Publications of the Museums section
Went ashore "Katyusha"
Z applied combat vehicle in museums, films and computer games.
On July 14, 1941, near the railway station of Orsha, the famous battery of Captain Ivan Fleroov first attacked the enemy. In service with the battery there were very new, unknown German combat vehicles BM-13, which fighters affectionate will call "Katyusha".
Then, few people knew that these cars would participate in the most important battles of the Great Patriotic and, along with the legendary T-34 tanks, will become a symbol of victory in this terrible war. However, their power and Russians, and German soldiers and officers were able to evaluate after the first shots.
Professor of the Academy of Military Sciences of the Russian Federation, Scientific Director Russian Military Historical Society Mikhail Mikhav.
First operation
Information about the number of machines that were in service with batteries differ: by one version, there were four of them, on the other - five or seven. But we can accurately say that the effect of their application was stunning. Military equipment and railway formulations and, according to our data, a German infantry battalion, as well as important military property were destroyed at the station. The explosion was so strong that Franz Galder, Head of the General Staff of the Ground Forces of Germany, made a record in his diary that the Earth melted at the site of the shells.
Fleroov's battery was transferred to the area of \u200b\u200bOrsha, since the information was held that a large number of goods were accumulated at this station at this station. There is a version that besides the German parts that arrived there, the Secret Weapon of the USSR remained at the station, which did not have time to take out to the rear. He had to quickly destroy it, so that it did not get Germans.
To fulfill this operation, a special tank group was created, which supported the battery, since it went to Orsha for the territory already left by the Soviet troops. That is, the Germans could at any time be captured, it was a very dangerous, risky enterprise. When the battery was just preparing for the exit, the designers were strictly punished to blow up BM-13 in the event of a retreat and environment so that the cars would not go to the enects in any way.
This mobility fighters will be fulfilled later. In the retreat under Vyazma, the battery was surrounded, and on the night of October 7, 1941 she fell into an ambush. Here the battery, making the last volley, was blown up by the order of Flory. The captain himself died, posthumously he was assigned the Order of the Patriotic War I degree, in 1942, and in 1995 he became the hero of Russia.
The image of BM-13 (Katyusha) is actively used in video games on World War II:
BM-13 (Katyusha) in Company of Heroes 2
BM-13 volley in a computer game "In the rear of the enemy - 2"
BM-13 machine (Katyusha)
Volley "Katyusha" in a computer game War Front: Turning Point
About the history of the creation of rocket installations
We started the development of jet shells in the 20s of the 20th century and were held by the employees of the Gas Dynamic Institute. In 30 studies, they continued in the Rocket Research Institute, headed by George Langhemac. Subsequently, he was arrested, subjected to repression.
In 1939-1941, the improvement of jet systems was improved, tests were carried out. In March - June 1941 there was a show of systems. The decision to create batteries, which included new weapons, was made literally a few hours before the start of the war: June 21, 1941. Armament of the first battery amounted to the BM-13 machines with a shell of 130 mm. At the same time, the development of Machines BM-8 was laid, and in 1943 BM-31 appeared.
In addition to machines, a special powder was developed. The Germans hunted not only for our plants, but also for the composition of the porch. His secret did not manage to solve them. The difference in the action of this porch was that the German guns left a long smoky loop, which was more than 200 meters, - immediately it was possible to understand where they were shooting. We had no such smoke.
These reactive salvo fire systems were preparing at the "Compressor" plant (in peacetime it was a refrigeration equipment plant, which is characterized by interchangeability in the field of heavy industry) and in the Voronezh Plant "Communar". And of course, in addition to the first battery of Captain Flory, at the beginning of the war, other batteries were created, in service with which were reactive systems. It seems to be modern researchers, at the very beginning of the war they were sent to guard the headquarters. Most of them were sent to the West Front so that the Germans could not suddenly seize the headquarters to stun the opponent with fire and stop his offensive.
About nickname
Fleroov's first battery took part in the battles for Smolensk, the Khojlovna, Roslavl, Savior Demensk. Other batteries were about five, were located in the area of \u200b\u200bthe city of Rudney. And the first version of the origin of the nickname of these cars is "Katyusha" - is really associated with the song. The batteries made a volley on the square of the Rudney, where the Germans were at that moment, one of the witnesses of what was happening allegedly said: "Yes, this is a song!" - And someone else confirmed: "Yes, like" Katyusha ". And now this nickname first moved to the headquarters of the 20th Army, at which there was a battery, and then spread across the country.
The second version of "Katyusha" is associated with the "Communar" plant: the literal "K" was put on the machines. In favor of this theory, it says that the Gaubitsa M-20 with a Literary "M" fighters nicknamed "Mother". There are many other assumptions about the origin of the nickname "Katyusha": someone believes that at the time of the voltage of the car, "sang" - in the eponymous song, too, there is a long branch; Someone says that the name of a real woman was written on one of the cars, and so on. But, by the way, there were other names. When the installation of M-31 appeared, someone began to call her "Andryusha", and the German mortar NEBELWERFER called "Vanyusha".
By the way, one of the names of BM-13 among the German soldiers was the nickname "Stalinist authority", because the guide cars were like pipes. And the sound itself, when Katyusha "sang", also looked like organ music.
Airplanes, ships and sleigh
BM-13 missile settings (as well as BM-8 and BM-31) were mounted on airplanes, and ships, and on the boats, even on the sleigh. In the building of the Dovator's lion, when he went to the raid on German reasons, these installations were located on the sleigh.
However, the classic version is, of course, a truck. When the cars were only in production, they were put on the ZIS-6 truck with three axes; When he unfolded in a combat position, two more jacks were installed behind more stability. But since the end of 1942, especially in the 43rd year, all more often these guides began to be mounted on the American trucks "studebee" who are supplied according to Land Lases and well-proven themselves. They had good speed and passability. This, by the way, is one of the tasks of the system - to make a volley and quickly hide.
Katyusha really became one of the main tools of Victory. Everyone know T-34 and Katyusha tank. And they know not only in our country, but also abroad. When the USSR led the negotiations on Land Liza, exchanged information and technology with the British and Americans, the Soviet side required the supply of radio equipment, radars, aluminum. And the allies demanded Katyushi and T-34. The Tanks of the USSR gave, about Katyusch - not sure. Most likely, the allies themselves guessed how these cars were made, but you can create a perfect sample and do not be able to establish mass production.
