Air defense systems during WWII. Anti-aircraft air defense systems of the Red Army. Rivne air defense brigade district

AIR DEFENSE FORCES DURING THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR (1941-1945) Teacher: Performed by: Vernokhaeva A. N. and Tkachenko A. Yu.

Air defense - a set of measures to ensure protection (defense) from enemy air attacks. April 8 is Air Defense Forces Day (Air Defense Forces Day)

The war caught the air defense troops during the period of their rearmament. There were still few new 37 mm automatic and 85 mm anti-aircraft guns in the anti-aircraft artillery. The troops did not have enough high-speed Yak-1 and MIG-3 fighters; 46% of the aircraft fleet were obsolete aircraft. Measures began to be taken at an accelerated pace to equip the troops with new equipment. Yak-1 MIG-3

At the beginning of massive fascist air raids, these formations included over 600 fighters, more than 1,000 medium and small caliber guns, about 350 machine guns, 124 air barrage balloon posts, 612 VNOS posts, 600 anti-aircraft searchlights Gas transport for the balloon

a balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft that uses for flight the lifting force of gas (or heated air) enclosed in a shell with a density lower than the density of the surrounding air; balloons were widely used to protect cities, industrial areas, factories, government buildings, naval bases and other objects from air attack. For accurate bombing, aircraft are forced to descend quite low and fly directly over the object. It was in such places, right above the roofs of buildings, above bridges, above factory chimneys, that barrage balloons were launched, preventing enemy bombers from bringing down a barrage of fire on the object. The height of the balloon’s “hovering” was calculated very accurately. The enemy plane could not fly under the balloon: when bombing from such a low altitude, the car would simply be covered by the blast wave from its own bombs. And if the plane dropped bombs from above, they destroyed the balloon (it also absorbed fragments), which softly fell on the object or next to it. Even when the balloon was hanging high at a great altitude, the pilot could not fly under it: the cables holding the air giant were in the way.

The action of barrage balloons was designed to damage aircraft when they collided with cables, shells, or explosive charges suspended on cables. This forced enemy aircraft to fly at high altitudes and made targeted dive bombing difficult.

According to the type of filling, balloons are divided into: gas - charliers, thermal - hot air balloons, combined - rosieres. Anti-aircraft guns were almost always in short supply - especially in cities subject to constant bombing. In addition, barrage balloons were a powerful weapon when combined with anti-aircraft guns. They rose most often at night, when the anti-aircraft guns were “blind”. During the day, while the enemy pilot was trying to fly around or shoot the balloon, the plane was tracked and shot from ground guns.

Katyusha is an unofficial Soviet collective name for domestic rocket artillery combat vehicles. 1941 - the first salvo of the famous “Katyusha” thundered. Based on the name of Blanter’s song, which became popular before the war, based on the words of Isakovsky “Katyusha”. The version is convincing, since the battery fired for the first time on July 14, 1941 (on the 23rd day of the war). She was shooting from a high steep mountain with direct fire - an association with a high steep bank in the song. Red Army soldier Kashirin, arriving at the battery after the shelling of Rudnya, exclaimed in surprise: “What a song!” “Katyusha,” answered Andrei Sapronov (from the memoirs of A. Sapronov in the Rossiya newspaper). Through the communications center of the headquarters company, the news about a miracle weapon called “Katyusha” within 24 hours became the property of the entire 20th Army, and through its command - the entire country. By the abbreviation “KAT” - there is a version that this is what the rangers called the BM-13 - “Kostikovsky automatic thermal” after the name of the project manager, Andrei Kostikov (however, given the secrecy of the project, the possibility of exchanging information between rangers and front-line soldiers is doubtful). Another option is that the name is associated with the “K” index on the mortar body - the installations were produced by the Kalinin plant (according to another source, the Comintern plant). And front-line soldiers loved to give nicknames to their weapons. For example, the M-30 howitzer was nicknamed “Mother”, the ML-20 howitzer gun was nicknamed “Emelka”. Yes, and BM 13 was sometimes called “Raisa Sergeevna” at first, thus deciphering the abbreviation RS (missile).

Another, exotic version. The guides on which the projectiles were mounted were called ramps. The forty-two-kilogram projectile was lifted by two fighters harnessed to the straps, and the third usually helped them, pushing the projectile so that it lay exactly on the guides, and he also informed those holding it that the projectile had risen and rolled and rolled onto the guides. It should also be noted that the installations were so secret that it was even forbidden to use the commands “pli”, “fire”, “volley”, instead they sounded “sing” or “play” (to start it was necessary to turn the handle of the electric coil very quickly), that , may also have been associated with the song “Katyusha”. And for our infantry, a salvo of Katyusha rockets was the most pleasant music.

Many bombers were equipped with devices for cutting the cables of barrage balloons. The Germans tried very hard to protect their own planes from the “attacks” of balloons. In particular, so-called paravanes were installed on bombers. The paravane was a triangle of cables connecting the nose of the aircraft (extended with a special pole) and the ends of its wings. Thus, the balloon cable simply slid off the plane without catching on the propellers or other protruding parts. However, only a very skilled pilot could keep the plane in the air after such a collision. Besides paravanes, there were other solutions. Blades were installed on the wings for cutting cables (to put it bluntly, they were of little help), and the planes were equipped with squibs for setting fire to balloons.

“Night Witches” 46th Guards Taman Red Banner Order of Suvorov 3rd degree night bomber aviation regiment (46th Guards nbap) - a women's aviation regiment as part of the USSR Air Force during the Great Patriotic War. During the war years, 23 servicemen of the regiment were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union

The air defense troops defending Moscow destroyed 738 enemy aircraft. In addition, the 6th Fighter Aviation Corps, carrying out assault strikes, destroyed 567 aircraft at enemy airfields. In total, the Air Defense Forces destroyed 1,305 aircraft, and 450 tanks and 5,000 vehicles were destroyed in battles with ground enemies.

On November 9, 1941, the position of Commander of the Air Defense Forces of the country was introduced and Major General Gromadin was appointed to it.

To improve the interaction of air defense forces and means, in January 1942, fighter aviation was subordinated to the air defense command. In April 1942, the Moscow Air Defense Front was formed, and air defense armies were created in Leningrad and Baku. The first operational formations of the Air Defense Forces appeared.

In June 1943, the Office of the Commander of the Air Defense Forces of the country was disbanded. After the reorganizations, by April 1944, the Western and Eastern Fronts were created, as well as the Transcaucasian Air Defense Zone, which in the same year were reorganized into the Northern, Southern and Transcaucasian Air Defense Fronts. The air defense troops defending Moscow were reorganized into the Special Moscow Air Defense Army. In the Far East, in March 1945, three air defense armies were created: Primorskaya, Priamurskaya, Transbaikalskaya.

During the war, anti-aircraft artillery and fighter aviation were organizationally formed as branches of the air defense forces. During the Second World War, the Air Defense Forces successfully completed their tasks. They ensured the defense of industry and communications, allowing only individual aircraft to break through to objects, as a result of which there were short-term shutdowns of enterprises and disruptions in the movement of trains on certain sections of the railways.

Carrying out their tasks, the Air Defense Forces of the country destroyed 7,313 Nazi aviation aircraft, of which 4,168 by IA forces and 3,145 by anti-aircraft artillery, machine-gun fire and barrage balloons. Over 80,000 soldiers, sergeants, officers and generals of the Air Defense Forces were awarded orders and medals, and 92 soldiers were awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union and 1 twice. For successful military operations, 11 formations and units of the Air Defense Forces were awarded honorary titles and 29 guards ranks.

Reorganization of the country's air defense structure in 1941-1942.

In conditions of a general retreat, it was necessary to repeatedly regroup air defense forces and means to protect the country's new installations that found themselves within the reach of enemy aircraft.

The first period of the war - 1941 (June-December)

With the beginning of the war, the Southwestern and Southern fronts were formed.

The directive of July 23, 1941 temporarily closed the air defense zones: Northern, Northwestern, Kiev and Southern. The commanders of these air defense zones were appointed to the positions of air defense chiefs of front troops or their deputies. The headquarters of the air defense zones were temporarily integrated into the air defense directorates of the fronts.

STATE DEFENSE COMMITTEE.
DECISION No. GKO-233ss
dated July 22, 1941

To organize air defense of the most important industrial and economic facilities and points of the USSR, it is urgent to provide cover:

9. Power plants:

a) Zuevka - one division consisting of 4 76-mm guns and 8 MZA guns, (ZuGRES, Donbass);
b) Shterovka - one division consisting of 4 76-mm guns and 8 MZA guns, (near Kharkov).

