WWII rifles of the USSR. Soviet small arms of the Second World War. Weapons in the hands of American soldiers

One of the most difficult and significant for the history of all mankind was 2 World War. The weapons that were used in this crazy fight by 63 of the 74 countries that existed at that time claimed hundreds of millions of lives.

Steel arms

World War II brought weapons of various promising types: from a simple submachine gun to a rocket launcher - the Katyusha. Many small arms, artillery, various aviation, naval weapons, and tanks were improved during these years.

Edged weapons of World War 2 were used to carry out close combat hand-to-hand combat and as a reward. It was represented by: needle and wedge-shaped bayonets, which were equipped with rifles and carbines; military knives of various types; daggers for the highest land and sea ranks; long-bladed cavalry sabers of ordinary and commanding personnel; naval officer's broadswords; premium original knives, dirks and checkers.

Weapon

Weapon World War 2 played a particularly important role, since a huge number of people took part in it. Both the course of the battle and its results depended on the weapons of each.

Small arms of the USSR during World War 2 in the Red Army weapons system were represented by the following types: personal service weapons (revolvers and pistols of officers), individual weapons of various units (magazine, self-loading and automatic carbines and rifles, for private personnel), weapons for snipers (special self-loading or magazine rifles ), individual automatic for close combat (submachine guns), collective type of weapon for platoons and squads of various groups of troops (light machine guns), for special machine gun units (machine guns mounted on an easel support), anti-aircraft small arms (machine guns and machine guns large caliber), tank small arms (tank machine gun).

The Soviet army used such small arms as the famous and irreplaceable rifle of the 1891/30 model (Mosin), SVT-40 self-loading rifles (F.V. Tokarev), automatic ABC-36 (S.G. Simonova), automatic pistol- machine guns PPD-40 (V.A. Degtyareva), PPSh-41 (G.S. Shpagina), PPS-43 (A.I. Sudaeva), TT type pistol (F.V. Tokarev), DP light machine gun (V . A. Degtyareva, infantry), large-caliber machine gun DShK (V. A. Degtyareva - G. S. Shpagina), heavy machine gun SG-43 (P. M. Goryunova), anti-tank rifles PTRD (V. A. Degtyareva) and PTRS (S. G. Simonova). The main caliber of the weapon used is 7.62 mm. This entire range was mainly developed by talented Soviet designers, united in special design bureaus (design bureaus) and bringing victory closer.

Small arms from World War 2, such as submachine guns, made a significant contribution to the approach of victory. Due to the shortage of machine guns at the beginning of the war, an unfavorable situation developed for the Soviet Union on all fronts. A rapid build-up of this type of weaponry was necessary. During the first months, its production increased significantly.

New machine guns and machine guns

It was completely adopted into service in 1941 new submachine gun type - PPSh-41. It was more than 70% superior to the PPD-40 in terms of accuracy of fire, was extremely simple in design and had good combat qualities. Even more unique was the PPS-43 assault rifle. Its shortened version allowed the soldier to be more maneuverable in battle. It was used for tankers, signalmen, and reconnaissance officers. The production technology of such a submachine gun was the highest level. Its production required much less metal and almost 3 times less time than similar previously produced PPSh-41.

The use of a large-caliber weapon with an armor-piercing bullet made it possible to inflict damage armored vehicles and enemy aircraft. The SG-43 machine gun on the machine eliminated the dependence on the availability of water supplies, since it was air-cooled.

Enormous damage to enemy tanks was caused by the use of anti-tank rifles PTRD and PTRS. In fact, with their help the battle of Moscow was won.

What did the Germans fight with?

German weapons of World War 2 are presented in a wide variety. The German Wehrmacht used pistols of the following types: Mauser C96 - 1895, Mauser HSc - 1935-1936, Mauser M 1910, Sauer 38H - 1938, Walther P38 - 1938, Walther PP - 1929. The caliber of these pistols varied : 5.6; 6.35; 7.65 and 9.0 mm. Which was very inconvenient.

The rifles used all 7.92 mm caliber types: Mauser 98k - 1935, Gewehr 41 - 1941, FG - 42 - 1942, Gewehr 43 - 1943, StG 44 - 1943, StG 45(M ) - 1944, Volkssturmgewehr 1-5 - end of 1944.

Machine gun types: MG-08 - 1908, MG-13 - 1926, MG-15 - 1927, MG-34 - 1934, MG42 - 1941. They used 7.92 mm bullets.

Submachine guns, the so-called German "Schmeissers", produced the following modifications: MP 18 - 1917, MP 28 - 1928, MP35 - 1932, MP 38/40 - 1938, MP-3008 - 1945 . They were all 9 mm caliber. German troops also used a large number of captured small arms that they inherited from the armies of the enslaved countries of Europe.

Weapons in the hands of American soldiers

One of the main advantages of the Americans at the beginning of the war was the sufficient number of troops. At the time of the outbreak of hostilities, the United States was one of the few countries in the world that had almost completely re-equipped its infantry with automatic and self-loading weapons. They used self-loading rifles "Grand" M-1, "Johnson" M1941, "Grand", M1F1, M2, "Smith-Wesson" M1940. For some types of rifles, a 22 mm detachable M7 grenade launcher was used. Its use has significantly expanded firepower And combat capabilities weapons.

The Americans used Reising, United Defense M42, M3 Grease gun. Reising was supplied under Lend-Lease to the USSR. The British were armed with machine guns: Sten, Austen, Lanchester Mk.1.
It was funny that the Knights of British Albion, when making their Lanchester Mk.1 submachine guns, copied the German MP28, and the Australian Austen borrowed the design from the MP40.

Firearm

Firearms of World War 2 on the battlefields were represented by famous brands: Italian "Berreta", Belgian "Browning", Spanish Astra-Unceta, American Johnson, Winchester, Springfield, English - Lanchester, the unforgettable "Maxim", Soviet PPSh and TT.

Artillery. The famous "Katyusha"

In the development of artillery weapons of that time, the main stage was the development and implementation rocket launchers volley fire.

The role of the Soviet rocket artillery combat vehicle BM-13 in the war is enormous. She is known to everyone by her nickname "Katyusha". Its rockets (RS-132) in a matter of minutes could destroy not only the enemy’s manpower and equipment, but, most importantly, undermine his spirit. The shells were installed on the base of such trucks as the Soviet ZIS-6 and the American all-wheel drive Studebaker BS6, imported under Lend-Lease.

