Vladimir Artemyev

Vladimir Andreyevich Artemyev (Russian: Владимир Андреевич Артемьев) (July 6 [O.S. June 24] 1885 in Saint Petersburg - September 11, 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.

Vladimir Artemyev
Born
Vladimir Andreyevich Artemyev

(1885-07-06)July 6, 1885
Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
DiedSeptember 11, 1962(1962-09-11) (aged 77)
Moscow,USSR
OccupationRocket and missile engineering
Notable work
Gas Dynamics Laboratory, Katyusha

Biography

Early Years and Service in the Russian Imperial Army

Vladimir Artemyev was born on the June 6 [O.S. June 24] 1885 in a noble family, his father was a military officer.[1] In 1925 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 Saint George and promoted to the rank of non-commissioned officer.[2][3]

On 28 June [O.S. 15 June] 1908 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.[4] On September 12 [O.S. August 31] 1908 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Then he served as an engineer under chief technology officer at the GRAU.[5][3]

Rocket Engineering

After the October Revolution Artemyev didn’t leave the country. In 1920 he acquainted Nikolay Tikhomirov 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.[4] In March 1921 Tikhomirov decided to modify the laboratory and engage in rocket engineering. His main interest was the solid-propellant rocket.[3] In the same year, the scientists started working on air projectiles.[4]

On September 22, 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 June 10, 1923, he was sentenced to 3 years at the Solovki special camp.[6][7]

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.[4] In 1925 the laboratory relocated to Leningrad. On March 3, 1928, the first rocket on a smokeless gunpowder propellant was tested at one of the training areas near Leningrad.[3] According to Artemyev, that configuration became the prototype of the missiles for ‘Katyusha’.[8] In July 1928 the laboratory was renamed into the Gas-Dynamic Laboratory (GDL) of the Revolutionary Military Council. After the decease of Nikolay Tikhomirov, Boris Petropavlovsky became its new head, in 1931 he was replaced by Nikolay Ilyin. 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 RNII.[7] 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.[9]

In 1938-1941 the Research Institute №3 under chief constructor Andrey Kostikov engineers Ivan Gvay, Vladimir Galkovsky, Alexey Pavlenko, R. I. Popov, N. I. Tikhomirov, and Vladimir Artemyev designed a multi-charge missile launcher, mounted on a truck.[10] Artemyev was in charge of rocket construction. On March 23, 1943, he was awarded with the 1st class USSR State Prize in honour of his major improvements in mortar tubes and ammunition.[3]

External image
Artemyev’s memorial stone at Novodevichy Cemetery

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.[3][4]

Vladimir Artemyev passed away on September 11, 1962. The ashes were placed in the columbarium at the Novodevichy Cemetery.[1]

Awards

Memory

The Artem'ev lunar crater on the far side of the Moon was named after the scientist.[3]

References
  1. Glushko, A. "Артемьев Владимир Андреевич". Chronos Biographical Profiles. Archived from the original on 2007-03-10. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
  2. Glazov, V. "Один из отцов "Катюши" работал над ракетами в Брест-Литовской крепости" [One of ‘Katyusha’ creators Worked on Missiles at Brest Fortress] (in Russian). Brest Courier. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
  3. The Great Soviet Encyclopedia 1985, p. 30-31.
  4. Melnikov, N. (1967-09-13). "Launching Missiles" (in Russian). Krasnaya Zvezda. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. Kasheev, L. (2016-05-19). "Создатели "Огненных стрел"" [Creators of ‘Fire Arrows’] (in Russian). “Modelist konstruktor” magazine. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
  6. "Артемьев Владимир Андреевич" [Artemyev Vladimir Andreyevich] (in Russian). The Immortal Barrack. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  7. Smirnov, G. I. (2006). 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] (in Russian). Smolensk: “Print Express”. pp. 21, 22.
  8. Nikolaev, A. (2004). "Так начинались ЖРД и ракеты на жидком топливе" [The Beginnings of Liquid-Propellant Rockets] (in Russian). No. №3 (33). ‘Dvigatel’. pp. 32–36. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  9. Shirokorad, A.B. (1995-01-01). ""Лука" и "Катюша" против "Ванюши"" [‘Luka’ and ‘Katyusha’ against ‘Vanusha’] (in Russian). ‘Equipment and Weapons’. pp. 2–8. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  10. Акимов В. Н., Коротеев А. С., Гафаров А. А. и другие (2003). Оружие победы — "Катюша" // Исследовательский центр имени М. В. Келдыша. 1933—2003: 70 лет на передовых рубежах ракетно-космической техники. pp. 92–101.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. "Наградной лист в электронном банке документов "Подвиг народа"" [Award list] (in Russian). the electronic bank of documents "People's feat". Retrieved 2020-04-11.
  12. "Наградной лист в электронном банке документов "Подвиг народа"" [Award list] (in Russian). the electronic bank of documents "People's feat". Retrieved 2020-04-11.

Sources
  • Glushko, V. P., ed. (1985). The Great Soviet Encyclopedia: Сosmonautics (in Russian). Moscow: The Great Soviet Encyclopedia. pp. 30–31.
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