Mistress 

The names of military equipment and weapons, our designers may not be the same. Names of Russian weapons and interesting facts Cool names of military equipment

For more than half a century, there has been a tradition in our country to come up with frivolous names for deadly weapons. The pampering of designers cannot always be explained by the real characteristics of military equipment. Most often, gunsmiths are inspired by nature, women and the diversity of human feelings ...

During the Great Patriotic War and the pre-war era, Soviet inventors had no time for verbal experiments. New models of military equipment were simply assigned the appropriate index. However, there has always been a tradition in the troops to give a nickname to weapons. Affectionate names were awarded to the most reliable and effective samples that protected the lives of soldiers.

How can one not recall the legendary BM-13 or Katyusha rocket complex. The machine was first manufactured on June 27, 1941 at the Voronezh excavator plant. The firepower of the Katyusha was used as artillery preparation. The easy-to-use machine destroyed everything alive in the square marked by the gunners, inflicting colossal damage on the Nazis.

Jet complex BM-13 "Katyusha"

There are a huge number of examples of nicknames during the war. The heavy self-propelled artillery mount ISU-152 was nicknamed "St. "Ishakom", and the Pe-2 dive bomber - "Pawn".

After the war, the tradition of giving funny nicknames to military equipment migrated to the offices of design bureaus.

This is not surprising, because Soviet scientists closely monitored the operation of weapons, and some of the young specialists went to the front, adopting soldier habits. From the 1950s, instead of nicknames on the battlefield, military equipment began to be awarded official names at the development stage.

203-mm howitzer of high power B-4 - "Kuvalda",

In this regard, many samples received rather strange names that do not reflect the purpose of the weapon and its tactical and technical characteristics. Some of them may seem rather strange and absolutely “unmanly”. However, the original approach to the name only fuels interest in what this military equipment is actually capable of.

Artillery bouquet and natural disasters

In Russia, there is a galaxy of artillery pieces that have received "flower" names. These are the 152-mm self-propelled gun 2S5 "Hyacinth", the self-propelled anti-tank missile system 9M123 "Chrysanthemum", the self-propelled gun 2S7 "Peony", self-propelled artillery mounts 2S1 "Carnation" and 2S3 "Acacia", 240-mm self-propelled mortar "Tulip" and 82 -mm automatic mortar 2B9 "Cornflower".

240-mm self-propelled mortar "Tulip"

In turn, Russian multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) received associative names. The gunsmiths decided not to call the descendants of "Katyusha" female names and "called for help" natural phenomena.

The world's most popular MLRS BM-21 was named "Grad". Following the deadly "precipitation" appeared 9K57 "Hurricane" (220 mm), 9K58 "Smerch" (300 mm), 9K51M "Tornado" (122 and 300 mm) and TOS-1M "Sun" (220 mm). Currently, part of this military equipment daily arranges "natural disasters" for gangs in Syria.

water family

Since Russia has the richest water resources, the love for the rivers was expressed in the names of many types of air defense and other types of weapons.

The "Champion" was the Volga - the main river of Central and Southern Russia. "Volga" was named the first large ballistic missile R-1, the export version of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile system (SAM), the 12.7-mm V-94 (OSV-96) sniper rifle, the KSR-5 aircraft control system equipment, the ship radio-electronic station (radar) MR-310U and early warning radar P-8.

The first ballistic missile R-1 "Volga"

Gunsmiths could not ignore the rivers where Russian statehood was forged.

"Dnepr" is a launch vehicle created on the basis of the R-36M intercontinental ballistic missile, an anti-missile defense radar, a portable VHF radio station 70RTP-2-ChM and a radio control and intelligence receiver PRKR-1 (1RK-9).

"Desna" (a tributary of the Dnieper) was called the S-75M air defense system, the 22Zh6M radar, the 8P775 silo launcher for the first generation R-9A missiles and the air-dropped sea mine. "Dnestr" was chosen as an appropriate name for a variety of military and civilian electronic equipment (radar and echo sounders).

Mine launcher 8P775 "Desna"

The designers did not forget other rivers: the mighty Siberian Yenisei (ZSU-37-2 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun), the Trans-Baikal Shilka (ZSU-23-4 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun), the Amur tributary Tunguska (2K22 anti-aircraft gun-missile system), the largest in the north to the west, the Dvina River (SA-75M air defense system) and the St. Petersburg Neva (export version of the S-125 Pechora air defense system).

adult pranks

Separate names of military equipment at first glance do not fit into any logic at all and seem to be a manifestation of either the author's bold imagination or his sense of humor.

For example, these are the TOS-1 Pinocchio heavy flamethrower system, the 9M14M Malyutka anti-tank guided missile, the MRG-1 Ogonyok 55-mm shipborne seven-barreled grenade launcher, fragmentation ammunition for the GP-25 Foundling grenade launchers, the Variant shovel grenade launcher ”, a heavy control station R-410M “Diagnoz”, body armor “Visit” and a 23-mm rubber bullet “Hi”.

