Research and development work on the creation of electromagnetic artillery in the USSR in the late 1920s–1930s

The subject of study in this article is the scientific development of the problem of creating electric artillery in the USSR in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Proposals made earlier (the magnetofugal gun suggested by M.P. Kostenko, M.M. Podolsky, and N.S. Yapolsky) are analyzed, and the reasons for the interest in this type of military technology in the USSR are determined. The main stages of developing the theoretical foundations of electric artillery are considered, the leading scientific center – the Artillery Scientific Research Institute – is identified, and the main projects (magnetoelectric, electrosolenoid guns, and other types) are analyzed. The complexities and problems faced by Soviet engineers are indicated, along with possible solutions. An objective barrier to the creation of powerful electric guns was, first of all, the problems in the field of extremely high power currents and their generation, which Soviet science in the 1930s was unable to resolve. The following research methods were used in working on this material: historical-scientific analysis of specialized research literature, comparative-historical method, and processing of archival data (CAMO RF, CGA St. Petersburg, RGA Samara, etc.). New data regarding the development of the scientific school of weapon design in the 1930s is introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, pointing out the engineers leading the main projects. Based on newly identified archival materials and the study of reports on the research conducted at the Artillery Scientific Research Institute, it is concluded that the attempt to create artillery of this type suitable for combat use ended in failure. Achieving the desired firing parameters from electromagnetic guns was hindered by two main reasons: the insufficient power of the energy sources available at that time and the inability to ensure reliable transmission of electrical energy to a moving projectile. As further research has shown, there is no satisfactory solution to this problem with classical contact methods of energy transmission. The materials of the study can be used in examining the general patterns of development of domestic science during the Soviet period.

weapons design, electromagnetic artillery, shock generator, magnetoelectric cannon, electric cannon, Artillery directorate, Artillery Research Institute, scientific school, Konoplev A.P., Zhakov V.K.