The first installations were manufactured in June 1941 at the Comintern plant in Voronezh. Their salvo hit the Germans on July 14 of the same year near Orsha. In just a few seconds, emitting a terrible roar and throwing out smoke and flame, the missiles rushed towards the enemy. The firestorm completely consumed the enemy railway trains at the Orsha station.

The Jet Research Institute (RNII) took part in the development and creation of deadly weapons. It is his employees - I. I. Gvai, A. S. Popov, V. N. Galkovsky and others - that we must bow to for the creation of such a miracle of military equipment. During the war years, more than 10,000 of these machines were created.

German "Vanyusha"

The German army also had a similar weapon in service - the 15 cm Nb rocket mortar. W41 (Nebelwerfer), or simply "Vanyusha". It was a weapon of very low accuracy. It had a wide spread of shells over the affected area. Attempts to modernize the mortar or produce something similar to the Katyusha were not completed due to the defeat of the German troops.

Tanks

In all its beauty and diversity, World War II showed us a weapon - a tank.

The most famous tanks of World War 2 were: the Soviet medium hero tank T-34, the German "menagerie" - heavy tanks T-VI "Tiger" and medium tanks PzKpfw V "Panther", American medium tanks "Sherman", M3 "Lee", Japanese amphibious tank "Mizu Sensha 2602" ("Ka-Mi"), English light tank Mk III "Valentine", their heavy tank "Churchill", etc.

"Churchill" is known for being supplied under Lend-Lease to the USSR. As a result of reducing the cost of production, the British brought its armor to 152 mm. In battle he was completely useless.

The role of tank forces during World War II

The Nazis' plans in 1941 included lightning strikes with tank wedges at the junctions of the Soviet troops and their complete encirclement. It was the so-called blitzkrieg - "lightning war". The basis of all German offensive operations in 1941 was tank troops.

The destruction of Soviet tanks by aviation and long-range artillery at the beginning of the war almost led to the defeat of the USSR. The presence of the required quantity had such a huge impact on the course of the war. tank troops.

One of the most famous - which took place in July 1943. Subsequent offensive operations of the Soviet troops from 1943 to 1945 showed the power of our tank armies and the skill of tactical combat. One got the impression that the methods used by the Nazis at the beginning of the war (this is a strike by tank groups at the junction of enemy formations) have now become an integral part of Soviet combat tactics. Such attacks by mechanized corps and tank groups were magnificently demonstrated in the Kyiv offensive operation, the Belarusian and Lvov-Sandomierz, Yasso-Kishenev, Baltic, Berlin offensive operations against the Germans and in Manchuria - against the Japanese.

Tanks are weapons of World War 2, which showed the world completely new combat techniques.

In many battles, the legendary Soviet medium tanks T-34, later T-34-85, heavy tanks KV-1 later KV-85, IS-1 and IS-2, and also self-propelled units SU-85 and SU-152.

The design of the legendary T-34 represented a significant leap in world tank construction in the early 40s. This tank combined powerful weapons, armor and high mobility. In total, about 53 thousand of them were produced during the war years. These combat vehicles took part in all battles.

In response to the emergence of the most powerful T-VI "Tiger" and T-V "Panther" tanks among the German troops, the Soviet T-34-85 tank was created in 1943. Armor-piercing projectile its guns, the ZIS-S-53, penetrated the armor of the Panther from 1000 m and the Tiger from 500 m.

Heavy IS-2 tanks and SU-152 self-propelled guns also confidently fought against the Tigers and Panthers from the end of 1943. From 1500 m, the IS-2 tank penetrated the frontal armor of the Panther (110 mm) and practically pierced its insides. SU-152 shells could tear off the turrets of German heavyweights.

The IS-2 tank received the title of the most powerful tank World War 2.

Aviation and navy

One of the best aircraft of that time are considered the German dive bomber Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka", the impregnable "flying fortress" B-17, the "flying Soviet tank" Il-2, the famous fighters La-7 and Yak-3 (USSR), "Spitfire" (England) , North American P-51 Mustang (USA) and Messerschmitt Bf 109 (Germany).

The best battleships The navies of various countries during World War II were: the Japanese "Yamato" and "Musashi", the English "Nelson", the American "Iowa", the German "Tirpitz", the French "Richelieu" and the Italian "Littorio".

Arms race. Lethal weapons of mass destruction

The weapons of World War 2 amazed the world with their power and cruelty. It made it possible to destroy almost unhindered a huge number of people, equipment and military installations, and to wipe out entire cities from the face of the earth.

World War 2 brought weapons mass destruction various types. Particularly deadly on long years Nuclear weapons have come forward.

The arms race, constant tension in conflict zones, interference of the powerful in the affairs of others - all this can give rise to new war for world domination.

The Second World War significantly influenced the development of small arms, which remained the most in mass form weapons. The share of combat losses from it was 28-30%, which is quite an impressive figure considering the massive use of aviation, artillery and tanks...

The war showed that with the creation of the most modern means armed struggle, the role of small arms did not decrease, and the attention that was paid to them in the warring states during these years increased significantly. The experience gained in the use of weapons during the war is not outdated today, having become the basis for the development and improvement of small arms.

7.62 mm rifle model 1891 Mosin system
The rifle was developed by Russian army captain S.I. Mosin and in 1891 adopted by the Russian army under the designation “7.62 mm rifle model 1891”. After modernization in 1930, it was launched in mass production and was in service with the Red Army before World War II and during the war. Rifle mod. 1891/1930 was distinguished by high reliability, accuracy, simplicity and ease of use. In total, more than 12 million model rifles were manufactured during the war years. 1891/1930 and carbines created on its basis.

7.62 mm sniper rifle of the Mosin system
The sniper rifle differed from a regular rifle by the presence of an optical sight, a bolt handle bent to the bottom, and improved processing of the barrel bore.

7.62 mm rifle of the 1940 model of the Tokarev system
The rifle was developed by F.V. Tokarev, in accordance with the desire of the military command and the highest political leadership of the country to have a self-loading rifle in service with the Red Army, which would allow rational consumption of cartridges and provide a greater target range of fire. Mass production of SVT-38 rifles began in the second half of 1939. The first batches of rifles were sent to the Red Army units involved in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939–1940. IN extreme conditions this “winter” war revealed such shortcomings of the rifle as bulkiness, heavy weight, inconvenience of gas control, sensitivity to pollution and low temperature. To eliminate these shortcomings, the rifle was modernized, and production of its modernized version, SVT-40, began on June 1, 1940.

