How to draw an anti-tank hedgehog. Anti-tank hedgehog: an ingenious invention against enemy tanks

The whole course of the Great Patriotic War clearly showed that not only complex weapons systems with excellent performance can be effective, but also simple and cheap products. So, a small anti-tank mine can not only seriously damage, but completely destroy an enemy tank, and a simple concrete pyramid can simply not let it into its territory.

Among these simple and effective types obstacles and armaments, anti-tank hedgehogs received special fame during the war years. Extremely simple and easy to manufacture, they greatly helped the Red Army soldiers in battles and even managed to become symbols of the war.

Anti-tank hedgehogs on the outskirts of Moscow

barriers various types have been used in military affairs since time immemorial. Also in Ancient Rome collapsible wooden structures were used, installed in those areas where it was necessary to prevent the enemy from breaking through. Over time, this idea only developed, combined with other inventions, such as barbed wire, etc. However, the appearance on the battlefield of tanks, which were originally created as a means of breaking through obstacles, required retaliatory actions to maintain defense.

First, gouges appeared - granite or concrete blocks installed in tank-dangerous directions. They were quite effective in deterring the enemy, which, however, was more than offset by the complexity of manufacturing and installation. Something simpler was needed. The decision appeared in June 1941. Apparently, the idea existed even before that, but the outbreak of war spurred the creation of a new barrier. In the very first days of the war, Major General of the Technical Troops M.L. Gorikker, being the head of the Kyiv Military Technical School, receives a new appointment. He becomes the head of the Kyiv garrison. Gorikker "marks" the beginning of his service in a new place with a technical proposal. He claims that his invention can be made even in the most difficult conditions and it will still perform its functions.

Rows of concrete gouges, Aachen, Germany

Gorikker proposed to assemble a six-pointed structure from rolled metal, which he called "asterisk". Theoretically, any suitable metal part could be used as raw material for sprockets. However, from the calculations of General Gorikker it followed that the I-profile is optimal. Other types of rolled products - a square beam, a tee or a channel - did not fit in terms of strength. Gorikker proposed riveting with scarves as a way to connect beams. In principle, if possible, welding was also allowed, however, even here everything rested on the strength of the structure: for sufficient rigidity and strength, scarves should have been used on the welded sprocket bigger size, which, in turn, led to unnecessary material costs.

The simplicity of the proposed barrier made it possible to start testing it already in the first days of July. A commission arrived at the small tank track of the Kyiv Tank Technical School and several stars were delivered. An interesting fact is that the test stars were made from rail scrap. As it later turned out, the origin of the raw material does not affect the protective qualities of Gorikker's invention. T-26 and BT-5 were used as tanks trying to overcome the barriers. The results of test runs of tanks on a four-row barrier were simply remarkable. So, during his first attempt to drive through the rows of sprockets, the T-26 tank lost the oil pump hatch and damaged the oil system. A few minutes later, all the oil in the tank leaked out and fighting machine was unable to continue her "raid".

It took several hours to repair. BT-5 got off a little better: having accelerated, he was able to overcome the stars. However, this cost him a bent bottom and a damaged transmission. Needed repairs again. The very first attempts to overcome the barrier of stars clearly showed their effectiveness, and the testers of the Kyiv school tankodrome were instructed to choose the optimal order for arranging a new barrier. As a result, it was recommended to arrange the stars in rows every four meters, and the distance along the front should be one and a half meters for the front row and 2-2.5 m for the remaining rows. In this case, having accelerated and crossed the first row, the tank could no longer continue high-speed movement and simply got stuck between the rows of sprockets, simultaneously receiving damage to the hull and, sometimes, internal units.