Museums in which you can see BM-13
The museum is a composite and at the same time the main part of the memorial complex of Victory on Poklonnaya Mountain in Moscow. On its territory there is an exhibition of weapons, military equipment and engineering structures (victory weapons, trophy techniques, railway troops, military road, artillery, armored vehicles, air force, navy). The museum has unique exhibits. Among them are rare airplanes, one flying - U-2, the best tank of World War II T-34 and, of course, the legendary BM-13 (Katyusha).
The Center for Military Patriotic Education opened in 2000. The museum fund is about 2,600 exhibits, among them historical relics and replicas on the history of Russia and the Voronezh Territory. Exposure space - four halls and seven exhibitions.
The museum is located at the fraternal grave number 6. In May 2010, stele was installed before the museum building in connection with the assignment of Voronezh the title "City of Military Glory." On the square in front of the Museum, visitors can see a unique exhibition of military equipment and artillery guns.
The oldest military museum of Russia. The day of his birth is considered to be on August 29 (according to a new style) of 1703.
The exposition of the museum is located in 13 halls on the square of more than 17 thousand square meters. Of particular interest among visitors is the external exposition of the museum, open after reconstruction in November 2002. Its main part is located in the courtyard of the Kronverka on the square of more than two hectares. The external exposition is unique in its fullness, historical and scientific value. On open areas there are about 250 units of artillery guns, rocket weapons, engineering equipment and communication techniques, including domestic and foreign tools - from ancient to the most modern.
The Rudnyansky Historical Museum officially opened on May 9, 1975, today its exposition occupies four halls. Visitors can see photos of the first rackets of the legendary reactive mortar unit BM-13; Photos and awards of the participants of the Smolensk battle; Personal things, awards, photos of partisans Smolensk partisan brigade; Material about divisions, liberating Rudnyansky district in 1943; Benches telling the visitor to the damage caused by the District during the Great Patriotic War. The yellowed front-line letters and photographs, clippings from newspapers, personal things are resurrected before the eyes of the guests of the museum of the image of the heroes of the war - soldiers, officers.
Historical and local history museum named after N.Ya. Savchenko is the center of civilian-patriotic education of young people. It consists of two parts: the main building and a demonstration site. It is on the site that the entire military and rare technique is posted in the museum. This is an an-2 aircraft, tank T-34 and a steam locomotive.
The famous Katyusha on the basis of the famous "Katyusha" on the basis of the famous "Katyusha" on the basis of ZIL-157, car-aa cars (half-one), ZIS-5 (threethontic), GAZ-67, armored personnel carrier, tractor DT-54, Universal tractor, field soldier cuisine and etc.
Katyusha in movies
One of the main films with her participation was the Melodrama of Vladimir Moth "Zhenya, Zhenya and Katyusha". In this film, BM-13 can be seen in almost all angles with a common and close-up.
Reactive system of salvo fire BM-13 "Katyusha" - Soviet combat vectory artillery combat vehicle period of the Great Patriotic War, the most massive and famous Soviet car of this class.
It has a modification BM-13N
Modification of guards reactive mortars like "Katyusha". The index "H" is normalized. Produced since 1943. It was distinguished by the fact that the chassis used the US6 car trucks supplied in the USSR on Land Lases.
Characteristics of BM-13 combat vehicle
Chassis ZIS-6.
Number of guides 16
Weight in a marching position without shells, kg 7200
Translation time from a hiking position in combat, min 2-3
[Charge time, min 5-8
Time of full volley, with 8-10
History of creation
Back in 1921, the staff of the Gas Dynamic Laboratory N. I. Tikhomirov and V. A. Artemyev began developing jet shells for aircraft.
In 1937-1938, the reactive projectiles developed by RLII (GDL, together with the Gird in October 1933, amounted to the newly organized Renia) under the leadership of G. E. Langmeak adopted by the RCSCR. RS-82 reactive shells (reactive caliber 82 mm) were installed on fighters and-15, and-16, and-153, during the war - on IL-2 attack aircraft, with the development of RS-132 - on the Sat Bombers and Il- Storms 2.
In the summer of 1939, the RS-82 on the I-16 and I-153 was successfully used in battles with Japanese troops on the Khalkhin Gol River.
In 1939-1941, Employees of Renia I. I. Gay, V. N. Galkovsky, A. P. Pavlenko, A. S. Popov and others created a multi-charged launcher mounted on a cargo car.
In March 1941, polygon tests of BM-13 installations were successfully carried out (combat vehicle with a caliber room 132 mm).
The famous Katyusha left his unforgettable mark on the history of the Great Patriotic War from the same time, as July 14, 1941, this secret weapon under the command of Captain I. A. Fleerova literally erased from the face of the land station in Orsha, along with German echelons who were on him with troops and appliances. The first samples of jet shells started from a mobile carrier (Machines based on the ZIS-5 truck) were tested on Soviet polygons from the end of 1938.
On June 21, 1941, they were demonstrated by the leaders of the Soviet government, and just a few hours before the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, it was decided to urgently deploy the mass production of reactive shells and a launcher, which received the official name "BM-13".
It was truly a weapon of unprecedented power - the range of shell's flight reached eight and a half kilometers, and the temperature in the epicenter of the explosion - one and a half thousand degrees. The Germans have repeatedly tried to seize the sample of Russian miracle technicians, but the crews "Katyusha" stricter withstood the rule - it was impossible to get into the hands of the enemy. The critical case of the car was equipped with self-destruction mechanism. From those legendary installations, in essence, the whole history of Russian missile equipment. And Vladimir Andreyevich Artemyev developed reactants for Katyushev.
Fate developers
On November 2, 1937, as a result of the "war of the denunciation" inside the institute, Director of Renia-3 I. T. Kleimenov and the chief engineer of E. Langamak were arrested. On January 10 and 11, 1938, respectively, they were shot at the NKVD Polygon "Communark".
Rehabilitated in 1955.
Decree of the President of the USSR M. S. Gorbachev dated June 21, 1991, I. T. Kleimenov, G. E. Langimaku, V. N. Luzhin, B. S. Petropavlovsky, B. M. Slonimer and N. I. Tikhomirova was posthumously Awarded the title of heroes of socialist labor.
