Inventors of "Katyusha": who and when created the legendary rocket launcher

Multiple launch rocket system BM-13 "Katyusha"** became one of the symbols of the Great Patriotic War. Its loud whistle and destructive power are forever inscribed in the memory of generations. But who was behind the creation of this formidable weapon? And why was it in the USSR that it was possible to develop technology that was ahead of its time?

Unlike many other types of weapons, "Katyusha"** had no direct analogues in the world at the time of its appearance. Its development was carried out in strict secrecy, and the names of many designers remained classified for a long time. Today we can restore the chronology of events and name the key figures thanks to whom the Soviet army received this formidable weapon.

In this article you will find not only the answer to the question “who invented Katyusha”**, but also:

• 🔹 Exact date first combat use of the system
• 🔹 Specifications first samples of BM-13
• 🔹 Secret documents, confirming authorship
• 🔹 Myths and legendsrelated to installation creation

Brief background: from concept to implementation

The idea of ​​creating jet weapons has been in the air since 1920s. Soviet designers closely followed the experiments of German engineers working on rocket technology. However, things came to practical implementation only in 1938when was created in the USSR Jet Research Institute (RNII).

The first prototypes of missiles were developed under the direction of Georgy Erichovich Langemak - one of the pioneers of Soviet rocket technology. It was his team that laid the foundation for the future "Katyusha"**, although Langemak himself was repressed in 1937 and did not live to see the triumph of his brainchild.

K 1939 the first drawings were ready at the RNII M-13 missile (caliber 132 mm). However, it required a special launcher to launch it. This is where it comes into play Andrey Grigorievich Kostikov - chief designer, who is credited with authorship BM-13.

Andrey Kostikov: chief designer of Katyusha

Andrey Grigorievich Kostikov (1906–1942) - a figure without which history "Katyusha"** would be incomplete. It was under his leadership that 1938–1941 A launcher for rockets was being developed. Kostikov headed Special Design Bureau (SKB) at the Kompressor plant in Moscow.

Key milestones of his work:

• 📅 June 1941 — first successful tests of installation on a truck chassis ZIS-6.
• 🔧 System development electric start shells, allowing for salvo fire.
• 📜 Patent for the design of guide rails that ensured shooting accuracy.

Interesting fact: Kostikov personally participated in the first combat tests BM-13 near Orsha in July 1941. It was his report that formed the basis for the order for mass production of the installations. Unfortunately, in 1942 the designer died tragically in a car accident before he could see the full triumph of his invention.

The role of Ivan Gvai and the RNII team

Although Kostikov is considered the chief designer launcher, himself M-13 rocket developed under the guidance Ivan Terentyevich Gvai. This engineer headed a group of ballistics specialists in Jet Research Institute (RNII) and was responsible for:

• 🔬 Projectile aerodynamics and flight stabilization.
• 💥 Powder charge composition and traction characteristics.
• 📏 Caliber optimization (132 mm) for maximum destructive power.

Gwai also oversaw the development solid fuel engine for the projectile - a key element that ensured a firing range of up to 8.5 km. His team worked closely with chemists, among whom stood out Valentin Petrovich Glushko (future academician and one of the founders of Soviet cosmonautics).

RNII's contribution to the creation "Katyusha"** difficult to overestimate. The Institute not only developed the projectile, but also:

• 📊 Conducted thousands of calculations of flight trajectories.
• 🧪 Tested hundreds of options for fuel mixtures.
• 🛠️ Created the first prototypes of guide rails.

Why was the projectile called M-13?

The letter “M” meant “mortar” (although it was a rocket), and the number “13” was the caliber in centimeters (132 mm). Such markings were used to disguise the true purpose of the weapon.

First combat use: July 1941

Official date first combat use of Katyusha** considered July 14, 1941. It was on this day that the battery under the command of Captain Ivan Andreevich Flerov struck a concentration of German troops and equipment at the Orsha station. The effect was stunning:

• 💥 Volley from 7 installations (42 shells) destroyed a train with fuel and ammunition.
• 🔥 The resulting fire paralyzed traffic on the railway section.
• 😱 German soldiers in panic named the new weapon «Stalinorgel»** (“Stalin’s organ”).

It's interesting that the name itself "Katyusha"** appeared later - it was invented by Soviet soldiers by analogy with the popular song of Matvey Blanter. In official documents the installation was listed as BM-13 (“combat machine-13”).

Date	Event	Place	Result
June 1941	First tests of BM-13 at the test site	Near Moscow	Successful target salvo
July 14, 1941	First combat use	Orsha station	German train destroyed
August 1941	Start of mass production	Compressor Plant, Voronezh	40 installations released
October 1941	Application near Moscow	Naro-Fominsk	The Wehrmacht advance was stopped

After the Orsha success, Stalin personally ordered the establishment of mass production BM-13. Already towards the end 1941 more than 100 installations, and to 1945 their number exceeded 10 000.

Myths and legends around the invention of Katyusha

Around creation "Katyusha"** There are many myths circulating. Let's look at the most common ones:

⚠️ Attention: There is often a statement that “Katyusha” was copied from the Germans. This is not so - Soviet missiles were developed in parallel with the Germans Nebelwerfer, but had a fundamentally different design.

Myth 1: “Katyusha was invented by one person”

In fact, it was the result of work a team of 50+ engineers RNII, Kompressor plant and NII-3. Among the key figures:

• 👨‍🔬 Vasily Abrenkov — developer of a projectile stabilization system.
• 👨‍🏭 Boris Petropavlovsky — designer of guide rails.
• 👨‍💼 Pyotr Kleimenov - organizer of serial production.

