# 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.

## 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:
* 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.

### Non-commissioned officers and enlisted men

| Rank group | Warrant officers | Warrant officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Enlisted men | 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 | Старшина́ Starshyná | Ста́рший сержа́нт Stárshiy serzhánt | Сержа́нт Serzhánt | Мла́дший сержа́нт Mládshiy serzhánt | Ефре́йтор Efréĭtor | Рядово́й Ryadovóy |
| US equivalent | Chief warrant officer | Warrant officer | Command sergeant major | 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).

### 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.
| Rank | Chief marshal of the branch | Chief marshal of the branch | Chief marshal of the branch | Chief marshal of the branch | 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 | Marshal of the branch | Marshal of the branch | Marshal of the branch | 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 |

#### Army officers and generals (all services)

| Rank group | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers |
| Shoulder boards (Ground forces) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shoulder boards (Technical forces) | | | See above | See above | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shoulder boards (Air force) | | | See above | See above | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | (from 1974) | (until 1974) |
| | Маршал советского союза Márshal sovetskogo soyuza | Маршал советского союза Márshal sovetskogo soyuza | Генера́л а́рмии Generál ármii | Генера́л а́рмии Generál ármii | Генера́л-полко́вник Generál-polkóvnik | Генера́л-полко́вник Generál-polkóvnik | Генера́л-лейтена́нт Generál-leytenánt | Генера́л-лейтена́нт Generál-leytenánt | Генера́л-майо́р Generál-mayór | Генера́л-майо́р Generál-mayór | Полко́вник Polkóvnik | Полко́вник Polkóvnik | Подполко́вник Podpolkóvnik | Подполко́вник Podpolkóvnik | Майо́р Majór | Майо́р Majór | Kапита́н Kapitán | Kапита́н Kapitán | Старший лейтена́нт Stárshiy leytenánt | Старший лейтена́нт Stárshiy leytenánt | Лейтенант Leytenant | Лейтенант Leytenant | Mла́дший лейтена́нт Mládshiy leytenánt | Mла́дший лейтена́нт Mládshiy leytenánt |
| US equivalent | General of the Army | General of the Army | General | General | Lieutenant general | Lieutenant general | Major general | Major general | Brigadier general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Major | Captain | Captain | First lieutenant | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant |

#### Student officers

| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |
| Parade uniform |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Army | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Air force | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Курсант старшина́ Kursánt starshyná | Курсант старшина́ Kursánt starshyná | Курсант ста́рший сержа́нт Kursánt stárshiy serzhánt | Курсант ста́рший сержа́нт Kursánt stárshiy serzhánt | Курсант сержа́нт Kursánt serzhánt | Курсант сержа́нт Kursánt serzhánt | Курсант сержа́нт Kursánt serzhánt | Курсант сержа́нт Kursánt serzhánt | Курсант сержа́нт Kursánt serzhánt | Курсант сержа́нт Kursánt serzhánt | Курсант мла́дший сержа́нт Kursánt mládshiy serzhánt | Курсант мла́дший сержа́нт Kursánt mládshiy serzhánt | Курсант мла́дший сержа́нт Kursánt mládshiy serzhánt | Курсант мла́дший сержа́нт Kursánt mládshiy serzhánt | Курсант мла́дший сержа́нт Kursánt mládshiy serzhánt | Курсант мла́дший сержа́нт Kursánt mládshiy serzhánt | Курсант ефре́йтор Kursánt efréĭtor | Курсант ефре́йтор Kursánt efréĭtor | Курсант ефре́йтор Kursánt efréĭtor | Курсант ефре́йтор Kursánt efréĭtor | Курсант Kursánt | Курсант Kursánt | Курсант Kursánt | Курсант Kursánt | Курсант Kursánt | Курсант Kursánt | Курсант Kursánt | Курсант Kursánt | Курсант Kursánt | Курсант Kursánt |
| Translation | Cadet sergeant major | Cadet sergeant major | Cadet senior sergeant | Cadet senior sergeant | Cadet sergeant | Cadet sergeant | Cadet sergeant | Cadet sergeant | Cadet sergeant | Cadet sergeant | Cadet junior sergeant | Cadet junior sergeant | Cadet junior sergeant | Cadet junior sergeant | Cadet junior sergeant | Cadet junior sergeant | Cadet first class | Cadet first class | Cadet first class | Cadet first class | Cadet | Cadet | Cadet | Cadet | Cadet | Cadet | Cadet | Cadet | Cadet | Cadet |

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

| Rank group | Warrant officers | Warrant officers | Boatswain/petty officers | Boatswain/petty officers | Boatswain/petty officers | Boatswain/petty officers | Boatswain/petty officers | Enlisted men | 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 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) | (Michman until 1971) |
| Coastal services & shore commands | Ста́рший пра́порщик Stárshiy práporshchik | Пра́порщик Práporshchyk | Старшина́ Starshyná | Старшина́ Starshyná | Ста́рший сержа́нт Stárshiy serzhánt | Сержа́нт Serzhánt | Мла́дший сержа́нт Mládshiy serzhánt | Старший матрос Starshina matros | Матрос Matros |
| US equivalent | Chief warrant officer | Warrant officer | Fleet/force master chief petty 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

* The letter imprint "СА" on army shoulder boards stood for Советская Аpмия (Sovetskaya Armiya) and was the symbol of adherence to the Soviet Army.
* The letter imprint on Soviet navy shoulder boards symbolised the adherence to the appropriate fleet or naval major command.
** Ф – Fleet (Russian: Флот, romanized: Flot), general personnel of the Navy
** БФ – Baltic Fleet (Russian: Балтийский Флот, romanized: Baltiski flot)
** ЧМ – Black Sea Fleet (Russian: Черноморский Флот, romanized: Chernomorski flot)
** СФ – Northern Fleet (Russian: Северный Флот, romanized: Severny flot)
** ТФ – Pacific Fleet (Russian: Тихоокеанский Флот, romanized: Tikhookeanski flot)
* Other letter symbols
** ВВ – (Russian: Внутренние Войска, romanized: Vnutrennie voiska) – Internal Troops
** ВМУ – (Russian: Военно-музыкальное Училище, romanized: Voyenno-musykalnoye Utchilishche) – students of military musician schools or cadets of military bands
* ВС – (Russian: Вооружённые Силы, romanized: Voorushonnye Sily) – armed forces (Soviet Army, later USSR armed forces, also Armed forces of the USSR)
* ГБ – (Russian: Госуда́рственной Безопа́сности, romanized: Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti) – Committee for State Security (KGB)
* К – (Russian: Курсант, romanized: Kursant) – higher military college student
* Н – (Russian: Нахимовец, romanized: Nakhimovez) – cadet in the Nakhimov Naval School
* ПВ – (Russian: Пограничные войска, romanized: Pogranitshnye voiska) – border troops
* СШ – (Russian: Cпециальная школа, romanized: Spezialnaya shkola) – special school
* СВУ – (Russian: Суворовец, romanized: Suvorovez) – cadet at a Suvorov Military School

### Naval officers and flag officers (all services)

| Rank group | Flag officers | Flag officers | Flag officers | Flag officers | Flag officers | Flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers |
| Shoulder board | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | (from 1974) | (until 1974) |
| Sleeve insignia | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Адмирал флота советского союза Admiral flota sovietskogo soyuza | Адмирал флота Admiral flota | 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) | (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 | Fleet admiral | Admiral | Admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Rear admiral (lower half) | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Ensign | Midshipman |