10. Industrial points of the Donbass region:

a) Lugansk;
b) Makeevka;
c) Stalino.

Cover each point with one division of 12 76-mm guns and 4 MZA guns.

234 back - ZuGRES 4 76-mm guns and 8 MZA guns (as of 09/30/41, 1 76-mm gun model 1915).
235 back - ShterGRES 4 76 mm guns and 8 MZA guns (as of September 30, 1941, 4 76 mm guns model 1915).
80 return – Lugansk. The division was formed in Lugansk on August 2, 1941, and from October 27, 1941, it was redeployed to the Lozhki junction under the command of the Stalingrad divisional air defense region. As of 09/30/41, 8 - 37 mm MZA.

To provide cover from air strikes for Kiev and the troops of the Southwestern Front defending it, as well as crossings across the Dnieper, significant forces and means of the country's air defense were brought in: more than 300 anti-aircraft artillery guns, 110 fighter aircraft, more than 120 anti-aircraft machine guns, 81 barrage balloons and about 300 VNOS posts.

On November 9, 1941, the State Defense Committee (GKO) decided to introduce the post of Deputy People's Commissar of Defense for Air Defense (also commander of the country's Air Defense Forces).

To ensure centralized control of these forces, the Kiev Air Defense District was created, under the command of which were the 3rd Air Defense Division, the 36th Fighter Aviation Division and military anti-aircraft artillery units allocated for the defense of Kyiv. Artillery Major General V.G. Pozdnyakov, who was also the commander of the 3rd Air Defense Division, was appointed commander of the air defense region troops.

Air defense formations and units that were part of the Kyiv, Kharkov and Southern air defense zones, together with the troops of the fronts, retreated in three directions to Voronezh, to the region of Rostov-on-Don, Stalingrad and Crimea.

On November 9, 1941, the State Defense Committee (GKO) decided to introduce the post of Deputy People's Commissar of Defense for Air Defense (also commander of the country's Air Defense Forces). Under him, a headquarters was created, heads of air defense troops and services were appointed. All formations and air defense units of the country were subordinate to the commander of the country's Air Defense Forces, except for the air defense forces and means covering Leningrad.

Retreating air defense brigade areas are disbanded, change their name to a new location, or turn to recruiting new air defense formations.

Names	Periods of occurrence into the current one army	Subsequent reorganization and transformations
Rivne air defense brigade district	22.06.41-25.10.41	Disbanded
Stanislavsky air defense brigade district	22.06.41-15.07.41	Renamed to Kanevsky Br. air defense district
Kanevsky air defense brigade district Renamed from Stanislavsky Br. air defense district	15.07.41-21.08.41	Renamed to Lubensky bro. air defense district
Lubensky air defense brigade district Renamed from Kanevsky Br. air defense district	21.08.41-21.09.41	Renamed to Belgorodsky Br. air defense district (I)
Tarnopol brigade air defense district	22.06.41-02.05.41	Disbanded
Chisinau air defense brigade district	22.06.41-24.11.41	Disbanded
Zaporozhye brigade air defense region	22.06.41-23.12.41	Tasked with manning the Stalingrad Division. air defense district
Pervomaisky air defense brigade district	22.06.41-24.11.41	Reformed into Grozny Division. air defense district (I)
Vinnitsa air defense brigade district	22.06.41-10.09.41	Reformed into the Reserve Air Defense Brigade of the Southern Fleet
Reserve Air Defense Brigade SF Reformed from Vinnytsia bro. air defense district	10.09.41-03.11.41	Reformed into Stalingrad Br. air defense district
Stalingrad brigade air defense region Reformed from the Reserve Air Defense Brigade of the Southern Fleet	03.11.41-24.11.41	Reformed into the Stalingrad Division. air defense district
Voronezh air defense brigade district	01.07.41-20.11.41	Disbanded
Donbass brigade air defense region	22.06.41-01.08.42	Disbanded
Zhytomyr air defense brigade district	22.06.41-14.07.41	Renamed to Ostersky bro. air defense district
Oster brigade air defense district Renamed from Zhytomyr bro. air defense district	14.07.41-23.08.41	Renamed to Sumy bro. air defense district
Sumy brigade air defense district Renamed from Ostersky bro. air defense district	23.08.41-06.10.41	Renamed to Belgorodsky Br. air defense district (II)
Konotop air defense brigade district	22.06.41-25.09.41	Renamed to Kupyansky Br. air defense district
Kupyansky air defense brigade district Renamed from Konotop bro. air defense district	25.09.41-02.11.41	Renamed to Rossoshansky bro. air defense district
Rossoshansky air defense brigade district Renamed from Kupyansky Br. air defense district	02.11.41-01.12.41	Disbanded
Novorossiysk air defense brigade district	25.06.41-04.11.41	Renamed to Krasnodar bro. air defense district
Krasnodar air defense brigade district Renamed from Novorossiysk Br. air defense district	04.11.41-09.12.41	Reformed into Krasnodar Division. air defense district

Instead of the air defense zones that existed in the European part of the USSR, corps air defense areas and new divisional air defense areas were created:

• Voronezh-Borisoglebsky (11/20/41)
• Groznensky (24.11.41)
• Krasnodar (09.12.41)
• Stalingrad (26.04.42)

Formations and units of fighter aircraft intended for the country's air defense were operationally subordinate to the commander of the country's Air Defense Forces, and locally - to the commanders of the corresponding air defense areas.

In accordance with the order of the People's Commissar of Defense dated January 22, 1942, all fighter aircraft allocated for air defense purposes became part of the Air Defense Forces. To support combat operations of fighter aircraft, 56 airfield service battalions were allocated. In organizational terms, this meant the creation of a new independent branch of the military - air defense fighter aviation.

Order of the People's Commissar of Defense No. 056
on changes in the subordination and support of corps and divisions
and individual air defense fighter aviation regiments of the country's territory

1. Corps, divisions and individual regiments of fighter aviation allocated for air defense of the country's territory are completely subordinate to the commander of the air defense forces of the country's territory.

2. The Main Directorate of the Red Army Air Force and the district military councils are left with the responsibility of providing the indicated units with all types of food and technical supplies.

3. The commander of the Red Army Air Force to allocate 56 airfield service battalions to provide air defense fighter aviation units and subordinate them to the commanders of the corresponding aviation corps, divisions and individual regiments.

4. Introduce additionally the post of chief of staff, logistics and personnel departments and a transport aviation detachment into the composition of the Air Defense Fighter Aviation Directorate of the country's territory.

At the beginning of 1942, new formations of the country's Air Defense Forces were created; The Ural and Rostov air defense divisional areas were additionally deployed. The Stalingrad divisional area was transformed into a corps air defense area.

Air defense troops in the summer and autumn of 1942

May 1942 - Beginning. Air Defense Directorate of the South-Western Fleet Troops, Major General of Artillery R. A. Dzivin, Military Commissar of the South-Western Fleet Military Commissar, Battalion Commissar Bednov P. I.

In the summer and autumn of 1942, the main enemy group was deployed on the southern wing, where there were 97 divisions (900 thousand people, 1.2 thousand tanks and assault guns, more than 17 thousand guns and mortars), supported by 1640 combat aircraft. These enemy forces were opposed by Soviet troops, who had approximately the same number of personnel and tanks, but were significantly inferior to the enemy in aircraft and guns. Thus, the 4th Air Fleet of Nazi Germany, operating in the Stalingrad direction, had 1,200 aircraft by July 17, while the 8th Air Army of the Stalingrad Front and the 102nd Air Defense Fighter Aviation Division had only 539 aircraft.

Enemy aviation concentrated its main efforts on the battlefield to support the advance of ground forces in the main directions and mass action against strongholds of the defense of Soviet troops on the front of Sevastopol, Voronezh, Rostov, Stalingrad.

The main task of the country's Air Defense Forces was to protect the most important administrative, political and economic centers of the USSR from air strikes. Significant forces were brought in to cover front-line communications and front-line rear facilities, as well as areas where strategic reserves were concentrated. To strengthen air defense on the southern flank, in the summer of 1942, the Astrakhan divisional air defense region was created, with the task of defending Astrakhan, the lower reaches of the Volga and the Astrakhan-Verkhniy Baskunchak railway. The anti-aircraft artillery defense of Baku and Krasnovodsk was strengthened.

The technical equipment of the country's Air Defense Forces has improved due to the entry into service of units of Yak-7 fighters, 85-mm anti-aircraft guns and radar stations.