7.62 mm sniper rifle of the Tokarev system
The sniper version of the SVT-40 differed from the production samples by a more careful adjustment of the trigger elements, qualitatively better processing of the barrel bore and a special boss on the receiver for installing a bracket with optical sight. The SVT-40 sniper rifle was equipped with a specially created PU sight (universal sight) with 3.5x magnification. It allowed firing at a range of up to 1300 meters. The weight of the rifle with the sight was 4.5 kg. Sight weight - 270 g.

14.5 mm anti-tank rifle PTRD-41
This gun was developed by V.A. Degtyarev in 1941 to fight enemy tanks. The PTRD was a powerful weapon - at a distance of up to 300 m, its bullet penetrated armor 35-40 mm thick. The incendiary effect of the bullets was also high. Thanks to this, the gun was successfully used throughout the Second World War. Its production was discontinued only in January 1945.

7.62 mm DP light machine gun
A light machine gun created by designer V.A. Degtyarev in 1926, became the most powerful automatic weapon of the rifle departments of the Red Army. The machine gun was put into service in February 1927 under the name "7.62-mm light machine gun DP" (DP meant Degtyarev - infantry). The low weight (for a machine gun) was achieved thanks to the use of an automation scheme based on the principle of removal of powder gases through a hole in a fixed barrel, a rational design and arrangement of parts of the moving system, as well as the use of air cooling of the barrel. Sighting range firing from a machine gun is 1500 m, the maximum flight range of a bullet is 3000 m. Of the 1515.9 thousand machine guns fired during the Great Patriotic War, the vast majority were Degtyarev light machine guns.

7.62 mm submachine gun of the Degtyarev system
The PPD was adopted for service in 1935, becoming the first submachine gun to become widespread in the Red Army. The PPD was designed for a modified 7.62 Mauser pistol cartridge. The firing range of the PPD reached 500 meters. The trigger mechanism of the weapon made it possible to fire both single shots and bursts. There were a number of modifications of the PPD with improved magazine mounting and modified production technology.

7.62 mm submachine gun of the Shpagin system mod. 1941
The PPSh (Shpagin submachine gun) was adopted by the Red Army in December 1940 under the name “7.62 mm Shpagin system submachine gun model 1941 (PPSh-41).” The main advantage of the PPSh-41 was that only its barrel required careful machining. All other metal parts were made mainly by cold stamping from sheet metal. The parts were connected using spot and arc electric welding and rivets. You can disassemble and reassemble the submachine gun without a screwdriver - there is not a single screw connection in it. From the first quarter of 1944, submachine guns began to be equipped with sector magazines with a capacity of 35 rounds, which were more convenient and cheaper to produce. In total, more than six million PPSh were produced.

7.62 mm pistol of the Tokarev system mod. 1933
The development of pistols in the USSR practically began from scratch. However, already at the beginning of 1931, the Tokarev system pistol, recognized as the most reliable, light and compact, was adopted for service. In mass production of the TT (Tula, Tokarev), which began in 1933, the details of the trigger mechanism, barrel and frame were changed. The target firing range of the TT is 50 meters, the bullet flight range is from 800 meters to 1 kilometer. Capacity – 8 rounds of 7.62 mm caliber. The total production of TT pistols for the period from 1933 to the end of their production in the mid-50s is estimated at 1,740,000 units.

PPS-42(43)
The PPSh-41, which was in service with the Red Army, turned out to be - mainly due to too large sizes and masses - it is not convenient enough when conducting combat in populated areas, indoors, for reconnaissance officers, paratroopers and crews of combat vehicles. In addition, in wartime conditions it was necessary to reduce the costs of mass production of submachine guns. In this regard, a competition was announced to develop a new submachine gun for the army. The Sudayev submachine gun, developed in 1942, won this competition and was put into service at the end of 1942 under the name PPS-42. The design, modified the following year, called PPS-43 (the barrel and butt were shortened, the cocking handle, the safety box and the shoulder rest latch were changed, the barrel casing and receiver were combined into one part) was also adopted. The PPS is often called the best submachine gun of World War II. It is distinguished by its convenience, sufficiently high combat capabilities for a submachine gun, high reliability, and compactness. At the same time, the PPS is very technologically advanced, simple and cheap to produce, which was especially important in conditions of a difficult, protracted war, with a constant lack of material and labor resources. The PPS was developed in besieged Leningrad, based on a compilation of its own project and the project of Lieutenant Technician I.K. Bezruchko-Vysotsky (design of the shutter and return system). Its production was launched there, at the Sestroretsk Arms Plant, initially for the needs of the Leningrad Front. While food for Leningraders was coming to the besieged city along the road of life, not only refugees, but also new weapons were being taken back from the city.

In total, about 500,000 units of PPS of both modifications were produced during the war.

The Second World War significantly influenced the development of small arms, which remained the most popular type of weapon. The share of combat losses from it was 28-30%, which is quite an impressive figure considering the massive use of aviation, artillery and tanks...

The war showed that with the creation of the very means of armed struggle, the role of small arms did not decrease, and the attention that was paid to them in the warring states during these years increased significantly. The experience gained in the use of weapons during the war is not outdated today, having become the basis for the development and improvement of small arms.

7.62 mm rifle model 1891 Mosin system
The rifle was developed by Russian army captain S.I. Mosin and in 1891 adopted by the Russian army under the designation “7.62 mm rifle model 1891”. After modernization in 1930, it was put into mass production and was in service with the Red Army before World War II and during the war. Rifle mod. 1891/1930 characterized by high reliability, accuracy, simplicity and ease of use. In total, more than 12 million model rifles were manufactured during the war years. 1891/1930 and carbines created on its basis.
7.62 mm sniper rifle of the Mosin system
The sniper rifle differed from a regular rifle by the presence of an optical sight, a bolt handle bent to the bottom, and improved processing of the barrel bore.

