Caps of the Soviet Army

Introduction

Due to the large number of caps in this category, I have subdivided the Army cap section into the four uniform periods described on my Uniform Periods page to the left. All caps on this page were worn during this period. However, certain uniform elements (including caps) often extended into succeeding uniform regulations. In most cases, I have placed these caps according to which uniform period they were introduced. A thumbnail image accompanies each cap description. Clicking on that thumbnail will bring up a larger, higher resolution image.

1970-1991: M69-M70 "Modernized" uniforms and their last updates

When the light gray summer parade-walking out uniform was introduced for generals in 1954, the corresponding cap was devoid of embroidery - a gilt cockade and gold cords were its only decorations. However, embroidery was added to the band in the 1970 regulations; taking the form of laurel leaves sewn on either side of the gilt cockade. This cap is an early example of this new model, dated 1972. The magenta band and piping identifies a general of either medical/veterinary, administration/intendance, justice or one of the special troops' forces. The band embroidery is rather more extensive than usual - with seven leaves on each side, compared with the four that are more commonly found. Other than that, the cap is pretty standard for an early cap - black fiberboard visor (instead of later patent leather), gold cords, and generals' buttons. Scarce

Motorized Rifle
General Parade-Walking Out
1970-1980

A red-banded version of the above cap, this one was worn by Army motorized rifle (combined arms) generals. These light gray caps were worn with the matching gray uniform jacket until 1980, when the wave-green parade cap replaced it. This particular example is a later version cap different only in color to the post-1980 Army general's service cap. The crown is light gray fabric, while both band and piping are red. The cap has gilt wire leaves embroidered on the band surrounding a general's all gilt cockade, a patent leather visor, gold cords, and general officer buttons. Inside, it has a leather sweatband and silk lining. Tied with the post-1980 Army general's service cap as the easiest general's cap to find. Common-Available

Tank/Artillery
General Parade-Walking Out
1970-1980

The Tank/Artillery version of the caps described above. All elements of this cap are the same, with the exception of a black velvet band with red piping in lieu of the magenta or all red used by the other generals. The band embroidery on this cap is also of the "expanded" variety - with seven leaves on each side. Again, the visor is black lacquered fiberboard, with gold cords held in place by generals' style buttons. Dated 1970, this cap represents the very first year that gilt embroidery was authorized on the crown of the gray walking-out cap. It also was the first full year for the larger "saddle" form crown. Scarce

Special Troops
General Service
1970-1980

This cap was worn by Special Troops', Medical, Veterinary, Administration and Justice Generals during the period 1970 until 1980, at which time crimson was phased out as a band color and band embroidery was added to the service cap. Dated 1973, this cap varied from earlier general caps in that the crown was the larger "saddle" form introduced in 1969/70, vice the smaller "teller" form (shown on my earlier Army pages). No other changes occured at this time - the cap retains the two-piece all-gilt general's cockade, gold cords held with general-form brass buttons, and the visor was still black fiberboard. Scarce-Rare

Medical/Administration
Officer Parade
1970-1980

This 1977 dated cap was part of the wave green (sea-wave) parade uniform introduced in the 1970 regulations for all officers. Along with the new uniforms, these regulations also simplified the array of accompanying branch/arm colors. Now all non-technical support branches (medical, veterinary, justice and administrative) were assigned crimson as their cap and piping color - as shown here. A new one-piece cockade similar to but somewhat different from the M55 parade cockade was introduced for wear on this cap. This particular cap has a "saddle" form crown and plastic visor. It remained in use until 1980, when branch colors were again simplified and these same branches converted to red. These crimson-banded caps are more difficult to find than one would suppose. Scarce

Army
General Field
1970-1989

This piped army general's version of the field visor cap was introduced in 1970. This cap apparently served all army ground force generals, regardless of branch, although I cannot completely discount the possibility that Special Troops and Admin/Medical generals wore ones piped in magenta vice the red shown here. I have simply never seen any such. However, airborne generals did wear their own version of this cap piped in light blue (see on my Air Force page), and MVD generals apparently wore ones piped in rust red/maroon and KGB generals "may have" had medium blue piped caps. The army generals' cap shown here is made of khaki cloth, with band and the saddle form crown piped in red. Its plasticized chinstrap, fiberboard visor, and general's model chinstrap buttons are also khaki. The cockade is a normal officer's cockade painted khaki or made of khaki-colored metal. As of 1989, wear of this cap was no longer authorized. Available