The new offensive of the fascist German troops in the south in the summer of 1942 began with a blow in the Voronezh direction. The offensive of the troops was supported by the 4th Air Fleet, which had about 700-800 aircraft. Before the start of the offensive, enemy aircraft conducted intensive reconnaissance in the areas of Gryazi, Voronezh, Liski and Povorino, as well as railway lines in the sections of Marmyzhi-Kastornaya-Voronezh-Gryazi, Kupyansk-Valuyki-Liski-Povorino, Liski-Voronezh.

The air defense of Voronezh, the railway junctions of Povorino, Liski, Valuyki, Kupyansk, Kastornaya, Gryazi and front-line communications was carried out by the troops of the Voronezh-Borisoglebsk air defense region (commanded by Colonel P.E. Khoroshilov). This air defense area included: the newly formed 3rd Air Defense Division, which defended Voronezh itself; 4th Air Defense Division and individual units covering railway facilities. The 101st Fighter Aviation Division was operatively subordinate to the commander of the air defense area. By the beginning of the offensive of the Nazi troops, these formations included 300 anti-aircraft guns, 3 anti-aircraft armored trains, 150 anti-aircraft machine guns, 50 fighter aircraft and 80 anti-aircraft searchlights.

The direct defense of Voronezh was carried out by the newly formed 3rd Air Defense Division (division commander Colonel N. S. Sitnikov) and the 101st Air Defense Fighter Aviation Division (division commander Colonel N. I. Shvedov).

Medium-caliber anti-aircraft artillery was located in two combat sectors: the western - the head of the sector, the commander of the 254th anti-aircraft artillery regiment, Lieutenant Colonel V. M. Shuyakov, and the eastern - the head of the sector, the commander of the 183rd anti-aircraft artillery regiment, Major S. Ya. Belavenets.

The 101st Fighter Aviation Division, armed with 47 fighters, repelled enemy air raids on the approaches to Voronezh.

Reconnaissance of enemy air and warning of air defense troops was carried out by the 4th VNOS regiment, which was part of the divisional area, under the command of Major N. M. Krivitsky. It had a forward line of observation posts at the line of Marmyzhi, Gubkino, Korocha at a distance of 125 - 130 km from Voronezh ().

On June 28, 1942, German aviation began an air operation within the boundaries of the Voronezh-Borisoglebsk air defense region. From June 28 to the end of July 1942, units of the 101st Air Division carried out 2,413 sorties and conducted 68 air battles, in which they shot down 47 enemy aircraft. The fire of anti-aircraft artillery units of the 3rd Air Defense Division during June-July 1942 destroyed 127 aircraft, 46 tanks, more than 20 guns and mortars and a lot of enemy manpower.

Having met stubborn resistance, the Nazi troops turned south and began to advance along the right bank of the Don. From the second half of July 1942, defensive battles began on the distant approaches to Stalingrad.

By mid-August 1942, the enemy had concentrated over 1,400 aircraft in the Stalingrad direction, including about 800 bombers. The combat operations of the fascist German aviation were in the nature of an air operation.

The air defense of Stalingrad was carried out by the troops of the Stalingrad Corps Air Defense District (commanded by Colonel E. A. Rainin) and the 102nd Fighter Aviation Division operationally subordinate to him (commanded by Colonel I. I. Krasnoyurchenko, from October 1942 - Colonel I. G. Puntus) . These formations included about 60 fighter aircraft, 566 anti-aircraft guns (440 medium and 126 small caliber), 470 anti-aircraft machine guns, 81 barrage balloons, 165 anti-aircraft searchlights, 50 field guns (76 mm caliber), 220 anti-tank rifles.

Organization of air defense of Stalingrad

The city's air defense system was organized as follows.

The 102nd Fighter Aviation Division had its main task to ensure the interception and destruction of enemy air on the distant approaches to the city.

In addition to Stalingrad, the 102nd Fighter Aviation Division covered Astrakhan, railways and waterways within the air defense region, as well as troops of the Stalingrad Front, escorted bombers, and carried out assault strikes against enemy ground forces. The units of the 102nd Air Defense Fighter Aviation Division were staffed with young flight personnel and had an insufficient level of combat training. Therefore, in the first battles the division suffered heavy losses. Already from mid-August 1942, the division began to wage an effective fight against the air enemy. During July-December 1942, they destroyed 329 fascist aircraft.

Anti-aircraft artillery was supposed to provide all-round defense of the city and destroy enemy aircraft on the immediate approaches to Stalingrad and above it. Seven combat sectors were created to control anti-aircraft artillery fire. In each sector there were combat formations of one medium-caliber anti-aircraft artillery regiment with the assets assigned to it. Small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery and anti-aircraft machine guns were used to cover the most important targets from low-altitude and dive attacks. They were located directly next to these objects and on the roofs of buildings.

The fascist German command began an air operation against Stalingrad at the end of August.

On August 23, 1942, enemy aircraft launched one of the largest massive raids on Stalingrad. During the day, about 2,000 enemy aircraft sorties were recorded within the boundaries of the Stalingrad air defense corps region.

During the day on August 23, units of the Stalingrad Air Defense Corps District, in cooperation with fighter aircraft of the 8th Air Army, destroyed up to 120 enemy aircraft. The troops of the Stalingrad Corps Air Defense District conducted combat operations in close cooperation with the military air defense of the fronts.

However, due to the great superiority of the enemy in forces, it was not possible to protect the city from massive air strikes.

In August 1942, the Astrakhan divisional air defense region was created with the task of protecting Astrakhan, objects located in the lower reaches of the Volga, as well as the Astrakhan-Baskunchak railway. The same decision, to improve the defense of Baku and the oil industrial facilities of Absheron, provided for the formation of two new anti-aircraft artillery regiments of 100 guns each and one 60-gun regiment.
The air defense fighter aviation regiments were transferred to a three-squadron staff. At the same time, the three-aircraft flight was replaced by a flight of 4 aircraft, which was divided into two pairs. Three flights made up a squadron. Such an organization justified itself throughout the subsequent course of the war. The tactics of fighter aircraft also changed.

Order of the People's Commissar of Defense No. 0442
on the combat use of army air defense regiments in armies

To more successfully counter massive enemy air strikes on the battle formations of our troops, two army air defense regiments (12 37-mm anti-aircraft guns, 12 heavy machine guns and 8 quad 7.62 mm anti-aircraft machine gun installations each) are assigned to the four armies of the Southwestern Front. .

The regiments are subordinate to the deputy chiefs of artillery of the armies for air defense.

The combat mission of army air defense regiments is to cover the most vulnerable groupings and combat formations of ground troops from the air. Regiments must cover ground troops in areas of active enemy aviation operations.

Army air defense regiments must be used in battle, as a rule, in large numbers, with high mobility, and must maneuver widely within the boundaries of armies in order to timely counter enemy aircraft and defeat them.

While in the combat formations of their troops, air defense regiments must always be ready to fire with flat fire at ground targets (machine gun companies - to repel attacks by enemy infantry and anti-aircraft batteries - to repel attacks of enemy tanks and manpower).

People's Commissar of Defense I. Stalin

From July to December 1942, troops of the Stalingrad Air Defense Corps District destroyed over 600 enemy aircraft, which amounted to almost 50% of all aircraft concentrated by the enemy at the start of the air operation in the Stalingrad direction.

List of Directorates, military formations and air defense units that took part in the defense of Stalingrad from 07/12/42 to 11/18/42.

• Directorate of the Red Banner Stalingrad Corps Air Defense District;
• Anti-aircraft artillery regiments - 73rd Guards, 748, 1077, 1079, 1080, 1082, 1083, 1088, 1078th ZAP Air Defense;
• 43rd Searchlight Regiment;
• Dept. anti-aircraft artillery divisions - 82, 106, 188, 267, 284, 296, 93rd;
• Dept. anti-aircraft machine gun battalions - 15th, 16th;
• Dept. anti-aircraft machine gun companies - 123, 791;
• Dept. air defense platoons - 938, 939, 941, 944th;
• 10th separate battalion VNOS and 19th, 70th;
• Separate VNOS platoons - 105, 106th;
• Dept. anti-aircraft armored air defense trains - 72, 122, 126, 132, 137, 141, 142, 136, 181;
• 63rd separate communications battalion;
• 296th department anti-aircraft artillery division;
• 44th separate VNOS battalion (air surveillance and warning);
• 6th separate barrage balloon division;
• Art workshop of the building district.

