Also I found several photos of Soviet guided air-to-air/surface-to-air original missile "301" - but sorry for the bad resolution photos from 1930s. I wrote shortly about that missile above.
http://epizodsspace.testpilot.ru/bibl/e ... tn_008.jpg (surface launcher)
http://epizodsspace.testpilot.ru/bibl/e ... tn_009.jpg (air launcher - under the wing of heavy bomber TB-3)
BIGpanzer
*Did USSR develop ballistic/cruise/AA missiles during WWII?
-
Eugene (J. Baker)
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Site of Kapustin Yar rocket polygon (in russian) http://www.kapyar.ru/BIGpanzer wrote:Guys!
Can anybody provide me with the info about the first Soviet serial ballistic long-range missiles of R-1 type, based on German V2 missiles (almost identical copy AFAIK) and the role of captured German engineers in development of that project?
Thanks in advance, BIGpanzer
Also page in Russian - http://rau-rostov.narod.ru/01/rvsn-rsd/r-1.htm
Thanks a lot for the qiute interesting links! The link about Kapustin Yar rocket polygon is available also on English and contains the specifications of all Soviet ballistic missiles of 1950s-2000s, which is quite interesting for me also.
Today I am going to post some short info about first Soviet ballistic missile R-1 (copy of German V2), which I could find.
Regards, BIGpanzer
Today I am going to post some short info about first Soviet ballistic missile R-1 (copy of German V2), which I could find.
Regards, BIGpanzer
Soviet ballistic missile R-1 (copy of V2)
Very shortly about the first Soviet serial ballistic missile R-1 (copy of German V2).
At first Soviets captured many destroyed details from V2, including combustion chamber and fuel tanks, from the German polygon in Poland. Many famous Soviet missile engineers (including Tikhonravov, Pobedonostsev, Isaev, etc.) studied those secret details in Moscow. Soviet engineers were impressed with the power of German rocket engine. In 1945 many Soviet specialists came to Germany and began to collect the theoretical and practical material in Peenemünde since 1 June 1945, also in Nordhausen (where US soldiers tried to capture important materials before the Soviets).
USA could capture several hundreds of V2 and the main German rocket specialists before Soviets could do it.
A little bit later Soviets established in Germany the missile research institute (so called "Institute Rabe" - Raketenbau und Entwicklung), where many German engineers worked, but those Germans were not the main specialists (the majority of the most important German specialists capitulated in US occupation zone). Soviet mission organized the enticement of German engineers from US occupation zone, promising them more higher salary than in USA. And quite successfully - for example, H. Grettrup (chief engineer of the rocket control systems at Peenemünde) decided to work in collaboration with the USSR.
Soviet engineers could repair one of the German rocket plant and also sent to USSR the details, enough for 10 V2 production.
In autumn 1945 the new more large Soviet-German research institute "Nordhausen" was established, which included "Rabe" as the department of control systems. The chief engineer of "Nordhausen" became S. Korolev. Institute "Berlin" was responsible for ground equipment for the rockets.
German engineers had the salary more higher than Soviet engineers, and scientific collaboration was very successfull.
But in April 1946 several new rocket plants and research institutes were built in USSR (mainly near Moscow - Monino, Khimki, Podlipki) and all scientific work was transformed from Germany to USSR (7000 German scientists with familieswere moved also, including 150 rocket engineers - many of them voluntarily, but the most important specialists - obligatory. In last case, nevertheless, they could take to USSR everything and everybody they want and NKVD units, responsible for their comfortable transportation, received the strictest order to obey maximal politeness).
Since 1947 all German specialists were collected in one secret research institute (branch of the institute No.88 at Khimki) at Gorodomlya island (Seliger lake) - on the way between Moscow and Leningrad, but they could visit Moscow during the week-ends.
In Khimki German engineers developed the unique rocket engine KS-59 in 1948, which became the prototype of the Soviet ED-140 engine by Engineer Glushko (tractive force 7 t, 1951) and its design was used during the next 15 years.
