Russian Navy Uniform Regulations of the Russo-Turkish War

Imperial Navy Uniform Regulations (1) The naval uniform regulations of the late 19th century are quite significant as they would have influence uniform design well into the 21st century. Conventions such as the naming of uniforms No 1, No 2, etc were started during this period. The basic sailor's uniform of the twentieth century also has its origins here. More than anything this era shows the rapid movement away from the old Napoleonic style uniforms towards a more contemporary design.
Date		Naval Uniform Change
1879
	13 January	The Greek Queen Olga Konstantinova is named patron of the 2nd Naval crew. Her monogram is placed on officer's shoulder straps and epaulets. It is also decided to mark with yellow paint the letter 'O' in place of the number 2 on the shoulder straps of privates and petty officers.
	14 July	An oblong badge to be worn on the left breast is introduced for privates and petty officers of internal guard ships.
1881
	21 February	Dark blue flannel and white linen shirts and working dress are established for the privates and petty officers of the Guard's crew. On the dark blue collars and cuffs of the white shirts are to be three white narrow stripes.
1882
	1 January	All navy privates and petty officers are to wear the same dark blue flannel and white linen shirts established the previous year for Guard's crew personnel.
1885
	18 May	Shoulder straps and epaulets are abolished as marking the ranks with embroidered stars on the uniform collars is introduced. Embroidery is removed from Navy Department civil personnel, except physicians.
	18 October	Retired admirals and generals are authorized to wear shoulder straps and epaulets.
1887
	26 December	Privates and petty officers of the Black Sea and Caspian crews are granted St. George's Ribbon to be worn on the peakless caps in memory of the Sevastopol Defense during the Crimean War.
1891
	3 March	Armbands for privates and petty officers are introduced to denote naval profession.
1892
	31 March	Shoulder straps are established for naval architects and mechanical engineers.
1893
	12 June	Special regimentals are established for retired admirals, generals, and officers.
1894
	22 February	Uniform table is approved for the Naval College pupils: a dark green service cap with white edging, a cockade, and a silk ribbon with the writing 'Naval College'. The cap will have a peak for sergeants major. Also established is a white cover for the cap, a hood of camel cloth, a dark grey greatcoat with dark green tabs and white shoulder straps, a dark green uniform with trousers after the pattern of the Guard's crew.
	7 June	Uniform numbers (No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3) are established for privates and petty officers for purposes of announcing the same.
1895
	28 December	Metal badges indicating professions are introduced in conductors' uniforms and overcoat collars.

In this section we will present information regarding the Imperial Russian naval uniforms of the late 19th century. Many of these reforms would be enshrined in Russian naval tradition (such as the numbering of uniforms in 1894) and persist well past the Soviet era into the 21st century. As few relics are available from this period, we will do this by following the regulations issued to naval personnel for the wearing of uniforms during the period. As artifacts (buttons, headgear, cockades, etc) become available we will display them here.
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