Device
The weapon is relatively simple, consisting of rail guides and their guidance devices. For the tip, swivel and lifting mechanisms and an artillery sight were provided. In the back of the car there were two jacks that ensure greater stability when shooting. On one machine could be placed from 14 to 48 guides.
Because of the secrecy, 30 kg of explosives was installed on each machine.
The crew (calculation) consisted of 5 - 7 people,
Commander guns - 1.
Putter - 1.
Driver - 1.
Charging - 2 - 4.
The crew gave an oath to destroy the car, even at the cost of life, but not to give the car to the enemy.
The composition of BM-13 "Katyusha" includes the following battle:
Combat Machine (BM) MU-2 (MU-1) ;
Jet shells .
Jet shells Katyusha
Unmanaged reactive projectile "Earth - Earth" - the simplest rocket equipped with an engine, combat part with an explosion and an aerodynamic stabilizer (plumage). Aiming is carried out by setting the initial trigger angle, usually using a guide beam or pipe, and sometimes using the engine time setting.
We will analyze the most common projectile M-13 
Characteristics of reactive projectile M-13
Caliber, mm. 132
Scope of the blades of the stabilizer, mm 300
Length, mm. 1465
Weight, kg:
Finally cutting projectile 42,36
curb head 21,3
burst charge 4,9
curb Reactive Engine 20,8
Starter speed, m / s:
dung (when moving with guide) 70
maximum 355
Length of the active site of the trajectory, m 125
Maximum firing distance, m 8470
origin of name
It is known why the BM-13 installations began to be called "Guards mortars" at one time. Installations of BM-13 were not actually mortar, but the command was striving to preserve their design as long as possible in the Secret:
When the fighters and commanders were asked to call the GAU representative to call the "genuine" name of the combat installation, he advised: "Call the installation as an ordinary artillery gun. It is important for saving secrecy "
.There is no single version, why BM-13 became known as Katyusha. There are several assumptions:
By the name has become popular before the war of the Blancher song for the words of Isakovsky "Katyusha". The version is convincing, since for the first time the battery shot on July 14, 1941 (on the 23rd day of the war) on July 14, at 15.15 on the direct order of the Deputy Head of Artillery of the Western Front of General G. S. Karofilli Battery Fleroov produced a volley over the Railway Uzha railway unit. It was the first combat use of Katyush. He shot with a high steep mountain - an association with a high steep shore in the song immediately arose at the fighters. Finally, a former sergeant of the 217-year-old Communication battalion of the 144th rifle division of the 20th Army, Andrei Sapronov, is now a military historian who gave her this name. Krasnoameman Kashirin, arriving with him together after shelling the Rudney on the battery, surprised exclaimed: "This is a song!" Katyusha, "answered Andrei Sapronov (from the memories of A. Sapronov in the newspaper" Russia "No. 23 dated June 21-27, 2001 and in the" Parliamentary Gazette "No. 80 dated May 5, 2005). Through the Communication Node, the news of the wonderful weapon named "Katyusha" was the property of the entire 20th army during the day, and through her command - and the whole country. On July 13, 2011, the Veteran and Koltny Father "Katyusha" turned 90 years.
There is also a version that the name is associated with the "K" index on the mortar housing - the installation was produced by the Kalinin factory (according to another source, the Comintern plant). And the front-line lifted to give nicknames of arms. For example, M-30 Gaubitsa called "Mother", Gaubitsa ML-20 - "Emela". Yes, and BM-13 at first, sometimes called "Raisa Sergeyevna", thus decrypting the reduction of PC (reactive projectile).
The third version suggests that it was exactly that the girls from the Moscow Plant "Compressor" who worked on the assembly.
Germans about Katyusha
In the German troops, these cars were called "Stalin's Organs" due to the external similarity of the reactive installation with the system of pipes of this musical instrument and a powerful stunning root, which was performed when rocket started.
During the battle for Poznan and Berlin, the installation for a single start M-30 and M-31 received the nickname "Russian Faustpatron" from the Germans, although these shells were used not as an anti-tank agent. "Digital" (from a distance of 100-200 meters) launches of these shells Guardsmen looked through any walls.
Foreign "Analogs"
Germany
"Nebelwerfer" - the German towed reactive mortar of the Second World War. For the characteristic sound published by projectiles, I received the nickname "ICAK" from Soviet soldiersMaximum range, M: 6 km
In the interrogation protocol of the German prisoners of war, it was noted that "the two soldiers taken in the village were crazy from the fire of reactive installations," and the twentieth efreitor said that "cases of madness in the village of Popkovo had a lot from the artillery cannonade of Soviet troops."
T34 Sherman Calliope (USA) Reta Fire Jet System (1943). There have had 60 guides for 114-mm missiles M8. Installed on the Sherman Tank, the guidance was made by turning the tower and the lift-lowering of the trunk (through the traction)
One of the most famous and popular symbols of weapons of the victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War - the BM-8 and BM-13 and BM-13 rocketing system, who received the people's nickname "Katyusha". The development of jet shells in the USSR was conducted from the beginning of the 1930s, and then the possibilities of their volleune launch were considered. In 1933, Renia was created - a reactive research institute. One of the results of his work was the creation and adoption of 82- and 132-millimeter jet shells in 1937-1938. By this time, considerations were already expressed about the feasibility of using jet shells in the ground forces. However, due to the low cuminess, the effectiveness of their use could be achieved only when shooting simultaneously with a large number of shells. The main artillery management (GAU) in early 1937, and then in 1938 put the institute to develop a multiply charged installation for conducting a volleam fire with 132-mm reactive projectiles. Initially, the installation was planned to be used for firing with reactive projectiles in order to maintain a chemical war.
In April 1939, a multi-charge launcher was designed according to a fundamentally new scheme with a longitudinal arrangement of the guides. Initially, she received the name "Mechanized Installation" (MU-2), and after the refinement of the plant "Compressor" and adopting in 1941, it was assigned the name "BM-13 combat car". The reactive installation itself was 16 guides for gutter-type jet shells. The location of the guides along the chassis of the car and the installation of jacks increased the stability of the launcher and increased the part of the shooting. Processing reactive shells was made from the rear end of the guides, which made it possible to significantly speed up the recharge process. All 16 shells could be released for 7 - 10 seconds.
