Military Life
During the Late 19th Century
(1881-1899)

 

This section will feature pictures, history, stories, and other facets of military life in the Imperial Russian Army and Navy between the years 1881 and 1899. Currently we have almost nothing here, but more will be added as time permits.

 

  

Imperial Navy Officer Rank Structure

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.
     
Russian Navy Rank British Equivalent Rank Shoulder Epaulettes
Admiral
Vice Admiral
Kontr Admiral		 Admiral
Vice Admiral
Rear Admiral 

3 Tsarist eagles on gold board
2 Tsarist eagles on gold board
1 Tsarist eagle on gold board
Kaptain 1 Ranga
Kaptain 2 Ranga
Leitenant
Mitchman		 Captain
Commander
Lieutenant
Jr. Lieutenant

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

   

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.

 

 

  

  

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Autocracy in Transition