1974A.png SA A-sign F9ChiefMars 1974A.png SA A-engin F9ChiefMars 1974A.png
Rank designationГлавный 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
TranslationChief marshal of artilleryChief marshal of aviationChief marshal of the armoured troopsChief marshal of the signal troopsChief marshal of the engineer troops
Rank Marshal of the branch
Insignia SA A-artil F9Mars 1974v.png SA AF F9Mars 1974v.svg SA A-armour F9Mars 1974v.png SA A-sign F9Mars 1974v.png SA A-engin F9Mars 1974v.png
Rank designationМаршал 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
TranslationMarshal of artilleryMarshal of aviationMarshal of the armoured troopsMarshal of the signal troopsMarshal of the engineer troops

Army officers and generals (all services)

Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officers
Shoulder boards
(Ground forces)
Rank insignia of marshal Sovetskogo Soiuza.svg RAF A F9GenArmy 1974-1991.png Rank insignia of general armii.svg RAF A F8ColGen since 2010par.svg RAF A F7LtGen since 2010par.svg RAF A F6MajGen since 2010par.svg RAF A F5Col since 2010par.svg RAF A F4LtCol since 2010par.svg RAF A F3Major since 2010par.svg RAF A F2Capt since 2010par.svg RAF A F1FstLt since 2010par.svg RAF A F1-2Lt since 2010par.svg RAF A F1-3SubLt since 2010par.svg
Shoulder boards
(Technical forces)
See above 1958ing-03.png 1958ing-04.png 1958ing-05.png 1958ing-06.png 1958ing-07.png 1958ing-08.png 1958ing-09.png 1958ing-10.png 1958ing-11.png 1958ing-12.png
Shoulder boards
(Air force)
RAF AF F8ColGen since 2010par.svg RAF AF F7LtGen since 2010par.svg Rank insignia of general-maior of the Soviet Air Force.svg RAF AF F5Col since 2010par.svg RAF AF F4LtCol since 2010par.svg Rank insignia of maior of the Soviet Air Force.svg RAF AF F2Capt since 2010par.svg RAF AF F1FstLt since 2010par.svg RAF AF F1-2Lt since 2010par.svg Rank insignia of mladshii leitenant of the Soviet Air Force.svg
(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

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

Student officers

Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted
Parade uniform
Army Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg
Air force Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg
Курсант старшина́
Kursánt starshyná
Курсант ста́рший сержа́нт
Kursánt stárshiy serzhánt
Курсант сержа́нт
Kursánt serzhánt
Курсант мла́дший сержа́нт
Kursánt mládshiy serzhánt
Курсант ефре́йтор
Kursánt efréĭtor
Курсант
Kursánt

TranslationCadet sergeant major Cadet senior sergeant Cadet sergeant Cadet junior sergeant Cadet first classCadet

Ratings of the Navy, coastal services and other shore commands

Rank groupWarrant officersBoatswain/petty officersEnlisted men
Shoulder boards Rank insignia of starshii michman of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of michman of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of glavnyi korabel'nyi starshina 2 of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of glavnyi korabel'nyi starshina of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of glavnyi starshina of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of starshina 1-i stat'i of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of starshina 2-i stat'i of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of starshii matros of the Soviet Navy.svg Rank insignia of matros of the Soviet Navy.svg
(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 [3] 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

Rank groupFlag officersSenior officersJunior officers
Shoulder board Rank insignia of admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soiuza.svg RAF N F9AdmirFleet 1962-94 Vertical.svg RAF N F9AdmirFleet 1943-1955par.svg Rank insignia of admiral of the Soviet Navy.svg RAF N F7VicAdm since 2010par.svg RAF N F6RearAdm since 2010par.svg RAF N F5CaptNavy since 2010par.svg RAF N F4Com since 2010par.svg RAF N F3LtCom since 2010par.svg RAF N F2CaptLt since 2010par.svg RAF N F1FstLt since 2010par.svg RAF N F1-2Lt since 2010par.svg RAF N F1-3SubLt since 2010par.svg
(from 1974)(until 1974)
Sleeve insignia UdSSR Navy 1962-1992 OF10 insignia.svg UdSSR Navy 1955-1991 OF9 insignia.svg UdSSR Navy 1943-1991 OF8 insignia.svg UdSSR Navy 1943 OF7 insignia.svg UdSSR Navy 1955-1991 OF6 insignia.svg UdSSR Navy 1955-1991 OF5 insignia.svg UdSSR Navy 1955-1991 OF4 insignia.svg UdSSR Navy 1955-1991 OF3 insignia.svg UdSSR Navy 1955-1991 OF2 insignia.svg UdSSR Navy 1955-1991 OF1a insignia.svg UdSSR Navy 1955-1991 OF1b insignia.svg UdSSR Navy 1943-1991 OF1c insignia.svg
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
(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

US equivalent [3] Fleet admiral Admiral Vice admiral Rear admiral Rear admiral
(lower half)
Captain Commander Lieutenant commander Lieutenant Lieutenant
(junior grade)
Ensign Midshipman

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Soper 1991, p. 740.
  2. Bol'shaya Sovetskaya Entsiklopediya. Tret'ye izdaniye [Great Soviet Encyclopedia. Third edition] (in Russian). Vol. 6. Moscow, USSR: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1971. p. 575.
  3. 1 2 Soper 1991, p. 744.
  4. 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