On the closed territory of the Rzhevsky test site there is a weapon that could rightfully be called the "Main caliber of the Soviet Union". With equal success, it can claim the title of "Tsar Cannon". Indeed, its caliber is no less than 406 mm. The artillery installation created on the eve of the Great Patriotic War was intended to arm the world's largest battleships "Soviet Union", "Soviet Belarus" and "Soviet Russia". These plans were not destined to come true, but the guns themselves did a good job during the defense of Leningrad and by this alone earned the right to take a worthy place in the museum. But so far, a unique monument to the history of Russian weapons does not even have the status of a museum exhibit …
Anyone who has been to the Moscow Kremlin, of course, saw there the famous "Tsar Cannon", cast by the Russian gunsmith Andrei Chokhov in 1586. But few people know that its Soviet counterpart exists. This is the largest-caliber artillery gun of the Soviet Union, which passed field tests on the eve of the war, and during the Great Patriotic War defended besieged Leningrad from the enemy.
In the early 1920s, the naval and coastal artillery of the Soviet Navy lagged significantly behind the corresponding artillery of the leading capitalist states. At that time, a whole galaxy of talented designers of naval artillery systems and organizers of their serial production worked in the USSR: I. I. Ivanov, M. Ya. Krupchatnikov, B. S. Korobov, D. E. Bril, A. A. Florensky and others.
Designers Ivanov I. I., Krupchatnikov M. Ya., Grabin V. G. (from left to right)
The greatest success of Soviet designers and artillery factories was the creation of a unique and complex 406-mm artillery system - the prototype of the main caliber guns of the new battleships.
In accordance with the new shipbuilding program of the USSR, new battleships were laid on the stocks of shipyards: in 1938 - "Soviet Union" and "Soviet Ukraine", in 1939 - "Soviet Belarus" and in 1940 - "Soviet Russia". The total displacement of each of the battleships, which embodied the traditions of domestic shipbuilding and the latest achievements of science and technology, was 65,150 tons. The power plant was supposed to provide a speed of 29 knots (53.4 km / h). The main armament of the battleships - nine 406-mm guns - was housed in three armored towers, two of which were in the bow. Such an arrangement of the main caliber made it possible to direct and concentrate the fire of 16-inches in the best possible way, firing thousand-kilogram shells at a distance of 45 km. The artillery armament of the new battleships also included twelve new 152-mm guns, eight 100-mm universal guns, and thirty-two 37-mm anti-aircraft guns provided air defense for each ship. Artillery guidance was carried out using the latest rangefinders, automatic fire control devices and four spotter seaplanes, for which a catapult was envisaged to launch.
The final technical design of the battleship of project 23, November 1938
The projected 406-mm turret installation was a unique artillery system, for which all elements - from the gun itself to ammunition - were developed for the first time.
The very experimental gun mount MK-1 was manufactured in less than a year.
By order of the People's Commissar of the Navy, Admiral N. G. Kuznetsov No. 0350 dated June 9, 1940 for the production of field tests of the 406-mm B-37 gun, the swinging part of the MK-1 for the B-37 gun, the MP-10 polygon machine and ammunition for the gun mount (shells, charges, gunpowders and fuses) was a commission was appointed under the chairmanship of Rear Admiral I. I. Grena. The test program, developed by ANIMI (Artillery Research Marine Institute), was approved by the head of the Navy AU, Lieutenant General of the Coastal Service I. S. Mushnov. Military engineer of the 2nd rank S. M. was appointed the head of the tests. Reidman.
Engineer-Captain 2nd Rank S. M. Reidman. 1943 g.
Field tests began at the NIMAP (Scientific Research Naval Artillery Range) on July 6, 1940. The total volume of tests was determined at 173 shots with an expected barrel survivability of 150 shots.
