The guard-mortars in the defence of Odessa (1941)

The author of the article analyzes the use and improvement of BM-8 and BM-13 Soviet land multiple launch rocket system. The author studied the fast tempo of evolution of reactive artillery of the Soviet Union in the years of the Great Patriotic War. The author cited history of the first battle using of reactive shells: RS-82 and RS-132 of “air-air” and “airland” on the Soviet Il-2 aircrafts and SB bombers; using RS-82 with I-16 aircrafts and with artillery-lorry “Komsomolets” during the defense of Odessa. The author investigated the secret see-transportation of the 48-th special force guards mortars to Odessa, the special ways for secret of new weapons; the technical-tactic characteristics of reactive weapons and battle activity 48-th force’s in the Odessa Defense Area. The article presents the analysis of the organization of the battle using of guard-mortars force; sudden concentration strikes against enemy, which was preparing to attack. The author tells about reactive artillery support, fast chancing positions of reactive artillery, fire maneuvering on different sectors of the Odessa defense system, cooperation between reactive and other artillery.