The Ranks and insignia of the Imperial Russian Armed Forces were the military ranks used by the Imperial Russian Army and the Imperial Russian Navy. Many of the ranks were derived from the German model. The ranks were abolished following the Russian Revolution, with the Red Army adopting an entirely different system.
Army ranks and rank designation
The following ranks and their respective insignia were also used by the personnel of the Imperial Russian Air Service from 1912 to 1917.
Army ranks
1698–1716
1716–1722
1722–1731
1731-1765
1765-1798
1798-1800
1800-1826
1826-1884
1884-1917
Other regiments and cadet corps
The following shoulder board insignias of the Imperial Army used by specific units and cadet corps are illustrated below:
Naval ranks and rank insignia
1696-1706
1706-1713
1713-1717
1717-1722
1722-1732
1732-1751
1751-1758
1758-1764
1764-1798
1798-1827
1827-1884
1884-1907
1907-1911
1911-1917
Sleeve insignia of the Russian Navy from 1917
By order No. 125 of the Navy Ministry of the Russian Provisional Government, from April 16, 1917, was provided:
- Abolishment of the hitherto used shoulder rank insignia.
- Abolishment of the (naval) scarf.
- Deletion of any monogram, or initial letter on weapons and equipment.
- Paint over of the cockade center on caps with red color, until availability of the peaked cap with new national emblem.
The traditional shoulder rank insignia were replaced by golden sleeve strips for naval officers, admiralty officers, and naval engineers, as well as – after completion of mandatory examinations – praporshchiks and officers of the hydrographical service.
Silver sleeve strips were introduced to officers of the admiralty staff, before completion of mandatory examinations, as well to ship engineers, officials of the naval administration and naval physicians with officer rank or status.
Both cuff insignias were used in uniforms with the executive curl.
As discrimination criteria to specific appointments or assignments additional corps colours on the lower part of sleeve stripes was determinate:
- red = ship engineers;
- raspberry coloured = naval administration;
- dark blue = hydrographical service;
- white = physicians
The table below shows examples of rank insignia of the Russian Navy, to be worn on the lower part of uniform cuffs, as to the order No. 125 of the Russian Navy Ministry from April 16, 1917.
See also
- History of Russian military ranks
- Ranks and insignia of the White Movement
- Ranks and insignia of the Red Army and Navy 1918–1935, ... 1935–1940, and ... 1940–1943
- Ranks and insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces 1943–1955 and ... 1955–1991
- Ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation's armed forces 1994–2010
References