7.62 mm rifle of the 1940 model of the Tokarev system
The rifle was developed by F.V. Tokarev, in accordance with the desire of the military command and the highest political leadership of the country to have a self-loading rifle in service with the Red Army, which would allow rational consumption of cartridges and provide a greater target range of fire. Mass production of SVT-38 rifles began in the second half of 1939. The first batches of rifles were sent to the Red Army units involved in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. In extreme conditions This “winter” war revealed such shortcomings of the rifle as bulkiness, heavy weight, inconvenience of gas adjustment, sensitivity to pollution and low temperature. To eliminate these shortcomings, the rifle was modernized, and production of its modernized version, SVT-40, began on June 1, 1940.
7.62 mm sniper rifle of the Tokarev system
The sniper version of the SVT-40 differed from the production samples by a more careful fitting of the trigger elements, qualitatively better processing of the barrel bore and a special boss on the receiver for installing a bracket with an optical sight on it. The SVT-40 sniper rifle was equipped with a specially created PU sight (universal sight) with 3.5x magnification. It allowed firing at a range of up to 1300 meters. The weight of the rifle with the sight was 4.5 kg. Sight weight - 270 g.

14.5 mm anti-tank rifle PTRD-41
This gun was developed by V.A. Degtyarev in 1941 to fight enemy tanks. The PTRD was a powerful weapon - at a distance of up to 300 m, its bullet penetrated armor 35-40 mm thick. The incendiary effect of the bullets was also high. Thanks to this, the gun was successfully used throughout the Second World War. Its production was discontinued only in January 1945.

7.62 mm DP light machine gun
A light machine gun created by designer V.A. Degtyarev in 1926, became the most powerful automatic weapon of the rifle departments of the Red Army. The machine gun was put into service in February 1927 under the name "7.62-mm light machine gun DP" (DP meant Degtyarev - infantry). The low weight (for a machine gun) was achieved thanks to the use of an automation scheme based on the principle of removal of powder gases through a hole in a fixed barrel, a rational design and arrangement of parts of the moving system, as well as the use of air cooling of the barrel. The target firing range of a machine gun is 1500 m, the maximum flight range of a bullet is 3000 m. Of the 1515.9 thousand machine guns fired during the Great Patriotic War, the vast majority were Degtyarev light machine guns.

7.62 mm submachine gun of the Degtyarev system
The PPD was adopted for service in 1935, becoming the first submachine gun to become widespread in the Red Army. The PPD was designed for a modified 7.62 Mauser pistol cartridge. The firing range of the PPD reached 500 meters. The trigger mechanism of the weapon made it possible to fire both single shots and bursts. There were a number of modifications of the PPD with improved magazine mounting and modified production technology.

7.62 mm submachine gun of the Shpagin system mod. 1941
The PPSh (Shpagin submachine gun) was adopted by the Red Army in December 1940 under the name “7.62 mm Shpagin system submachine gun model 1941 (PPSh-41).” The main advantage of the PPSh-41 was that only its barrel required careful machining. All other metal parts were made mainly by cold stamping from sheet metal. Connecting parts was carried out using spot and arc welding and rivets. You can disassemble and reassemble the submachine gun without a screwdriver - there is not a single screw connection in it. From the first quarter of 1944, submachine guns began to be equipped with sector magazines with a capacity of 35 rounds, which were more convenient and cheaper to produce. In total, more than six million PPSh were produced.

7.62 mm pistol of the Tokarev system mod. 1933
The development of pistols in the USSR practically began from scratch. However, already at the beginning of 1931, the Tokarev system pistol, recognized as the most reliable, light and compact, was adopted for service. In mass production of the TT (Tula, Tokarev), which began in 1933, the details of the trigger mechanism, barrel and frame were changed. The target firing range of the TT is 50 meters, the bullet flight range is from 800 meters to 1 kilometer. Capacity - 8 rounds of 7.62 mm caliber. The total production of TT pistols for the period from 1933 to the end of their production in the mid-50s is estimated at 1,740,000 units.

PPS-42(43)
The PPSh-41, which was in service with the Red Army, turned out to be - mainly due to its too large size and weight - not convenient enough when conducting combat in populated areas, indoors, for reconnaissance officers, paratroopers and crews of combat vehicles. Besides, in conditions wartime, it was necessary to reduce the costs of mass production of submachine guns. In this regard, a competition was announced to develop a new submachine gun for the army. The Sudayev submachine gun, developed in 1942, won this competition and was put into service at the end of 1942 under the name PPS-42. The design, modified the following year, called PPS-43 (the barrel and butt were shortened, the cocking handle, the safety box and the shoulder rest latch were changed, the barrel casing and receiver were combined into one part) was also adopted. The PPS is often called the best submachine gun of World War II. It is distinguished by its convenience, sufficiently high combat capabilities for a submachine gun, high reliability, and compactness. At the same time, the PPS is very technologically advanced, simple and cheap to produce, which was especially important in conditions of a difficult, protracted war, with a constant lack of material and labor resources. The PPS was developed in besieged Leningrad, based on a compilation of its own project and the project of Lieutenant Technician I.K. Bezruchko-Vysotsky (design of the shutter and return system). Its production was launched there, at the Sestroretsk Arms Plant, initially for the needs of the Leningrad Front. While food for Leningraders was coming to the besieged city along the road of life, not only refugees, but also new weapons were being taken back from the city.

In total, about 500,000 units of PPS of both modifications were produced during the war.

Everyone is familiar with the popular print image of the Soviet “soldier-liberator.” In the minds of Soviet people, the Red Army soldiers of the Great Patriotic War are emaciated people in dirty greatcoats who run in a crowd to attack after tanks, or tired elderly men smoking rolled-up cigarettes on the parapet of a trench. After all, it was precisely such footage that was mainly captured by military newsreels. At the end of the 1980s, film directors and post-Soviet historians put the “victim of repression” on a cart, handed him a “three-line gun” without cartridges, sending him towards the armored hordes of fascists - under the supervision of barrage detachments.

Now I propose to look at what actually happened. We can responsibly declare that our weapons were in no way inferior to foreign ones, while being more suitable for local conditions of use. For example, a three-line rifle had larger clearances and tolerances than foreign ones, but this “flaw” was a forced feature - the weapon’s lubricant, which thickened in the cold, did not remove the weapon from combat.

So, review.

Nagan- a revolver developed by the Belgian gunsmiths brothers Emil (1830-1902) and Leon (1833-1900) Nagan, which was in service and produced in a number of countries in the late 19th - mid-20th centuries.


TK(Tula, Korovina) - the first Soviet serial self-loading pistol. In 1925, the Dynamo sports society ordered the Tula Arms Plant to develop a compact pistol chambered for 6.35x15 mm Browning for sporting and civilian needs.

Work on creating the pistol took place in the design bureau of the Tula Arms Plant. In the fall of 1926, gunsmith designer S.A. Korovin completed the development of a pistol, which was named the TK pistol (Tula Korovin).