The ballistic characteristics of the gun were as follows: the initial flight speed of the projectile with its weight of 1 105 kg - 830 m / s, the muzzle energy - 38 800 tons, the maximum pressure of the powder gases in the barrel bore - 3 200 kg / cm2, the maximum range of the projectile - 45.5 km. The weight of the swinging part is 198 tons, the ratio of muzzle energy to the weight of the swinging part is 196.5 tons. The mass of the barrel with the breech and the B-37 bolt was 140 tons, and the rate of fire of the gun was 2.6 rounds per minute.
During this period, a lot of work was done at the naval artillery range to prepare the measuring base, which by 1940 had reached a very high level and made it possible to widely use instrumental control methods in testing practice, including oscillography of dynamic processes.
The preparation and conduct of the tests were difficult and stressful, especially in terms of the preparation of ammunition (projectile weight - 1,105 kg, charge - 319 kg), it took a lot of time to dig them out of the ground after the shot, assemble and deliver them to the laboratory for inspection and measurements. Many of the experiments in the testing process were innovative. So, when firing at a distance of 25 km, in order to find out the reasons for the increased dispersion of shells, it was necessary to build ballistic frames with a height of 40 meters. At that time, the initial flight speed of the projectiles was determined only by chronographs, therefore, after each shot on these target frames, it was necessary to change the wire wound damaged by the charge, which also presented great difficulties. Each shot from the B-37 gun was of great importance, so the tests were built very thoughtfully in the interests of the entire complex of tasks. The results of each shooting were considered in the subcommittees on the affiliation of the issues and were very often discussed at the general meeting of the commission.
On October 2, 1940, field tests of the B-37 gun, the swinging part of the MK-1, the MP-10 machine tool and ammunition were completed.
406 mm (16-inch) shell for the B-37 gun. Central Naval Museum
In the conclusions of the commission's report, it was noted: "The tests carried out on the 406/50-mm B-37 gun, the swinging part of the MK-1 and the MP-10 polygon machine gave quite satisfactory results." This is how succinctly was noted the many months of hard work of design engineers and test artillerymen.
The swinging part of the MK-1 with the B-37 gun was recommended by the commission for serial production with some design changes.
Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N. G. Kuznetsov in his memoirs "On the Eve" recalls: "… In August [1941] I went to the Baltic … The head of the naval test site, Rear Admiral II Gren, asked me to visit the test of a new, twelve-inch gun." The best cannon in the world, - he said. And, as life has shown, he did not exaggerate. They also showed me a sixteen-inch cannon for future battleships. This weapon - a vivid proof of our economic capabilities and the talent of Soviet designers - also turned out to be excellent …"
Rear Admiral I. I. Gren. 1942 g.
On October 19, 1940, in connection with the aggravation of the international situation, the Soviet government adopted a decree on the concentration of efforts on the construction of small and medium-sized warships and on the completion of laid down large ships with a high degree of readiness. The battleship "Sovetsky Soyuz" was not among the latter, so the serial production of 406-mm guns was not deployed. After the end of the field tests, the B-37 gun continued to remain at the NIMAP in Leningrad.
On June 22, 1941, the Great Patriotic War began. In the first weeks, Hitler's troops managed to penetrate the territory of the Soviet Union. In mid-August 1941, fierce battles began on the near approaches to Leningrad. As a result of the enemy's rapid advance, a threatening situation developed. Mortal danger looms over the city. The Red Army troops courageously repulsed attacks from superior enemy forces in all directions.
The Red Banner Baltic Fleet, concentrated in Leningrad and Kronstadt at the end of August 1941, provided significant assistance to the Leningrad Front with its powerful long-range naval and coastal artillery, which covered the city with a reliable fire shield throughout the blockade.
Immediately after the start of the war, NIMAP took an active part in resolving issues related to the preparation of Leningrad for defense. In the shortest possible time, a skillful, quick and purposeful restructuring of its work was carried out in the interests of the city's defense. Due to their heavy weight, the gun mounts of the naval range could not be evacuated, and they began to prepare them for the battle for Leningrad.