Car UAZ-3150 "Naughty"

The gunsmiths, apparently, were not shy in expressing their “feelings”, creating the BTR-80A “Violentity” armored personnel carrier, the UAZ-3150 “Naughty” car, the “Ecstasy” multiple-action flash and noise grenade and the special convoy handcuffs “Tenderness”.

Of course, not without "female" names. "Katyusha" did not become a tradition and, as a rule, proper names were rarely used. Nevertheless, one can recall Tatyana (tactical atomic bomb 8U69 and ZUR 215), Azalea (jamming station LO24 and LO27) and Lydia (120-mm mortar).

The image of a woman was embodied in the 30-mm aircraft gun 9A-4071 "Ballerina", in the autonomous radar of state recognition "Stewardess", in the cluster warhead "Decoration", in the meteorological complex RPMK-1 "Smile", in the light women's body armor "Grace", in missiles MS 9M216 "Excitement" and MS-24 "Laska".

122-mm towed howitzer D-30A "Frog"

Also gunsmiths were clearly not indifferent to the fauna. "Swallow" - Tu-95LAL flying laboratory, "Aistenok" - portable artillery reconnaissance radar, "Fox" - armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicle BRDM-2, "Frog" - 122-mm D-30A towed howitzer, "Tiger" - car special purpose GAZ-23301, "Vepr" - an armored car GAZ-3902 and a machine gun for special forces.

From the fields of war

You should not look for any clear system in the names of military equipment, said Dmitry Kornev, founder of the Military Russia portal, in an interview with RT.

“Firstly, this tradition does not apply to all weapons, and it migrated to the Soviet Union, most likely from the fields of the Second World War, where the interchange of cultures took place,” the expert believes.

Kornev recalled that Soviet soldiers used foreign samples en masse. In particular, captured German weapons were renamed in the Russian manner for convenience. Also, under Lend-Lease, the USSR received US equipment, which had official nicknames. Perhaps the American tradition of giving names was borrowed by Soviet designers.

“Was there any practical use for fancy names? There is no clear answer to this question. There is a version that the inexplicable names of weapons were needed to maintain the secrecy of the development. It was a kind of cipher, and in this way we allegedly confused and continue to confuse foreign spies, ”explained Kornev.

"Foundling", "Sled", "Zoo": what deadly weapon is hidden behind funny names

About the verbal names of domestic military equipment, which is capable of destroying all life in large areas, ordinary people know little. However, Grads, Tornadoes, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Vladimirs, Acacias, Tulips and other verbal usages that are mysterious to the majority appear in the headlines every now and then. Behind every pretty name in the national weapons school is a difficult fate, and more often than not, a great story about its use or service. Almost all copies of domestic weapons, no matter what kind of troops they belong to, have impressive firepower or just very serious military functionality.

They have and we have

Only Soviet and Russian designers know how to call equipment with unusual names. There is nothing unusual in the foreign names of military equipment, no matter what troops it belongs to. American designers, for example, call their combat vehicles almost constantly in a peculiar, militant style. Judge for yourself: they called the combat helicopters “Cobra” and “Apache” - it’s quite logical, because the cobra is a poisonous snake, and the Apaches are a tribe of native North American Indians, who were pretty good with melee weapons. However, glancing at domestic weapons and studying this topic in detail, you involuntarily begin to smile, because “Sled”, “Foundling”, “Tenderness”, “Dubna”, “Vega” are not the names of some fantastic works, but real offensive and defensive means.

About titles

"Chrysanthemum". Photo: Bogdan Rudenko

Sometimes cute, gentle and kind names for formidable army equipment are given in such a way that a person who is not initiated into the intricacies of military affairs will not immediately understand what type of weapon they are talking about. For example, when you hear that Pinocchio successfully hit the target at the training ground, you, as a person familiar with Soviet cartoons, involuntarily wrinkle your forehead in an attempt to remember when Pinocchio learned to shoot and what target he hit. However, the "Pinocchio" in the Russian Ministry of Defense is nothing more than a heavy multiple launch rocket system built on the basis of the T-72 tank and capable of literally burning out all life on an area in 40.000 square meters. "Pinocchio" with a 12-cylinder diesel engine has been successfully operating in military conflicts for a long time - first in the Charikar Valley in Afghanistan and South Salang, and then in 2000 in Chechnya. The thermobaric ammunition of the “son of Papa Carlo”, who instead of legs has impressive tracks, was enough to neutralize any enemy.

Also for lovers of floristry there is a special flower series. Only we are not talking about a family of bright and colorful, pleasantly smelling flowers, but about formidable self-propelled artillery mounts: Carnation, Hyacinth, Chrysanthemum, Tulip, Peony.

