Vladimir Artemyev Explained

Vladimir Artemyev
Birth Name:Vladimir Andreyevich Artemyev
Birth Date:6 July 1885
Birth Place:Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Death Place:Moscow, USSR
Occupation:Rocket and missile engineering
Notable Works:Gas Dynamics Laboratory, Katyusha

Vladimir Andreyevich Artemyev (Russian: Владимир Андреевич Артемьев) (in Saint Petersburg - 11 September 1962 in Moscow) was a Soviet Russian rocket scientist at the Gas Dynamics Laboratory, and was one of the inventors of the Katyusha. The first rocket propelled by smokeless trotyl-pyroxylin powder was launched under his direction in 1928. Artem'ev crater is named in his honour.

Biography

Early years and service in the Russian Imperial Army

Vladimir Artemyev was born on the in a noble family, his father was a military officer.[1] In 1905 Vladimir graduated from the 1st St Petersburg Gymnasium and volunteered for the Russo-Japanese War. For his valour he was rewarded with the 4th class Cross of St. George and promoted to the rank of non-commissioned officer.[2]

On he graduated from military school in the rank of second lieutenant and commissioned to the Brest Fortress artillery unit. There he headed the loading room and engaged in experiments with flares. He installed seven aluminium parachute flares into a rocket head, his invention exceeded several standard missiles in the illuminating power. On he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Then he served as an engineer under chief technology officer at the GRAU.[3]

Rocket Engineering

After the October Revolution Artemyev didn’t leave the country. In 1920 he acquainted Nikolai Tihomirov and soon became his main assistant. In Spring 1920 Tikhomirov and Artemyev equipped a small laboratory on Tikhvinskaya street in Moscow and conducted a series of experiments with charcoal gunpowder. The scientists financed the research with their own money, to support the laboratory they crafted and sold toys and bicycle supplies. In March 1921 Tikhomirov decided to modify the laboratory and engage in rocket engineering. His main interest was the solid-propellant rocket. In the same year, the scientists started working on air projectiles.

On 22 September 1922 Vladimir Artemyev was arrested on charges of espionage, inaction and negligence that undermined the Red Army’s supply in artillery and projectiles. Under the Special Council of the NKVD decision from 10 June 1923, he was sentenced to 3 years at the Solovki prison camp.[4] [5]

In 1924 Artemyev was released from the camp and returned to work at the Tikhomirov’s laboratory. In the same year he offered to construct propellant charges from smokeless gunpowder based on non-volatile solvents. In 1925 the laboratory relocated to Leningrad. On 3 March 1928 the first rocket on a smokeless gunpowder propellant was tested at one of the training areas near Leningrad. According to Artemyev, that configuration became the prototype of the missiles for ‘Katyusha’.[6] In July 1928 the laboratory was renamed into the Gas Dynamics Laboratory (GDL) of the Revolutionary Military Council. After the decease of Nikolay Tikhomirov, became its new head, in 1931 he was replaced by . Since that year the laboratory has been subjected to the Red Army Office of Military Inventions of the Technical Staff of the Chief of Armaments. In 1932 Ivan Kleymyonov was assigned to the director’s post. In September 1933 GIRD and GDL merged into the Reactive Scientific Research Institute (RNII). Artemyev designed RS-82 fin-stabilized rockets with extended fins. In 1937-1938 Polikarpov I-15, Polikarpov I-16, Polikarpov I-153 were equipped with jet-propelled projectiles. In Summer 1939 RS-82 rockets were successfully used in the Battles of Khalkhin Gol.[7]

In 1938-1941 RNII (now renamed the Research Institute №3 or NII-3) under chief constructor engineers,,, R. I. Popov and Vladimir Artemyev designed the Katyusha rocket launcher.[8] Artemyev was in charge of rocket construction. On 23 March 1943 he was awarded with the 1st class USSR State Prize in honour of his major improvements in mortar tubes and ammunition.

During World War II Artemyev kept working as a military engineer. In 1945 with S. F. Fonaryov he co-created an antisubmarine mortar with depth rocket-propelled missiles. After the war Artemyev kept working on rocket construction at research institutes and laboratories.

Vladimir Artemyev died on 11 September 1962. The ashes were placed in the columbarium at the Novodevichy Cemetery.

Awards

Memory

The Artem'ev lunar crater on the far side of the Moon was named after the scientist.

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Артемьев Владимир Андреевич. Glushko, A.. Chronos Biographical Profiles. https://web.archive.org/web/20070310113705/http://www.hronos.km.ru/biograf/bio_a/artemevv.html. 2020-04-11. 2007-03-10.
  2. Web site: Один из отцов "Катюши" работал над ракетами в Брест-Литовской крепости. One of ‘Katyusha’ creators Worked on Missiles at Brest Fortress . Glazov, V.. 9 May 2012. Brest Courier. ru. 2020-04-11.
  3. Web site: Kasheev. L.. Создатели "Огненных стрел". Creators of ‘Fire Arrows’. ru . “Modelist konstruktor” magazine. 2016-05-19. 2020-04-11.
  4. Web site: Артемьев Владимир Андреевич. Artemyev Vladimir Andreyevich. ru. The Immortal Barrack . 2020-04-12.
  5. Book: Smirnov , G. I. . Ракетные системы РВСН. От Р-1 — к "Тополю-М". 1946-2006 гг. Сборник материалов о развитии ракетного оружия в СССР и РФ. USSR Strategic Missile Forces. From R-1 to RT-2PM2 Topol-M. 1946-2006. Compendium on Rocket Science in Russia and the USSR. ru. Smolensk. “Print Express”. 2006. 21, 22.
  6. http://engine.aviaport.ru/issues/33/page32.html . Nikolaev. A.. ru:Так начинались ЖРД и ракеты на жидком топливе. The Beginnings of Liquid-Propellant Rockets. 2004. ru. Двигатель ‘Dvigatel’. 33. 32–36.
  7. Shirokorad. A.B.. ru:"Лука" и "Катюша" против "Ванюши". ‘Luka’ and ‘Katyusha’ against ‘Vanusha’. http://booksonline.com.ua/view.php?book=101483 . ru. Equipment and Weapons. 1995-01-01. 2–8.
  8. Book: Акимов В. Н. . Коротеев А. С. . Гафаров А. А. . etal . Оружие победы — "Катюша" // Исследовательский центр имени М. В. Келдыша. 1933—2003: 70 лет на передовых рубежах ракетно-космической техники . 2003 . 92–101. Научно-техническое издательство "Машиностроение".
  9. Web site: Наградной лист в электронном банке документов "Подвиг народа". . Award list . the electronic bank of documents "People's feat" . ru. 2020-04-11.
  10. Web site: Наградной лист в электронном банке документов "Подвиг народа". . Award list . the electronic bank of documents "People's feat" . ru. 2020-04-11.