Missile poligon Kapustin Yar was established at Volga river, and since autimn 1947 several experimental V1 and V2 launches were made there. The first launch of V2 took place on 18 October 1947 (missile covered 207 km and was destroyed in stratosphere because of 30 km aberrance). The second launch (20 October 1947) was unsuccessfull - missile covered 231 km with 180 km aberrance and fortunately didn`t damage the large Saratov city. German engineers could find the reason of large abberance.
In parallel Soviets began to produce the copy of V2 as R-1 since 1948, especially hard was to produce the control systems for them as they were very complicated. On 10 October 1948 the first successfull launch of R-1 (with radio control of aerodynamic rudders and jet reactors) took place at Kapustin Yar. More than 13 research institutes and 35 plants participated in R-1 production. R-1 was equipped with engine RD-100, had nonstructural fuel tanks for liquig oxygen, 75% ethanol and hydrogen peroxide. Near 10 launches in 1948 and 20 in 1949 were made. Since November 1950 the R-1 and modernized R-1A equipped the 92nd special missile brigade (Kapustin Yar). R-1 had NATO nation SS-1 "Scanner". R-1 was overweighted, had quite inefficient engine and deficient design for early 1950s, so its range (300 km) was insufficient for the real ballistic missile. Also the hyroscopic contol system had large weight - 200 kg and was not perfect also.
Near 20 ground special apparatus were responsible for the launch of R-1. 11 crew members prepared the launch during 4 hours.
Modernized R-1M had low weight, much more better control system and range 600 km instead of 300. Ten launches of R-1M were made in 1955, but it didn`t go into serial production as already more modern missiles appeared.
Also several models of scientific V-1A, B, V, D, E (with separate head, containing meteorological apparatus) reached the 102 km altitude since 1949, several missiles were launched with animals on board. Those were the civil modifications of R-1 missile with weight near 14 t, including 0.8-1.8 t of payload; 15-18 m high and speed near 1700 m/s.
Nevertheless, the role of R-1 was very important as the first serial Soviet ballistic missile and predecessor of all further Soviet ballistic missiles. The scientific work of German and Soviet engineers was also of great importance for the future space flights.
Specifications of R-1: range 290 km; speed 1465 m/s; altitude 77 km; flight time 5 min; engine tractive force 27-31 t; accuracy (aberrance) 1.5 km; weight 13.4 t with 0.815 t of explosives + 8.5t of fuel; length 14.6m.
Also the more powerful missiles were developed by Germans (in Gorodomlya bv H. Grettrup - project G-1 with range 810 km; small aberrance, only 3 km; light weight 11.87t instead of 13.17 of V2) and by Soviets (at Podlipki by S. Korolev). S. Korolev had power and influence, so his project R-2 won the competition as Korolev`s institute was equipped better. But German design of G-1 was of more progressive design, nevertheless. In addition H. Grettrup developed the powerful G-2 (1 t of explosives, range 2500 km), but again the State commission prefered Korolev`s R-2 (modernized V2 in reality) as more cheap in production.
In 1949 German engineers developed G-4 (range 3000 km with 3 t of nuclear explosives), which was much better than Korolev`s R-4 in many aspects. But only Korolev`s missiles went to production and in 1951-1953 all German engineers returned back to Germany as their projects were closed, but Soviets used the Grettrup`s ideas later.
Since 1950 the development of missiles on the basis of R-1 for research aims of Academy of Sciences of USSR was started.
