Mortars Second World War represented a formidable artillery weapons capable of striking on long and short range any enemy firing points.Due to its arsenal of various caliber mortar installations, the warring parties could successfully deal with any combat tasks.
history of military weapons
Back in 1904 in the defense of Port Arthur Russian officers S. and L. Gotyabo Vlasyevo was created unusual artillery gun with a short barrel of the pipe.47 mm naval gun is intended for hinged fire at enemy targets.Range of flight of such a facility was small, only 400-500 meters.
Later mortars used in World War I as an effective means of trench warfare.But over time, it is an improved invention was a formidable weapon.Mortars Second World War brought a lot of trouble to German soldiers.
Modern outlines mortar was due to the first sample design Stokes.This pipe-stem on fire monitors bipedal support, based on a flat metal plate, which dampens the impact a shot into the ground.
just a few years before the war with Germany, the Soviet government was aggressively launch mass production of low-cost and simple maintenance artillery guns, believing that it will replace a number of artillery weapons.For this reason, it has been suspended production of automatic grenade launcher Taubina that at the tactical test in 1937 has established itself as an excellent combat weapon attachment type.
Mortar shovel-caliber 37mm
In 1938, specially developed for light infantry mortar 37mm caliber.The author was a combat unit MG Deacons, the famous designer of explosives and ammunition for artillery.In addition, they have been developed: a hand grenade RGD-33 rifle grenade launcher.
in field conditions 37mm mortar can be compared with an ordinary shovel.The shooting of this type of weapon carried fragmentation mines.Baptism of fire mortar Dyakonova received in the Finnish campaign.
Unfortunately, the range and accuracy of these weapons is poor.Because of the low efficiency of 37 caliber mortar, it was decided to phase out and removed from the Red Army.But life decided differently.Using mortars in World War II 37 mm caliber found its application.In the winter of 1942 due to fire mortars Dyakonova support, paratroopers of the 4th Air Corps successfully landed near the town of Vyazma.
Performance characteristics caliber mortar 37:
- caliber guns - 37mm.
- weight - 2.4 kg.
- Airspeed mines - 65-70 m / s.
- minimum distance - 60 m.
- maximum flight range mines - 250 m.
- weight of the projectile (mines) - 0.5 kg.
mortar company commander issue in 1938 and 1940.(caliber 50 mm)
Serial production of artillery shells began military industry of the Soviet Union in 1939.The developer is the experimental design bureau, headed by BI Shavyrin.Schematically, the mortar is arranged on an imaginary triangle.Barrel-pipe and fire monitors biped with a lifting mechanism was one side of the triangle, and the third party was an imaginary line between the support and the gun carriage.
Features mortar company commander 50mm caliber 1938:
- caliber - 50 mm.
- Weight - 17 kg.
- Airspeed mines - 95 m / s.
- maximum range shots - 800 m.
- Rate - 32 rounds per minute.
- weight of the projectile (mines) - 0.85 kg.
Later the design was refined in KB VN Shamarina.And in 1940, it was released a new version of the 50-mm mortar setting.As of June 22, 1941 50-mm mortar guns have become popular in the Red Army, their number reached about 24 million units.The most popular of these mortars Second World War did not use.
the end of 1943 some small military units used this type of weapon.The reason was the fact that a small range of fire reached only 800 meters away, which made mortar calculations as close to enemy positions.Due to this, military units carrying multiple casualties.Especially popular this kind of mortar installation used the guerrillas, who until the end of the war it was used in its arsenal.
Battalion 82 mm mortar
In 1936 has been adopted by the Red Army mortar installation, developed at Leningrad SKB-4, under the leadership of DI Shavyrina.His baptism of fire 82-millimeter mortar was held in battles on Khalkhin-proved itself as a reliable military weapon capable of hitting enemy targets at long range.In the future, these artillery pieces were modernized.
Thus, new versions of 82-mm mortar appeared annually throughout the fighting.These mortars WWII served faithfully for many years to come.No military operation Soviet troops not without these weapons.
successful use of mortars in the Second World War this caliber has meant that they have become the prototype of a lightweight version of the mortar "tray" of the sample in 1981.