Jokes about innocent names, when you personally observe the work of these machines, immediately disappear. 2S1 "Carnation" - the "smallest" artillery system in this "dimensional grid". It fires 122 mm caliber ammunition at a range of up to 15 kilometers. But in the case of another "flower" - the Pion self-propelled artillery system, everything is somewhat more interesting, because it is this self-propelled unit that is capable of firing special ones, as the military say, or, simply, nuclear weapons over a distance of over 20 kilometers. The history of the creation of a nuclear weapon for this self-propelled gun is also full of surprises. First of all, because of the name, because special nuclear munitions are called "Kleshchevina", "Sapling" and "Perforator".

The last name, according to the memoirs of a retired lieutenant colonel of the armed forces of the USSR Andrei Mikhailovich Savenkov, generally, terrified even on experienced foreign military men: “Yes, the story with the name is, of course, the plot for the film, at least. Then the term "limited nuclear destruction" was in common use, for which, in fact, artillery of a similar plan was intended. Ammunition, of course, came up with good ones from a practical point of view. But from the point of view of names, apparently, they decided to unleash fear on the enemy, while still standing at the drawing board. As far as I remember, when the NATO headquarters found out how the name for the ammunition sounds in Russian and what it means, I think the gray-haired generals were added there instantly, ”the expert said in an interview with Zvezda.

"Svirel", "Foundling", "Sled" and "Zoo"

"Zoo". Photo: Konstantin Semyonov

Funny names, according to the stories of the military, are innumerable in the Soviet and Russian armies. “He runs with a good hundred, or even more,” ironically remarks in an interview with Zvezda the commander of one of the ZVO EW units Andrey Tikhonov. And it is true that no name, then irony, then laughter, then awareness, and only then - the study of history. When you read about the types of shots for underbarrel grenade launchers, in general, you don’t expect a funny catch, because a grenade flying out of a device placed under the barrel of an assault rifle is capable of completely turning a small fortification. But here, too, the creators of Soviet weapons distinguished themselves by creating the "Foundling" - a 7P24 grenade with a detonation mechanism after a collision with an obstacle. The expelling charge of a grenade throws it to a height of about two meters and then an explosion occurs. That's really, truly, a foundling!

Also, the Svirel deserves a separate story - a 40-mm round for a standard GP-30 underbarrel grenade launcher with acoustic impact. The principle of this ammunition is difficult to describe in words. However, if for a second you imagine the explosion of a meteorite flying into planet Earth, the simultaneous play of a thousand orchestras and the buzzing of a hundred or two bees, you can get a little closer in sensations to what the enemy experiences when such ammunition is used on him. A strong noise when a grenade is detonated is also accompanied by light exposure. In simple terms, the Svirel light and sound grenade provides the enemy with such a musical part that the mental and physical health of any, even the most prepared enemy, will be undermined for several minutes.

"Sled"

When the military asks: "Where is the one hundred and twentieth sled?" the subconscious says that even the usual, traditional for Russia types of winter entertainment have some use for the military. And only a minute later, when the mortar crew delivers a heavy 120 mm mortar with an impressive ground stop, you understand that the "Sled" is a heavy army mortar, weighing more than 200 kg, which is simply impossible to cope with alone. However, "Sled", "Foundling" and "Svirel" are just the tip of the iceberg. The easiest part for Western linguists to learn.

"Zoo"- this is what can baffle even a highly erudite civilian. The problem is that, having heard the name with a certain type or object, most people, building an associative array, will move towards something alive in their reasoning, without even thinking about what the military calls the unique development of Soviet designers “Zoo”, designed to determine enemy artillery positions. 1L219M, according to the Russian military, is a "complex for controlling artillery fire." If we talk about the unique development in a simple and understandable language, then the "Zoo" is a complex of special radar and auxiliary equipment that can detect and detect the coordinates of any enemy artillery at an impressive distance and almost instantly direct aircraft or own artillery there.

great and mighty

The current opinion that some specially trained person gives funny names to Soviet and Russian technology does not correspond to reality. The reality with the names of domestic technology is simple, like the Soviet weapon itself.

“The names of Soviet technology almost always came from the ciphers of research and development. Hence, such unusual names appeared, ”an authoritative Russian military expert and editor-in-chief of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine tells about the real state of affairs in an interview with Zvezda. Viktor Murakhovsky.

However, according to Murakhovsky, there were exceptions in the domestic military design business. “It used to happen that the names were given only later to the officially adopted equipment. For example, the T-72 tank, which was put into service, was later called "Ural", in honor of Uralvagonzavod. And although the name was not considered official at first, even in the technical operation manual it was later called "Ural".

"Vladimir". Photo: Bogdan Rudenko

The story with another tank, no less famous, T-90, the development of which once literally pulled the entire tank-building industry of the country out of the abyss. The T-90 is a formidable tank, the appearance and armament of which terrifies NATO headquarters, in addition to the official, factory name, it also has a proper name - "Vladimir". However, the tank was named, despite the general misconception, not in honor of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Russia Vladimir Putin, but in honor of the chief designer of the tank - Vladimir Mikhailovich Potkin, who, having endured a huge amount of stress, suddenly died right at the workplace on May 13, 1999.