The photo of Soviet ballistic missile R-1 - http://www.kapyar.ru/photo/220-01.jpg
R-1 in flight - http://www.videocosmos.com/images/burya/r-1.jpg
R-1 with ground mobile launcher - http://space.skyrocket.de/img_lau/r-_1__1.jpg
R-1 at Kapustin Yar poligon - http://www.videocosmos.com/images/calendar/25111950.jpg
The structure of R-1 (V2) as drawing - http://www.kapyar.ru/photo/r1.jpg
The memorial of R-1 at Kapustin yar poligon (modern photo) -
http://old.mil.ru/images/upload/pamjatnik-r-1-(poligon-kapus.jpg
Also quite interesting photos of R-1 during detraining after arrival to Kapüustin Yar polygon:
http://www.kapyar.ru/photo/r1002.jpg
http://www.kapyar.ru/photo/r1009.jpg
At first Soviets captured many destroyed details from V2, including combustion chamber and fuel tanks, from the German polygon in Poland. Many famous Soviet missile engineers (including Tikhonravov, Pobedonostsev, Isaev, etc.) studied those secret details in Moscow. Soviet engineers were impressed with the power of German rocket engine. In 1945 many Soviet specialists came to Germany and began to collect the theoretical and practical material in Peenemünde since 1 June 1945, also in Nordhausen (where US soldiers tried to capture important materials before the Soviets).
USA could capture several hundreds of V2 and the main German rocket specialists before Soviets could do it.
A little bit later Soviets established in Germany the missile research institute (so called "Institute Rabe" - Raketenbau und Entwicklung), where many German engineers worked, but those Germans were not the main specialists (the majority of the most important German specialists capitulated in US occupation zone). Soviet mission organized the enticement of German engineers from US occupation zone, promising them more higher salary than in USA. And quite successfully - for example, H. Grettrup (chief engineer of the rocket control systems at Peenemünde) decided to work in collaboration with the USSR.
Soviet engineers could repair one of the German rocket plant and also sent to USSR the details, enough for 10 V2 production.
In autumn 1945 the new more large Soviet-German research institute "Nordhausen" was established, which included "Rabe" as the department of control systems. The chief engineer of "Nordhausen" became S. Korolev. Institute "Berlin" was responsible for ground equipment for the rockets.
German engineers had the salary more higher than Soviet engineers, and scientific collaboration was very successfull.
But in April 1946 several new rocket plants and research institutes were built in USSR (mainly near Moscow - Monino, Khimki, Podlipki) and all scientific work was transformed from Germany to USSR (7000 German scientists with familieswere moved also, including 150 rocket engineers - many of them voluntarily, but the most important specialists - obligatory. In last case, nevertheless, they could take to USSR everything and everybody they want and NKVD units, responsible for their comfortable transportation, received the strictest order to obey maximal politeness).
Since 1947 all German specialists were collected in one secret research institute (branch of the institute No.88 at Khimki) at Gorodomlya island (Seliger lake) - on the way between Moscow and Leningrad, but they could visit Moscow during the week-ends.
In Khimki German engineers developed the unique rocket engine KS-59 in 1948, which became the prototype of the Soviet ED-140 engine by Engineer Glushko (tractive force 7 t, 1951) and its design was used during the next 15 years.
Missile poligon Kapustin Yar was established at Volga river, and since autimn 1947 several experimental V1 and V2 launches were made there. The first launch of V2 took place on 18 October 1947 (missile covered 207 km and was destroyed in stratosphere because of 30 km aberrance). The second launch (20 October 1947) was unsuccessfull - missile covered 231 km with 180 km aberrance and fortunately didn`t damage the large Saratov city. German engineers could find the reason of large abberance.
In parallel Soviets began to produce the copy of V2 as R-1 since 1948, especially hard was to produce the control systems for them as they were very complicated. On 10 October 1948 the first successfull launch of R-1 (with radio control of aerodynamic rudders and jet reactors) took place at Kapustin Yar. More than 13 research institutes and 35 plants participated in R-1 production. R-1 was equipped with engine RD-100, had nonstructural fuel tanks for liquig oxygen, 75% ethanol and hydrogen peroxide. Near 10 launches in 1948 and 20 in 1949 were made. Since November 1950 the R-1 and modernized R-1A equipped the 92nd special missile brigade (Kapustin Yar). R-1 had NATO nation SS-1 "Scanner". R-1 was overweighted, had quite inefficient engine and deficient design for early 1950s, so its range (300 km) was insufficient for the real ballistic missile. Also the hyroscopic contol system had large weight - 200 kg and was not perfect also.