At the end of 1926, TOZ began production of the pistol; the following year the pistol was approved for use, receiving official name“Tula pistol, Korovin, model 1926.”

TK pistols entered service with the NKVD of the USSR, middle and senior command staff of the Red Army, civil servants and party workers.

The TK was also used as a gift or award weapon (for example, there are known cases of awarding Stakhanovites with it). Between the autumn of 1926 and 1935, several tens of thousands of Korovins were produced. In the period after the Great Patriotic War, TK pistols were kept for some time in savings banks as a reserve weapon for employees and collectors.


Pistol arr. 1933 TT(Tula, Tokarev) - the first army self-loading pistol of the USSR, developed in 1930 by Soviet designer Fedor Vasilyevich Tokarev. The TT pistol was developed for the 1929 competition for a new army pistol, announced to replace the Nagan revolver and several models of foreign-made revolvers and pistols that were in service with the Red Army by the mid-1920s. The German 7.63×25 mm Mauser cartridge was adopted as a standard cartridge, which was purchased in significant quantities for the Mauser S-96 pistols in service.

Mosin rifle. 7.62 mm (3-line) rifle model 1891 (Mosin rifle, three-line) - a repeating rifle adopted by the Russian Imperial Army in 1891.

It was actively used in the period from 1891 to the end of the Great Patriotic War, and was modernized many times during this period.

The name three-ruler comes from the caliber of the rifle barrel, which is equal to three Russian lines (the old measure of length was equal to one tenth of an inch, or 2.54 mm - respectively, three lines are equal to 7.62 mm).

Based on the 1891 model rifle and its modifications, a number of sporting and hunting weapons, both rifled and smoothbore.

Simonov automatic rifle. The 7.62 mm automatic rifle of the Simonov system, model 1936, ABC-36 is a Soviet automatic rifle developed by gunsmith Sergei Simonov.

It was originally developed as a self-loading rifle, but during improvements an automatic fire mode was added for use in an emergency. The first automatic rifle developed in the USSR and put into service.

Tokarev self-loading rifle. 7.62-mm self-loading rifles of the Tokarev system of the 1938 and 1940 models (SVT-38, SVT-40), as well as the Tokarev automatic rifle of the 1940 model - a modification of the Soviet self-loading rifle developed by F.V. Tokarev.

The SVT-38 was developed as a replacement for the Simonov automatic rifle and was adopted by the Red Army on February 26, 1939. First SVT arr. 1938 was released on July 16, 1939. On October 1, 1939, gross production began at the Tula, and from 1940 - at the Izhevsk arms plant.

Simonov self-loading carbine. The 7.62 mm Simonov self-loading carbine (also known abroad as SKS-45) is a Soviet self-loading carbine designed by Sergei Simonov, adopted for service in 1949.

The first copies began to arrive in active units at the beginning of 1945 - this was the only case of the use of the 7.62x39 mm cartridge in World War II

Tokarev submachine gun, or the original name - the Tokarev light carbine - an experimental model of automatic weapon created in 1927 for a modified Nagan revolver cartridge, the first submachine gun developed in the USSR. It was not adopted for service; it was produced in a small experimental batch and was used to a limited extent in the Great Patriotic War.

P Degtyarev submachine gun. 7.62 mm submachine guns of the 1934, 1934/38 and 1940 models of the Degtyarev system - various modifications a submachine gun developed by Soviet gunsmith Vasily Degtyarev in the early 1930s. The first submachine gun adopted by the Red Army.

The Degtyarev submachine gun was a fairly typical representative of the first generation of this type of weapon. Used in the Finnish campaign of 1939-40, as well as in initial stage Great Patriotic War.

Shpagin submachine gun. The 7.62-mm submachine gun of the 1941 model of the Shpagin system (PPSh) is a Soviet submachine gun developed in 1940 by designer G. S. Shpagin and adopted by the Red Army on December 21, 1940. PPSh was the main Soviet submachine gun armed forces in the Great Patriotic War.

After the end of the war, in the early 1950s, the PPSh was removed from service with the Soviet Army and gradually replaced by the Kalashnikov assault rifle; for a little longer it remained in service with rear and auxiliary units and units internal troops and railway troops. It was in service with paramilitary security units at least until the mid-1980s.

Also, in the post-war period, PPSh was supplied in significant quantities to countries friendly to the USSR, was in service with the armies of various states for a long time, was used by irregular forces and was used in armed conflicts around the world throughout the twentieth century.

Sudaev's submachine gun. 7.62 mm submachine guns of the 1942 and 1943 models of the Sudaev system (PPS) are variants of the submachine gun developed by the Soviet designer Alexei Sudaev in 1942. Used Soviet troops during the Great Patriotic War.

The PPS is often considered the best submachine gun of World War II.

P machine gun "Maxim" model 1910. The Model 1910 Maxim machine gun is a heavy machine gun, a variant of the British Maxim machine gun, widely used by the Russian and Soviet armies during World War I and World War II. The Maxim machine gun was used to destroy open group targets and enemy fire weapons at a distance of up to 1000 m.

Anti-aircraft variant
- 7.62 mm quad machine gun "Maxim" on anti-aircraft installation U-431
- 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun "Maxim" on the U-432 anti-aircraft gun

P machine gun Maxim-Tokarev- Soviet light machine gun designed by F.V. Tokarev, created in 1924 on the basis of the Maxim machine gun.

DP(Degtyarev Infantry) - a light machine gun developed by V. A. Degtyarev. First ten serial machine guns The DPs were manufactured at the Kovrov plant on November 12, 1927, then a batch of 100 machine guns was sent for military testing, as a result of which on December 21, 1927, the machine gun was adopted by the Red Army. The DP became one of the first small arms created in the USSR. The machine gun was widely used as the main fire support weapon for infantry at the platoon-company level until the end of the Great Patriotic War.

DT(Degtyarev tank) - a tank machine gun developed by V. A. Degtyarev in 1929. Entered service with the Red Army in 1929 under the designation “7.62-mm tank machine gun of the Degtyarev system mod. 1929" (DT-29)

DS-39(7.62 mm Degtyarev heavy machine gun, model 1939).

SG-43. The 7.62 mm Goryunov machine gun (SG-43) is a Soviet heavy machine gun. It was developed by gunsmith P. M. Goryunov with the participation of M. M. Goryunov and V. E. Voronkov at the Kovrov Mechanical Plant. Entered service on May 15, 1943. The SG-43 began to enter service with the troops in the second half of 1943.