In July-August 1941, at the naval artillery range, all available artillery weapons were brought into battle, an artillery division and a local air defense team were formed and prepared for combat operations.
During the preparation of NIMAP for the defense of Leningrad, the barrel was changed and the 406-mm gun (B-37) was armored, all artillery mounts were prepared for circular fire, aiming points with a light guide for night firing were installed, four command posts of artillery batteries and two armored artillery cellars were installed. near firing positions.
Military technician 1st rank Kukharchuk, commander of battery No. 1 NIMAP, which included a 406-mm gun. 1941 g.
The entire artillery of the naval range consisted of fourteen guns: one 406 mm, one 356 mm, two 305 mm, five 180 mm, one 152 mm and four 130 mm. The 406 mm gun was included in battery No. 1, which, in addition to it, also included one 356 mm and two 305 mm guns. These were the main guns, the most powerful and long-range ones. The commander of the battery was appointed 2nd rank military technician Alexander Petrovich Kukharchuk.
At the end of August 1941, the NIMAP artillery was ready to start performing combat missions, and on the eve of this the following message was published in the Leningradskaya Pravda newspaper:. The military commandant of the city of Leningrad, Colonel Denisov."
The first combat shots were fired by NIMAP on August 29, 1941 at the concentration of enemy troops in the area of the Krasny Bor state farm in the Kolpino direction from the B-37, the most powerful and long-range weapon of the USSR Navy. And already at the beginning of September, a column of enemy tanks was moving in the same direction in order to break through to Leningrad, and again the powerful explosions of 406-mm shells lying in the head and tail of the column caused confusion among the enemy and forced him to stop. The surviving tanks turned back. People's militia fighters from the Izhora battalion, who defended Kolpino, always remembered with great gratitude the artillerymen of the naval range, who, with their fire, helped them in 1941 to hold the defensive lines on the outskirts of Leningrad.
From August 29 to December 31, 1941, the NIMAP artillery opened fire 173 times, destroying large concentrations of enemy personnel and equipment and suppressing its batteries. During this period, the 406-mm gun fired 81 shells (17 high-explosive and 64 armor-piercing) at the enemy.
In 1942, the naval artillery range carried out 9 live firings. On February 10, the B-37 gun supported the offensive operation of the 55th Army in the area of the settlements of Krasny Bor, Yam-Izhora and Sablino with its fire. Three shells were expended. It is known about the results of this operation that: "… in the area where the 55th Army held the defense, the artillerymen distinguished themselves. In one day they destroyed 18 guns and 27 machine guns, destroyed 19 bunkers and dugouts." The 406-mm gun of the naval artillery range also contributed to these enemy losses.
Command and engineering staff of the Scientific Testing Naval Artillery Range (NIMAP). 1942 g.
This is how an eyewitness of those events, a participant in the defense of Leningrad, Nikolai Kislitsyn, describes his impressions of the combat use of the B-37: “I recall how, among the habitually sounding explosions of shells and shots of our artillery, a dull powerful sound was occasionally heard somewhere shaking the glass. I was perplexed until I met an artilleryman. It turned out that in the pre-war period the design and construction of the latest high-class surface ships had been launched. on a certain area of the range. The gun was successfully tested. In connection with the outbreak of war, the tests were stopped. When Leningrad was in the blockade, this powerful weapon was used to destroy important military targets in the depths of the enemy. used up, the gunners became and dig up shells deeply buried in the ground during tests and bring them into a combat state. Enemy aircraft searched in vain for the firing position of this giant, skillful camouflage helped him stay undetected …"
On December 8, 1942, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command of the Red Army issued a directive to conduct an offensive operation to break the blockade of Leningrad.
