Naval Uniforms
of the Soviet Superpower
(1960 - 1978)


In this section you will find the uniforms worn by the Soviet navy between 1960 and 1979.  This period was arguably the height of Soviet power as the Soviet navy challenged the NATO alliance around the world.  Their naval vessels were constantly monitored and photographed as Soviet officers and sailors made journeys to Cuba, Socotra, India, and Vietnam.

The uniforms of this period began with the remnants of the 1958 uniform order, which had modified many officer's uniforms away from their Patriotic War patterns.  Enlisted sailors and the naval infantry would have their uniforms revised in 1963 under USSR Ministry of Defense Order #248.  Tropical uniforms were introduced in 1965 in response to the Soviet navy calling on ports in warm climates.

Yet the greatest change of the era took place on 26 June, 1969 with the Presidium of the Soviet Union issued Decree No. 4024-VII which completely redesigned the uniforms of the Soviet Army and Navy.  Only a very few special purpose uniforms designed for specific tasks escaped the effects of the order.


A decorated Soviet enlisted sailor of the 1960's in the Summer No. 3 uniform.

These uniforms of this period can be seen on the table below.  The uniforms of admirals and generals are described in the upper section.  Officers and michmen can be found listed in the middle of the table.  Conscripts, extended service men, and cadets are shown in the bottom part of the table.  Special purpose uniforms such as diving equipment, chemical protection suits, and the like can be found in the final section.  At the bottom of the page is a list of source material that we have used to compile information about the uniforms.
 

Earlier Period Naval Uniforms
(1946-1959)

Back to
Main Uniform Index

Later Period Naval Uniforms
(1979-1991)


 

Naval Uniforms of the Soviet Superpower
(1960 - 1978)
 
Pre-1960 1960 - 1967 1969 1970-1978
     
<(earlier uniforms)

Admirals and Naval Infantry Generals

(later uniforms)>
 

<up>

  
M-1958 Admiral Summer
Parade No. 1 Uniform		 ----->


M-1969 Admiral No. 1
Summer Parade (1)(4)(5)

----->
M-1955 Admiral No. 3 Summer Parade ----->

M-1969 Admiral No. 3
 Summer Parade (1)(4)(5)

----->
M-1955 Admiral No. 1 Summer Each Day (in column) ----->

M-1969 Admiral No. 3
Summer Each Day (in column)(1)(4)(5)

----->
     
<(earlier uniforms)

Officers, Extended Servicemen, and Praporshchiks

(later uniforms)>
 

<up>

  
M-1958 Summer Officer
No. 1 Parade Uniform
(In column) (1)(6)

----->
M-1969 Officer No. 1
Summer Parade (4)		 ----->
M-1958 Summer Officer
No. 1 & 2 Parade Uniform
(In column) (1)(6)

----->
M-1969 Ladies Officer No. 1/2
Summer Parade (4)(5)		 ----->
??

??

 M-1969 Officer No. 2 Summer Each Day (Out of Column) (4)(5) ----->
??

??

 M-1969 Officer No. 3 Summer Each Day (In Column) (4)(5) ----->
1958 No. 3 Summer Officer Uniform
(Out of Column) (1)(6)

----->
M-1969 Summer Officer
No. 3 Each Day Uniform
(Out of Column) (4)(5)		 ----->
M-1958 Summer Officer
Each day Uniform
(Out of column, in dress) (1)(6)

----->
M-1969 Summer Officer
No. 3 Each day Uniform
 (Out of column, in dress) (4)(5)		 ----->
 

 
M-1969 Officer Summer
Each Day Uniform
(Out of Column, in Jacket) (4)(5)		 ----->
   
M-1969 Officer Summer
Each Day Uniform
(Out of Column, in Shirt) (4)(5)		 ----->
?? ?? M-1969 Officer Winter No. 5 Each Day Uniform (4)(5) ----->
 

M-1965 Officer Summer Tropical (1)

 ----->
M-1969 Officer Lightweight
Tropical Uniform (2)(4)(5)
     
<(earlier uniforms)

Conscripts, Sergeants, and Cadets

(later uniforms)>
 

<up>

  
M-1958 Enlisted No. 1
Summer Uniform (6)		 ----->
M-1969 Enlisted No. 1
Summer Uniform		 ----->
M-1958 Enlisted No. 2
Summer Uniform  (6)		 ----->
M-1969 Enlisted No. 2 Summer Uniform(4)(5)		 ----->
M-1958 Enlisted No. 3
Summer Uniform (6)		 ----->
M-1969 Enlisted No. 3 Summer Uniform (4)(5)		 ----->

M-1969 Cadet No. 3 Summer Parade-Walking Out (4)(5)		 ----->
M-1958 Enlisted No. 4
Winter Uniform
(senior NCO's and reenlisted men) (6)		 ----->
M-1969 Enlisted No. 4 Winter Uniform (4)(5)		 ----->
M-1958 Enlisted No. 4
Winter Uniform
(for NCO's and conscript sailors) (6)		 ----->
M-1958 Enlisted No. 5
Winter Uniform (6)		 ----->
M-1969 Enlisted No. 5
Winter Uniform (4)(5)		 ----->
?? M-1963 Naval Infantry Parade-Walking Out / Eachday -----> ----->
M-1958 Enlisted Work Uniform (6) ----->
M-1969 Enlisted Work Uniform (5)(6)		 ----->
     
<(earlier uniforms)

Special Purpose Uniforms

(later uniforms)>
 

<up>

  

M-1936 Waterproof Deck Suit (2)(9)(10)		 -----> -----> ----->
VR-3 'Three Bolts' Diving Suit (7)(8) -----> -----> ----->

 

Works Cited

(1) Prilutskaya, N. V. and N. L. Kortunova, Военная одежда вооруженных сил ссср и россии (1917-1990) [Military clothing of the USSR and Russia (1917-1990's)], Moscow: Military Publishing, 1999.

(2) Океанский щит страны советов [Ocean Shield of the Soviet Nation], edited by P.N. Medvedev, Moscow: Planeta, 1987.

(3) Streather, Adrian, Red & Soviet military & paramilitary services: female uniforms 1941-1991, Dorchester: Veloce Publishing, 2010.

(4) Правила ношения военной формы одежды [Regulations for the wearing of military uniforms], Moscow: USSR Ministry of Defense, 1989.

(5) Правила ношения военной формы одежды [Regulations for the wearing of military uniforms], Moscow: USSR Ministry of Defense, 1973.

(6) Правила ношения военной формы в мирное время [Regulations on wearing military uniforms in peacetime], Moscow: USSR Ministry of Defense, 1958.

(7) Справочинк водолаза [Diver Manual], Moscow: Ministry of Defense, 1973.

(8) Schofield, Carey, Inside the Soviet Military, New York: Abbeville Press, 1991.

(9) Paptev, N.M., Военно-морская форма 1917-1945 [Naval Form 1917-1945], Moscow, 2001.

(10) Gazenko, V.N., Иллщстрированный справочник торпедные катера  [Illustrated directory of torpedo boats], Moscow: Astral, 2002.
 

Last Updated 11 January 2019 by Ryan Stavka