The No. 4 enlisted sailor uniform is the lightest of the winter uniforms.  It is centered around a heavy woolen peacoat.  The uniform was seen in during the winter and in the colder regions of the USSR.  Sailors at sea would wear this uniform as well. (5)

As with many of the enlisted naval uniforms of this period, the No 4. Uniform can trace its origin back to the 1940 No. 3 uniform. which differed only in that it possessed red stars on the sleeves and used a red star cap cockade. (1)  In 1958 the red stars on the sleeves were phased out.(2) Though there were two versions; one which wore a black visor cap and one that wore the black bezkozirka depending on it one had reenlisted or not.  The cockade would change from a red star to the M-1969 star and golden leaves that persisted until the end of the Soviet era. (1)(3)

The 1969 No. 4 uniform shown here includes a black bezkozirka with the previously mentioned 1969 cockade.  The cap band states “Pacific Fleet” which indicates the fleet that the sailor is serving with.  Cap bands exist for all four of the Soviet fleets (Baltic, Northern, Black Sea, and Pacific) as well as a general naval band and a guard’s ribbon.

Its black peacoat features two rows of six gold colored buttons.  A hook and eye closure is used to close the collar of the uniform.  Two shallow hip pockets are found near the bottom buttons.  Though not seen here, the uniform is worn over the heavyweight blue and white telnayshka.  The gold shoulder patch seen here indicates that the sailor is an extended serviceman who reenlisted after his mandatory term as a conscript sailor.

Black shoulder boards of normal length are worn with this uniform.  Naval aviation wear light blue instead and naval infantry would wear black piped with red.  Prior to 1980 these short rank boards had stenciled letters indicating the fleet that the sailor served with.  In 1980 all shoulder boards were required to be marked with a Cyrillic ‘Ф’ in yellow thermoplastic.(1)

The black trousers have a button fastener and two pockets.  Black lace up deck shoes are similar, but not exactly, to the army styles.  The uniform served until 1994 when it was replaced by a new Russian Federation pattern.

Service Chronology

The winter No. 4 uniform introduced in 1969 was a minor modification of the existing M-1958 winter No. 4 uniforms.  As with many of the naval enlisted uniforms of this era it was simplified.  The cockade on the headgear was changed and the headgear was standardized as the bezkozirka.  The uniform was widely used in the latter half of the Cold War.  It even outlived the USSR, being withdrawn in 1994 when the Russian Federation issued its first regulations regarding its new uniforms.

M-1958 Enlisted No. 4
Winter Uniform
(for NCO's and conscript sailors)