The history with the names of domestic military equipment is a real treasure for lovers of interesting things in weapons. For many more years, according to the confessions of the military themselves, the topic with the names of weapons will excite our potential opponents. “The Western mind will never think of calling the handcuffs “Tenderness”, and the jamming system “Moshkara”. You see, here understanding is still at the mental level, if not subconscious, ”says a military representative of the Ministry of Defense in an interview with Zvezda Nikolai Koshkin.

"Poplar"

The rich and powerful Russian language played with domestic weapons in a pair sport, in fact, driving the entire Western designation system to a standstill. Concluding the theme of unusual names, a beautiful song by Mark Bernes suddenly appears in my head “Do Russians Want Wars?”. And knowing that "Silence" (shooting complex) and "Topol" (mobile missile system) are not just the author's fantasy, but also weapons embodied in metal, Mark Bernes' song takes on a completely different meaning.

Since Homo sapiens appeared on the planet, weapons also began to develop. It is easy to explain this: defenseless people had to defend themselves from wild animals with something, to hunt them in order to survive. The weapon has gone through a lot of different transformations, and, unfortunately, its destructive power has increasingly been directed towards humans.

History of appearance

From time immemorial, people have been surrounded by dangers. They came from a person or animals, so the creation of weapons was a forced necessity. As progress progressed, weapons developed and improved in parallel. At first it was wooden: spears and clubs helped primitive people get food and defend themselves from their own kind. Further, with the advent of iron and bronze, spears and swords were made from new materials, more stable and strong. Melee weapons, the types of which are still undergoing changes, allowed people to cope with danger and not die of starvation.

The invention of gunpowder gave a powerful impetus to development in this direction: new types of weapons appeared much more often and were more diverse. Subsequently, nothing innovative was invented in this area, only the possibilities of the previously invented were expanded: the appearance of the weapon changed, its properties were modernized. In particular, rifled weapons were invented, which significantly increased the power and range of destruction.

The second half of the 19th century introduced fundamental changes - rapid-fire and other modern types of weapons appeared.

Types of weapons

There are various types of weapons on the planet. These are means of destruction for close combat, and firearms, and means of mass destruction. The main types of weapons known at the moment are divided into the following groups:

  • Cold. It is designed for close combat and is driven by the muscular efforts of a person.
  • gunshot. This type is designed for mechanical destruction of the target at a distance. This is due to the directed movement of the projectile, which is driven by a certain charge.
  • Pneumatic. For this weapon to be effective, the energy of compressed air is needed, which will induce the projectile to move.
  • Throwing. Such a weapon is capable of hitting at a distance. It can be driven by both muscular strength and special devices.
  • Weapons of mass destruction. This species at a great distance affects vast territories and leads to significant human losses.
  • Signal(starting) weapon.
  • The latest type of weapons: microwave impulses.

Weapons of a street fighter: knives, brass knuckles, Finns

Unlike Western countries, where firearms are widely used, edged weapons are popular in the post-Soviet space. Its types cause controversy among those who try to classify this type. Most often it is divided into the following subtypes:

  • stabbing: bayonets, stilettos;
  • piercing-cutting includes daggers, hunting knives, including Finnish and bayonet knives;
  • chopping is represented by checkers or sabers;
  • piercing-chopping: broadswords, cleavers;
  • crushing: brush, brass knuckles;
  • hitting: steel bits.

Sometimes scientists use other types of classifications, but the above is most often used by law enforcement officers who, by the nature of their service, have to deal with criminal elements. That is why some types of edged weapons are considered to be dangerous to society, and their use is attributed to the articles of the Criminal Code.

Nevertheless, such an item as a knife has long been considered the main male thing, an indicator of status and a person's calling card. They cut the umbilical cord of a newborn, it was the first item that was put into the baby's weak hands, and then all his life he was considered a talisman of his master. Without parting with a man throughout his life, the knife accompanied him on his last journey.

Of course, an ordinary modern person most often encounters dining and kitchen models, but not always. Knives can be used in different ways. Hunters, for example, appreciate the convenience of using special hunting knives. They are extremely durable and durable. Knives for tourism will delight people who love hiking and travel. They are light, practical, made of durable steel, perfectly corrected. Survival knives are also useful and sometimes vital. These products contain everything you need to stay in extreme conditions: a lighter, a compass and other items. Special knives are made for divers, rescue workers or medical professionals. But there are products that are impossible to buy - these are combat edged weapons. It is intended for military weapons. These are the most dangerous types of striking weapons for close combat, owning which, you can cause serious damage to the enemy.