Near 20 ground special apparatus were responsible for the launch of R-1. 11 crew members prepared the launch during 4 hours.
Modernized R-1M had low weight, much more better control system and range 600 km instead of 300. Ten launches of R-1M were made in 1955, but it didn`t go into serial production as already more modern missiles appeared.
Also several models of scientific V-1A, B, V, D, E (with separate head, containing meteorological apparatus) reached the 102 km altitude since 1949, several missiles were launched with animals on board. Those were the civil modifications of R-1 missile with weight near 14 t, including 0.8-1.8 t of payload; 15-18 m high and speed near 1700 m/s.
Nevertheless, the role of R-1 was very important as the first serial Soviet ballistic missile and predecessor of all further Soviet ballistic missiles. The scientific work of German and Soviet engineers was also of great importance for the future space flights.
Specifications of R-1: range 290 km; speed 1465 m/s; altitude 77 km; flight time 5 min; engine tractive force 27-31 t; accuracy (aberrance) 1.5 km; weight 13.4 t with 0.815 t of explosives + 8.5t of fuel; length 14.6m.
Also the more powerful missiles were developed by Germans (in Gorodomlya bv H. Grettrup - project G-1 with range 810 km; small aberrance, only 3 km; light weight 11.87t instead of 13.17 of V2) and by Soviets (at Podlipki by S. Korolev). S. Korolev had power and influence, so his project R-2 won the competition as Korolev`s institute was equipped better. But German design of G-1 was of more progressive design, nevertheless. In addition H. Grettrup developed the powerful G-2 (1 t of explosives, range 2500 km), but again the State commission prefered Korolev`s R-2 (modernized V2 in reality) as more cheap in production.
In 1949 German engineers developed G-4 (range 3000 km with 3 t of nuclear explosives), which was much better than Korolev`s R-4 in many aspects. But only Korolev`s missiles went to production and in 1951-1953 all German engineers returned back to Germany as their projects were closed, but Soviets used the Grettrup`s ideas later.
Since 1950 the development of missiles on the basis of R-1 for research aims of Academy of Sciences of USSR was started.
The photo of Soviet ballistic missile R-1 - http://www.kapyar.ru/photo/220-01.jpg
R-1 in flight - http://www.videocosmos.com/images/burya/r-1.jpg
R-1 with ground mobile launcher - http://space.skyrocket.de/img_lau/r-_1__1.jpg
R-1 at Kapustin Yar poligon - http://www.videocosmos.com/images/calendar/25111950.jpg
The structure of R-1 (V2) as drawing - http://www.kapyar.ru/photo/r1.jpg
The memorial of R-1 at Kapustin yar poligon (modern photo) -
http://old.mil.ru/images/upload/pamjatnik-r-1-(poligon-kapus.jpg
Also quite interesting photos of R-1 during detraining after arrival to Kapüustin Yar polygon:
http://www.kapyar.ru/photo/r1002.jpg
http://www.kapyar.ru/photo/r1009.jpg
Last edited by BIGpanzer on 22 Sep 2005, 19:19, edited 4 times in total.
Really, does anybody have some more info about the first Soviet experimental guided surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles of 1930s?
They were tested successfully and had excellent specifications for their time - for example, cruise missile "212" with automatic gyroscope could deliver 30 kg of explosives with speed 380 m/s (near 1368 km/h) on 50-80 km (it was analogue of V-1, but appeared much more earlier). Also AA missiles "217/I" and "217/II", guided by special searchlight beam or infra-red rays, and even air-to-surface long-range cruise missiles for TB-3 bombers were tested several times till 1939......
They were tested successfully and had excellent specifications for their time - for example, cruise missile "212" with automatic gyroscope could deliver 30 kg of explosives with speed 380 m/s (near 1368 km/h) on 50-80 km (it was analogue of V-1, but appeared much more earlier). Also AA missiles "217/I" and "217/II", guided by special searchlight beam or infra-red rays, and even air-to-surface long-range cruise missiles for TB-3 bombers were tested several times till 1939......