Air defense troops in 1943

During the winter campaign of 1942-43, enemy aviation operated most intensively within the borders of the Stalingrad and Voronezh-Borisoglebsk air defense regions, which covered communications and other important objects during the counteroffensive of Soviet troops that unfolded near Stalingrad. The main efforts of the fascist German aviation were directed towards communications.

In 1943, compared to 1942, in the country's Air Defense Forces the number of fighter aircraft increased by 1.6 times, medium-caliber anti-aircraft guns - by 1.4, small-caliber anti-aircraft guns - by 4.7, large-caliber anti-aircraft machine guns - by 5.8 times. The growth in technical equipment of the country's Air Defense Forces made it possible to create a number of new formations and increase the depth of the air defense system in the European part of the USSR to 1100-1500 km.

During the counteroffensive near Stalingrad, the country's air defense troops covered the battle formations of the troops of the Southwestern, Don and Stalingrad fronts, as well as their communications and the most important rear facilities of these fronts.

A significant role in the fight against German aviation operating in the North Caucasus was played by the troops of the Transcaucasian air defense zone (commander, artillery lieutenant general P. E. Gudymenko) and the Rostov corps air defense region (commander, artillery major general N. V. Markov), who covered communications and other important objects of the Southern and Transcaucasian fronts.

With the beginning of the offensive of the troops of the Transcaucasian Front, units of the Transcaucasian air defense zone were regrouped to organize the defense of facilities and communications in the territory being liberated from the enemy.

The Bataysk and Rostov railway junctions, as well as the railway bridge across the Don near Rostov, were subjected to fierce enemy air strikes.

In the summer of 1943, the main military events unfolded in the Kursk region, where the enemy intended to launch two counter strikes with the aim of encircling and destroying the troops of the Central and Voronezh fronts occupying the Kursk bridgehead.

The German air fleets concentrated in this area had over 2,000 aircraft, including 1,200 bombers. This accounted for almost 70% of the enemy aircraft fleet operating at that time on the Soviet-German front.

Air defense of front-line communications, especially railways, became extremely important. Of the 670 bombing raids carried out by the Nazi Air Force in July 1943, 469 (69%) were on large railway stations, bridges and trains along the route. The main efforts were concentrated on the defense of railway junctions.

The forces of the Voronezh-Borisoglebsk Air Defense Division Region (commanded by Major General of Artillery N.K. Vasilkov) and the 101st Air Defense Fighter Aviation Division (commanded by Colonel A.T. Kostenko) ensured the defense of the most important communications facilities directly on the Kursk salient. A large role was given to anti-aircraft armored trains, which were used to independently cover railway stations and bridges, cover objects during the regrouping of anti-aircraft artillery, and escort trains en route.

The enemy air operation began on March 1 and lasted until July 4, 1943. At the beginning of the operation, fascist German aviation carried out systematic raids in small groups of aircraft, bombing large railway junctions and bridges on the railway lines: Uzlovaya-Elets-Kastornaya-Valuyki-Kupyansk; Ryazhsk-Michurinsk-Gryazi-Liski-Millerovo and on the highways departing from them to the front line: Gryazi-Elets-Verkhovye; Voronezh-Kastornaya-Kursk-Lgov; Liski-Valuiki-Kupyansk. The Voronezh-Kastornaya-Kursk highway was especially heavily affected. Having failed to achieve significant results, the enemy began to launch massive echeloned raids from mid-April. During April-June 1943, 10,283 enemy aircraft sorties were observed, which accounted for 30.3% of the total number of enemy aircraft sorties for the specified period within the operational boundaries of all associations and formations of the country's Air Defense Forces. The Kursk railway junction was subjected to the most severe attacks. About 900 enemy aircraft took part in only two massive raids (June 2 and 3) on this object.

To counter the advance of our army, the enemy sharply increased the intensity of air strikes against front-line communications. Of the 896 bombing raids of Nazi aviation in July-September 1943, 867 were launched against railway facilities and river crossings.

By the fall of 1943, having defeated the Nazi armies near Kursk, in Left-Bank Ukraine and in the Donbass, Soviet troops crossed the Dnieper and captured operational bridgeheads in the Kiev region, southeast of Kremenchug and in the Dnepropetrovsk region.

The uninterrupted operation of crossings across the Dnieper was one of the conditions that allowed our troops to successfully develop offensive operations in Right Bank Ukraine. The crossings in the areas of Kyiv, Perevolochnaya, Ulyanovka, Sukhachevka and Kushugumovka were especially important. These crossings were covered by troops of the Kyiv (11/17/43) and Donbass (10/5/43) corps and Kharkov (1/3/43) divisional air defense regions.

At least one anti-aircraft artillery regiment was allocated to cover each crossing area. The largest grouping of the country's Air Defense Forces was focused on protecting crossings in the Kyiv area: 150 fighter aircraft, over 350 anti-aircraft guns, 72 anti-aircraft machine guns and other means of the Kyiv Air Defense Corps Region. In addition, the 9th Chemical Brigade of the 1st Ukrainian Front was operatively subordinate to him, providing camouflage of crossings with smoke during enemy air raids.

The order of the commander of the troops of the Belorussian Front dated November 31, 1943 stated:

“Parts of the Kursk air defense corps district (06.10.43 renamed from the Voronezh air defense district corps) of artillery major general N.K. Vasilkov together with the attached 9th air defense fighter aviation corps of General S.G. Korol during April -November 1943 acted to cover the front's communications. During this entire 8-month period, units of the specified air defense area successfully completed the assigned combat mission. Enemy air raids were skillfully repulsed by anti-aircraft artillery and fighter aircraft with heavy losses for the enemy. This happened in May - June when repelling massive enemy air raids on Kursk. In the same way, all raids on railway bridges and stations Kastornaya, Kshen, Cheremisovo, Shchigry and others were repulsed, always with a great defeat for enemy aircraft. This ensured an uninterrupted supply of the front troops with everything necessary for combat and life.
The successful offensive of the front forces required their increased supply. Hundreds of trains went to the front. They arrived safely at the front thanks to skillful maneuvering of air defense systems and their successful operation.”

Air defense troops in 1944-45.

By the beginning of January 1944, the largest grouping of forces and means of the country's air defense forces in the front-line zone was created in the South-Western direction, where the main blow was delivered. In the offensive zones of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Ukrainian Fronts and the Separate Primorsky Army, four corps air defense regions (Kursk, Donbass, Kiev, Kharkov air defense corps regions) and two fighter aviation corps (9th, 10th IAK) operated.

These formations contained more than 50% of the anti-aircraft artillery and fighter aircraft available in the front-line air defense formations.

In order to timely organize the defense of facilities in the territory liberated from the enemy and improve the management of forces and means of the country's Air Defense Forces in the South-Western direction, in the second half of January 1944, two new corps air defense regions were formed as part of the Western Air Defense Front - Odessa and Lvov.

In the Crimean operation, an important role was played by air defense of crossings across the Kerch Strait and Sivash, as well as areas where our strike forces were concentrated.

During the strategic offensive of the Soviet Army in the winter of 1944, the main blow was delivered in the South-Western theater of military operations. The fascist German command concentrated against the advancing Ukrainian fronts the bulk of its aviation operating on the Soviet-German front - 1200-1450 aircraft, 53-56% of all combat aircraft with the main task of countering the advance of Soviet troops. Air strikes on our communications were considered by the Nazi command as one of the main tasks. To this end, in January-April 1944, the German Air Force conducted an air operation against front-line communications in the South-Western direction.

Massive raids were carried out on the most important railway junctions: Darnitsa, Kazyatyn, Fastov, Zaporozhye, Sarny, Shepetivka, Rivne and Znamenka. Important railway bridges were also subjected to massive air strikes.

The air defense of communications in the South-Western direction in the winter campaign of 1944 was carried out by troops of the Kyiv, Kursk, Kharkov, Donbass, Lvov and Odessa air defense regions. To cover the railway facilities of the south, over 2,000 anti-aircraft guns, about 450 fighter aircraft, 1,650 anti-aircraft machine guns and 300 anti-aircraft searchlights were concentrated, which amounted to over 50% of all the forces and means of the country's air defense forces operating in the front line. These forces primarily covered the most important railway junctions and bridges, and on the main highways - all stations.

During the winter campaign, troops of the Kyiv (commander Major General of Artillery N.K. Vasilkov) and Lvov (commander Major General of Artillery I. S. Smirnov) corps air defense districts defended the most important railway lines of Ukraine. Within the boundaries of these formations, enemy aircraft conducted intensive reconnaissance and bombing. Only within the borders of the Kyiv air defense corps region during January - May, about 2,300 sorties of German aviation were noted.

