Imperial Navy Officer Rank Structure (1)

The Officer Corps of the Imperial Russian navy followed a pattern of ranks based very closely on their European counterparts.  The only real differences were those of purely nationalistic style.

For everyday wear an officer would wear shoulder boards not to different from the modern Russian style to show his rank.  These would be gold for fleet officers and silver for specialists and land based officers.
     

3 Tsarist eagles on gold board
2 Tsarist eagles on gold board
1 Tsarist eagle on gold board

Yellow board with two black stripes
As above, but with 3 stars
Yellow board, single black stripe, 3 stars
As above, but with one star

Field manuals are an essential part of military service.  Here we have a copy of the 354 page regulations for the cavalry service of 1882.  This is book two of a three volume set.  It is divided into two parts (part III and IV). 

The first part describes cavalry actions immediately prior to and during the battle: how to form up before battle, how to attack, and how to regroup.

The second part (part IV) details actions that are to be taken after the battle: how to pursue enemy cavalry, how to overrun a broken enemy, and how to reconsolidate forces following major actions.

It was printed in St. Petersburg in 1882, and is also important because it details the role of the cavalry following the its major reorganization.  With hussars and uhlans being transformed into dragoon units, the manual helps to define the new roles of these formations.

The Front Cover of an 1882 Cavalry Regulations Manual (Book 2 of 3)

Inside the 1882 Cavalry Regulations Manual

Conscription and Service

In this section we will discuss the conscription practices of the Russian army, but for now we have only a relic of that time in the form of an older military service record booklet.

The booklet is dated 1881.  In this 26 page book there is a record of a soldier's military service from when he enlisted in 1881, but also includes dates as late as 1895 and 1898.  We will include more information about it when we have time to translate it.

Earlier Period Military Life

Return to
Autocracy in Transition

Later Period Military Life