In the 30s of the last century, against the backdrop of a rapidly changing situation in the world, the USSR had an urgent need to create modern military forces. USSR equipment lagged far behind European countries, and the country's security needed to be maintained. Soon, Russian designers and military engineers set to work.
Targets and goals
The government has set several tasks for designers:
- Improvement of existing weapons and equipment of the USSR.
- Creation in the next two years of the most modern, efficient and powerful models of aircraft, tanks, artillery installations.
- The introduction of these samples in the Russian army as soon as possible.
- The creation of new small arms, machine guns, mortars.
Chasing the perfect weapon
The goals and objectives set by the government had to be fulfilled. With rapid force, the country's military production spun. The plan was successfully implemented. In just two or three years, more than 350,000 thousand units of various military equipment were designed and manufactured.
In pursuit of perfect weapons, the government did not spare its people at all. The military equipment of the USSR was really expensive. Gold, silver, platinum diamonds were sold abroad in a huge amount. Large stocks of timber, oil, nickel, manganese and cotton were exported.
Sold the property of churches and museums, libraries and art galleries. Bread tons exported abroad. The standard of living of the population was rapidly falling, people were starving.
War time
At the cost of health and the lives of millions of Russian people, the military power of the country grew even during the difficult war years. The development of technology in the USSR continued. In wartime, the titanic labor of the people, the pace of production increased rapidly.
Over 136,000 thousand aircraft, over 100,000 thousand tanks, and about half a million small arms were produced.
Let us consider briefly what the safety equipment of the USSR was.
Armored and mechanized troops
- The most popular at the beginning of World War II was a high-speed tank - BT. He developed a speed of up to 70 km / h, had a power reserve of 700 km, and could ride on water. He was very maneuverable and agile. On a bad and broken road he moved on tracks, but on a good and even road he could drive like a car - tracks were discarded.
- Heavy tank KV. Exceeded in its characteristics and power any German tank. It had strong armor, good maneuverability and handling. In the battle of Moscow, KV markedly distinguished itself: it destroyed a large number of Nazi special equipment, soldiers, officers, and caused indignation and amazement at the enemy. For all the time while he was shooting at German fortifications and destroying the Nazis, no one could destroy and set him on fire.
- The T-34 is a medium tank that was launched in 1940. Initially, he did not meet all the requirements and showed himself rather poorly. But during the modernization, its characteristics were improved. The "new" version of the T-34 was reliable, well-controlled, and developed a speed of up to 55 km / h. It had a relatively small weight for the tank. It was equipped with a powerful gun, which can easily penetrate any German tank of 1941-1943.
Artillery equipment of the USSR
- A-19- such guns were made back in the 30s. Created for counter-battery warfare. With the help of such deadly guns, enemy rear lines were suppressed, all paths for transporting food and ammunition were cut off. The A-19 exceeded all foreign artillery pieces of this type in its characteristics. She was very effective and accurate. The big disadvantage of this gun was its weight. She was heavy.
- 57-mm anti-tank gun - the first one was assembled back in 1940, but because of the large mass, it was decided to redo its design. As a result, in 1941 a new 57-mm gun was released. She exceeded the capabilities and characteristics of her English counterpart. Could penetrate 90 mm tank armor. It was created to suppress infantry fire weapons, tanks, armored vehicles and manpower.
Soviet aviation
- Pe-2 is a bomber that appeared in 1940. It was equipped with modern for its time electrical engineering and specialized equipment. In particular, it had a pressurized cabin and a remote control. Used for bombing attacks from horizontal flight.
- IL-2 - combat aircraft. It provided substantial air support to the Soviet ground forces. Originally created as a single. But since the losses among the IL-2 aircraft were large, the design was modernized. Second place was added for the gunner.
- Yak-3 - was a development of the Yak-1M combat aircraft. Developed a speed of up to 650 km / h, it was very maneuverable and light.
- LA-7 - a wooden fighter. It was adopted near the end of the war. The design was equipped with powerful weapons. Reduced weight. Improved aerodynamics.
Some aircraft of the USSR were made of wood because metal during the war became a deficit. The production of tanks, shells, artillery installations consumed large reserves of metal. Therefore, in the construction of many fighters and combat aircraft used birch, delta wood and plywood.
Such aircraft, upon completion of construction, were coated with resin glue and carefully polished. In the language of the pilots they were called "grand pianos."
That was it - the weapon of Victory.
Post-war technique
After the war ended, the USSR continued to develop its technical and military potential. It was at this time that such types of automatic and artillery weapons were designed as a Kalashnikov assault rifle, self-propelled guns, Simonov’s rifle, an updated Goryunov machine gun, Degtyarev light machine gun, various machine gun anti-tank grenade launchers.
New types of effective and powerful armored vehicles appeared: amphibious tank PT-76, medium tank T-54, heavy tank IS-4, T-10.
In the aviation industry, the Yak-25 fighter-interceptor, the SU-17, SU-7b bombers, as well as the AN-8, AN-12, AN-22 military transport aircraft, were launched .
Ground forces received such missile systems as the Wasp, Cube, Circle, Strela-2, Strela-3.
The USSR was rapidly developing its combat potential, and the military power of our country was in no way inferior to European countries, China and the United States.