The troops of the Kyiv Air Defense Corps District defended 14 railway junctions, 18 bridges, 3 crossings, 10 railway stations and 3 long-range aviation airfields. 10 railway junctions, which were of particular importance, were each covered by three or four divisions of medium and small caliber anti-aircraft artillery, one or two anti-aircraft machine gun companies, and one anti-aircraft searchlight company. The remaining objects were usually defended by one battery of small-caliber artillery and one or two platoons of anti-aircraft machine guns.
In the Lvov air defense corps region, over 50% of all anti-aircraft forces and assets and 60% of fighter aircraft were concentrated to cover the 8 most important objects out of 35 defended.

Air cover was provided by fighter forces on duty at airfields in the areas of Kursk, Belopole, Nezhin, and Kyiv. In addition, mobile anti-aircraft artillery groups escorting trains and several maneuverable anti-aircraft machine-gun units operated along the railway lines.

To strengthen the defense of objects in the Kiev direction, four anti-aircraft artillery regiments, six separate anti-aircraft artillery divisions and ten separate units with a total of about 600 guns and over 100 anti-aircraft machine guns were transferred from the Eastern Air Defense Front to the Western Air Defense Front.

Anti-aircraft armored trains played a large role in organizing the cover of important communications facilities during the winter campaign of 1944.
To guide fighters to air targets in the southern part of Left Bank Ukraine and Donbass, radio stations were deployed in the areas of Lozovaya, Dnepropetrovsk, Chaplino, Zaporozhye, Melitopol, Pologi, Krasnoarmeysk. A continuous radar detection and guidance field was created over a wide area.

The air surveillance system was strengthened.

In mid-March 1944, VNOS battalions were deployed in the areas of Proskurov, Rivne, Zhitomir, Vinnitsa, Pervomaisk, Nikolaev. VNOS battalions intended for deployment in Kovel, Ternopol, Odessa and Simferopol were also pulled up to their areas. Priority attention was paid to organizing warnings for fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft weapons covering the most important railway facilities. As a rule, company, battalion and main VNOS posts had direct connections with fighter aviation and anti-aircraft artillery units defending these objects.

Large forces and assets of the country's air defense forces were mobilized to provide cover from air strikes to the areas of formation and deployment of strategic reserves. For example, to defend the deployment points of the Dnieper military flotilla in March 1944, 620 anti-aircraft artillery guns and 340 anti-aircraft machine guns of the Western Air Defense Front were concentrated in the Kyiv-Zaporozhye sector. More than 200 anti-aircraft guns and 150 anti-aircraft machine guns of this air defense front in February - March provided cover for the concentration and unloading points of the 1st Ukrainian Front troops in the Zhitomir-Berdichev-Kazatyn areas.

In order to improve the management of the forces and means of the country's Air Defense Forces, by decision of the State Defense Committee of March 29, 1944, the Western and Eastern Fronts, as well as the Transcaucasian Air Defense Zone, were reorganized. On their basis, three air defense fronts were created: Northern, Southern and Transcaucasian.

ORDER ON STRENGTHENING AIR DEFENSE OF IMPORTANT RAILWAY BRIDGES,
NODES AND STATIONS OF THE FRONT-LINE

In order to strengthen the air defense of the most important railway bridges, junctions and stations of the front line of the Southern and left flank of the Northern air defense fronts, I order:

1. By 20.6.44, form four anti-aircraft artillery regiments according to state number 050/74, consisting of 60 40-mm guns each.
2. By 20.6.44, introduce two additional 40-mm guns into the anti-aircraft batteries of small-caliber artillery covering the most important railway bridges, junctions and stations.
Platoons of MZA batteries should have three guns, in connection with which the necessary changes must be made to the staff Nos. 050/45, 050/121, 050/110, 050/111, 050/114, 050/115, 050/117, 050/118, 050/119, 050/38, 050/39 and 050/40.
3. By 06/15/44, form 56 batteries of gun guidance stations (SON-2) according to staff No. 050/135, numbering 41 people each.
4. On June 25, 1944, report to the commander of the artillery of the Red Army for approval of the plan for the use of the formed anti-aircraft units.
5. By 10.6.44, the Chief of the Glavupraforma of the Red Army, for staffing the formed units and servicing the additionally introduced guns in the MZA batteries, to place at the disposal of the Red Army artillery commander 13,425 privates and sergeants fit for combat service.
6. For the same purpose, the Chief of Logistics of the Red Army should allocate 700 trucks to the commander of the spacecraft artillery until 1.7.44.

People's Commissar of Defense
Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN

F. 4, op. 11, no. 77, l. 432-433. Script.

In July 1944, front-line formations of air defense troops repelled a series of massive air raids on railway junctions. In the following months until the end of 1944, only single reconnaissance aircraft were flown within the boundaries of air defense formations.

To strengthen the defense of railway junctions and other important objects in the zone of the 1st and 2nd Ukrainian fronts, in May-June 1944, two fighter aviation divisions and more than forty anti-aircraft artillery units were deployed from the rear areas of the Southern Air Defense Front.

By the end of 1944, all medium-caliber anti-aircraft artillery regiments received gun-guided radar stations, and searchlight units received radio searchlight stations. The composition of small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery batteries was increased from 4 to 6 guns. The staff of all fighter aviation regiments included detection and guidance radar stations; by January 1, 1945, the strength of the units was 75%.

In December 1944, on the basis of the Northern and Southern Air Defense Fronts, three fronts were formed - the Western, South-Western and Central Air Defense Fronts. The last of them was intended for the defense of deep rear facilities. The commanders of the air defense fronts were appointed: Western - Colonel General of Artillery D. A. Zhuravlev, Central - Colonel General M. S. Gromadin, Southwestern - Colonel General of Artillery G. S. Zashikhin.

The disaggregation of air defense fronts was intended to increase the efficiency of command and control of air defense troops in the conditions of the general strategic offensive of the Soviet Army and to ensure close interaction of front-line air defense formations with the fronts of ground forces. After this reorganization, the country’s Air Defense Forces became composed of four air defense fronts, which covered the most important strategic air directions.

The main efforts of the front-line formations of the country's Air Defense Forces in the 1945 campaign were directed to cover railway and water communications and other important objects in the front-line zone.

Sources

1. Anti-aircraft artillery and anti-aircraft missile forces of air defense, Part one. Moscow - 1982
2. Lists of formations, units and institutions of the Soviet Army with the dates for their entry into the active army. List No. 11
3. Svetlishin N.A. Air defense forces of the country in the Great Patriotic War. - M: Science, 1979
4. International Military Forum
5. The country's air defense forces. - M.: Military Publishing House, 1968.

In the initial period of the war, our fighter aircraft suffered heavy losses and were often unable to cover Soviet troops at the front line and in the front line. Taking advantage of this, German fighter-bombers, dive bombers and attack aircraft inflicted heavy losses on Soviet troops and refugee columns. Infantry units on the march, railway trains on haul routes, and transport convoys especially suffered greatly from the raids. The situation was further aggravated by the acute shortage of anti-aircraft weapons intended to directly cover troops. The pre-war Soviet industry did not have time to fully equip the troops with the necessary anti-aircraft weapons; air defense units of the regimental and divisional level as of June 22, 1941 were only 61% equipped with anti-aircraft machine gun installations. For the most part, the troops had rifle-caliber installations based on the Maxim machine gun. The share of large-caliber 12.7-mm machine guns at the beginning of the war was very small.

In 1941, the main military air defense system was the quadruple 7.62-mm M4 anti-aircraft machine gun mount. 1931 The installation consisted of four Maxim machine guns mod. 1910/30 g, mounted on an anti-aircraft machine in one plane. For better cooling of machine gun barrels during intense shooting, a forced water circulation device was used. With good fire density, the M4 anti-aircraft gun was too heavy. Its mass in combat position, together with a forced water cooling system and a welded frame for installation in a car body, reached 400 kg.

The quad mount was typically installed on semi-trucks, on railroad platforms, and even in horse-drawn sleighs. In February 1943, 7.62-mm machine gun mounts were removed from the anti-aircraft regiments and anti-aircraft divisions of the High Command Reserve as obsolete. They were replaced by more effective 12.7 mm heavy machine guns, but in secondary sectors of the front the surviving M4s were used until the end of hostilities. Throughout the war, anti-aircraft Maxims were part of machine-gun platoons on anti-aircraft armored trains and were installed on anti-aircraft platforms that covered echelons and individual stations.