The operation began on January 12, 1943 at 9:30 am. For 2 hours 20 minutes an artillery hurricane raged on enemy positions - this was hitting 4,500 guns and rocket launchers from two Soviet fronts and the Red Banner Baltic Fleet: 11 artillery batteries of stationary coastal artillery, 16 batteries of railway artillery, artillery of the leader "Leningrad", 4 destroyers and 3 gunboats. The artillery of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet also included a 406-mm gun of the naval artillery range.
On January 12, for 3 hours 10 minutes, it conducted methodical fire at the enemy's resistance nodes in the area of the 8th hydroelectric power station, 22 high-explosive shells were used up.
On February 13, it also conducted artillery fire at the defensive lines, fire weapons and manpower of the enemy in the area of the 8th hydroelectric power station and the 2nd Workers' settlement, 16 shells were used up (12 high-explosive and 4 armor-piercing).
The ruins of the 6th hydroelectric power station after shelling with a 406-mm gun during the operation to break the blockade of Leningrad. January 1943
At the end of 1943, Leningrad remained on the front line of fire. If enemy aircraft no longer had the opportunity to bomb the city either in November or in December, then shelling from large-caliber guns continued. Artillery shelling kept Leningrad in constant tension, it was necessary to rid the city of them. Considerations of the strategic plan demanded a complete lifting of the blockade of Leningrad and the expulsion of the German fascist invaders from the Leningrad region.
The headquarters of the Supreme High Command, planning military actions to liberate the territory of the Soviet Union, decided to start 1944 with an offensive operation near Leningrad and Novgorod (the First Stalinist strike).
On January 14, 1944, the start of the operation was scheduled for the complete liberation of Leningrad from the enemy blockade.
On the morning of January 14, for 65 minutes, enemy positions were fired upon by the artillery of the Leningrad Front and the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, 100 thousand shells and mines fell on the enemy's battle formations.
On January 15, the troops of the Leningrad Front dealt a powerful blow to the enemy from the Pulkovo Heights. 200 guns and mortars destroyed enemy fortifications for 100 minutes, literally plowing trenches and communication trenches, bunkers and bunkers. More than 200 guns of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet's naval and coastal artillery hit the positions of large-caliber artillery, resistance centers and strongholds of the enemy.
Enemy bunker destroyed by 406-mm gun fire. Red Village. January 1944
In the offensive operation, the Leningrad Front was supported by the Red Banner Baltic Fleet artillery consisting of 215 guns with caliber from 100 to 406 mm. The attraction of large-caliber coastal (stationary and railway) and naval artillery ensured the defeat of targets located at a considerable distance from the enemy's forward defense.
On January 15, a 406-mm gun fired at planned targets in the area of Pushkin, 30 shells were used up.
On January 20, it fired at targets in the area of the village of Koporskaya and railway. d. station Antropshino, three shells were used up.
From 15 to 20 January 1944, during the offensive operation of the Leningrad Front for the complete liberation of Leningrad from the enemy blockade, the B-37 gun fired 33 shells (28 high-explosive and 5 armor-piercing).
In the course of this operation, target number 23 (height 112, 0) was destroyed - the enemy's resistance center on the approaches to Pushkin from the north.
On the destruction of this target with a 406-mm gun of the naval artillery range, the former commander of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, Admiral V. F. Tributs recalled this: “I knew about this so-called target number 23 before. But nevertheless I checked my assumptions by phone, called the commander of the fourth [artillery] group, Engineer-Captain 1st Rank ID Snitko. He confirmed my information, and I instructed him to fundamentally deal with the harmful "nut". The 406 mm gun managed to split it. At the height of 112, an explosion soon exploded and a huge conflagration occurred.
The artillery of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet fulfilled the tasks assigned to it to ensure the offensive of the troops of the Leningrad Front and the liberation of Leningrad from the enemy blockade. For 14 days of the offensive operation, she conducted 1,005 firing, firing 23,600 shells of various calibers from 100 mm to 406 mm at the enemy.
