Featured in this section are the shoulder rank boards worn by the Soviet naval services after the 1969 regulations were adopted, this also including the naval infantry, coastal artillery, and naval aviation <1>.  The boards currently cover ranks from seaman to general grade officers spread across two pages.  This first page displays officers from junior lieutenant to admiral.  Admiral of the Fleet boards have not been included as there are many reproductions and originals are very difficult to obtain.  Other than that major exception, but representations of virtually every type of board is shown.  Enlisted ranks and warrant officers are on the following page. (Note on insignia colors)

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The Soviet Superpower

1958 Pattern

1969 Pattern

• General Grade Officer
• Senior Officer
• Junior Officer

Shirt Sleeve Boards (6-sided)

• General Grade Officer
• Senior Officers
• Junior Officers

Enlisted Boards

• Enlisted Sailor Boards
   

Enlisted "Short" Boards

• Enlisted Sailor Short Boards

• General Grade Officer
• Senior Officer
• Junior Officer

Shirt Sleeve Boards (6-sided)

• General Grade Officer
• Senior Officers
• Junior Officers
   

• Warrant Officer
  (Michman/Praporchik)

Shirt Sleeve Boards
(6-sided)

• Warrant Officer
  (Michman/Praporchik)

Enlisted Boards

• Enlisted Fleet Boards
• Branch of Service Color
• Enlisted Sailor Boards
  (four sided)

Enlisted "Short" Boards

• Enlisted Sailor Short Boards

Note on Insignia Colors

Officers serving in the Soviet Navy used both gold and silver insignia on their shoulder boards, headgear, and uniforms.  This served to differentiate officers serving in line (operational) positions and those serving in technical fields (such as the intendant service, engineering-technical occupations, justice, medical, veterinary, or the administration branch).<2>

All line officers wore gold insignia while all other officers wore silver insignia.  This extended to stars on shoulder boards, cockades on headgear, and even buttons on uniforms.

These color distinctions date back to the late Tsarist period, but were abolished for a time after the revolution.  They returned by at least 1935 and would be used officially until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, although they continued to be used in an unofficial capacity well into the 1990's.

Line Officer Insignia

Technical/Administrative Officer Insignia

In this section the rank boards of conscript sailors and enlisted extended service personnel of the Soviet naval services.  These boards continue the Soviet tradition of designating each branch by different colors.  Fleet services use black boards, naval aviation use light blue, while the naval infantry use black with red piping.

Prior to 1980 the fleet boards of soldiers and sailors were marked with yellow two letter abbreviations of the fleet from which the sailor served.  The design of the letters often differed due to manufacturer variations, some even look as if they were applied with stencils at the unit level.  Rank stripes (also in yellow) were added above the letters as the soldier rose in rank.

Fleet