Russian artillery: from Petrovsky gunners to Iskander

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Russian artillery has been the main firepower of the country for more than six centuries. The first guns under Dmitry Donskoy were foreign, but already in the 15th century, the production of domestic guns was established. For the organization of this defense enterprise (the so-called "cannon hut"), Aristotle Fioaventi, a famous foundry worker and architect, was involved.

Russian craftsmen learned a lot from foreign experts, and then surpassed them. The guns of that time, in addition to their fighting qualities, were often real works of art, they were cast by real artists, such as the legendary master Chokhov.

Regular artillery of Russia, like many other types of troops, was established by Peter the Great. The autocrat commanded the bombardment company of the Preobrazhensky Regiment for 11 years, his efforts contributed to the training and organization of gunners, which manifested itself in many brilliant victories of Russian weapons.

During World War II

war Soviet artillery was the most powerful in the world.

As jet technologies developed, opinion arose aboutthe fact that guns as a means of defeating enemy manpower and equipment are outdated. After the Korean War, there were no cases of large-scale use of large artillery units for a long time, but time has shown that their role is undeservedly underestimated.

The modern artillery of Russia is organizationally united with the missile forces. The functions of the MFA include the destruction of point and area targets at short and medium distances using conventional ammunition and special charges.

The experience of military operations in Afghanistan and Chechnya has shown that aviation, despite its advantages, as a rule, performs only a third of the tasks of remote destruction of targets, the rest of the work falls to the share of artillery. Regardless of the meteorological conditions and the time of day, the guns can fire accurately. It is also important that the cost of an artillery shot is incomparably lower than a rocket launch.

Fire accuracy is provided by ACS guidance, which in its modern form provides for fully automated topographic referencing and navigational orientation. The use of computer technology significantly reduces the consumption of ammunition and increases the effectiveness of the combat use of fire weapons.

Russian rocket artillery began its history with the Katyusha guards mortar, which proved its crushing power during the Great Patriotic War.

Iskander operational-tactical systems in service today are capable of hitting targetssmall sizes, protected by means of electronic countermeasures. Their range exceeds 280 kilometers.

Russian artillery is divided according to its functional purpose and technical base into cannon, howitzer, anti-tank, mortar, including support, command and reconnaissance units. It also includes anti-tank missile systems, large-caliber rocket launchers, tactical short- and medium-range missiles.

The organizational structure, according to which the Russian Artillery is organized, provides for the division of command functions between ground headquarters, coastal RVMA, Airborne Forces, border guards (mainly mortar units) and internal troops.

Nine military special educational institutions across the country, including the cadet corps, train personnel for the Russian artillery.