Navy Service Patches
of the Late Soviet Period
 (1979-1991)
 

   

This section covers some of the patches that were worn by members of the Soviet Navy during the last twelve years of the Cold War when it challenged the NATO alliance in every ocean of the world.

The last changes to uniform patch regulation were made during these years.  The largest of which were in 1988 with Prikaz #250.  This order introduced the naval aviation patch along with other smaller changes.

Our selection of patches, stripes, and chevrons we have to view are listed below in order of their establishment.

Back to Badges and Patches of the
Late Soviet Era

 

 

Aviation Specialty Patches (1988)

The 1988 regulations, known as Prikaz #250 introduced new patches for the enlisted men and michmen who served in the aviation field.  Like the other patches of the era, these are made of thermally molded plastic.

The patches came in two colors.  The red patches were worn by conscript sailors, while the yellow bordered patches were worn by extended servicemen and officer cadets.

 Conscript Patch

Extended Service Patch

 

 

Length of Service Chevrons (1988)

On 4 March 1988 the new Uniform Regulations were introduced by the Soviet Ministry of Defense.  This decree was known as Order #250, and mandated that the length of service stripes worn by warrant officers since 1971 would now be worn by enlisted extended servicemen as well.  They would be worn on the left sleeve 16mm above the lower cuff edge on both the tunic and the greatcoat. 

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Three Years of Service

Ten Years of Service

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Two Years of Service

 Five Years of Service

One Year of Service

Four Years of Service

 

 

Cadet Chevrons

Another change of the March 1988 regulations was the introduction of new white officer cadet insignia for the summer uniform.  All denoted the year of the program that the cadet was participating in.  These would be worn on the upper left sleeve and take the form of yellow plastic chevrons under a single star.  The gold on black insignia remained unchanged.
  Summer (March 1988) Winter
Fifth Year Cadet Chevron
Fourth Year Cadet Chevron (Coming Soon)
Third Year Cadet Chevron  

(Coming Soon)

 

  

(Coming Soon)

 
Second Year Cadet Chevron
First Year Cadet Chevron

 

 

Conscript Length of Service Stripes (1974)

These yellow service stripes were introduced in 1974 to show the number of years a conscript soldier had served.  Each stripe denoted one year of service and were worn 20 centimeters from the high shoulder point of the right sleeve of the greatcoat.  They measured 80mm by 10mm and were made of thermally molded plastic and cloth.  These stripes were abolished in 1982 in a move against 'unofficial regulations'.
Third Year of Conscript Service

Second Year of Conscript Service

First Year of Conscript Service

 

 

Michman/Praporchik Length of Service Chevrons (1971)

In 1971 the Soviet Defense Ministry created the rank of michman and praporchik (warrant officer) for the Soviet Navy in an effort to develop a class of skilled extended servicemen.  It was decreed that these would wear length of service chevrons to show how long they had served.  These were worn on the left sleeve 16mm above the lower cuff edge on both the tunic and the greatcoat.  These were made of thermally molded plastic.

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Three Years of Service

Ten Years of Service

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Two Years of Service

 Five Years of Service

One Year of Service

Four Years of Service

 

 

Naval Military Specialty Patches

In 1969 the a new series of service patches were issued for enlisted men (and later warrant officers) of the Soviet Navy.  The symbols on the patches were quite similar to those used in earlier Soviet uniforms, but the new patches would be made of thermally molded plastic rather than being embroidered.

The patches below denoted the military specialty of the sailor who wore them.  They came in two colors.  The red patches were worn by conscript sailors, while the yellow bordered patches were worn by extended servicemen and officer cadets.
Military Specialty Conscript Patch

Extended Service Patch

Naval Artillery

Torpedoes

Boatswain

Signals
Engineering

Navigation

Naval Infantry

     

        

Wound Stripes

These small 40mm long stripes were awarded to those who had suffered wounds in action.  They came in two variants: Red for light wounds and Yellow for serious wounds.  Naval versions of these stripes are all on dark blue backgrounds.  They were worn on the right side of the uniform above the pocket and decorations.

 

Light Wound Stripe Heavy Wound Stripe

Third Wound

Second Wound
First Wound

 

Works Cited

(1) Stepanov, A., Нарукавных Знаки Вооруженных Сил СССР.  1920-1991 (1), Moscow: Zeughaus, 1999. Print.

(2) Prilutskaya, N. V. and N. L. Kortunova, ВОЕННАЯ ОДЕЖДА ВООРУЖЕННЫХ СИЛ СССР И РОССИИ (1917-1990), Moscow: Military Publishing, 1999. Print.