Thrown weapons

This weapon is a special subspecies of the cold one. In a separate subgroup, it is allocated not in vain. The fact is that it helps the owner, who knows how to handle it, to hit the target at a distance, using only muscular effort and accuracy skills. It is often used for hunting. As a rule, throwing knives or darts are used. There are also more exotic types, such as shurikens, spears, boomerangs, crossbows. The last name, along with the bow, pilum and sulica, was used by the ancient Slavic and Roman warriors. Today, this type of weapon has remained mainly in sports use.

Shuriken, as a cult weapon of Japanese warriors, needs special mention. Contrary to the ingrained stereotype, it was used not only by ninjas, but also by other warriors in the Land of the Rising Sun. There are an unimaginable multitude of them, and the variety of forms is amazing. Samurai brought the use of shuriken to perfection: they can be cut, imperceptibly thrown at a target and stabbed. It was because of the secret murder that the glory of the so-called invisibles was fixed for the shurikens.

Theoretically safe pneumatics

This is a type of small arms, which is characterized by a special way of feeding a projectile. This happens with the help of compressed air. The term "pneumatic" is translated from Greek as "wind". Actually, this fact prompted the name of the weapon that way. The range of a shot from "pneumatics" and the nature of the defeat are such that this species is not classified as dangerous to humans, although there have been cases of killing by negligence. Basically, such weapons are used for sports shooting. But there are also hunting species that are more powerful, so they are used to hunt birds or small animals.

At the beginning of the last century, they seriously thought about replacing firearms with pneumatic weapons. The replacement was motivated by noiselessness, rapid-fire qualities, greater accuracy and the absence of smoke, which the shooter often unmasks.

Machine guns, pistols, machine guns

When modern types of weapons appeared, pneumatics remained mainly for entertainment, and firearms confidently entered the battle arena. The history of their appearance began with the invention of gunpowder and its successful application. This most important event happened in the XIV century, thus opening the era of artillery.

At the moment, there is a clear classification that divides the specified segment into the following types of firearms:

  • combat: carbines, machine guns, pistols, rifles;
  • sports: small-caliber weapons, pistols;
  • hunting: smoothbore guns.

This list applies to small arms. Also, easel weapons, including anti-aircraft mounts and machine guns, are also classified as firearms.

According to the purpose of use, hand weapons are divided into the following groups:

  • Civil. This type includes hunting, sporting and self-defense weapons.
  • Combat. With its help, combat and operational-service tasks are solved.
  • Service is used by employees of government agencies who are allowed to wear it.

The most popular types of handguns are pistols. This is a personal automatic device. It is used to hit a target at a relatively close distance. There are many types of pistols. In addition to the usual ones, there are underwater, signal and self-loading models. Separately, it should be said about submachine guns. This type of firearm has a range of about 200 meters. The high combat qualities of this pistol allowed him to occupy a worthy niche in the armament of many countries.

Sniper rifles, known to the townsfolk for numerous militants, have a high range of destruction, power and accuracy, and an optical sight contributes to the accuracy of the shooter.

The machine gun, otherwise called an assault rifle, is characterized by high maneuverability when firing and rate of fire. At the beginning of World War II, the famous Kalashnikov assault rifle was invented, which won the respect of the armies of many world powers.

Flash in the air

This type of weapon does not have lethal force, but it is impossible to do without it either at sports competitions, or in remote, deaf places, or on a watercraft. This is a signal weapon.

It is in the arsenal of rescuers and the military; aircraft and ships are equipped with it. As a starter, it is used in various relay races and olympiads. Signal weapons, of course, are designed to give heterogeneous signals: light, sound or smoke. With a shot from a rocket launcher, for example, you can call for help or find your own location.

Weapons of mass destruction

Whatever types of weapons are discussed, this is the deadliest of all currently known. The title itself is a threat to humanity. The types of weapons of mass destruction known today are divided into three main groups:

  • biological;
  • nuclear;
  • chemical.

Whatever types of weapons you would have to face - all bring destruction and death. But innovative technologies that can lead to total destruction, cause pandemics of incurable diseases, inevitable mutations and further unsuitability of the territory for living are of particular danger to people.

Biological and chemical weapons

Such types of weapons of mass destruction, such as biological weapons, involve the release of pathogenic bacteria into the required territory using aircraft or artillery shells. Biological warheads explode almost silently, leaving behind large fragments. The fact of using this deadly weapon is rather problematic to prove. It infects everything around: both people and animals.

By inhaling windborne viruses, the doomed masses of living beings are instantly infected with influenza, cholera, plague, malaria, smallpox and other deadly diseases. The disease hides in the infected organism for some time, gradually developing. Anthrax or foot-and-mouth disease is often used to kill animals. Thus, even vegetable crops become infected. You can protect yourself from such weapons in advance through vaccination, as well as with the help of airtight suits and gas masks. Mandatory disinsection and deratization of areas prone to infection.

The following types of weapons are no less dangerous. They are based on the chemical effects of such substances:

  • V gases;
  • soman;
  • mustard gas;
  • sarin;
  • phosgene.