The beginning of the formation of the Guards mortar parts laid the decision of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) dated June 21, 1941 on the deployment of mass production of M-13 shells, M-13 launchers and the beginning of the formation of parts of reactive artillery. The first separate battery that received seven plants of BM-13 commanded Captain I.A. Fleers. Successful operations of reactive artillery batteries contributed to the rapid growth of this young type of weapon. Already on August 8, 1941, on the orders of the Supreme Commander I.V. Stalin began the formation of the first eight regiments of reactive artillery, which was completed by September 12. By the end of September, the ninth regiment was created.
Tactical unit
The main tactical unit of the Guards mortar parts was the Guards Minette Regiment. Organizationally, it consisted of three divisions of reactive installations M-8 or M-13, an anti-aircraft division, as well as service units. A total of 1414 people, 36 combat vehicles, twelve 37-millimeter anti-aircraft guns, 9 zenith-guns DSHK and 18 manual machine guns were listed in the shelf. However, a difficult position on the fronts to reduce the production of anti-aircraft gunners led to the fact that in 1941 some parts of the reactive artillery in reality did not have a zenith artillery division. The transition to a regular organization based on the regiment provided an increase in fire density compared with the structure based on individual batteries or divisions. The volley of one shelf of reactive installations M-13 consisted of 576, and the regiment of reactive installations M-8 is from 1296 reactive shells.
The elimination and significance of batteries, divisions and regiments of the red army's jet artillery were emphasized by the fact that immediately in the formation of them was assigned an honorary name of the Guards. For this reason, as well as in order to comply with the secrecy of the Soviet reactive artillery and received its official name - "Guards Ministry of Mortar Parts".
An important milestone in the history of Soviet field jet artillery was the decision of GKO No. 642-SS from September 8, 1941. According to this resolution, the Guards mortar parts were allocated from the main artillery management. At the same time, the position of commander of the Guards mortar parts was introduced, which was supposed to be submitted directly by the stake of the chief supreme command (GGVK). The first commanders of the Guards mortar parts (GMH) began the militantger of the 1st Rank V.V. Aboorenkov.
First experience
The first use of Katyush took place on July 14, 1941. Captain's battery Ivan Andreevich Flory produced two volley from the seven launchers of the Orsha railway station, on which a large number of German echelons accumulated with troops, appliances, ammunition, fuel. As a result of the fire of the battery, the railway node was erased from the face of the earth, the enemy suffered heavy losses in the lively strength and technique.
T34 Sherman Calliope (USA) is a reactive system of salvo flame (1943). There have had 60 guides for 114-mm missiles M8. Installed on the Sherman Tank, the guidance was made by turning the tower and the lift-lowering of the trunk (through the craving).
On August 8, Katyusha were involved in the Kiev direction. This is evidenced by the following lines of a secret report by a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) Malenkov: "Today, new funds known to you have been used at Kiev ure. Beyond the enemy to a depth of 8 kilometers. Installation is extremely effective. The command of the site, where the installation was stood, reported that after several turns of the circle, the enemy completely stopped pressure to the site, from where the installation was operating. Our infantry boldly and confidently went ahead. " In the same document, it is indicated that the use of a new weapon caused an initially ambiguous reaction of Soviet soldiers who had previously seen anything like that. "I submit as the Red Army team said:" I hear rockness, then shingering howl and a big fiery track. Among some of our redarmers rose panic, and then the commanders explained, from where and where they beat ... This caused the licacy of the fighters in the literal sense. Very good feedback give artilleryrs ... "The appearance of Katyusha became a complete surprise to lead the Wehrmacht. Initially, the use of Soviet reactive plants BM-8 and BM-13 was perceived by the Germans as focusing the fire of a large number of artillery. One of the first references to the BM-13 reactive plants can be found in the head of the head of the German land forces of Franz Galder only on August 14, 1941, when they were made by the next entry: "Russians have an automatic multi-stra-pit gun ... The shot is made with electricity. During the shot, smoke is formed ... when you capture such guns to communicate immediately. " Two weeks later a directive appeared, entitled "Russian gun, throwing rocket-shaped shells." It said: "The troops commemorate about the use of Russian new types of weapons shooting with reactive shells. From one installation for 3 to 5 seconds, a large number of shots can be made ... every appearance of these guns should be conveyed to the general commanding chemical troops at the Supreme Command, on the same day. "
In German troops by June 22, 1941 also had reactive mortars. By this time, the chemical troops of the Wehrmacht had four shelves of six-fuel chemical mortars of the caliber of 150 mm (Nebelwerfer 41), and the fifth was in the formation stage. The regiment of German chemical mortar organizations consisted of three tribady-four divisions. For the first time, the mortar data were applied at the very beginning of the war under Brest, which mentions the historian Paul Karel in their writings.
Nowhere to retreat - behind Moscow
By the fall of 1941, the main part of the reactive artillery was concentrated in the troops of the Western Front and the Moscow Defense Zone. Under Moscow there were 33 divisions out of 59, which were nosed for that period in the Red Army. For comparison: the Leningrad Front had five divisions, southwest - nine, southern - six, and the rest - one or two divisions. In the battle near Moscow, all the armies were intensified by three or four divisions, and only the 16th Army had seven divisions.
The Soviet leadership attached great importance to the use of Katyush in the battle near Moscow. In October 1, 1941, the Directive of the VGK bet "Commander of Front and Army Troops on the Procedure for the Use of Reactive Artillery", in particular, noted the following: "Parts of the current Red Army recently received a new powerful weapon in the form of M-8 and M- 13, which are the best means of destroying (suppression) of the enemy's living force, its tanks, motorcysts and firing agents. A sudden, massive and well-prepared fire of Divisions M-8 and M-13 provides an extremely good defeat of the enemy and at the same time he has a strongest moral shock of his living force, leading to a loss of combat capability. This is especially true at the moment when the enemy's infantry has much more tanks than we when our infantry most of all needs powerful support from M-8 and M-13, which may be with the success of opposition tanks. "
A bright trail in the defense of Moscow left the division of reactive artillery under the command of Captain Karsanov. For example, on November 11, 1941, this division supported the attack of his infantry on Skirmanovo. After the Division volleys, this settlement was taken almost without resistance. When examining the area, on which the volleys were given, 17 pitched tanks were found, more than 20 mortars and several tools abandoned by an opponent in a panic. During November 22 and 23, the same division, without having a infantry cover, reflected multiple opponent attacks. Despite the fire of automatic gunners, the Captain Captain Division did not move back until he fulfilled the combat task.