After the defeat of the Nazi troops in the southwestern direction for Leningrad, there was still a threat from the northwest, from Finland, whose army had been on the defensive on the Karelian Isthmus for about three years.
In the Vyborg offensive operation from the Red Banner Baltic Fleet took part 49 ships (130-305 mm); 125 coastal (100–406 mm). In accordance with the order of the commander of the KBF artillery No. 001 / OP dated June 2, 1944, two long-range guns of the naval range, 406 mm and 356 mm, entered the third artillery group.
During the first four days of the offensive, the Red Banner Baltic Fleet's artillery fired 582 and consumed more than 11,000 rounds of caliber from 100 mm to 406 mm.
On June 9, the B-37 gun fired at planned targets, while 20 shells were used up, and on June 10, it also fired at one unplanned target, and 10 shells were used up. All shells were high-explosive.
Based on the results of the inspection of the destruction of targets near the Beloostrov railway station, the following results were obtained:
- fire on the target G-208 - the command height, which was part of the general system of the enemy's resistance unit. The fire was led by a 406-mm gun. The following were destroyed: a machine-gun point along with the crew, two machine-gun nests, an armored observation tower. Trenches and a section of the road were also destroyed, forcing the enemy to abandon four 76-mm guns. Many corpses of enemy officers and soldiers were left on the road;
- fire on target G-181 - command height in the village of Kameshki. The fire was led by a 406-mm gun. A direct hit from a shell destroyed a crossroads from three directions, which prevented the enemy from taking out anti-tank and anti-aircraft batteries. In the area where the positions of 152-mm and 210-mm enemy artillery batteries were located, there were craters from being hit by 406-mm shells.
As a result of the Vyborg offensive operation, a large group of Finnish troops was defeated and the northern part of the Leningrad region was liberated, after which the battle for Leningrad was finally completed.
For the B-37 gun, this was the last combat firing.
Over the entire period of the defense of Leningrad, 185 shots were fired from a 406-mm gun, while 109 high-explosive and 76 armor-piercing shells were fired.
A memorial plate commemorating the military merits of the 406-mm gun of the Red Banner NIMAP. Central Naval Museum
After the end of World War II, by decision of the command of the Navy, a memorial plate was installed on the B-37, which is currently kept in the Central Naval Museum in St. Petersburg. It embossed the following: "406-mm gun mount of the Navy of the USSR. This gun of the Red Banner NIMAP from August 29, 1941 to June 10, 1944 took an active part in the defense of Leningrad and the defeat of the enemy. With well-aimed fire, it destroyed powerful strongholds and nodes resistance, destroyed military equipment and manpower of the enemy, supported the actions of units of the Red Army of the Leningrad Front and the Red Banner Baltic Fleet on the Nevsky, Kolpinsky, Uritsko-Pushkinsky, Krasnoselsky and Karelian directions."
406-mm gun mount at the Rzhev training ground. 2008 r.
In order to preserve this unique weapon for posterity, it is necessary to create a Museum of Naval Weapons and Equipment at the Rzhevsky training ground, which will house exhibits that, due to their weight and size characteristics, do not fit within the walls of other military history museums. And such exhibits, in addition to the B-37, are already available. For example, standing next to a 406-mm gun mount a 305-mm coastal gun of 1915, which also defended Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War, and the barrel on it, by the way, was inherited from the battleship "Empress Maria".
Museums of military equipment and weapons - tank, aviation, automobile, etc. - interest in which is constantly growing, already exist in other regions. So maybe it's time to organize a similar museum in St. Petersburg - a museum of naval weapons and equipment? It will also be possible to present the experimental and test work of the naval training grounds there. And it doesn't matter that this museum will not be located in the historical center. After all, there are museums far from the city center, visited with no less interest. It would be interesting to know the opinion of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Governor of St. Petersburg on this issue, because the decision to create a new state museum at the Rzhev training ground must be taken today.
