Missile forces. History of missile forces. Missile forces of Russia

Rockets as weapons were known to many peoples and were created in different countries. It is believed that they appeared even before the gunshot. Thus, the outstanding Russian general and, moreover, the scientist KI Konstantinov wrote that simultaneously with the invention of artillery, missiles were also used. They were used everywhere where gunpowder was used. And since they began to be used for military purposes, it means that special missile forces were created for this. This article is devoted to the emergence and development of this type of weapons, from fireworks to flights into space.

How it all began

According to official history, gunpowder was invented in China around the 11th century AD. However, the naive Chinese did not invent anything better than to use it for the filling of fireworks. And here after a few centuries, the "enlightened" Europeans created more powerful gunpowder formulations and immediately found for him a smart application: firearms, bombs, etc. Well, let's leave this statement on the conscience of historians. We were not with you in ancient China, so you should not say anything. And what do the written sources say about the first use of missiles in the army?

The Charter of the Russian Army (1607-1621) as documentary evidence

The fact that in Russia and in Europe the military had information about the manufacture, arrangement, storage and use of signal, incendiary and fireworks missiles, informs us "Statutory, cannon and other matters relating to military science". It is made up of 663 articles and decrees selected from foreign military literature. That is, this document confirms the existence of missiles in the armies of Europe and Russia, but nowhere are there any references to their use directly with any battles. And yet, we can conclude that they were used, since they were in the hands of the military.

Oh, this thorny path ...

Despite the misunderstanding and fear of all the new military officials, Russia's missile forces nevertheless became one of the leading arms of the army. It is difficult to imagine a modern army without missiles. However, the way of their formation was very difficult.

Officially, the armament of the Russian army was first taken by signal (illuminating) missiles in 1717. Nearly a hundred years later, in 1814-1817, the military scientist AI Kartmazov sought recognition from officials of high-explosive and incendiary rockets (2-, 2,5- and 3,6-inch) of his own making. They had a range of 1.5-3 km. They were not accepted for service.

In the years 1815-1817. Russian artilleryman A. D. Zasyadko also invents similar combat shells, and they are also not missed by military officials. The next attempt was made in 1823-1825. Passing through the many cabinets of the War Ministry, the idea was finally approved, and the first Russian military missiles (2, 2,5, 3 and 4-inch) were delivered to the Russian army. The range was 1-2.7 km.

This turbulent 19th century

In 1826, the mass production of the mentioned weapons begins. For this purpose, the first rocket facility is being created in St. Petersburg. In April next year, the first missile company is being formed (in 1831 it was renamed into a battery). This combat unit was intended for joint operations with cavalry and infantry. This is the beginning of the official history of the missile forces of our country.

Baptism of fire

For the first time Russia's missile forces were used in August 1827 in the Caucasus during the Russo-Iranian War (1826-1828). A year later, during the war with Turkey, they made a command charge for the siege of the fortress of Varna. So, in the campaign of 1828 was released 1191 rocket, of which 380 incendiary and 811 explosive. Since then, the missile forces have played a major role in any military battles.

Military engineer KA Shilder

This talented man in 1834 developed a design that brought missile weapons to a new stage of development. Its device was intended for underground rocket launching, it had an inclined tube-type guide. But Schilder did not stop there. He developed rockets with enhanced explosive action. In addition, he was the first in the world to use electric locks to ignite solid fuels. In the same year, 1834, Schilder designed and even experienced the world's first rocket-carrying ferry and submarine. He installed on the boats for launching missiles from the surface and underwater position. As you can see, the first half of the 19th century is characterized by the creation and wide application of this type of weapons.

Lieutenant-General Konstantin I. Konstantinov

In the 1840-1860's. The representative of the Russian artillery school, inventor and scientist Konstantin Konstantinov made a huge contribution to the development of rocket weapons, as well as the theory of his combat use. With his scientific work, he made a revolution in rocket engineering, thanks to which Russian technology took the leading place in the world. He developed the fundamentals of experimental dynamics, scientific methods of designing this type of weapons. A number of devices and instruments for determining ballistic characteristics have been created. The scientist acted as an innovator in the field of manufacturing rockets, set up mass production. He brought a huge treasure into the safety of the technological process of manufacturing weapons.

Konstantinov developed more powerful missiles and launchers for them. As a result, the maximum range was 5.3 km. Launchers have become more portable, comfortable and perfect, they provided high accuracy and rate of fire, especially in mountainous terrain. In 1856, according to the project of Konstantinov in Nikolaev, a missile plant was built.

The Moor did his work

In the 19th century, rocket forces and artillery made a huge leap in their development and distribution. Thus, military missiles were put into service in all military districts. There was not a single warship and a naval base where missile forces would not be used. They took part directly in field battles, and during the siege and storming of fortresses, etc. However, by the end of the 19th century, missile armament became much inferior to progressive barrel artillery, especially after the appearance of long-range rifled guns. And then came the year 1890. It became the end for the missile forces: this type of weapons was withdrawn from production in all countries of the world.

Jet propulsion: like a Phoenix bird ...

Despite the army's refusal from the missile forces, the scientists continued their work on this type of weapon. Thus, MM Pomortsev proposed new solutions concerning the increase in the range of flight, as well as the accuracy of the shooting. IV Volovsky developed rotary-type missiles, multi-barreled aircraft and ground-launched launchers. NV Gerasimov designed combat anti-aircraft solid-fuel analogs.