At the beginning of the counteroffensive, near Moscow, Katyusch feathers were not only infantry and military equipment of the enemy, but also fortified referees of defense, taking advantage of the leadership of Wehrmacht sought to delay Soviet troops. BM-8 and BM-13 reactive installations have fully justified itself in these new conditions. For example, the 31st separate mortar division under the command of the Orekhov political officer spent 2.5 divisional volision to destroy the German garrison in the village of Popkovo. On the same day, the village was taken by Soviet troops with almost no resistance.
Protecting Stalingrad
In the reflection of continuous attacks of the enemy on Stalingrad, the guards mined contributions made a significant contribution. Sudden salts of reactive mortar installations devastated the ranks of the coming German troops, burned their combat technique. In the height of fierce fighting, many guards mortar shelves produced at 20 - 30 salts per day. Wonderful combat work samples showed the 19th Guard Minette Regiment. Only in one day the battle, he produced 30 salts. The combat rockets of the regiment were together with the advanced divisions of our infantry and destroyed a large number of German and Romanian soldiers and officers. Jet artillery used the huge love of defenders of Stalingrad and above all the infantry. The combat glory of the regiments of Vorobyeva, Parotovsky, Chernyak and Erokhina thundered to the whole front.
On the photo from above, Katyusha BM-13 on the ZIS-6 chassis was a start-up setting consisting of rail guides (from 14 to 48). Installation BM-31-12 (Andryusha, photo from below) was the constructive development of Katyushi. It was based on the chassis "Studebecker" and shot 300 mm reactive shells from the guides not rail, and a cellular type.
IN AND. Chuikov wrote in his memoirs that he would never forget the regiment Katyush under the command of Colonel Erochene. On July 26, on the right bank of Don, Erokhin participated in the reflection of the 51st Army Corps of the German Army. In early August, this regiment entered the southern operational group of troops. In early September during the German tank attacks on the Sklino River in the village of Sla Tvibenko, the regiment again gave a volley of 82-millimeters Katyush for the main forces of the enemy. The 62nd Army led street battles from September 14 to the end of January 1943, and the regiment Katyush Colonel Erokhina constantly received the combat missions of Comandarm V.I. Chuykova. In this shelf, the guide frames (rails) for shells were mounted on the T-60 tracked database, which gave these installations with good maneuverability on any terrain. While in Stalingrad and choosing the position behind the steep bank of the Volga, the regiment was invulnerable to the enemy's artillery shelling. His military installations on the tracked move Erookhin quickly removed on firing positions, gave a volley and with the same speed again went into the shelter.
In the initial period of the war, the effectiveness of reactive mortars decreased due to the insufficient number of shells.
In particular, in the conversation of Marshal USSR Shaposhnikov with the General Army General G. K. Zhukov, the latter said the following: "Ollov for R.S. (reactive shells - OA) required at least 20 to have enough for two days of battle, and now let's give little. If there were more of them, I handed out that you could shoot the opponent alone Rsa. " In the words of Zhukov, the explicit revaluation of Katyush's capabilities that had their drawbacks. One of them was indicated in a letter to a member of the State G. M. Malenkov: "A serious combat disadvantage of M-8 machines is a big dead space that does not allow fire at a distance of closer than three kilometers. Especially brightly, this deficiency was revealed during the retreat of our troops, when, due to the threat of capturing this newest secret equipment, Katyush was forced to blow up their jets. "
Kursk arc. Attention, tanks!
On the eve of the Kursk battle, Soviet troops, including reactive artillery, were preparing at the upcoming battles with German armored vehicles. Katyusha brought against the front wheels into the dug deepents to give the guide of the minimum elevation angle, and shells, leaving parallel to the ground, could affect tanks. Experienced shooting on plywood layouts of tanks were held. In training, the reactive shells spread the target in the sins. However, this method has found a lot of opponents: after all, the combat part of the M-13 shells was a fragmentary fugasal, not armor-pier. Check the effectiveness of Katyush against tanks had already during the battle. Despite the fact that the reactive installations were not intended to fight against tanks, in some cases Katyusha successfully coped with this task. Let us give one example from the secret report addressed during defensive fights on the Kursk arc personally I.V. Stalin: "On July 7, the Guards Ministerial Parts, reflecting the opponent's attacks and supporting their infantry, conducted: 9 regimental, 96 divisional, 109 batteries and 16 rosary volunteers on infantry and enemy tanks. As a result, according to incomplete data, up to 15 infantry battalions were destroyed, and 25 cars were burned and beaten, 16 artillery and mortar batteries were suppressed, 48 enemy attacks were reflected. During the period on July 5-7, 1943, 5,547 of the M-8 and 12,000 shells of M-13 were spent. Especially it should be noted on the combat work on the Voronezh front of the 415th Guards Ministry of Mortar Regiment (the commander of the regiment lieutenant colonel Ganushkin), which July 6 broke through the Sit River. Donets in the area of \u200b\u200bMikhailovka and destroyed the infantry and on July 7, participating in battle with the tanks of the enemy, shooting a straight entrance, hit and destroyed 27 tanks ... "
In general, the use of Katyush against tanks, despite the individual episodes, turned out to be ineffective due to the large dispersion of shells. In addition, as noted earlier, the combat part of the mechanisms of M-13 was a fragmentary fugasal, not armor-pier. Therefore, even with a direct hit, the reactive projectile was not able to break through the frontal armor "Tigers" and "Panther". Despite these circumstances, Katyusha still applied tanks tangible damage. The fact is that when a reactive projectile gets into front armor, the crew of the tank often faced due to the strongest contusion. In addition, as a result of the fire Katyush, the caterpillars were interrupted, the tower jammed, when the fragments hit the engine part or the gas tanks could have a fire.