Twin anti-aircraft gun mod. 1930

In addition to quadruple installations, by the beginning of the war the troops had twin units in smaller quantities. 1930 and single anti-aircraft guns mod. 1928. During their creation, Maxim infantry machine guns were also used. All of them were water-cooled, and the rate of fire was 600 rounds/min per barrel. The table range for hitting air targets was 1500 m. In practice, the effective firing range against aircraft did not exceed 800 m. Quite often, Maxim machine guns on anti-aircraft machines were forced to be used on the front line to repel enemy infantry attacks. In this case, standard rack sights for infantry machine guns were used for shooting.

Calculation of anti-aircraft installation arr. 1928 fires at an air target in the Stalingrad area

A common disadvantage of anti-aircraft installations based on the Maxim machine gun was excessive weight and an unacceptably long time for transferring from traveling to combat position. Before repelling an enemy air raid, it was necessary to fill the casing with water, otherwise the barrel would quickly overheat and the machine gun could not fire.

In the 30s, a special anti-aircraft machine was produced for cavalry units, mounted on a machine-gun cart. The disadvantage of such a machine was the limited possible sector of anti-aircraft fire. In this regard, to provide cover from air strikes, the cavalrymen needed anti-aircraft machine guns with all-round fire. But since the quad M4 was excessively heavy and bulky, twin installations mod. 1930

Maxim machine guns mod. 1910/30, on a universal tripod-wheeled machine of the S.V. system. Vladimir arr. 1931, which allowed firing at both ground and air targets.

Maxim machine gun on a universal machine S.V. Vladimir arr. 1931

The machine gun was equipped with a ring anti-aircraft sight, which allowed firing at aircraft flying at speeds of up to 320 km/h at an altitude of up to 1500 m. However, at the forefront, as a rule, they did not bother with its installation and fired at aircraft using a standard rack-mount sight, which of course reduced the effectiveness anti-aircraft fire. However, mass production of machine guns on a universal machine began only in 1939. Due to the great complexity of Vladimirov’s machines, not many were produced. For this reason, there were many times fewer of them in the troops than machine guns on the A.A. wheeled machine. Sokolova arr. 1910. However, Maxim machine guns on a universal machine were used throughout the war.

In order to somehow protect themselves from air strikes, the troops created improvised anti-aircraft installations. Most often, Maxim machine guns mounted on homemade swivels or simply cart wheels with an axle dug into the ground were used for this purpose.

DT-29 machine gun in anti-aircraft firing position on a BA-64 light armored car

In the initial period of the war, some Soviet armored vehicles were equipped with P-40 anti-aircraft turrets with DT-29 machine guns. The tank version was created taking into account the installation of a machine gun in a cramped fighting compartment. Instead of a wooden butt, there was a retractable metal one. The casing designed to protect the shooter’s hands from burns on the barrel was removed from the DT-29 machine gun; this made it possible to reduce the dimensions and improve cooling.

According to regulatory documents, one combat vehicle in a tank or armored car company had to be equipped with an additional anti-aircraft machine gun. The first anti-aircraft turrets on T-26 tanks were tested during the fighting in Spain. Due to the ease of installation and simplicity of design, the P-40 turrets have become quite widespread. They were also installed on armored trains, armored cars, motorcycles and off-road vehicles GAZ-64 and GAZ-67. Compared to the DA-27, the effectiveness of anti-aircraft fire from the turret version of the DT-29 was higher, which was due to better stability, the possibility of all-round fire, a more capacious disk for 63 rounds and the presence of a special anti-aircraft ring sight. The best training of tank crews when firing at aircraft played an important role.

P-40 turret with DT-29 machine gun on an armored car

In the fall of 1941, the design bureau of the Kovrov plant experimentally created a quadruple anti-aircraft installation of DT-29 machine guns. The machine guns were mounted horizontally in two rows on a Kolesnikov machine. The total rate of fire was 2400 rounds/min. However, based on the test results, the installation was not transferred to mass production.

By June 1941, a significant number of obsolete DA, DA-2 and PV-1 aircraft machine guns had accumulated in warehouses. The first two had much in common with the infantry DP-27, and the second was a Maxim machine gun adapted for use in aviation, with air cooling and an increased rate of fire to 750 rounds/min. As for DA and DA-2, there was no uniform standard for their installation for use as anti-aircraft.

One of the options for an anti-aircraft machine gun installation using DA-2

The machine guns were mounted on turrets or simple swivels, created at former civilian enterprises or in weapons workshops in the front-line zone.

A preserved DA-2 anti-aircraft gun on display at the museum

The use of Degtyarev aircraft machine guns was facilitated by the fact that they were initially equipped with sights designed for firing at quickly moving air targets.

Since the operating principle of the DA and DA-2 automation did not differ from the DP-27 and DT-29, surrogate anti-aircraft guns were quickly adopted by the troops. The machine guns were equipped with 63-round discs. A noticeable external difference between the DA and the DT-29 was that instead of a stock, a notched wooden pistol grip and rear grip were installed. The twin DA-2 had a shortened shoulder rest. The twin machine guns were equipped with large flame arresters to prevent the shooter from being blinded.

ShKAS anti-aircraft gun in a weapons workshop

Single and twin ShKASs were mounted on tripod machines made in weapons workshops, providing all-round firing and height adjustment. Responsibilities for firing and maintaining machine gun installations, as a rule, were assigned to aviation technicians and gunsmiths.

In 1939, to replace the Maxim machine gun, the DS-39 heavy machine gun, developed by V.A., began to arrive in the troops. Degtyarev. Compared to Maxim's machine gun, the new machine gun was much lighter. For shooting at air targets, designer G.S. Garanin developed an anti-aircraft tripod machine gun for the machine gun.

DS-39 on an anti-aircraft tripod machine

Externally, the DS-39 resembles a smaller-sized DShK heavy machine gun. Compared to the Maxim machine gun, the DS-39 machine gun was much lighter and air-cooled; after intense shooting, its barrel could be quickly replaced with a spare one. The machine gun was equipped with a switch for the rate of fire at ground (600 rounds/min) and air targets (1200 rounds/min). Before the war, Degtyarev created a quadruple anti-aircraft gun, which was tested in the back of a lorry, but it was not mass-produced.

However, for all its advantages, the DS-39 could not supplant the outdated Maxim machine gun. The military themselves are partly to blame for this, as they were not ready to give up fabric machine gun belts, which ensured unification with the machine guns already in the army. Initially, Degtyarev designed his heavy machine gun for a metal belt, and the transition to canvas had a negative impact on the reliability of the automation. In addition, the DS-39 turned out to be more sensitive to low temperatures and dust. Degtyarev guaranteed that his heavy machine gun could be brought to an acceptable level of operational reliability, but in June 1941, serial production of the DS-39 was stopped and the assembly of Maxim machine guns returned.

The Soviet leadership was well aware of the need to replace Maxim machine guns. Although the existing heavy machine guns allowed intense fire and were well mastered and loved by the troops, their excessive weight made it difficult to escort the advancing infantry. While our troops were fighting defensive battles, this was not so critical, but with the transition to offensive operations, all the shortcomings of the outdated heavy machine gun were fully revealed.

In 1943, the SG-43, designed by P.M., won the competition for a new heavy machine gun. Goryunova. Unlike the Maxim, the new machine gun had a replaceable air-cooled barrel. The machine gun was mounted on a Degtyarev wheeled machine, or on a Sidorenko-Malinovsky machine. Both options made it possible to fire at ground and air targets.

SG-43, prepared for anti-aircraft shooting

The machine gun's accessories included an anti-aircraft sight, designed for firing at air targets moving at speeds of up to 600 km/h at ranges of up to 1000 m.

In addition to domestic anti-aircraft machine guns, the Red Army used foreign models during the war - captured and supplied under Lend-Lease: American 7.62 mm Browning M1919A4, 12.7 mm Browning M2, 7.62 and 7.7 mm British Vickers machine guns , as well as captured 7.92 mm machine guns MG-13, MG-15, MG-34 and MG-42.

Red Army soldiers capture a Bf 109 pilot who made an emergency landing

To reduce losses, German pilots were forced to increase the bombing altitude, and during heavy rifle and machine-gun fire from the ground, avoid attack attacks using machine-gun and cannon weapons.