The main obstacle to the development of such equipment was the lack of a theoretical basis. To solve this problem, a group of Russian scientists in the late 19th and early 20th century conducted a titanic work and made a significant contribution to the theory of jet propulsion. However, K. E. Tsiolkovsky became the founder of the unified theory of rocket dynamics and cosmonautics. This outstanding scientist worked from 1883 to the last days of his life to solve problems in rocket engineering and space flights. He solved the main problems of the theory of jet propulsion.

The selfless work of many Russian scientists gave a new impetus to the development of this type of weapon, and consequently, a new life for this kind of troops. Even today in our country, rocket and space troops are associated with the names of outstanding figures - Tsiolkovsky and Korolev.

Soviet Russia

After the revolution, work on the missile weapon was not stopped, and in 1933 in Moscow was even set up a Reactive Scientific Research Institute. In it, Soviet scientists designed ballistic and experimental cruise missiles and rocket-propellers. In addition, essentially improved missiles and launchers for them have been created. This includes the legendary BM-13 "Katyusha" combat vehicle. A number of discoveries were made at the RNII. A set of projects for aggregates, devices and systems, which were subsequently used in rocket technology, is proposed.

The Great Patriotic War

"Katyusha" became the first in the world rocket fire system. And most importantly, the creation of this machine contributed to the resumption of special missile forces. By the beginning of the Second World War , the BM-13 combat vehicle was adopted. The difficult situation that developed in 1941 demanded the fastest introduction of new missile weapons. Industrial restructuring was carried out in the shortest possible time. And already in August 214 plants were involved in the production of this type of weapon. As we said above, the Missile Forces were newly created in the Armed Forces, but during the war they were called Guards mortar units, and subsequently to this day - rocket artillery.

BM-13 "Katyusha" fighting vehicle

The first GMCs were divided into batteries and divisions. Thus, the first missile battery, which consisted of 7 experimental installations and a small number of shells, was formed under the command of Captain Flerov for three days and on July 2 was directed to the Western Front. And on July 14, the Katyusha fired its first salvo at the Orsha railway station (the BM-13 combat vehicle is shown in the photo).

The missile forces in their debut dealt a powerful fire attack simultaneously with 112 shells. As a result, a glow blazed over the station: ammunition was bursting, echelons were burning. The fiery tornado destroyed both the enemy's living force and military equipment. The combat effectiveness of rocket weapons exceeded all expectations. During the years of the Second World War, there was a significant leap in the development of reactive technology, which led to a significant proliferation of GMCs. By the end of the war, the missile forces consisted of 40 separate divisions, 115 regiments, 40 separate brigades and 7 divisions - a total of 519 divisions.

If you want peace, prepare for war

In the postwar period, the reactive artillery continued to develop - the range, the accuracy of the shooting and the power of the volley increased. The Soviet military complex created whole generations of 40-barre 122-mm MLRS "Grad" and "Prima", 16-barrel 220-mm MLRS "Uragan", ensuring the defeat of targets at a distance of 35 km. In 1987, the 12-barrel 300 mm long-range MLRS "Smerch" was developed, which to this day has no analogues in the world. Target range in this installation is 70 km. In addition, the ground forces received operational-tactical, tactical and anti-tank complexes.

New types of weapons

In the 50 years of the last century, there was a division of the missile forces into various directions. But the reactive artillery retained its positions to this day. New types were created - these are anti-aircraft missile forces and strategic forces. These units are firmly established on land, in the sea, under water and in the air. So, anti-aircraft missile forces as a separate kind of troops are represented in the air defense, but such units exist in the Navy. With the creation of nuclear weapons, the main question arose: how to deliver the charge to the destination? In the USSR, a choice was made in favor of missiles, as a result, strategic missile forces appeared.

Stages of development of Strategic Missile Forces

1. 1959-1965 - the creation, deployment and deployment of intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of solving strategic tasks in various military and geographical areas. In 1962, the strategic missile forces took part in the military operation "Anadyr", resulting in secretly deploying medium-range missiles in Cuba.
2. 1965-1973 - deployment of second-generation ICBMs. The transformation of the Strategic Missile Force into the main component of the USSR's nuclear forces.
3. 1973-1985 - equipping the Strategic Missile Forces with third-generation missiles with separable combat heads with individual guidance units.
4. 1985-1991 - the elimination of medium-range missiles and the armament of the RVNS by the fourth-generation complexes.
5. 1992-1995 - withdrawal of ICBMs from Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Russian strategic missile forces have been formed .
6. 1996-2000 - the introduction of the fifth-generation Topol-M missiles. Association of the Military Space Forces, the Strategic Missile Forces and the Rocket and Space Defense Forces.
7. 2001 - the Strategic Missile Forces were transformed into two types of Armed Forces - the Strategic Missile Force and the Space Forces.

Conclusion

The process of development and formation of missile forces is rather heterogeneous. He has both ups and downs, and even the complete elimination of the "rocket" in the armies of the whole world at the end of the 19th century. However, rockets, like the Phoenix bird, rebel from the ashes during World War II and are firmly entrenched in the military complex.

And despite the fact that during the last 70 years the missile forces have undergone significant changes in the organizational structure, forms, methods of their combat use, they always retain a role that can be characterized in only a few words: to be a deterrent to unleashing aggression against ours countries. In Russia, November 19 is considered a professional day of missile forces and artillery. This Day is approved by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 549 of May 31, 2006. On the right, the photo shows the emblem of the Russian Missile Forces.