The Darkest hour of the Russian Empire 2
Chapter Four: 1939-1941
Appendix 3: Uniforms of the Imperial Army, Navy and Air Force
WAR MINISTRY OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE
UNIFORMS OF THE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL ARMY
TYPE 1939-UNIFORMS
Designed by Intendant Department of General Staff
Accepted by War minister Lavr G. Kornilov
Part I: Ranks and Insignia
Ranks of Ground Forces of the Russian Empire are based on two types of shoulder-straps - one for everyday and service uniforms and another for military and field uniforms. Officers and generals use epaulets for the parade uniform.
Ranks of Ground Forces
From the left: Ryadovoy (Private), Efreitor (Gefreiter), Mladshiy Unter-Ofitser (Juniour Sergeant), Unter-Ofitser (Sergeant), Feldfebel (Master sergeant), Podpraporschik (Jr. Warrant officer), Praporschik (Warrant officer), Podporuchik (Jr. Lieutenant), Poruchik (Leutnant), Shtabs-kapitan (Staff captain), Kapitan (Captain), Mayor (Major), Podpolkovnik (Lt. Colonel), Polkovnik (Colonel), General-Mayor (Mj. General), General-Leytenant (Lt. General), General-ot-infanterii (Army General), General-Feldmarshal (Field Marshal).
Red stripes are used for infantry,
Blue for cavalry
Black for artillery
Green for border troops
Maroon for General Staff
Some branches of military uses silver pattern instead of gold one:
Red +
Silver - Tanks
Blue +
Silver - Motorized Infantry
Light green +
Silver - Intendants
Black +
Silver - Engineers
Ranks of Navy
From the left: Matros (Seaman), Starshiy Matros (Senior Seaman), Starshina (Quartermaster), Botsmanmat (Bootsmann assistant), Botsman (Bootsmann), Starshiy Botsman (Senior Bootsmann), Michman (Midshipman), Mladshiy leytenant (Jr. Lieutenant) , Leytenant (Lieutenant), Starshiy Leytenant (Senior Lieutenant), Kapitan-leytenant (Captain-Lieutenant), Kapitan 3-go ranga (3rd rank Captain), Kapitan 2-go ranga (2nd rank Captain), Kapitan 1-go ranga (1st rank Captain), Kontr-Admiral (Rear Admiral), Vitse-Admiral (Vice Admiral), Admiral (Admiral), General-Admiral (Grand Admiral)
Imperial Navy doesn't use any different branch colours, only two patterns - golden for naval personnel and silver for engineers and mechanics.
Ranks of Air Force
From the left: Ryadovoy (Private), Efreitor (Gefreiter), Mladshiy Unter-Ofitser (Juniour Sergeant), Unter-Ofitser (Sergeant), Feldfebel (Master sergeant), Podpraporschik (Jr. Warrant officer), Praporschik (Warrant officer), Podporuchik (Jr. Lieutenant), Poruchik (Leutnant), Shtabs-kapitan (Staff captain), Kapitan (Captain), Mayor (Major), Podpolkovnik (Lt. Colonel), Polkovnik (Colonel), General-Mayor (Mj. General), General-Leytenant (Lt. General), General aviatsii (Aviation General).
In the Air Force there are no different branch colours, but aviation engineers use silver pattern of shoulder straps instead of golden one.
Part II: Summer Field and Everyday Uniforms
Uniforms of Ground Forces
Summer field and everyday uniform is divided into two classes - for junior ranks and for officers and generals. The dress consists of traditional Russian tunic (gimnasterka) with golden buttons for everyday uniforms and silver buttons for field uniforms, military cap (furazhka) or side cap (pilotka) with branch insignia colours, bridges (sharovary) with branch colours stripes and high boots (sapogi).
Summer everyday and field uniforms of the Ground forces: Everyday for soldiers and sergeants, Field for soldiers and sergeants, Everyday for officers and generals, Field for officers and generals
When the unit is involved into direct warfare, battle dress is worn. Battle dress is modified version of field uniform, with added ammunition and steel helmet (kaska).
Battle dress for soldiers/sergeants and officers
Uniforms of Navy
Imperial Navy doesn't divide uniforms into field and everyday, but uses two types of uniform - a blue one for 3 spring and autumn and a white one for summer. Seamen uniforms consists of sailor's tunic, seaman cap (beskozyrka), long trousers (kleshi) and black boots. Under the tunic seamen wear a special shirt with stripes (telnyashka). Officers and admirals use blue or white jacket with high collar and four pockets. With everyday uniforms only blue trousers are used.
Naval everyday uniforms: Blue for seamen, white for seamen, blue for officers, white for officers
Uniforms of the Air Force
Air Force wear the same uniforms with Ground forces, but with different color scheme - blue tunics and light-blue shoulder straps.
Air Force uniforms: everyday for soldiers/sergeants, field for soldiers/sergeants, everyday for officers/generals, field for officers/generals
Part III: Service uniforms
Service uniforms are used for official duty, wearing in barracks and on a spare time. Service uniforms is more official then field/everyday. There are usually worn mainly by the officers.
Uniforms of Ground Forces
Service uniforms of Ground forces: Official for soldiers/sergeants, barracks dress for soldiers/sergeants, official for officers/generals, barracks dress for officers/generals.
Service uniforms consist of jackets with 4 pockets, bridges and high boots. Both military caps and side caps are used. One type of service uniforms is used for official duties, while the other is for barracks wearing.
Uniforms of Air Force
Service uniforms of Air Forces: Official for soldiers/sergeants, barracks dress for soldiers/sergeants, official for officers/generals, barracks dress for officers/generals.
For soldiers and sergeants of the Air Force uniforms are the same with ground forces, while officers and generals wear a open-collar jacket with white shirt and black tie together with military cap or side cap.
Uniforms of the Navy
Service uniforms of Navy: Blue for seamen, white for seamen, blue for officers/admirals, white dress for officers/admirals
Seamen wear the same tunics, but with different color scheme of collars and trousers, also a different type of sailor cap is used - cockade is higher, while on the ribbon the name of the ship is typed (Here it's "Varyag"). Officers and generals wear open jackets with two rows of buttons, white shirt and tie. The color of trousers is the same with the color of jackets.
Part IV: Special Uniforms
Ground Forces
Tank troops uniforms - the last one is only for in-tank use
In the Ground forces only tank troops have their own uniform - a black one with silver pattern of buttons. Together with these uniforms (which are basically the same with usual uniforms, but black) tank troops wear special tank smock with a leather helmet (shlemofon).
Air Forces
Flying uniforms
Pilots use special flying suits - when the temperature is not critical, they wear special leather jacket, which can be worn with official cap and shirt&tie, while in the aircraft pilots will use pilot helmet and a scarf. For winter or high-scale raids pilots use special pilot overalls suit with fur details.
Part V: Winter uniforms
Winter uniforms are based on great coat (shinel), fur hat (ushanka) and other types of warm cloths. All three branches of military use the same design of winter uniforms.
Winter uniforms of ground forces - soldiers/sergeants, officers, generals
Winter uniforms of air forces - soldiers/sergeants, officers, generals
Winter uniforms of navy - seamen, officers, admirals
Part VI: Parade and ceremonial dress
Design of parade dress is based on traditional Russian Imperial uniforms of XIX-century and includes old-fashioned coat, epauletes (three different types for junior officers, senior officers and generals), military cap and high boots (or boots with trousers in the navy)
Parade dress of ground forces
Parade dress of tank troops
Parade dress of air forces
Parade dress of navy
To be continued
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Next update: January, 27
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