Fw 190, which made an emergency landing in the Soviet rear

Anti-tank rifles were significantly superior in firing range and destructive effect if they hit the target to all other types of infantry small arms. Even the heaviest armor of the Hs-129 and Fw 190F attack aircraft could not save you from heavy 14.5 mm bullets. Notable losses from Soviet anti-tank missile fire in 1942 were suffered by Ju 87 dive bombers.

Downed Ju 87

Using anti-tank rifles, it was repeatedly possible to shoot down Fw 189 reconnaissance spotters, especially hated by our infantry, whose pilots held an altitude of more than 1000 m - outside the zone of effective rifle fire.

This is how military correspondent Lieutenant P. Kozlov described such an episode in the newspaper of the 236th Infantry Division “For the Glory of the Motherland” dated May 25, 1944:

“All the fighters quickly dispersed and lay down. Machine gunners, armor piercers, everything. Those who had a weapon adapted it to shoot at an airplane. Having made a circle over the bridgehead, the “frame” continued its course. Red Army soldiers etc. Drozhak and Lebed mounted an anti-tank rifle designed by Simonov on a hillock and waited for the right moment to open fire. The Focke-Wulf was approaching their defense area.
Taking a lead of 3 pieces, Drozhak fired several shots. Smoke from thermite bullets' explosions lay ahead of the fascist vulture.
Then Drozhak took a lead of 1.5 figures less and fired.
The enemy plane shuddered slightly and looked sideways. And a few seconds later the “frame” began to smoke and flew down like a burning torch.
- Hooray! - the soldiers shouted with joy, - “Focke-Wulf” is burning...
This example convincingly shows that infantry weapons can successfully repel enemy air raids. In this case, it is necessary to comply with the following requirements: be calm, take cover in a crevice in time, and disguise yourself. And as soon as the plane descends, conduct targeted fire at it.
Armor-piercers Drozhak and Lebed received gratitude from the unit commander and were presented with government awards.”

Air defense is a special set of measures that are aimed at repelling any air threat. As a rule, this is an enemy air attack. The Russian air defense system is divided into the following types:

• Military air defense. This is a special type of Russian NE. The air defense troops of the Russian Ground Forces are the largest type of air defense in Russia;
• Object air defense, which since 1998 has become part of the Russian Air Force, and since 2009-2010 has been an aerospace defense brigade;
• Shipborne air defense system or naval air defense system. Air defense missiles, which are armed with ship-based air defense systems (for example, the Storm air defense system), are capable of not only protecting ships from enemy air attacks, but also hitting surface ships.

Air Defense Day was introduced in the USSR on February 20, 1975, as a special holiday for military personnel who were involved in the country's air defense. Then Air Defense Day was celebrated on April 11. Since 1980, Air Defense Day in the USSR began to be celebrated every second Sunday in April.

In 2006, by a special Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 31, Air Defense Day was officially declared a memorable day. The holiday is also celebrated every second Sunday in April.

The history of the appearance of air defense troops in Russia

The need for anti-aircraft artillery was realized at the end of the 19th century. In 1891, the first firing at aerial targets took place, using balloons and aerostats. The artillery showed that it could quite successfully cope with stationary air targets, although shooting at moving targets was unsuccessful.

In 1908-1909, experimental firing at moving targets took place, as a result of which it was decided that in order to successfully combat aviation, it was necessary to create a special gun designed for firing at moving air targets.

In 1914, the Putilov plant produced four 76 mm cannons, which were intended to combat enemy aircraft. These guns were transported on special trucks. Despite this, before the outbreak of the First World War, Russia turned out to be completely unprepared for combat with an air enemy. Already in the fall of 1914, the command had to urgently form special artillery units, the main task of which was to fight enemy aircraft.

In the USSR, the first air defense units, consisting of searchlight companies and machine gun installations, first took part in a military parade on May 1, 1929. By the 1930 parade, the air defense troops were replenished with anti-aircraft artillery, which was transported in cars:

• 76 mm anti-aircraft guns;
• Machine gun installations;
• Floodlight installations;
• Sound detection installations.

Air defense troops during World War II

World War II demonstrated how important aviation was. The ability to launch rapid air strikes has become one of the keys to the success of military operations. The state of the USSR air defense before the start of the Second World War was far from perfect and was completely unsuitable for repelling massive raids by German aviation. Although before the start of the Second World War the Soviet command devoted a lot of time and money to the development of air defense systems, these troops turned out to be completely unprepared to repel modern German aircraft.

The entire first half of the Second World War was characterized by huge losses of Soviet troops precisely because of enemy air raids. The USSR ground forces did not have the necessary air defense system at all. The defense of the corps from air attacks was carried out by a regular number of air defense weapons, which were represented along 1 km of the front by the following fire weapons:

• 2 anti-aircraft guns;
• 1 heavy machine gun;
• 3 anti-aircraft quad installations.

In addition to the fact that these guns were clearly not enough, there was a huge need for fighter aircraft at the front. The air surveillance, warning and communications system was in its infancy and was completely unable to cope with the tasks assigned to them. For a long time, the troops did not even have their own means of this type. To carry out these functions, it was planned to strengthen the armies with VNOS radio companies. These companies were completely at odds with the technical development of German aviation, since they could only detect enemy aircraft visually. Such detection was possible only at a distance of 10-12 km, and modern German aircraft covered a similar distance in 1-2 minutes.

Before the start of the Second World War, the domestic theory of the development of air defense troops did not place any serious emphasis on the development of this group of troops. Based on the dogmas of this theory, air defense troops, no matter how highly developed they are, are not able to provide complete protection of the front from enemy air raids. In any case, small enemy groups will still be able to reach and destroy the target. That is why the USSR command did not pay serious attention to air defense troops, and the construction of air defense was based on the fact that air defense systems would distract the enemy, allowing aviation to enter the battle.

In any case, the fighter aviation of the USSR in the first years of the war was not able to give any serious rebuff to enemy aircraft, which is why German pilots in those years organized a real entertaining “hunt” for ground targets.

Realizing their mistakes, the Soviet command concentrated its efforts on developing air defense systems, placing special emphasis on improving fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft artillery.

Development of air defense after the end of the Second World War

In 1946, a new era began in the development of air defense forces - a new department was created whose task was to test anti-aircraft missiles. Throughout the 1947-1950s, this department, which was located at the Kapustin Yar test site, tested German anti-aircraft missiles, while simultaneously overseeing the development of Soviet-made anti-aircraft missiles. Until 1957, this committee was involved in testing domestically developed unguided anti-aircraft missiles.

In 1951, testing of anti-aircraft missiles became so large-scale that it was necessary to create a special testing ground for anti-aircraft missiles. This test site was established on June 6, 1951. Rocket testers from all over the country were sent to this test site as personnel.

The first launch of a guided anti-aircraft missile took place at this test site in 1951. In 1955, the USSR's first anti-aircraft missile system, the S-25 Berkut, was adopted by the Air Defense Forces, which remained in service until the 90s.

In the period from 1957 to 1961, a new mobile anti-aircraft missile system, the S-75, was developed and put into service. This air defense system remained the main weapon of the Soviet air defense forces for 30 years. Subsequently, the S-75 air defense system received many modifications and was supplied as military assistance to friendly countries. It was the S-75 anti-aircraft missile system that shot down an American U-2 plane in 1960 near Sverdlovsk. During the Vietnam War, the S-75 air defense system, which was supplied as military aid to Vietnam, shot down many American aircraft. According to the roughest estimates, this air defense system destroyed more than 1,300 American aircraft of various systems.

In 1961, a new short-range anti-aircraft missile system, the S-125, was put into service. This air defense system has proven to be so effective that it is still in service with Russian air defense systems. During the Arab-Israeli wars, the C-125 complex was able to destroy several dozen supersonic aircraft belonging to the United States and Israel.

The Great Patriotic War showed that air defense systems have enormous prospects. The development of air defense in the second half of the 20th century was carried out in the right direction, which was repeatedly proven during numerous Arab-Israeli conflicts. The tactics of using air defense systems were now based on completely different principles. The new air defense systems had the following characteristics:

• Mobility of anti-aircraft missile systems;
• The suddenness of their use, for which they were carefully disguised;
• General survivability and maintainability of air defense systems.

Today, the basis of the anti-aircraft weapons of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation are the following complexes and systems:

• S-300V. This system is capable of effectively protecting troops not only from enemy aircraft, but also from ballistic missiles. This system could fire two types of missiles, one of which was surface-to-surface;
• "Buk-M1". This complex was developed in the 90s, and was put into service in 1998;
• "Tor-M1". This system is able to independently control the designated airspace;
• "OSA-AKM". This SAM system is very mobile;
• "Tunguska-M1", which was put into service in 2003.