Katyusha was successfully applied until the end of the Great Patriotic War, deserving the love and respect of Soviet soldiers and officers and the hatred of the servicemen of the Wehrmacht. During the war years, the reactive installations of BM-8 and BM-13 were mounted on various cars, tanks, tractors, installed on armored vehicles of armored trains, combat boats, etc. were also created and participated in the battles "Brothers" Katyusha - launchers of heavy jet shells M-30 and M-31 caliber 300 mm, as well as launchers BM-31-12 caliber 300 mm. Jet artillery firmly took its place in the Red Army and rightly became one of the victory symbols.
Editor's responseWhat Russian "Katyusha", then the German is "hellish flame." The nickname that the soldiers of the Wehrmacht gave the Soviet battle car of the jet artillery, quite justified. In just 8 seconds, the BM-13 mobile installation regiment was published on the enemy 576 shells. The peculiarity of the salvo flame was that one explosive wave was imposed on another, the law of addition of impulses was taken into force, which at times he strengthened the destructive effect. The fragments of hundreds of mines, heated to 800 degrees, destroyed everything around. As a result, the territory of the area of \u200b\u200b100 hectares turned into a scorched field, exhausted by funnels from the entrances. Only the Hitlerians managed to be saved, to whom at the time of the volley were lucky to be in religiously fortified dumplings. Fascists such a pastime called "concert". The fact is that Katyusch's salts were accompanied by a terrible root, for this sound, the soldiers of the Wehrmacht awarded the reactive mortars by another nickname - "Stalin's Ornoney".
Look in the infographics of AIF.RU, how the BM-13 reactive artillery system looked like.
Birth "Katyusha"
In the USSR, it was customary to say that "Katyusha" created a non-some kind of separate designer, but the Soviet people. The best minds of the country really worked on the development of combat vehicles. To create jet shells on a smokeless powder in 1921 proceeded employees of the Leningrad Gas Dynamic Laboratory N. Tikhomirovand V. Artemyev. In 1922, Artemieva was accused of espionage and next year sent to serve the term at Solovki, in 1925 he returned back to the laboratory.
In 1937, RS-82 reactive projectiles, which were developed by Artemyev, Tikhomirov and joined them Langmeakwere adopted by the workers' and peasant red air fleet. In the same year, in connection with the business of Tukhachevsky, everyone who worked on new types of weapons was subjected to "cleaning" by the NKVD bodies. Langmeak arrested as a German spy and in 1938 shot. In the summer of 1939, the aviation jet shells developed by his participation were successfully applied in battles with Japanese troops on the Khalkhin Gol River.
From 1939 to 1941 employees of the Moscow Reactive Research Institute I. Gary, N. Galkovsky, A. Pavlenko, A. Popov We worked on the creation of self-propelled multiple installation of reactive fire. On June 17, 1941, she took part in the demonstration of the newest samples of artillery weapons. On tests were present narcar Defense Semen Tymoshenko, his deputy Grigory Kulik. and head of the General Staff of Georgy Zhukov.
Self-propelled installation of reactive fire was shown by the latter, and first trucks with iron guides, no impression on the tired representatives of the Commission did not produce any impression on the challenges. But the Halp himself was remembered for him for a long time: according to eyewitness testimonies, military leaders who saw the raised post of the flame, for a while they fell into a stupor. Tymoshenko came first in himself, he turned to his deputy in a sharp form: "Why wasn't it silent about the presence of such arms and not reported?". Kulik tried to justify that this artsystem was simply until recently it was not fully modified. On June 21, 1941, literally a few hours before the start of the war, after inspection, reactive mortars decided to deploy their mass production.
Feat Captain Flory
The first commander of the first battery "Katyusha" became captain Ivan Andreevich Fleers. The leadership of the country chose Flory for testing super-secret weapons including because it has proven itself perfectly during the Soviet-Finnish war. At that time, he commanded the battery of the 94th Gaubic Artillery Regiment, whose fire managed to break through. For the shown heroism in the battles at the lake Saunairvi Flerov was marked by the Order of the Red Star.
The full combat baptism of Katyusch occurred on July 14, 1941. Machines of reactive artillery under the direction of Fleroov produced volleys over the railway station Orsha, on which a large number of live strength, technicians and an enemy are focused. That's what I wrote about these volley in his diary head of the General Staff of the Wehrmacht Franz Galder: "On July 14, the Russians applied an unknown weapon under Orsha. Fire drag of shells burned Railway station Orsha, all echelons with personnel and military equipment of the arrived military units. Metal melted, Earth burned. "
Adolf Gitler I met the news about the emergence of the new wonderful weapons of Russians very painfully. Chef Wilhelm Franz Canary He received a beat from the Fuhrera for the fact that his department had not yet painted the drawings of reactive installations. As a result, the real hunt for Katyusha was declared, to which they attracted chief Diversant of the Third Reich Otto Slap.
Flora Battery, meanwhile, continued to loud the enemy. After Orsha followed successful operations under Yellow and Roslavl. On October 7, Fleers and His "Katyusha" were surrounded in the Vyazemsky Boiler. The commander did everything to save the battery and break into his own, but in the end he fell into an ambush at the village of Bogatyr. Once in a hopeless situation, and his fighters took an unequal battle. Katyusha released all shells on the enemy, after which the fleems made a self-sample of the reactive installation, the other batteries followed the commissioner. Take the prisoners, as well as get the "iron cross" for the capture of super secretary techniques, the Nazis in that battle failed.
Fleers was posthumously awarded the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree. By the 50th anniversary of the victory, the title of the hero of Russia was awarded to the commander of the first battery "Katyusch".
"Katyusha" against "Icyha"
Along the front line of the Great Patriotic War "Katyusha" often had to exchange volley with non-dealer (it. Nebelwerfer - "Misty") - German reactive installation. For the characteristic sound, which this six-term 150-millimeter mortar published during shooting, Soviet soldiers called him "Ashak". However, when the fighters of the Red Army were defeated by enemy technique, the contemptuous nick was forgotten - in the service of our artillery, the trophy immediately turned into Vanya. True, the delicate feelings for this weapon, Soviet soldiers did not feed. The fact is that the installation was not self-propelled, the 540-kilogram reactive mortar had to be towed. When shooting, his shells were left in the sky a thick loyalty of smoke, which demasked the positions of artillerymen, who could immediately cover the fire of enemy haubs.
Dustverter. German reactive installation. Photo: Commons.Wikimedia.org.