Anti-tank hedgehogs on the Moscow streets. 1941

On the same tests, we selected optimal dimensions six pointed star. The height of the finished barrier should lie in the range from one to one and a half meters. The reasons for this are as follows: the sprocket should be higher than the ground clearance of the tank, but at the same time its upper part should not rise beyond the upper cut of the lower frontal plate. In this case, the tankers who first met the stars, seeing the small size of the obstacle and the absence of any attachment to the ground, may simply want to move it to the side. The driver begins to move forward, the sprocket falls under the lower front plate, and from there it “creeps” under the bottom of the tank. In addition, in some cases, the sprocket can turn under the front of the armored vehicle. One way or another, the tank that drove onto the sprocket finds itself in a very uncomfortable position: the front part is suspended in the air. Moreover, the tracks that have risen above the ground cannot provide proper adhesion to the surface, and the tank can no longer move off the sprocket without outside help. An armored vehicle, designed to suppress enemy firing points, itself becomes a fairly easy target.

The ease of manufacture of Gorikker sprockets, combined with their efficiency, influenced further fate inventions. In the most as soon as possible a manual for the manufacture of barriers was distributed to all parts of the Red Army. For characteristic appearance in the army, this barrier was nicknamed the hedgehog. It was under this name that the anti-tank asterisk of Gorikker went down in history. The ease of production and the low cost of raw materials made it possible to make tens of thousands of anti-tank hedgehogs and set them on a large part of the front. In addition, even when assembled, the hedgehog could be transported from place to place, which also improved the reputation of the new barrier. In general, the new hedgehog fell in love with the Red Army. Much more he "liked" German tankmen.

The fact is that at first everything went exactly as Gorikker had intended - seeing an unfamiliar but loose barrier, the tankers tried to move it and drive further, which led to spending time in a literally suspended state. An unpleasant event, especially if there is a Soviet anti-tank gun somewhere nearby. It is hardly possible to imagine best target than a stationary tank raised above ground level. Finally, in a completely unfortunate set of circumstances, the hedgehog beam pierced the lower frontal plate or bottom, passed inside the tank and caused damage to the engine or transmission. Features of the placement of the transmission in German PzKpfw tanks III and PzKpfw VI only increased the chances of the vehicle getting such damage.

Residents of Stalingrad install anti-tank hedgehogs on the city street

True, the Germans quickly realized that they should first make passages in the barriers, and then only go along them. Here, to some extent, they were helped by the fact that hedgehogs were not fixed to the surface of the earth in any way. A couple of tanks with the help of tow ropes could quickly make a gap for the passage of troops. The Red Army answered this with a bookmark anti-personnel mines next to the hedgehogs, as well as, if possible, the placement of machine guns or anti-tank guns close to the barrier. Thus, attempts to pull the hedgehogs apart or tie them to the tank were severely punished by machine-gun and even artillery fire. Soon, another trick appeared to make it difficult to make passages: hedgehogs began to be tied to each other and tied to various objects on the ground. As a result, German tankers and sappers had to first solve the "puzzle" with cables and chains, and only after that remove the hedgehogs themselves. And do all this under enemy fire.

However, as is often the case with a great idea, there were also unsuccessful incarnations. So, often for reasons of economy or for other similar reasons, hedgehogs were made not from I-beams, but from other profiles. Naturally, the strength of such barriers was less than necessary, and sometimes the tank could simply crush the “wrong” hedgehog. Another problem with the Gorikker asterisk was the exactingness of the placement - it needed a hard surface to effectively resist the tanks. Asphalt was best suited, which was strong enough to withstand the pressure of the tank on the hedgehog. As for even harder concrete, it was not recommended to put hedgehogs on it.

The fact is that the friction on such a surface was insufficient and the tank could move the hedgehog, and not run into it. Finally, at some points in the war, hedgehogs could not perform their duties for more pleasant reasons. For example, on the outskirts of Moscow, such barriers were installed in the fall of 1941. But, fortunately, the Red Army did not allow the enemy to get close to the hedgehogs on the outskirts of the capital.

Anti-tank hedgehogs of the system of Major General M.L. Gorikker

Anti-tank hedgehogs of the system of Major General M.L. Gorikker played an important role in the Great Patriotic War. They helped with relatively small forces to improve the army's ability to contain the enemy. It should be noted that not only the Red Army used Gorikker's invention. The Germans, retreating, also actively used a simple barrage structure of three rails and fasteners. On the way to all the important points of the German defense, the Red Army had to see familiar angular objects.

