, ▁had ▁been ▁established ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 7 th ▁century ▁under ▁the ▁reg ency ▁of ▁Peter ▁the ▁Great ▁and ▁by ▁the ▁personal ▁leadership ▁of ▁Franz ▁Le fort . ▁It ▁existed ▁until ▁the ▁October ▁Revolution ▁of ▁ 1 9 1 7 . ▁▁ ▁Non - comm ission ed ▁officers ▁& ▁en list ed ▁ratings , ▁naval ▁services ▁▁▁ ▁R anks ▁of ▁coast al ▁services ▁ ▁R anks ▁similar ▁to ▁those ▁of ▁the ▁Imperial ▁Army ▁were , ▁beginning ▁in ▁the ▁late ▁ 1 8 th ▁century , ▁used ▁by ▁the ▁coast al ▁services ▁of ▁the ▁Imperial ▁Russian ▁Navy . ▁▁ ▁General ▁officers ▁▁▁ ▁Offic ers ▁▁▁ ▁Non - comm ission ed ▁officers ▁& ▁en list ed ▁men ▁▁▁ ▁S lee ve ▁ins ign ia ▁of ▁the ▁Russian ▁Navy ▁from ▁April ▁ 1 6 , ▁ 1 9 1 7 ▁ ▁By ▁order ▁№ ▁ 1 2 5 ▁of ▁the ▁Navy ▁Ministry ▁of ▁the ▁Russian ▁Pro vis ional ▁Government , ▁from ▁April ▁ 1 6 , ▁ 1 9 1 7 ▁was ▁provided : ▁Ab ol ishment ▁of ▁the ▁h ither to ▁used ▁shoulder ▁rank ▁ins ign ia ▁Ab ol ishment ▁of ▁the ▁( nav al ) scar f ▁De let ion ▁of ▁any ▁mon ogram , ▁or ▁initial ▁letter ▁on ▁weapons ▁and ▁equipment ▁P aint ▁over ▁of ▁the ▁co ck ade ▁center ▁on ▁caps ▁with ▁red ▁color , ▁until ▁avail ability ▁of ▁the ▁pe aked ▁cap ▁with ▁new ▁national ▁em blem ▁ ▁The ▁traditional ▁shoulder ▁rank ▁ins ign ia ▁were ▁replaced