Army
Officer Field
1970-1989

The visored field cap was one of the most popular Soviet uniform items during WWII, serving as ready identification of a Red Army officer. Following the war, normal color-banded service caps took their place in the field, but the field cap staged a comeback with its re-introduction in 1958. Worn by officers of all branches (including Airborne), the cap was all khaki - including its plasticized chinstrap and its fiberboard visor. The cockade is a normal officer's cockade painted khaki or made of khaki-colored metal. The side buttons are painted khaki as well. This model has the later "saddle" shaped crown introduced around 1970, replacing the earlier "teller" shape. As of 1989, wear of this cap was no longer authorized. Common

Tank/Artillery
General Parade
1970-1989

This striking parade cap was worn by Soviet armor and artillery generals from 1970 until red-banded caps were standardized (directed by not implemented) for all Army generals in 1989. The crown is in the same wave-green introduced for generals in 1945, piped in red. The band is traditional armor/artillery black velvet. The expanded parade-style gilt wire laurel leaves are embroidered on the band surrounding a general's all gilt cockade. Likewise, wire embroidery is found on the patent leather visor and the natural colored leather chinstrap. It also has general officer buttons, a leather sweatband and silk lining. Available

Motorized Rifle
Officer Parade
1970-1991

Intially authorized in the 1970 regulations, this 1988-dated cap was part of the wave green (sea-wave) parade uniform that was to remain standard for all officers until the fall of the USSR. The earlier crimson band and piping of the infantry were replaced by the motorized rifle's red. A new one-piece cockade similar to but somewhat different from the M55 parade cockade was introduced for wear on this cap. The cap has the larger "saddle" form crown introduced in 1969/1970 and has the later plastic visor which increasingly replaced the earlier fiberboard versions by the early 1980's. Gold parade cords held by later one-piece cast buttons complete the cap. This same parade cap was worn by Warrant Officers. Common

Tank/Artillery
Officer Parade
1970-1991

Identical in all respects to its Motorized Rifle counterpart except for the band, this style cap remained unchanged from 1970 through 1991. It has the traditional black velvet band with red piping used by Soviet armor and artillery officers. As part of the 1970 regulations' simplification of branch colors, this cap was also prescribed for officers of Special Troops (velvet was not "officially" authorized for Special Troops' black bands until 1989, but it appears this was largely ignored). This 1978-dated cap also has the "saddle" form crown but has the earlier fiberboard visor indicative of pre-1980's production. Common

Motorized Rifle
Officer Service
1970-1991

Manufactured in 1988, this "everyday" service cap had the red band and piping of Motorized Rifle troops with a khaki crown. Cut and style were the same as the parade cap of this period. Originally officers used a black chinstrap on this cap, but were authorized gold cords in 1975. Warrant officers retained the black strap on their officers' caps until 1991. Gold cords, black plastic visor and cast buttons are all standard for the period. Common

Tank/Artillery
Officer Service
1970-1991

Identical in style and purpose to that of its Motorized Rifle counterpart above, this 1989 dated cap instead has a black velvet band. As in the case of the parade version of this cap, black velvet was originally intended for armor officers only, but over the years was authorized for artillery and technical branch officers, and even for enlisted personnel of these same branches. Common

Motorized Rifle
Warrant Officer Service
1970-1991

Although warrant officers from 1970 wore the same parade cap as commisioned officers, they wore their own unique service cap, combining elements of an officer and a conscript soldier. This 1986-dated "everyday" service cap had the standard red band and piping of Motorized Rifle troops with a khaki crown and a M55 officer's cockade. However, instead of the officer's gold cords, the soldier's black plastic chinstrap was worn - signifying warrant officer rank. Common

Motorized Rifle
NCO/Soldier Parade
1970-1991

Introduced in the 1970 uniform regulations, this cap served double duty as both parade and service cap for other ranks personnel through 1991 (although the visorless pilotka was the more usual service wear). Since the wave-green parade uniform was reserved for officers, the M70 soldiers' parade uniform was in khaki; and indeed, was merely a "badged-up" M70 service uniform. The cap was identical to warrent officers' service caps, except for the star & wreath cockade introduced in 1970. Common

Cavalry
Officer Parade
1970-1991

As previously discussed, the 1970 regulations introduced a new wave green parade uniform for all officers. One of the rarest variants of this uniform was that of the cavalry. Although cavalry units had been phased out of operational forces (except for the MVD and Border Guard) in the late 1940's, in 1962 an independent cavalry battalion was formed near Moscow for ceremonial and publicity purposes. Later this unit was redesigned a regiment. Traditional cavalry colors were retained on caps of this formation - a dark blue band with black piping. All other aspects of the cap mirrored its more common Army counterparts. This cap has a "saddle" form crown and plastic visor, indicating late-80's/early 90's production. Very Rare