And the allies, having landed in Normandy, were also able to get acquainted with Soviet means barriers. Exists interesting opinion, which says that the Germans themselves did not produce hedgehogs, but only dismantled and stored the Soviet ones, which came in handy by the end of the war. In any case, this is how, according to some historians, one can explain a large number of hedgehogs in front of the German positions at that stage of the war, when Germany experienced serious difficulties even with the production of weapons.

Currently, anti-tank hedgehogs are almost completely out of use, although occasionally they can be seen next to military units or similar objects. Also, the anti-tank hedgehog, being one of the symbols of the Great Patriotic War, was actively used by sculptors in the creation of monuments. For example, a monument with hedgehogs on the Leningrad highway not far from Moscow marks the line at which they were stopped German troops. Similar memorials can be found almost all over Europe, in places where there were battles.

Tank IS-2 overcomes concrete anti-tank hedgehogs

Anti-tank hedgehog

Anti-tank hedgehogs on the border of the Czech Republic and Germany

Anti-tank hedgehog- the simplest anti-tank barrier, which is a voluminous six-pointed star. This defense tool was invented in 1941 by Mikhail Lvovich Gorikker, major general of the technical troops, then head of the defense of Kyiv and head of the Kyiv tank school. Hedgehogs are less effective than mines and other obstacles, but they can be made in large quantities from improvised materials without the use of high technology and easy to transfer from one site to another, which is especially valuable in wartime.

Application and principle of operation

The hedgehog is made from three pieces of rolled steel (usually an I-beam - a rail, a corner, etc., are less durable) so that the ends of the beams form an octahedron. The beams are connected with rivets on scarves (the structure must withstand the weight of the tank - up to 60 tons). On hedgehogs industrial production leave holes for barbed wire, one of the beams is made removable. To complicate the work of enemy sappers, hedgehogs can be connected with chains or cables, mine the area around, etc.

Hedgehogs are installed on solid ground (asphalt street surfaces are best suited). Concrete is not good - the hedgehog will slide on concrete. If the tanker tries to push the hedgehog away, it rolls under the bottom, and the tank is raised. The tracks lose their grip on the ground, the tank begins to slip and is often unable to move off the hedgehog; a protruding beam can even pierce the bottom. The defending forces can only destroy the stopped tanks and prevent the tankers from pulling the hedgehogs apart with tow ropes. And if the enemy led the tanks in a different way, the anti-tank defense, all the more, fulfilled its task.

Hedgehogs are about 1 m in height - more than the ground clearance of the tank, but below its front plate. It is not advisable to make larger hedgehogs - a hedgehog that is higher than the frontal plate will be easily moved by the tank.

Story

Steel beams, originally intended for the construction of the Palace of Soviets, were used to manufacture anti-tank hedgehogs for the defense of Moscow.

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See what the "Anti-tank hedgehog" is in other dictionaries:

Anti-tank… Spelling Dictionary

ANTI-TANK, anti-tank, anti-tank (military). Acting against tanks. anti-tank artillery. Anti-tank defense. Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

ANTI-TANK, oh, oh. Acting against tanks, protecting against tanks. Anti-tank artillery. P. ditch. Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov

App. Designed to fight tanks, to protect against tanks. Explanatory Dictionary of Efremova. T. F. Efremova. 2000... Modern dictionary Russian language Efremova

Anti-tank, anti-tank, anti-tank, anti-tank, anti-tank, anti-tank, anti-tank, anti-tank, anti-tank, anti-tank, anti-tank, anti-tank, anti-tank, anti-tank, ... ... Word forms

antitank- anti-ank ... Russian spelling dictionary

antitank - … Spelling Dictionary of the Russian Language

Aya, oh. Designed to deal with enemy tanks or to protect against them. P. ditch. P th nudges. Second grenade. First artillery ... encyclopedic Dictionary

antitank- oh, oh. Designed to deal with enemy tanks or to protect against them. Counter/nkovy ditch. P th nudges. Second grenade. First artillery ... Dictionary of many expressions

antitank- against / about / tank / s / th ... Morphemic spelling dictionary

Books

• A set of tables. Weapons of Russia (8 tables), . Educational album of 8 sheets. Art. 5-8617-008 Tokarev pistol (TT). Makarov pistol (PM). Sniper rifle Dragunov (SVD). Kalashnikov assault rifle (AKS-74, AKS-74 U). Kalashnikov machine gun…

