1984: Rank Inisignias of Oceania

[marcpasquin]

in the novel, while Goldstein's book and its content was created by The Party and is thus of dubious veracity, there is no particular reason to doubt the passage which describe Oceania as being the US which annexed a large number of territories.

For that reason, Oceania's rank insignias could be based on the US army's ones but somewhat streamlined.

[marcpasquin]

correction, I accidentally inverted the 2 top ranks.

[jrichardn2]

Fun project, Marc.

TBH I don't recall much about the armed forces in 1984. However, I did see Oceania as a somewhat anglocentric state, even tho' it included what's now the United States. This comes both from its capital's (apparently) being London, from Orwell's natural focus on England, and that its ruling ideology was Ingsoc, i.e., English Socialism.

Having said all that, I don't think the Oceanian forces would use crowns and pips!

Given the character of Newspeak, and of the nomenclature for public bodies, I'd see the Oceanian "Peace Forces" having hyperrational rank badges, as much of our friends on this forum have drawn hypothetical rank badges: lots of bars or circles or whatever.

But perhaps the Peace Forces wouldn't have rank badges at all. Both the Soviets and Chinese experimented with 2-rank schemes (officers and men). It's a good guess that general and perhaps senior officers would be Inner Party; most commissioned and warrant officers Outer Party; and the soldiers (cannon fodder for the perpetual war) proles.

[SFMRAS]

Fun project, Marc.

TBH I don't recall much about the armed forces in 1984. However, I did see Oceania as a somewhat anglocentric state, even tho' it included what's now the United States. This comes both from its capital's (apparently) being London, from Orwell's natural focus on England, and that its ruling ideology was Ingsoc, i.e., English Socialism.

Having said all that, I don't think the Oceanian forces would use crowns and pips!

Given the character of Newspeak, and of the nomenclature for public bodies, I'd see the Oceanian "Peace Forces" having hyperrational rank badges, as much of our friends on this forum have drawn hypothetical rank badges: lots of bars or circles or whatever.

But perhaps the Peace Forces wouldn't have rank badges at all. Both the Soviets and Chinese experimented with 2-rank schemes (officers and men). It's a good guess that general and perhaps senior officers would be Inner Party; most commissioned and warrant officers Outer Party; and the soldiers (cannon fodder for the perpetual war) proles.

Well, when in doubt, steal from the SS!
E1-3, one to three chevrons.
E4-6, one different colored and/or larger chevron, and one or two normal ones.
E7-9, two different chevrons, with one or two normal ones.
Junior officers have three, senior officers four, flag officers five. If US style warrant officers are included, either give the commissioned officers an additional different chevron.
Or, to change it up a little, E1 gets a large chevron, E2 gets a small and large, E3 gets a large and two swalls. E4 gets two large, etc.
Point up or down could be used for a specific function, say up for party true believers (the Himmlers, Eichmanns, etc.,) down for everyone else. Upper arms, above the elbow, below the elbow, at the cuff, in the lapels, on the collars, on the shoulder straps, etc. meaning different branches.
Air PF below the elbow, Land PF on the upper arm, Peace Guard (SS) on the collar, etc.