VOSO
Commandant
1970-1991

A more modern counterpart to the VOSO commandant's cap shown on my 1946-1954 Army cap page. This 1980-dated cap retains the red top of a commandant, but lacks the light blue piping formerly worn by these personnel (since the VOSO/Railroad Troops lost this piping color in 1969). Closely allied with Railroad troops, Military Communications troops, or VOSO, were responsible for the flow of military goods within the USSR. VOSO uniforms in most cases mirrored those of the Railroad troops. However, VOSO commandants - those individuals in charge of stations/offices within the transportation network - were identified by unique caps. These caps had red crowns - similar to railroad station masters found elsewhere in Europe. Prior to 1970, these caps also had azure blue piping with or without the "winged wheel". This particular cap is a late model, probably manufactured in the 1980's. The crown is made of bright red wool with red piping. The band is black velvet, which was often used in the USSR to denote special status. The rest of the cap is unremarkable: officer's oval cockade, plastic visor, gold cords, and Army-style buttons. Rare

Army
General Service
1980-1991

This style service cap was worn by combined arms generals after 1980 and by all Army generals after 1989. The crown is khaki, while both band and piping are red. The cap has the gilt wire leaves introduced for service caps in 1980 embroidered on the band surrounding a general's all gilt cockade. It also has a patent leather visor indicative of 1980's/90's production, gold cords, and general officer buttons. Inside, it has a leather sweatband and silk lining. Available

Tank/Artillery
General Service
1980-1989

This service cap was worn by Armor and Artillery generals from 1980 to 1989. The crown is khaki with a black velvet band and red piping. The cap has the gilt wire laurel leaves introduced for generals' service caps in 1980 embroidered on the band surrounding a gilt cockade. It also has a patent leather visor, gold cords, and general officer buttons. Inside, it has the expected leather sweatband and silk lining. As with the cap above, wear of this cap was no longer authorized in the 1989 regulations; to be replaced with a red band/red piped version. Scarce

Motorized Rifle
Officer Tropical Service
1985-1991

One of the favorite caps in my collection! Designed to complement the tan hot-weather uniform developed in the mid 1980's, this type cap first came to Western attention during MSU Akhromeyev's visit to the U.S. in 1988. During that visit, all Soviet Army and Air Force personnel wore versions of this cap. Air Force caps were banded and piped in light blue, while Army personnel wore red banded caps. In the last few years of the Soviet Union, these caps were also occasionally seen during military visits and postings to Africa, Cuba and the Middle East. The major difference between this cap and the normal Army service cap is of course the color and fabric used for the crown - a light tan, cotton material. This crown is actually a removable cover, supported by a white padded framework as seen on most Naval officer summer caps. As you can see from the second picture, the inside is also "tropicalized", with a lightweight white lining. Rare

All Arms
General Tan Service
1985-1991

This 1985-dated cap is the general's counterpart to the one above and is indentical in most repecsts to it. Again, the crown is made from light tan cotton material and the band is red. The crown is not piped in red - as is normal for summer weight caps. The gold cords are attached with general's buttons and the all-gilt general's cockade is surrounded by gold wire embroidery directely on the band. From the collection of Phil Mountjoy. Rare

Russian Army
Transitional Officer Service
1992-1994

Finally, I have included this cap as an end-point to my display. Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the Soviet Army began considering uniform changes to reflect the now "Russian" nature of the force. This process has been long and torturous; still not complete over 10 years later (specifically some Naval officers continue to wear Soviet-era cockades on their caps). One of the first elements of the conversion was adoption of a new, more "western" looking uniform that would be used for both service and parade (with minor accessory changes). The uniform chosen was actually one being considered for adoption by the Army prior to the fall of Communism. To a Soviet uniform collector, this was a very sad change of affairs! In my opinion, one of the nicest uniformed militaries in the world lost much of its Russian heritage, even as it tried to celebrate its formation. In any case, this cap represents the first model cap accompanying this uniform. I acquired it in Moscow in June 1992, before its general issue to the Army (it was the first one my Russian escort officer had actually seen as well). The Soviet connection had still not been totally cut at this time, as evidenced by the normal Soviet officer's cockade and gold "Soviet Army" buttons. However, colored bands were eliminated, with both crown and band now a greenish-khaki matching the uniform. The band had a gray-green ribbon cover similar in concept to that found on the naval cap, but with a distinct "checkerboard" pattern (this ribbon band was dropped on later Russian caps). Red piping was standardized for all Army officers regardless of branch. Similar caps remain in Russian Army service today but these typically have an even larger crown, no band ribbon and are adorned with new Russian cockades, eagles and buttons. Available