Weapons 14/03/20 BM-13: when the Red Army first time shot from “Katyusha”
the History of BM-13 – the famous “Katyusha” is very bright and at the same time, controversial page of the great Patriotic war. We decided to talk about some of the mysteries of this legendary weapon.
the mystery of the first volley
Officially the first salvo 1-th experimental battery “Katyusha” ( 5 out of 7 units) under the command of captain Flerov gave 15 h 15 min, 14 July 1941 to the railway station in Orsha. Often gives the following description of what happened: “Over the ravine, overgrown with bushes, where hid the battery, I shot a cloud of smoke and dust. He heard the rumbling screech. Throwing out tongues of bright flame from the guides launchers rapidly slipped over hundreds of cigar-shaped shells.What a moment in the sky were visible black arrows, with increasing speed to gain altitude. From their bottoms with a roar escaped the elastic of the jet ashy-white gases. And then all together disappeared.” (…)
“A few seconds in the midst of enemy troops, one after another, fractionally shaking the ground, rattling explosions. There, where stood the cars with ammunition and fuel tanks, shot up huge geysers of fire and smoke.”
But if you open any reference books, we can see that the city of Orsha was left by Soviet troops a day later. And who was given a salvo? To imagine that the enemy could in a matter of hours to alter the railway track and to drive to the station the trains are problematic.
More maloveroyatno that first captured the city from the Germans includes the ammunition trains, the delivery of which even used captured Soviet locomotives and carriages.
In our day spread the hypothesis that the captain he had received orders to destroy the station Soviet trains with the property, which could be left to the enemy. Maybe so, but directtverdenii this version yet. Another assumption the author heard from one of the officers of the army of Belarus that was made several volleys, and if Jul 14, targeted approach to Orsha, German troops, the attack on the station was a day late.
But it is the hypothesis that makes you think, compare the facts, but established and confirmed documents are not yet. At the moment, even occasionally occurs unscientific debate, where for the first time joined the battle battery Flerov – Orsha or under Rodney? The distance between these cities is very decent – straight, more than 50 km, and the roads much further.
we Read in the same does not apply for scientific character of Wikipedia – “on July 14, 1941 (city Chelyabinsk) became the first combat use of “Katyusha” when the battery of rocket launchers I. A. Flerov direct fire covered a crowd of Germans in the Marketplace of the city. In honor of this event in the city is the monument “Katyusha” on a pedestal.”.
first, direct pointing to “Katyusha” is almost impossible, and second arms acting on the area, will cover not only the marketplace with the Germans and probably by the inhabitants of the city, but a few blocks around. What happened is another question. One thing we can say precisely enough – from the very beginning, the new weapon proved itself from the best side and met expectations. The note of the chief of artillery of the red army N. Voronova in the name of Malenkov on August 4, 1941 was noted:
“Means strong. To ramp up production. Continuously forming parts, regiments and divisions. Apply best massively and observe the utmost rapidity”.
the Mystery of the death of the battery Flerov
still remain mysterious and circumstances of the death of the battery Flerov 7 October 1941. Often indicates that the battery, giving a volley of direct fire, was destroyed by the crew.
Again: “Katyusha” direct fire is extremely dangerous and close to suicideconstant is a very high risk that a missile that has slipped from the rails will fall near the unit. According to the Soviet version of the battery was blown up, and of the 170 soldiers and commanders out of the ring, only managed to break 46.
the death toll in this battle was Ivan Andreevich Flerov. November 11, 1963, he was posthumously awarded the order of Patriotic war 1-St degree, and in 1995, the brave commander was awarded the title of hero of the Russian Federation. Before our time preserved the fragments of the rocket launchers discovered on the site of the death of the battery.
the German version says in turn that three of the seven units of the German army managed to capture. Although the first BM-13, if you believe German images fell into the hands of the enemy, apparently, much earlier, in August 1941.
“Katyusha” and “donkeys”
rocket artillery was not a novelty for the German troops. In the red Army, German rocket launchers are often called “donkeys” for the characteristic sound during the shooting. Contrary to popular belief, and installation and rockets still fall into enemy hands, but a direct copy, as it was with specimens of Soviet infantry and artillery weapons did not happen.
and the development of German rocket artillery has chosen a different path. For the first time during the great Patriotic war, German troops used a 150 mm rocket launchers in the battle for Brest fortress, marked by their use during the assault on Mogilev and other events. Soviet rocket launcher BM-13 was superior to the German system the firing range, giving at the same time for accuracy. Know the number of Soviet tanks, guns, planes, small arms, issued during the war years, but there is no figures on the number of Soviet rocket launchers, and the number lost during the war, “Katyusha”.
Clear is that it was a weapon of mass and played a major role in all the key military events of the great Patriotic war. In conclusionand I would like to mention that the history of Soviet rocket artillery during the war remains a very difficult and I can even say “slick” to those that still awaits its researchers. And how full and grateful will be the study – time will tell.
Russian Seven
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