These chemical components are capable of infecting vast areas. At the same time, water, soil, plants and structures are poisoned. For example, soman is dangerous because it is extremely difficult to detect it due to the lack of color and smell. This nerve gas is highly resistant to climatic changes and does not affect the external signs of the infected in any way. Sarin is similar to the previous gas in many ways, but V-gases are more persistent. The remaining toxic substances have an unpleasant odor and blistering effect.

Types of chemical weapons are divided according to the nature of the impact on the body:

  • nerve agents;
  • blister;
  • suffocating;
  • psychochemical;
  • general poisonous.

The first type is used most often in order to disable as much enemy manpower as possible. The second type of substances penetrates the skin, affecting it. General toxic and asphyxiant substances affect mainly the respiratory system of the body. Psychochemical poison weapons are a relatively new species. It is mainly used for temporary incapacitation of human masses. It is characterized by the appearance of symptoms such as blindness, deafness, fear, impaired activity of the central nervous system. Chemical weapons of mass destruction are very effective and are used in military practice by many countries. The advantage of such weapons is that they are silent and inconspicuous.

nuclear threat

The world first heard about a nuclear explosion after the tragedy in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Only after that did people fully realize the monstrous scale of the disasters caused by such weapons. Types of nuclear weapons are grouped according to several criteria, but the main one is the type of charge:

  • Atomic.
  • Thermonuclear (in another way it is called a hydrogen bomb).
  • Neutron.
  • Clean.

The difference between the charges is in the processes that occur with the nuclei (their synthesis and fission).

Explosions of nuclear warheads also differ. It can be:

  • air warheads;
  • ground (an explosion produced near the ground);
  • surface;
  • underground;
  • underwater.

Classical information taught in civil defense lessons, which existed during the existence of the USSR, was based primarily on stories about the zone of destruction of a nuclear explosion and its deadly factors. Now this knowledge will no longer be redundant. So, the damaging effect of a nuclear explosion:

  • Impact impulse. At supersonic speed, it rushes from the center of the explosion through the surrounding area, sweeping away everything in its path.
  • Light emission. It spreads at lightning speed and consists of visible infrared and ultraviolet rays. But in places with a significant shadow, this deadly radiation can be protected.
  • penetrating radiation. Depending on the dose, a neutron flux in 10 seconds can, if not kill, then irreversibly disrupt the activity of all organs and systems of the body.
  • nuclear decay products. They form a poisonous cloud, from the thickness of which they poison everything around.
  • electromagnetic impulse. The gamma radiation generated by the explosion disrupts the operation of radio electronics.

There are four zones of destruction after the explosion of a nuclear bomb:

  • Total destruction. All communications and buildings built by man are completely destroyed by the blast wave.
  • Significant destruction. Local blockages and fires, destruction of shelters.
  • Average degree of damage. Mostly fires caused by a light wave are observed.
  • Weak destruction. Damage to buildings is stable, there are almost no blockages.

The degree of damage to the area by radiation depends on meteorological factors and the power of the explosion.

Weapons of the future

The most serious threat to the planet is the latest microwave weapons. Its action is based on the movement of microwave pulses that can disable radio electronics, objects that pose a danger to the environment and air defense systems. Invisible impulses can stop the activities of chemical enterprises, nuclear power plants, and without leakage of hazardous components. Microwaves are able to penetrate everywhere, there are no obstacles for them, moreover, this type of weapon is still being finalized in order to increase the range of destruction. Therefore, microwave weapons have a chance to become the most deadly in the history of mankind.

People continue to build up weapons, inventing new types and methods of destruction, infection and incapacitation of biological masses. Therefore, today the banal slogan about world peace sounds especially relevant today.

The name, based on its external similarity with any objects, dates back to the 16th century. It was then that grenades appeared in the arsenal of the French army, and the soldiers, without thinking twice, gave them the name of the fruit - and they are similar in shape and the grenade burst into small fragments resembles numerous pomegranate seeds. The same applies to lemonade. And the M9 anti-tank grenade launcher, which entered service with the US Army during World War II, the soldiers named the bazooka in honor of the musical instrument. At the same time, the names that demonstratively emphasized the deadly and threatening nature of machine guns, tanks, and missiles received the greatest popularity. All of us have heard of the German Panther and Tiger tanks.

However, all this has a very remote relation to Russia, since our engineers, as always, went their own way. The names of Russian weapons are often unusual, witty, and sometimes even flirtatious. Sometimes there is a feeling that all the names of domestic self-propelled guns, rockets and anti-aircraft systems are a real mockery of a potential enemy. Looking at the names of Russian military equipment and weapons, you understand that KVN could only be born in this country.