Construct your analogue "Katyushi" The best constructors of the Third Reich until the end of the war did not manage. German developments were either exploded during the testing at the landfill, or did not differ in the accuracy of firing.
Why did the volley fire system called "Katyusha"?
Soldiers on the front loved to give names of arms. For example, the M-30 Gaubitsa was called "Mother", the Gaubitsa ML-20 gun - "Emela". BM-13 At first, at first, sometimes called "Raisa Sergeyevna", so the front-line was deciphered by the reduction of PC (reactive projectile). Who and why the first named the reactive mortar "Katyusha" is not known. The most common versions associate the appearance of the nickname:
- c popular in the war of the song M. Blanter For words M. Izakovsky "Katyusha";
- with the letter "K", knocked out on the installation frame. Thus, its products label the name of the Comintern;
- with the name of the beloved one of the fighters, which he wrote on his BM-13.
* Mannerheim Line - A complex of defensive structures with a length of 135 km on the Karelian Isthmus.
** Abver - (He. Abwehr - "Defense", "Reflection") - a military intelligence body and counterintelligence in Germany in 1919-1944. He was part of the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht.
*** The last combat report of Captain Flory : "Oct 7. 1941 21 hours. Surrounded by the village of Bogatyr - 50 km from Vyazma. We will hold on to the end. No exit. We are preparing for a self-breaking. Farewell, comrades. "
Katyusha (BM-13): Our Weapon Retribution
Initially, the inflexible reactive artillery systems in the Red Army were not intended for ground battles. They in the literal sense descended from the sky to the Earth.
82 mm caliber reactive shell was adopted by the Red Army Air Force back in 1933. They were installed on Polycarpov and-15, I-16 and I-153 design fighters. In 1939, they passed a fighting baptism during hostilities on Halchin-goal, where they showed well when shooting in groups of enemy aircraft.
In the same year, employees of the Reactive Research Institute began work on a mobile terrestrial launcher, which could fire reactive projectiles on the ground goals. At the same time, the caliber of jet shells was increased to 132 mm.
In March 1941, polygon tests of the new weapon system were successfully conducted, and the decision on the serial production of combat vehicles with RS-132 reactive projectiles, which were called BM-13, was taken a day before the start of war - June 21, 1941.
How was she arranged?
BM-13 combat vehicle was a chassis of a three-way WIS-6 car, on which a swivel farm was installed with a package of guide and guidance mechanism. For the tip, a swivel and lifting mechanism and an artillery sight were envisaged. In the back of the combat vehicle there were two jacks that provided it with greater stability when shooting.
Starting reactive shells was produced by a handle with an electric cooker connected with batteries and contacts on guides. When turning the handle in turn, contacts closed the contacts, and in the next of the shells, the launcher was triggered.
The explosive of the explosive of the combat part of the projectile was carried out on both sides (the length of the detonator was only slightly less than the cavity length for BB). And when two waves of detonation met, the gas pressure of the explosion in the meeting place sharply increased. As a result, the fragments of the body had a much greater acceleration, heated to 600-800 ° C and had a good igniting action. In addition to the hull, the part of the rocket chamber, which spawned from the pebble-burning inside, was riveted, was increased by a fragmentary effect of 1.5-2 times compared with the artillery projectiles of a similar caliber. That is why there was a legend that Katyush's reactive shells were equipped with a term charge. The "thermal" charge, indeed, was tested by a wig in 1942 in a blockade Leningrad, but he turned out to be superfluous - after the volley "Katyusch" and so everything was burning around. And the joint use of dozens of missiles at the same time also created the interference of explosive waves, which even more strengthened the ammunition effect.
Battle baptism under Ors
The first volley battery of Soviet reactive mortars (so for consupporting the secrecy began to call a new type of military equipment) as part of the seven combat plants BM-13 produced in mid-July 1941. It happened under Ors. The experienced battery under the command of Captain Fleroov inflicted a fire blow to the railway station Orsha, on which the accumulation of military equipment and the living force of the enemy was observed.
At 15:15 on July 14, 1941, a squall fire was opened on enemy echelons. The entire station in the blink of an eye turned into a huge fiery cloud. On the same day, in his diary, the head of the German General Staff General Galder recorded: "On July 14, the Russians applied an unknown weapon under Orsha. Fire drag of shells burned Railway station Orsha, all echelons with personnel and military equipment of the arrived military units. Metal melted, Earth burned. "
The moral effect of the use of jet mortars was stunning. The enemy lost at the station Orsha more infantry battalion and a huge amount of military equipment and weapons. And the battery of Captain Fleroov inflicted another strike on the same day - this time on the enemy crossing over the river Nabitz.
The command of the Wehrmacht, having studied the information received from eyewitnesses to the application of the new weapons of the Russians, was forced to publish a special instruction in their troops, which said: "From the front, reports are reported on the use of Russian new types of weapons shooting with reactive shells. From one installation within 3-5 seconds, a large number of shots can be produced. Each appearance of these guns should be applied on the same day to the General Commander Chemical Troops, with the Supreme Command ". Behind the battery captain Flory began a real hunt. In October 1941, she was in the sav-derensky "Cotelet" and fell into the ambush. Of 160 people, only 46 managed to go to their exit. The battery commander himself died, having previously convinced that all combat vehicles were blown away and the enemy would not fall into the hands of the enemy.
On land and on the sea ...
In addition to BM-13, in the SCB of the Voronezh Plant. The Comintern on which these combat installations were produced, new options for placing jet shells were developed. For example, given the extremely low passability of the ZIS-6 car, a variant of installing guides for jet shells on the chassis of the Catering Tractor STZ-5 NATI has been developed. In addition, I found an application and a 2 mm reactive caliber reactive. For it, guides were developed and manufactured, which were later installed on the chassis of the ZIS-6 car chassis (36 guides) and on the chassis of light tanks T-40 and T-60 (24 guides).
A 16-charging installation was developed under the RS-132 shells and a 48-charging unit under the RS-82 projectile for armored trains. In the fall of 1942 during hostilities in the Caucasus for use in the mountain conditions, 8-charging mining launchers of RS-82 shells were made. Later they were put on American vehicles "Willis", who arrived in the USSR on Land Liza.
Special launchers for reactive shells of 82 mm caliber and 132 mm manufactured for their subsequent installation on combat ships - torpedo boats and armored vehicles.
