Ranks and insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces 1955–1991

The ranks and rank insignia of the Soviet Armed Forces between 1955 and 1991 were distinguished by the reorganisation of the Soviet armed forces after the death of Stalin, resulting in changes to ranks, insignia, and uniforms.

Shoulder straps to field utilization
In December 1956 the coloured border piping on officers' shoulder straps was changed. A cinnamon-brown color was used instead of the burgundy red previously worn by commanders and commanding officers. All other officers and other ranks wore corps colours as follows:
 * Motorised & mechanised rifles – raspberry
 * Artillery & armored troops – black, red
 * Air Force & aviation – blue
 * Technical troops of any kind and the navy – black

The regimental numberings of the 1943 system were removed altogether.

Letter codes from 1972 onward

 * The letter imprint "CA" on army shoulder boards OR1 to OR7 stood for "Советская Аpмия (en: Sovetskaya Armiya) " and was the symbol of adherence to the Soviet Army.
 * The letter imprint on Soviet navy shoulder boards OR1 to OR7 symbolised the adherence to the appropriate fleet or naval major command.
 * Ф – Fleet (Флот, Flot), general personnel of the Navy
 * БФ – Baltic Fleet (Балтийский Флот; Baltiski Flot)
 * ЧМ – Black Sea Fleet (Черноморский Флот, Chernomorski Flot)
 * СФ – Northern Fleet (Северный Флот, Severny Flot)
 * ТФ – Pacific Fleet (Тихоокеанский Флот, Tikhookeanski flot)
 * Other letter symbols
 * BB – (Внутренние Войска, Vnutrennie Voiska) – Internal Troops
 * ВМУ – (Военно-музыкальное Училище, Voyenno-musykalnoye Utchilishche) – students of military musician schools or cadets of military bands
 * ВС – (Вооружённые Силы, Voorushonnye Sily) – armed forces (Soviet Army, later USSR armed forces, also Armed forces of the USSR)
 * ГБ – (КГБ, KGB) – KGB
 * К – (Курсант, Kursant) – higher military college student
 * H – (Нахимовец, Nakhimovez) – cadet in the Nakhimov Naval School
 * ПВ – (Пограничные войска, Pogranitshnye voiska) – border troops
 * СШ – (Cпециальная школа, Spezialnaya shkola) – special school
 * СВУ – (Суворовец, Suvorovez) – cadet at a Suvorov Military School