For example, in Germany there is a tank "Leopard", in Israel - "Merkava" (war chariot). In France there is a tank "Leclerc", in America "Abrams", both named after famous generals. We also have a modification of the T-72B2 "Slingshot" tank, named after the slingshot. Or another example from the field of artillery. The Americans called their self-propelled guns "Paladin", the British "Archer" (Archer), everything seems to be clear. And if you look at domestic developments, there are only flowers: Carnations and Acacias, Peonies and Hyacinths, the latter, among other things, can also fire nuclear weapons. Probably not a single potential adversary will dare to smell such a bouquet.

SAU 2S5 "Hyacinth"


The same can be traced with us at the level of missiles, the American anti-tank missile is called "Dragon", the other is "Shilleila" (baton), everything is quite logical. However, we have our own approach - the 9M14M Malyutka ATGM, 9M123 Chrysanthemum ATGM, and the Metis anti-tank missile is equipped to the heap with the Mulatto night sight.

It should be noted that flowers occupy a special place in the work of Russian designers. The Russian army is armed with a whole "garden". We have a 152-mm self-propelled gun "Hyacinth" (its second unofficial name "genocide" more accurately reflects the capabilities of the gun). There is a "Pion" - self-propelled guns with a 203-mm 2A44 cannon, there is a "Tulip" - a 240-mm self-propelled mortar, self-propelled guns 2S1 "Carnation" and 2S3 "Acacia", as well as an 82-mm automatic mortar 2B9 "Vasilek", and this not the whole bouquet yet. If we talk directly about the "Bouquet", then this is the name of the escort handcuffs for 5 people.

Judging by other names, it can be noted that sentimentality is not alien to our military engineers. Apparently, the dull dullness of army life is pressing on them, so they yearn for romance and spiritual awe. Probably, it is precisely because of this that the radio direction-finding meteorological complex RPMK-1 is called "Smile", the thermobaric warhead 9M216 - "Excitement", the 240-mm rocket MS-24 with a chemical warhead - "Laska", the 122-mm rocket 9M22K with a cluster Warhead - "Decoration". Special mention should be made of the UAZ-3150 Shalun car, the MP-352 Pozitiv shipborne radar and the 23-mm rubber bullet Hello. The “Visit” body armor, the “Variant” grenade-launcher-shovel, the “Azart” infantry shovel, the “Tenderness” handcuffs, and the “Ecstasy” multiple-action flash and noise grenade can also be attributed to the same series.

grenade-shovel "Variant"


An equally popular topic for inspiration in the defense industry is the animal world. But even here we will not talk about "cheetahs" and "tigers" (although in fairness it should be noted that there are "tigers" in the Russian army), Russian designers are honest people. Of course, tigers are found in Russia, but very limitedly, only in the Far East, but there are a lot of proteins, which is probably why Belka is a 140-mm M-14S rocket, a 4TUD military intelligence radio station and a RM-207A-U target missile in one face. There are also “Boars” in our country - a multi-purpose target missile system 96M6M, “Flies” - a 64-mm RPG-18 rocket-propelled anti-tank grenade, “Raccoons” - a 533-mm homing torpedo SET-65, “Grasshoppers” - a mobile robotic complex MRK -2, "Canaries" - silent automatic grenade launcher 6S1.

We call the experienced automatic grenade launcher TKB-0134 "Kozlik", and the ground-based portable DV-SV radio receiver R-880M "Shrimp". Of the overseas animals, one can meet in the Russian army "Panda" - the N001VP radar sighting system for modifications of the Su-27, and "Hummingbird" - a 324-mm aviation anti-submarine torpedo. All this is crowned by the 1L219 - "Zoo" artillery reconnaissance and fire control complex, and you know, there is even some logic here.

They beat the military and the eternal theme of health. That is why today the Russian army has at its disposal the armored personnel carrier BTR-80A "Violence" and the heavy TRS station R-410M "Diagnoz". In addition, there is a special medical vehicle for the airborne troops BMM-1D "Travmatizm" and a software and hardware complex 65s941 "Tonus".

UAZ 3150 "Naughty"


Military designers could not get around the topic of professions, while judging by the names, many of them previously worked in the field of journalism. This is hinted at by the MKZ-10 “Subtitle” electronic compatibility system, the Gazetchik-E radar protection means, and the somewhat ambiguous “Paragraph” - a 220-mm 9M27D propaganda rocket designed for the Uragan MLRS.

Found in the names of military products and references to other completely non-military professions. So, for example, the 30-mm 9A-4071 automatic cannon is called "Ballerina", and the autonomous integrated secondary air traffic control and state identification radar is called "Stewardess". Some of the military designers were apparently well acquainted with the work of the Courier, hence the name for the 15P159 mobile ground-based missile system with the RSS-40 small-sized ICBM.

There are also quite hospitable, primordially Russian notes in the name of our weapons, for example, in the Gzhel bulletproof vest or the EW L-183-1 Bukovitsa control and verification equipment. These names are quite suitable for the formation of the Russian folk image. This also includes the immensely joyful names for the ICBM RT-23 UTTH (RS-22) "Molodets" and heavy flamethrower systems TOS-1 "Pinocchio" and TOS-1M "Solntsepek", as well as the 55-mm ship's seven-barreled grenade launcher MRG-1 Twinkle.