DShK And DShKM- large-caliber heavy machine guns chambered for 12.7×108 mm. The result of modernization of the large-caliber heavy machine gun DK (Degtyarev Large-caliber). The DShK was adopted by the Red Army in 1938 under the designation “12.7 mm heavy machine gun Degtyareva - Shpagina model 1938"

In 1946, under the designation DShKM(Degtyarev, Shpagin, large-caliber modernized) machine gun was adopted by the Soviet Army.

PTRD. Anti-tank single-shot rifle mod. 1941 Degtyarev system, adopted for service on August 29, 1941. It was intended to combat medium and light tanks and armored vehicles at distances of up to 500 m. The gun could also fire at pillboxes/bunkers and firing points covered by armor at distances up to 800 m and at aircraft at distances up to 500 m.

PTRS. Anti-tank self-loading rifle mod. 1941 Simonov system) is a Soviet self-loading anti-tank rifle, adopted for service on August 29, 1941. It was intended to combat medium and light tanks and armored vehicles at distances of up to 500 m. The gun could also fire at pillboxes/bunkers and firing points covered by armor at distances up to 800 m and at aircraft at distances up to 500 m. During the war some of the guns were captured and used by the Germans. The guns were named Panzerbüchse 784 (R) or PzB 784 (R).

Dyakonov grenade launcher. The Dyakonov system rifle grenade launcher is designed to use fragmentation grenades to destroy living, mostly hidden, targets that are inaccessible to flat fire weapons.

Widely used in pre-war conflicts, during the Soviet-Finnish War and at the initial stage of the Great Patriotic War. By state rifle regiment in 1939, each rifle squad was armed with a rifle grenade launcher of the Dyakonov system. In documents of that time it was called a hand-held mortar for throwing rifle grenades.

125-mm ampoule gun model 1941- the only ampoule gun model mass-produced in the USSR. It was widely used with varying success by the Red Army at the initial stage of the Great Patriotic War; it was often made in semi-handicraft conditions.

The projectile most often used was a glass or tin ball filled with flammable liquid "KS", but the range of ammunition included mines, a smoke bomb and even homemade "propaganda shells". Using a blank 12-gauge rifle cartridge, the projectile was fired at a distance of 250-500 meters, thereby being an effective weapon against some fortifications and many types of armored vehicles, including tanks. However, difficulties in use and maintenance led to the ampoule gun being withdrawn from service in 1942.

ROKS-3(Klyuev-Sergeev Backpack Flamethrower) - Soviet infantry backpack flamethrower from the Great Patriotic War. The first model of the ROKS-1 backpack flamethrower was developed in the USSR in the early 1930s. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the rifle regiments of the Red Army had flamethrower teams consisting of two sections, armed with 20 ROKS-2 backpack flamethrowers. Based on the experience of using these flamethrowers at the beginning of 1942, the designer of the Chemical Engineering Research Institute M.P. Sergeev and designer of military plant No. 846 V.N. Klyuev developed a more advanced backpack flamethrower ROKS-3, which was in service individual mouth and battalions of backpack flamethrowers of the Red Army throughout the war.

Bottles with a flammable mixture ("Molotov cocktail").

At the beginning of the war, the State Defense Committee decided to use combustible bottles in the fight against tanks. Already on July 7, 1941, the State Defense Committee adopted a special resolution “On anti-tank incendiary grenades (bottles)”, which obliged the People’s Commissariat Food Industry to organize, from July 10, 1941, the equipment of liter glass bottles with a fire mixture according to the recipe of the Research Institute 6 of the People's Commissariat of Ammunition. And the head of the Military Chemical Defense Directorate of the Red Army (later the Main Military Chemical Directorate) was ordered to begin “supplying military units with hand incendiary grenades” from July 14.

Dozens of distilleries and beer factories throughout the USSR quickly turned into military enterprises. Moreover, the “Molotov Cocktail” (named after the then deputy of I.V. Stalin for the State Committee for Defense) was prepared directly on the old factory lines, where just yesterday they bottled citre, port wines and fizzy “Abrau-Durso”. From the first batches of such bottles, they often did not even have time to remove the “peaceful” alcohol labels. In addition to the liter bottles specified in the legendary Molotov decree, the “cocktail” was also made in beer and wine-cognac containers with a volume of 0.5 and 0.7 liters.

Two types of incendiary bottles were adopted by the Red Army: with self-igniting liquid KS (a mixture of phosphorus and sulfur) and with flammable mixtures No. 1 and No. 3, which are a mixture of aviation gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, thickened with oils or a special hardening powder OP- 2, developed in 1939 under the leadership of A.P. Ionov, - in fact, it was the prototype of modern napalm. The abbreviation “KS” is deciphered in different ways: “Koshkin mixture” - after the name of the inventor N.V. Koshkin, and “Old Cognac”, and “Kachugin-Maltovnik” - after the name of other inventors of liquid grenades.

Bottle with self-igniting liquid COP falling on solid, broke, the liquid spilled and burned with a bright flame for up to 3 minutes, developing a temperature of up to 1000°C. At the same time, being sticky, it stuck to the armor or covered inspection slits, glass, and observation devices, blinded the crew with smoke, smoking them out of the tank and burning everything inside the tank. A drop of burning liquid falling on the body caused severe, difficult-to-heal burns.

Combustible mixtures No. 1 and No. 3 burned for up to 60 seconds with temperatures up to 800 ° C and emitting a lot of black smoke. Bottles with gasoline were used as a cheaper option, and thin glass tube ampoules with CS liquid, which were attached to the bottle with apothecary rubber bands, served as an incendiary agent. Sometimes ampoules were placed inside bottles before throwing.

Used bulletproof vest PZ-ZIF-20(protective shell, Frunze Plant). It is also CH-38 Cuirass type (CH-1, steel breastplate). It can be called the first mass-produced Soviet body armor, although it was called a steel breastplate, which does not change its purpose.

The body armor provided protection against German submachine guns and pistols. The body armor also provided protection against fragments of grenades and mines. Bulletproof vests were recommended to be worn by assault groups, signalmen (during the laying and repair of cables) and when performing other operations at the discretion of the commander.

