Ranks and insignia of the Russian armed forces until 1917

The following shoulder board insignias of the Imperial Army used by specific units and cadet corps are illustrated below:

• 
  Orenburg Neplyuev Cadet Corps
• 
  15th King Nikola I of Montenegro Rifle Regiment
• 
  5th Kargopol Dragoon Regiment
• 
  Oryol Cadet Corps
• 
  Pskov Cadet Corps
• 
  Grand Duke Vladimir Kiev Cadet Corps

Ranks similar to those of the Imperial Army were, beginning in the late 18th century, used by the coastal services of the Imperial Russian Navy.

By order № 125 of the Navy Ministry of the Russian Provisional Government, from April 16, 1917 was provided:

1. Abolishment of the hitherto used shoulder rank insignia
2. Abolishment of the (naval)scarf
3. Deletion of any monogram, or initial letter on weapons and equipment
4. Paint over of the cockade center on caps with red color, until availability of the peaked cap with new national emblem

The traditional shoulder rank insignia were replaced by golden sleeve strips for naval officers, admiralty officers, and naval engineers, as well as – after completion of mandatory examinations – praporshchiks and officers of the hydrographical service.

Silver sleeve strips were introduced to officers of the admiralty staff, before completion of mandatory examinations, as well to ship engineers, officials of the naval administration and naval physicians with officer rank or status.

Both cuff insignias were used in uniforms with the executive curl.

As discrimination criteria to specific appointments or assignments additional corps colours on the lower part of sleeve stripes was determinate:

• red = ship engineers;
• raspberry coloured = naval administration;
• dark blue = hydrographical service;
• white = physicians

The table below shows examples of rank insignia of the Russian Navy, to be worn on the lower part of uniform cuffs, as to the order № 125 of the Russian Navy Ministry from April 16, 1917.

Designation	Gold sleeve strips to naval officers								... hydrographical service
Sleeve insignia
Rank	Admiral	Vice admiral	Rear admiral	Captain 1st rank (Captain naval)	Captain 2nd rank (Commander)	Senior lieutenant (lieutenant commander)	Lieutenant (naval)	Michman	Podporuchik	Praporshchik
Russian transliteration	(Admiral)	(Vitse-admiral)	(Kontr-admiral)	(Kapitan 1-go ranga)	(Kapitan 2-go ranga)	(Starshy leytenant)	(Leytenant)
Class (as specified in the Table of Ranks)	Admiral ranks			Shtab-ofitsery (Staff officers)		Ober-offitsery (upper officers)
	K-2	K-3	K-4	K-6	K-7	K-8	K-9	K-10	K-12	K-14