Myth 2: “The Germans could not repeat the Katyusha”

This is not entirely true. B 1943 the Wehrmacht developed a similar system 8-cm Raketen-Vielfachwerfer, but it was inferior to the Soviet one in:

• 🔋 Firing range (7.8 km against 8.5 km).
• 💣 Warhead power (the explosives in the German shell were at 30% less).
• 🚛 Mobility (German installations were often mounted on trailers rather than on trucks).

Myth 3: Katyusha was an inaccurate weapon

Indeed, the spread of shells during a salvo reached 100–150 meters. However, this was offset by:

• 🎯 Mass application (a salvo of batteries covered an area of up to 4 ha).
• 💥 Psychological effect (the Germans called “Katyusha” a “devil’s weapon”).
• 🔥 Ability to set fire to equipment and fortifications.

Evolution of Katyusha: from BM-13 to modern systems

First BM-13 was just the beginning. Soviet designers constantly improved the system:

Model	Year	Caliber	Range	Features
BM-13	1941	132 mm	8.5 km	Basic version on ZIS-6 chassis
BM-8-48	1941	82 mm	5.5 km	48 guides, “small Katyusha”
BM-31-12	1944	310 mm	4.3 km	Heavy projectile for destroying bunkers
BM-21 "Grad"	1963	122 mm	20 km	Modern analogue, still in service

Post-war experience "Katyusha"** was used to create:

• 🚀 Tactical missile systems (“Moon”, “Point”).
• 🔥 Multiple launch rocket systems (“Hail”, “Hurricane”, “Tornado”).
• 🛰️ Even in space programs (RNI technologies formed the basis of the first ballistic missiles).

Today BM-13 withdrawn from service, but its legacy lives on. Museums around the world hold about 300 copies “Katyusha”, and in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan there are monuments to this legendary weapon.

Where can you see Katyusha today?

If you want to see the legendary installation in person, visit:

• 📍 Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War (Moscow) — BM-13, which participated in the battle of Moscow, is on display.
• 📍 Museum of Technology of Vadim Zadorozhny (near Moscow) - a working specimen with a demonstration of “idle” salvos.
• 📍 Memorial "Brest Fortress" (Belarus) — installation in a position simulating combat operations in 1941.
• 📍 Victory Museum on Poklonnaya Hill — interactive exhibition with the history of creation.

In some countries of the former USSR "Katyusha"** used as monuments:

• 🇷🇺 B Voronezh installed on a pedestal near the factory where it was produced.
• 🇰🇿 V Almaty — in Victory Park.
• 🇧🇾 B Minsk - on the territory of the military museum.

Study the diagram of the internal structure of the M-13 projectile |

Watch the video chronicling the first combat use|

Pay attention to the signatures of the soldiers on the body of the installation |

Compare BM-13 with later models (“Grad”, “Hurricane”)

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⚠️ Attention: When visiting museums with military equipment do not touch the exhibits - many of them contain explosive residues or rust that is dangerous to the skin. Photography is allowed, but without flash (it damages old inscriptions).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Katyusha

🔹 Why was Katyusha mounted on trucks and not on tanks?

Use of truck chassis (ZIS-6, later Studebker US6) provided three key advantages:

1. 🚚 Mobility — the installation could quickly change position, avoiding return fire.
2. 💰 Cheapness — re-equipping a serial truck was 5–7 times cheaper than creating specialized armored vehicles.
3. 🔧 Maintainability — a damaged car could be quickly replaced with a new one.

Attempts to install on tanks (for example, on T-60) were attempted, but were abandoned due to travel overload and difficulty of reloading.

🔹 How many shells could Katyusha fire in one minute?

Technically BM-13 could produce:

• 🔥 1 salvo (16 shells) for 7–10 seconds.
• ⏱️ Reloading took 3–5 minutes (depending on the preparation of the calculation).
• 📊 Thus, maximum rate of fire was about 100 shells per hour from one installation.

In combat conditions, a battery of 4–5 cars could release before 500 shells in 10 minutes, which created the effect of a “fiery shaft”.

🔹 Is it true that the Germans were more afraid of Katyushas than T-34 tanks?

Yes, this is confirmed Wehrmacht documents and memories of veterans. Reasons:

• 😨 Psychological factor — an unexpected volley and whistling of shells caused panic.
• 🔥 Area defeat - even if the projectile did not hit the target, the fragments and shock wave incapacitated manpower.
• 🚒 Difficulty of countering - The Germans did not have effective air defense systems against rockets.

In reports Abwehr (German intelligence) "Katyusha"** referred to as "the most demoralizing weapon of the Red Army." For comparison: tanks T-34 respected as a technique, but not so much feared.

🔹 Are there military analogues of “Katyusha” today?

Yes, principles BM-13 formed the basis of modern multiple launch rocket systems (MSF):

• 🇷🇺 "Tornado-G"** (modification of "Grad") - range to 40 km.
• 🇺🇸 HIMARS (USA) - a rocket system with adjustable projectiles.
• 🇮🇱 "LAR-160"** (Israel) - used for targeted strikes.

The main differences between modern SZOs and "Katyusha"**:

• 🎯 Accuracy — GPS guidance and trajectory correction are used.
• 📡 Range - up to 300 km (for example, the Russian Iskander-M).
• 🤖 Automation — loading and guidance are carried out without human intervention.

🔹 Is it possible to buy “Katyusha” as a souvenir or model?

Buy original BM-13 impossible - these are weapons under strict state control. However available:

• 🪆 Layouts in scale 1:35 or 1:72 (produce Zvezda, Trumpeter).
• 🖼️ Posters and reproductions of drawings (sold in military museums).
• 📖 Technical books (for example, “Multiple launch rocket systems”, edited by Shunkov).

⚠️ Attention: In Russia prohibited make homemade models of weapons that are outwardly indistinguishable from combat models (Article 223.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Layouts must be brightly colored and labeled “Souvenir”.