Information often comes across that the PZ-ZIF-20 is not the SP-38 (SN-1) body armor, which is incorrect, since the PZ-ZIF-20 was created according to documentation from 1938, and industrial production was established in 1943. The second point is that appearance are 100% similar. Among the military search teams it is called “Volkhovsky”, “Leningradsky”, “five-sectional”.
Photos of reconstruction:

Steel bibs CH-42

Soviet assault engineering and sapper guards brigade in steel breastplates SN-42 and with machine guns DP-27. 1st ShISBr. 1st Belorussian Front, summer 1944

ROG-43 hand grenade

The ROG-43 (index 57-G-722) remote-action fragmentation hand grenade is designed to destroy enemy personnel in offensive and defensive battle. The new grenade was developed in the first half of the Great Patriotic War at the plant named after Kalinin and had the factory designation RGK-42. After being put into service in 1943, the grenade received the designation ROG-43.

RDG hand smoke grenade.

RDG device

Smoke grenades were used to provide screens measuring 8 - 10 m and were used mainly to “blind” the enemy located in shelters, to create local screens to camouflage crews leaving armored vehicles, as well as to simulate the burning of armored vehicles. Under favorable conditions, one RDG grenade created an invisible cloud 25 - 30 m long.

Burning grenades did not sink in water, so they could be used when crossing water barriers. The grenade could smoke from 1 to 1.5 minutes, producing, depending on the composition of the smoke mixture, thick gray-black or white smoke.

RPG-6 grenade.


The RPG-6 exploded instantly upon impact with a hard barrier, destroyed armor, hit the crew of an armored target, its weapons and equipment, and could also ignite fuel and explode ammunition. Military trials The RPG-6 grenade took place in September 1943. The target used was captured assault gun"Ferdinand", which had frontal armor up to 200 mm and side armor up to 85 mm. Tests showed that the RPG-6 grenade, when the head part hit the target, could penetrate armor up to 120 mm.

Anti-tank hand grenade mod. 1943 RPG-43

RPG-41 impact hand anti-tank grenade, model 1941

RPG-41 was intended to combat armored vehicles and light tanks, having armor up to 20 - 25 mm thick, and could also be used to combat bunkers and field-type shelters. The RPG-41 could also be used to destroy medium and heavy tanks when hit vulnerabilities vehicles (roof, tracks, chassis and etc.)

Chemical grenade model 1917


According to the “Temporary Rifle Regulations of the Red Army. Part 1. Small arms. Rifle and hand grenades”, published by the head of the People's Commissariat of Military Commissariat and the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR in 1927, the hand chemical grenade mod. 1917 from the reserve stockpiled during the First World War.

VKG-40 grenade

In the 1920s-1930s, the Red Army was armed with the muzzle-loading “Dyakonov grenade launcher,” created at the end of the First World War and subsequently modernized.

The grenade launcher consisted of a mortar, a bipod and a quadrant sight and was used to destroy manpower with a fragmentation grenade. The mortar barrel had a caliber of 41 mm, three screw grooves, and was rigidly attached to a cup that was screwed onto the neck, which was put on the rifle barrel, fixed on the front sight with a cutout.

RG-42 hand grenade

RG-42 model 1942 with UZRG fuse. After being put into service, the grenade was given the index RG-42 (hand grenade of 1942). The new UZRG fuse used in the grenade has become the same for both the RG-42 and the F-1.

The RG-42 grenade was used both offensively and defensively. In appearance, it resembled an RGD-33 grenade, only without a handle. The RG-42 with a UZRG fuse belonged to the type of remote-action fragmentation offensive grenades. It was intended to defeat enemy personnel.

Rifle anti-tank grenade VPGS-41



VPGS-41 when used

A characteristic distinguishing feature of ramrod grenades was the presence of a “tail” (ramrod), inserted into the bore of the rifle and serving as a stabilizer. The grenade was fired with a blank cartridge.

Soviet hand grenade mod. 1914/30 with protective cover

Soviet hand grenade mod. 1914/30 refers to double-type anti-personnel fragmentation hand grenades. This means that it is designed to destroy enemy personnel with hull fragments when it explodes. Remote action means that the grenade will explode after a certain period of time, regardless of other conditions, after the soldier releases it from his hands.

Double type - means that the grenade can be used as an offensive one, i.e. grenade fragments have a small mass and fly at a distance shorter than the possible throwing range; or as a defensive one, i.e. fragments fly to a distance exceeding the throwing range.

The double action of the grenade is achieved by putting a so-called “shirt” on the grenade - a cover made of thick metal, which provides fragments during an explosion greater mass flying over a greater distance.

RGD-33 hand grenade

An explosive charge is placed inside the case - up to 140 grams of TNT. A steel tape with a square notch is placed between the explosive charge and the body to produce fragments during an explosion, rolled into three or four layers.


The grenade was equipped with a defensive case, which was used only when throwing a grenade from a trench or shelter. In other cases, the protective cover was removed.

And of course, F-1 grenade

Initially, the F-1 grenade used a fuse designed by F.V. Koveshnikov, which was much more reliable and easier to use than the French fuse. The deceleration time of Koveshnikov's fuse was 3.5-4.5 seconds.

In 1941, designers E.M. Viceni and A.A. Poednyakov developed and put into service to replace Koveshnikov's fuse a new, safer and simpler in design fuse for the F-1 hand grenade.

In 1942, a new fuse became united for hand grenades F-1 and RG-42, it was called UZRG - “unified fuse for hand grenades”.

* * *
After the above, it cannot be said that only rusty three-ruler rifles without cartridges were in service.
About chemical weapon during the Second World War, a separate and special conversation...

During its existence, the USSR was a world superpower, where innovative and sometimes very unusual species weapons. Many of them were so secret that it became possible to find out about them only recently. In our review of 10 once secret types of Soviet weapons.

1. VVA-14

Nuclear submarines were a key part of the strategy cold war, both for the Soviet Union and the United States. Because of this, both sides developed sophisticated countermeasures to detect and destroy such vessels. One of the best ways Specially designed anti-submarine aircraft (ASW), equipped with torpedoes and sonar systems, became the basis for the destruction of submarines.

The strangest of all anti-submarine aircraft of the Cold War was the VVA-14, which combined the functions of a seaplane, ground effect vehicle, bomber and torpedo bomber. VVA-14 could make vertical takeoff from the surface thanks to a system of 12 lifting turbojet engines. Near the surface of the water, the device could use the screen effect, and at high altitudes it flew like a regular airplane.