Weapons Wehrmacht
German World War II mines for mortars made of various calibers, as military arsenal mortar units of the Wehrmacht had a few modifications - 50-mm and 81-mm models 1936 and 1932, respectively.
Some specifications mortars Wehrmacht superior to their Soviet counterparts.It did not help the German troops to perform its main task - to win the war.It is noteworthy that the captured German mortars World War II 81 caliber used by the Soviet army after the victory.Incidentally, up to 1955.
Jet mortars WWII
The fact that the Red Army appeared on the unprecedented power of the gun, the Germans learned at the very beginning of the war.
first combat unit jet mortars under Captain Flerov dealt a massive blow to the junction Orsha July 14, 1941.According to the testimony of survivors of the Nazis, at the railway junction I hit a real firestorm.Battery jet mortars struck not mere shells, and stuffed with firebombs.The German officers and soldiers burned the ground beneath their feet.
fame of the famous "Katyusha" quickly spread along the entire front.They knew about it in the rear.Mines mortars for the Second World War made the whole country.One slogan for the entire population was: "All for the front, everything for victory."
Secret "Katyusha" - World War II mortar
basic rule Guards mortars - a hidden occupation of combat positions.Moving only in cloudy weather or at night, so that the enemy could not detect.In the case of the environment as it was thought.Each car was mined, at the slightest threat of capture plant should explode.It was under these circumstances, the battery captain Flerov died along with his commander.
In 1942, the Germans still managed to grab a fighting machine, but to create a weapon like that, "Katyusha", they have not succeeded.Soviet military industry is constantly increasing production of reactive mortars.
Help allies
Since 1943 rocket Soviet mortars World War II, were placed not only on the domestic truck ZIS-6 crawler tractor STZ-5, but received lend-lease road vehicles "Ford", "Austin" and"Studebaker".Designed for the "Katyusha" and new ammunition.
In particular, the rocket launcher got huge 300-millimeter shells.They are intended for the well-fortified defensive structures.As a rule, "Katyusha" hit the squares.However, there were occasions when launchers had to be used for other purposes.
war in urban settings
For example, during the Vistula-Oder offensive to break through the 8-foot walls of the citadel of Poznan, charged projectiles high power launchers rolled out for direct fire.Firing range "Katyusha" was four and a half kilometers, and at point-blank range - only one.Shooting a smaller distance was simply impossible.
However Guardsmen minomёtchiki managed to adapt his formidable weapon for street fighting.From Moscow to Berlin Guards "Katyusha" - mortar Second World War - he took an active part in all military operations.
the end of the war, the BM-13 has become a weapon of mass destruction.The first official salute in the Great Patriotic War was in August 1943, after the liberation of Orel and Belgorod.He became the first volley echo "Katyusha" in July 1941.
Interesting facts
known that mortars WWII destroyed not only ground targets.
In 1942, during the defense of Sevastopol Lieutenant Vladimir Simonok a direct hit from a 82 mm mortar shot down a German "Junkers" flying low over the position of the Soviet troops.It was the only time in the entire Great Patriotic War, when a mortar struck the calculation of the air machine of the enemy.During this fantastic shot Junior Lieutenant Vladimir Polikarpovich Simonku awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.Unfortunately, the lieutenant was killed in the same 1942, defending Sevastopol.
Statistics war
interesting to compare, in a proportion of mortars Soviet World War II were issued, compared with other countries.So the numbers:
- United States released in the period from July 1940 to July 1945 about 111 thousand units of military equipment.
- British defense industry of all time, and it is 1939-1944., Released 97 thousand artillery weapons in this class.
- Germany since the beginning of 1941 to mid-1944 managed to equip its army almost 70 thousand mortar plants.
- Soviet Union from 1 July 1941 to 30 June 1945 has made 348 000 mortar guns of various calibers.
These figures show that the mortars Soviet World War II, enjoyed great popularity and made an invaluable contribution to the victory over Nazi Germany.