All these systems are developments of famous Russian designers and not only incorporate all the best qualities of their predecessors, but are also equipped with modern electronics. These complexes effectively protect troops from all types of air attacks, thereby providing reliable cover for the army.

At various military exhibitions, domestic anti-aircraft missile systems are not only not inferior to their foreign counterparts, but also surpass them in a number of parameters, ranging from range to power.

The main prospects for the modern development of air defense troops of the Ground Forces

The main areas towards which the development of modern air defense forces is directed are:

• Change and reorganization of all structures related in one way or another to air defense. The main task of the reorganization is to maximize the use of all resources and combat power of missile weapons that are now entering service. Another task of paramount importance is to establish maximum interaction between air defense troops and other groups of troops of the Russian Army;
• Development of new generation weapons and military equipment that will be able to fight not only with existing air attack weapons, but also with the latest developments in the field of hypersonic technologies;
• Change and improvement of the personnel training system. Particular attention should be paid to changing the training program, because it has not changed for many years, although new air defense systems have long been adopted for service.

Priorities continue to be the planned development of the latest air defense models, the modernization of older models and the complete replacement of outdated air defense systems. In general, the modern air defense system is developing in accordance with the words of the famous Marshal Zhukov, who said that only a powerful military air defense system is capable of repelling sudden enemy attacks, thereby giving the Armed Forces the opportunity to engage in a full-scale battle.

Modern air defense systems and air defense systems in the Russian air defense forces

One of the main air defense systems in service with air defense forces is the S-300V system. This system is capable of hitting air targets at a distance of up to 100 km. Already in 2014, the S-300V air defense system began to be gradually replaced by a new system, which was called the S-300V4. The new system is improved in all respects; it is an improved modification of the S-300B, differing from it in its increased range, more reliable design, which has improved protection against radio interference. The new system is capable of more effectively combating all types of air targets that appear within its range.

The next most popular system is the Buk air defense system. Since 2008, a modification of the complex called Buk-M2 has been entering service with the air defense forces. This air defense system can simultaneously hit up to 24 targets, and the range of destruction of targets reaches 200 km. Since 2016, the Buk-M3 complex has been put into service, which is a model made on the basis of the Buk-M2 and seriously modified.

Another popular air defense system is the TOR complex. In 2011, a new modification of the air defense system began to enter service, called “TOR-M2U”. This modification has the following differences from the base model:

• She can conduct reconnaissance on the move;
• Fire at 4 air targets at once, thereby ensuring an all-angle defeat.

The newest modification is called “Thor-2”. Unlike previous models of the TOP family, this modification has a doubled ammo capacity and is capable of firing on the move, ensuring complete safety of troops on the march.

In addition, Russian air defense systems also have man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems. The ease of training and use of this type of weapon makes it a serious problem for enemy air forces. Since 2014, the air defense units of the Ground Forces began to receive new Verba MANPADS. Their use is justified when it is necessary to operate in conditions of powerful optical interference, which complicate the operation of powerful automatic air defense systems.

Currently, the share of modern air defense systems in the air defense forces is about 40 percent. The latest Russian air defense systems have no analogues in the world, and are capable of providing complete protection against sudden air attacks.

Air Defense Forces during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945)Teacher: Sergey Mavrin
Valerievich
Performed by: Vernokhaeva A.N. and
Tkachenko A. Yu.
"A" stream. 12th group of the Faculty of Medicine.
year 2012

Air defense - a set of measures to ensure protection
(defense) from enemy air attack weapons
April 8 Day of Air Defense Forces (Day of Air Defense Forces)
In April 1942, the Moscow Air Defense Front was formed, and in Leningrad and
Baku has created an air defense army. The first operational units appeared
Air Defense Forces.
In June 1943, the Office of the Commander of the Territory Air Defense Forces
the country was disbanded. After the reorganizations, by April
In 1944, the Western and Eastern Fronts were created, as well as
Transcaucasian air defense zone, which in the same year were reorganized into
Northern, Southern and Transcaucasian air defense fronts.
The air defense troops defending Moscow were reorganized into the Special
Moscow Air Defense Army. In the Far East in March 1945 there were
Three air defense armies were created: Primorskaya, Priamurskaya, Transbaikalskaya.

On November 9, 1941, the position of Commander of the Air Defense Forces of the country was introduced and Major General Gromadin was appointed to it.

The war caught the air defense troops during the period of their rearmament. The anti-aircraft artillery still had few new 37-mm automatic and 85-mm anti-aircraft guns. IN

YAK-1
MIG-3

At the beginning of massive fascist air raids, these formations included over 600 fighters, more than 1,000 medium and small guns.

Gas transport for aerostat

The air defense troops defending Moscow destroyed 738 enemy aircraft. In addition, the 6th Fighter Aviation Corps carried out assault strikes,

a balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft that uses the lifting force of gas (or heated air) enclosed in a shell to fly

Widely used for protection
cities, industrial areas,
factories, government buildings
naval bases, etc. from
air attacks.
For precision bombing aircraft
forced to stoop low and
fly directly over
object. It is in such
places, directly above the roofs of buildings,
over bridges, over factories
pipes and launched balloons
barriers, preventing enemy
bombers to hit
object a barrage of fire.

The action of the barrage balloons was designed to damage aircraft in the event of a collision with cables, shells, or suspended on trams.

Observation balloon

By type of filling, balloons are divided into:
gas - charliers,
thermal - hot air balloons,
combined - rosiers.
The height of the balloon “hovering”
was calculated very accurately.
The enemy plane could not fly up
under a balloon: when bombing with
such a low height car would
just covered with a blast wave from
own bombs. What if the plane
dropped bombs from above, they
destroyed the balloon (it also absorbed
and fragments), which is soft
collapsed on or near an object
him. Even when the balloon was hanging on
high altitude high, the pilot is not
could fly under him: they interfered
cables holding the air
giant.

devices for cutting cables of barrage balloons

the Germans tried very hard to protect their own
airplanes from “attacks” of balloons. On
The bombers were equipped with paravanes.
A paravane is a triangle of cables,
connecting the nose of the aircraft (extended
with a special pole) and the ends of its wings.
The balloon cable simply slipped off
aircraft without clinging to the propellers or
other protruding parts.
There were other solutions. On the wings
installed blades for cutting cables
(they helped, frankly speaking, weakly), but
airplanes were equipped with squibs for
setting fire to balloons.

Balloon ready to launch
barriers in front of the Bolshoi
theater in Moscow

In addition to trucks, Katyushas were also equipped with water transport - armored boats and specialized vessels to support naval landings

Katyusha
unofficial Soviet collective name for domestic military
BM-13 rocket launchers (rocket artillery vehicles.)
1941 - the first salvo of the famous Katyushas thundered. In 1921, developers N.I. Tikhomirov, V.A.
Artemiev
-

Another, exotic version. The guides on which the projectiles were mounted were called ramps. We'll lift a forty-two-kilogram projectile

Another option is that the name is associated with the “K” index on the mortar body - the installations were produced by the Kalinin plant (according to another source

"Night Witches"

46th Guards Taman Red Banner Order of Suvorov 3rd
degree night bomber aviation regiment (46th Guards NBP)
- women's aviation regiment as part of the USSR Air Force during
Great Patriotic War.
During the war years, 23 servicemen of the regiment were awarded the rank
Hero of the Soviet Union

Sebrova Irina Fedorovna Guard senior lieutenant 1004 combat missions.

Guard senior lieutenant Natalya Fedorovna Meklin - 980 combat missions. Awarded on February 23, 1945.

Aronova Raisa Ermolaevna Guard senior lieutenant 960 combat missions. Awarded May 15, 1946.

During the war, they were organizationally formed as a branch of the air defense forces, anti-aircraft
artillery and fighter aircraft.
During the Second World War, the Air Defense Forces successfully completed their tasks. They
ensured the defense of industry and communications, allowing a breakthrough to
objects only individual aircraft, as a result of which there were
short-term shutdowns of enterprises and disruptions in train traffic
on certain sections of railways.
Carrying out their tasks, the Air Defense Forces of the country destroyed 7313
aircraft of fascist German aviation, of which 4168 by IA forces and
3145 anti-aircraft artillery, machine-gun fire and barrage balloons.
Over 80,000 soldiers, sergeants, officers and generals of the Air Defense Forces were
awarded orders and medals, and 92 soldiers were awarded high ranks
Hero of the Soviet Union and 1 - twice.