In 1974, the VVA-14 made its first flight, but soon it was decided to freeze the project due to the excessive complexity of the aircraft. All prototypes were dismantled and destroyed. The only surviving example without wings and engines is kept in the Central Air Force Museum in Monino.

2. Lipstick - gun

During the Cold War, both sides of the conflict actively used spies. Almost every year, fancy gadgets were invented that were supposed to help spies complete their missions. One of the most interesting examples A similar device is the Soviet lipstick pistol, known as the “kiss of death.”

Only one example of the "shooting lipstick" was recorded, which was confiscated by border guards while crossing the border between East and West Germany in 1965. The "Kiss of Death" looked like a metal tube of lipstick, and it was loaded with only one 4.5 mm cartridge. It was impossible to recharge this device, so operatives used it only as a last resort.

3. 2B1 "Oka"

Since the most terrible weapon during the Cold War was atomic bomb, the USSR and the USA invented many strange ways of delivering this to the goal destructive weapons. At a time when nuclear missiles were still imperfect, unguided delivery systems were used. One of the largest artillery pieces in the world - 420 mm self-propelled mortar 2B1 "Oka". For comparison, on the American Iowa-class battleship, the caliber of the main battery of battleship-class guns is 406 millimeters. The huge Oka gun could send a 750-kilogram projectile 45 kilometers.

One of the main disadvantages of this self-propelled gun was the lack of recoil devices - after firing, the mortar moved back 5 meters. During the march, only the driver drove the Oka, and the rest of the crew was transported separately on an armored personnel carrier. Despite the fact that 2By was originally created as a nuclear weapon, it could also fire conventional projectiles. In 1960, it was decided to abandon such huge non-format artillery guns in favor of guided missiles and all work on the Oka project was stopped.

4. Heavy tank T-35

On the eve of World War II, world powers raced to create super-heavy breakthrough tanks. Such structures first appeared in the UK, where they were called “landships”. In industrial developed countries Dozens of concepts for similar tanks were created, but literally only a few went into production. In the USSR, developments to create their own heavy tanks began in the late 1920s.

By 1932, the T-35 heavy tank was created, the distinctive feature of which was five turrets that could fire in all directions. The main turret was equipped with a 45 mm (later 76 mm) gun, and the other four were equipped with machine guns. Although the tank was simply huge (9.7 x 3.2 x 3.4 meters), it was extremely cramped inside. Due to its large mass (50 tons), the T-35 could reach a top speed of only 28 km/h, which was very slow by pre-war standards. Also, despite all its weapons, the T-35 was very lightly armored (20-30 mm). These two shortcomings led to the fact that the T-35 became obsolete by the time of its creation.

5. Tu-2Sh "Fire Hedgehog"

Towards the end of World War II in 1944 Soviet Union experimented with various weapons systems that could give the country a greater advantage over German forces. Since the advantage was already on the side of the USSR, engineers had more time to experiment with different systems weapons.

Based on the highly effective Tu-2S bomber, the Tu-2Sh attack aircraft was designed, which was equipped with anti-personnel weapons from a battery of 88 PPSh assault rifles. This system was called "Fire Hedgehog". In battle, the pilot had to fly as low as possible over enemy positions, after which he opened the bomb bay and, using a special sight, fired heavily at the infantry.

6. Umbrella with poison

Another Soviet spy weapon (the poison umbrella) was actually used for operational purposes and was nicknamed the "Bulgarian umbrella". A blade poisoned with ricin was thrown out from the end of the umbrella using a button on the handle. Most famous case The use of this weapon was the murder of the Bulgarian writer Georgiy Markov in London. The special agent injected Markov in the leg, after which the writer died of ricin poisoning three days later.

7. MiG-105

Although the idea of ​​space planes is becoming increasingly popular these days, back during the Cold War both sides experimented with creating similar craft in an attempt to pioneer the militarization of space. The United States tested the X-20 Dyna-soar, and the USSR developed an experimental manned orbital aircraft, the MiG-105, nicknamed "Lapot" because of its distinctive appearance.

Orbital fighter aircraft were designed to provide complete control of near-Earth space, as well as block any attempts to attack NATO from the outer atmosphere. The aircraft was to be launched into orbit using a traditional solid rocket booster, which was then undocked from the MiG-105. The first test launch of the MiG-105 was carried out from the Tu-95 and ended in an accident during landing. The project was subsequently abandoned due to its high cost.

8. Submarine "Shark"

It was in the USSR at the end of the Cold War that the world's largest submarine of the Akula class (or Typhoon according to NATO classification) was built. Although the Akula carried fewer missiles than the US Ohio-class submarine (20 Bulava missiles versus 24 Trident missiles), the Soviet missiles were more powerful.

There are still no analogues to the Akula, the production of which began in 1976. Its length is 175 meters (the length of a football field is 105 meters, and the length of the largest aircraft in the world, AN-225, is 84 meters), and its width is 23 meters (which is approximately equal to the height of an 8-story building). Besides 20 ballistic missiles, "Shark" was also armed with six torpedo tubes. The giant submarine was powered by 2 nuclear reactors.

9. Sukhoi T-4

In the 1960s, the ideal delivery vehicle nuclear warheads High-altitude bombers were counting towards their destination. The United States began developing the XB-70 Valkyrie, a huge Mach 3 bomber that was supposedly impossible to shoot down. In response, the USSR began developing its own T-4 bomber, capable of reaching a similar speed. The T-4 and XB-70 had similar design features. Although the T-4 was slightly smaller than the XB-70, they both had an identical configuration: a delta wing and engines on the underside of the fuselage.

The Sukhoi T-4 was made almost entirely of titanium and stainless steel. What is noteworthy is that in order to achieve such speeds, the aircraft did not have an open cockpit section. While on the ground and during takeoff, the T-4's nose was tilted down to provide a clear view to the pilot. And after reaching the flight altitude, the plane “turned up” its nose, which is why the pilot had to navigate only by instruments.

10. Snowmobile

Due to the peculiarities of climatic conditions (long and cold winters), special vehicles were developed in the USSR during World War II. One of the most unusual and effective vehicles was the snowmobile, which was essentially an ordinary sled on which an engine and a propeller were installed. Lightly armored snowmobiles could move at speeds of 25-140 km/h in the snow. The most common and successful were the NKL-26 snowmobiles with a machine gun, which were used in the Soviet-Finnish war.

Those who are interested in history will be interested in seeing and - a vivid embodiment of the pre-war USSR. They capture an entire era.