The launchers themselves received the national nickname "Katyusha", under which they entered the history of the Great Patriotic War. Why "Katyusha"? This follows there are many versions. The most reliable is due to the fact that in the first BM-13 there was a letter "K" - as information that the product was released at the factory. Comintern in Voronezh. By the way, the cruising boats of the Soviet Navy, who had an alphabet index "K" also received the same nickname. In total, during the war, 36 launcheling structures were developed and released.
And the soldiers of the Wehrmacht called the BM-13 "Stalin's Organs." Apparently, the roars of jet shells reminded the Germans of the church organs. From this "music", they were clearly alone.
And since the spring of 1942, the guides with reactive shells began to establish British and American all-wheel drive chassis for imported into the USSR on Land Lima. Yet ZIS-6 turned out to be a car with low patency and lifting capacity. The most suitable for the installation of reactive installations was a three-wheel drive American truck Studebakker US6. Combat vehicles began to be released on his chassis. At the same time, they received the name BM-13N ("Normalized").
For all the time the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet industry produced more than ten thousand combat vectors of jet artillery.
Katyusha relatives
With all its advantages, fragmentation-fugasic reactive shells of RS-82 and RS-132 had one drawback - a large dispersion and low efficiency when exposed to enemy living force in field shelters and trenches. To fix this disadvantage, special 300 mm caliber cards were manufactured.
In the people, they received the nickname "Andryusha". They were launched from a starting machine ("frame") made of wood. Start made with a sapper subversive machine.
For the first time, Andryushi was applied in Stalingrad. The new weapon was simply in the manufacture, but their installation on position and tip on the target required a lot of time. In addition, a small range of reactive shells M-30 made them dangerous for their own calculations.
Therefore, in 1943, an improved reactive projectile was received in the troops, which at the same capacity had a greater shooting range. The M-31 projectile could hit the live strength on the square of 2 thousand square meters or to form a depth of 2-2.5 m and a diameter of 7-8 m. But the time for the preparation of volley with new projectiles was significant - one and a half or two hours.
Such projectiles were used in 1944-1945 during the assault of enemy fortifications and during street battles. It was enough to get the reactive projectile M-31 to destroy the enemy dzot or a firepoint equipped in a residential building.
Fire Sword "God of War"
To May 1945, in parts of the reactive artillery there were about three thousand combat vehicles of various types and many "Ram" with projectiles M-31. No Soviet offensive, starting from the Battle of Stalingrad, did not begin without art preparation using Katyusch. The volutes of combat installations were the very "fiery sword", with which our infantry and tanks paved their way through enemy fortified positions.
During the war, the BM-13 installation was sometimes used for the shooting of a straight entry along tanks and firing points of the enemy. For this, the wovers of the combat car drove to some exaltation so that its guides make a horizontal position. Of course, the accuracy of such a shooting was rather low, but a direct hit of a 132-mm reactive projectile was spread to pieces any enemy tank, a close explosion overturned the fighting technique of the enemy, and heavy rusted fragments reliably derived it out of order.
After the war, the Soviet designers of combat vehicles continued to work on Katyusha and Andryushai. Only now they began to be called guards mortars, but by systems of salvo fire. In the USSR, such powerful SZOs were constructed and built, as "hail", "Hurricane" and "Tornado". At the same time, the loss of the enemy, which fell under the hostels of the Battery "Hurricanes" or "Tornoda", are comparable to losses from the use of tactical nuclear weapons with a capacity of up to 20 kilotonn, that is, with an explosion of an atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
BM-13 combat machine on a three-way chassis
Caliber of projectile - 132 mm.
The weight of the projectile is 42.5 kg.
Mass of the combat part - 21.3 kg.
The maximum speed of the shell flight is 355 m / s.
Number of guides - 16.
Maximum firing range - 8470 m.
Installation charging time - 3-5 minutes.
The duration of the full volley is 7-10 seconds.
Guards mortar BM-13 Katyusha on the chassis of studekera
1. Startup
2. Jetting shells
3. The car on which the installation was mounted
Pack of guides
Cabin armors
Hiking support
Rama lifting
Battery start-up
Bracket sight
Rotary frame
Handle of the lifting mechanism
The launchers were fastened on the chassis of CIS-6 car chassis, "Ford Marmon", "International Jeesessi", "Austin" and on the Crawler Tractors of the STZ-5 The largest number "Katyusch" was mounted on all-wheel drive three-wheel drives "Studebeckker".
M-13 projectile
01. Returning ring of the fuse
02. Explosion of GMZ
03. Chick of detonator
04. Breakable charge
05. Head
06. Inflammor
07. bottom camera
08. Guide pin
09. Powder rocket charge
10. Rocket part
11. Grass grille
12. Critical section nozzle
13. Nozzle
14. Stabilizer
Survived few
The effectiveness of the combat use of Katyusch during the attack on the fortified enemy assessment may be an example of the defeat of the Tolkachevian defensive assembly during our counterattack under Kursk in July 1943.
The village waspiled by the Germans into a strongly fortified resistance assembly with a large number of dumps and sucks in 5-12 spans, with a developed network of trenches and posts of messages. The approaches to the village were tightly mined and covered with wire bours.
Plisses of reactive artillery The significant part of the supremies was destroyed, trenches together with an enemy infantry that was covered with enemy infantry, the fire system is completely suppressed. From the entire garrison of the node, which consisted of 450-500 people, only 28 survived. The Tolkachev node was taken by our parts without any resistance.
Reserve of the Supreme Commanding
By decision of the rate in January 1945, the formation of twenty-guards mortar regiments began - they began to call parts that were in service with BM-13.
Guards mortar regiment (GW.MP) of artillery of the reserve of the Supreme Commander (RVGC) on the state consisted of the management and three trivisions of the three-distance composition. Each battery had four combat vehicles. Thus, the volley is only One division Of the 12 Machines BM-13-16 PIP (rate directive №002490 prohibited the use of reactive artillery in the amount of less division) according to power could be compared with a volley of 12 heavy Gaubic regiments of the RVGK (48 Gaubitz caliber 152 mm in the shelf) or 18 heavy warm brigades RVGK (32 Maubes of the caliber of 152 mm in the brigade).
art of creating arms
From:, & nbsp
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