TOS-1 "Pinocchio"


Somehow apart in this row there are two more interesting systems: the hand-held flamethrower RPO-2 "Priz" and the non-contact fuse 9E343 "Semifinal". Although in fairness, both the first and second options contain certain hints to justify their name.

If we take this issue seriously, then we can figure out that the names of weapons are given in accordance with established traditions:
- according to the modification letter: Angara - S-200A, Vega - S-200V, Dubna - S-200D, etc.
- by the name of the competitions or R&D: "Judge", "Rook".
- by abbreviation: "Nona" - New Ground Artillery Gun, "Kord" - Kovrov Gunsmiths-Dyagterevtsy, etc.
- based on the logic of the series: ACS - "flower series": "Peony", "Hyacinth", "Tulip", etc.; air defense systems - "river series": "Tunguska", "Shilka", "Neva", "Dvina"; MLRS - various natural phenomena: "Grad", "Hurricane", "Smerch", "Tornado".
- associative names: MANPADS - "Needle", "Arrow"; complex for setting radio interference "Moshkara"; camouflage sniper suits - "Kikimora" and "Leshy".
- army humor: a sapper shovel - "Azart", handcuffs "Tenderness", a shot to an underbarrel grenade launcher - "Foundling", a heavy flamethrower system "Pinocchio".
- in honor of the creators: the T-90 tank has the name "Vladimir" (after the name of the chief designer of the machine), the Antey-2500 air defense system (after the name of the creator company).
- according to a pronounced action or property: fire extinguishing system "Hoarfrost" (sprays powder), dynamic protection "Contact" (triggered by contact).

Sources used:
www.ria.ru/defense_safety/20120330/609056634.html
www.luzerblog.ru/post680
Materials of the free Internet encyclopedia "Wikipedia"

Voting on the choice of names for several types of new weapons has ended on the website of the Russian Ministry of Defense, which the President of the country spoke about on March 1 during his message to the Federal Assembly, reports RT .

As a result, the new combat laser complex was named "Peresvet", the unmanned underwater vehicle will be called "Poseidon", the newest cruise missile will be called "Petrel". About eight million people took part in the action. NSN .

Participants of the competition often offered very outstanding names. For example, it was proposed to name the combat laser "Bagheera", "Viem", "Gepard", "Gorynych", "Stargazer", "Ophthalmologist", "Matryoshka" and "Fly Swatter", reports FAN .

The main battles flared up around the naming option for a nuclear-powered cruise missile. "Alyonushka", "Albatross", "Blagovest", "Berdysh", "Vatnik", "Retribution", "Guarantor", "Argument", "Hummingbird", "Swallow", "Robin", "Peacemaker", "Nadyusha ”,“ Surprise ” - a far from complete list of names proposed by the Russians.

The editor-in-chief suggested calling the rocket "Volodya". The head of Chechnya said that the newest strategic weapon has earned the name "Palmyra" - in memory of the Russian soldiers who died in Syria.

The first example of Russia's latest strategic weapons, which Putin presented during his address, was a missile system with a heavy intercontinental ballistic missile "Sarmat" (Satan-2 according to the classification). At the moment, together with the enterprises of the rocket industry, they have already begun the active phase of testing the missile system. "Sarmat" will replace the complex "Voevoda" (Satan according to NATO classification), which was created back in the USSR.

The flight range of the Sarmat missile (16,000 km) exceeds the flight range of the Voyevoda (11,000 km), and the missile also has a large number and power of warheads, Putin explained. The Sarmat rocket weighs over 200 tons. What makes it difficult to intercept by missile defense means is that it has a short active flight segment. "Sarmat" will be equipped with a wide range of high-yield nuclear weapons, including hypersonic ones, as well as modern systems to overcome missile defense.

The head of state announced that Russia has developed unmanned underwater vehicles capable of moving at “very great depths” and at intercontinental ranges. The speed of drones is many times higher than the speed of submarines, the most modern torpedoes, as well as all types of surface ships, including the fastest ones.

Underwater vehicles have low noise, high maneuverability and are practically invulnerable to the enemy, the president added, noting that at the moment there are no means in the world that could resist them.

The latest Russian submarine drones are low noise, highly maneuverable and virtually invulnerable to the enemy, which will allow them to hit a wide range of targets, including aircraft carrier groups, coastal fortifications and infrastructure. A multi-year test cycle of an innovative nuclear power plant for a drone was completed at the end of 2017.

Its uniqueness lies in its small dimensions and, at the same time, its ultra-high power-to-weight ratio. Its volume is 100 times smaller than that of the installations of modern nuclear submarines, but at the same time it has a stronger power and switches to combat mode 200 times faster, the president said.

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