The entire course of the Second World War demonstrated that not only weapons systems with excellent characteristics, but also quite cheap ones, can be effective on the battlefields. simple solutions. So, a small anti-tank mine was able not only to seriously damage an enemy tank, but also completely destroy it if successful, and a simple concrete pyramid could become an insurmountable obstacle for armored vehicles. Among the simple and at the same time effective means of obstacles and weapons, anti-tank hedgehogs gained special fame during the war. Very simple and easy to manufacture, they seriously helped the Red Army in the battles of 1941 and even became one of the symbols of the Great Patriotic War, which is captured in numerous photographs and newsreels of those years.

An anti-tank hedgehog is the simplest anti-tank barrier, usually a three-dimensional six-pointed figure. They began to be used in the construction of fortifications from the 1930s, for example, they were used on the border of Czechoslovakia and Germany. Anti-tank hedgehogs were inferior in efficiency to minefields, but they could be produced in very large quantities from improvised materials without the use of high technology and relatively easy to transfer from one sector of the front to another, which in war time was especially valuable.

Apparently, the first attempt to use such a barrier against tanks was made in Czechoslovakia (hence English name barriers - Czech hedgehog, "Czech hedgehog"). The design proposed by the engineers of this country repeated the principle of ancient slingshots, which were effectively used against cavalry for many centuries and have been known since ancient Rome. At the same time, the Czechs believed that the barrier should be massive and absolutely motionless. Such an obstacle was also imperfect because a lot of time and money was spent in its production, since it was made using reinforced concrete.

Fundamentally the new kind designs of an anti-tank hedgehog were opened by a Soviet major general engineering troops Mikhail Gorikker. Gorikker was not only a good inventor, but also a brave soldier. Born back in 1895 in the city of Berislav Kherson province he took part in the First World War, becoming a knight of two soldiers' St. George's crosses of the 3rd and 4th degree. Since 1918 in the Red Army, he took part in the civil war. In the interwar period he built a good military career, graduated military academy mechanization and motorization of the Red Army named after Stalin, served as a military engineer of the Red Army motorized mechanization troops, commanded experienced tank units, served as head of the Moscow Tank Technical School.

In June 1941, Mikhail Gorikker was the head of the Kyiv Tank Technical School, after the start of the war he was appointed head of the Kyiv garrison, as well as the head of the city's defense. Already on the 12th day of the war, July 3, 1941, he designed and calculated his own version of the anti-tank hedgehog, which allowed him to go down in the history of the wars of the 20th century. Its engineering barrier, also known as the “Gorriker star”, played a significant role in the battles of 1941 in the defense of Odessa, Kyiv, Moscow, Leningrad, Sevastopol and in other operations of the Great Patriotic War.

The revolutionary nature of the idea of ​​​​General Gorikker was that the anti-tank hedgehog was not fixed in place, like its Czech counterparts, and also did not dig into the ground like gouges. When hitting such an obstacle, the hedgehog began to roll, gradually lifting the combat vehicle above the ground. When trying to “take off” from the hedgehog, the tank often couldn’t do it on its own. The mobility of hedgehogs was revolutionary and went against the many static anti-tank obstacles of those years. Under the onslaught of an enemy tank, the anti-tank hedgehog turned over, ending up under its bottom. As a result, the combat vehicle rose above the ground, very often a collision with such an obstacle was accompanied by a failure of the chassis. At the same time, German tanks with a front-mounted transmission were especially vulnerable to hedgehogs, as hitting them could disable it. In the most favorable situation for the defending troops, under the influence of its own mass, a tank that sat on a hedgehog could break through the bottom and could not continue further movement.

The tests carried out showed that the design of the "six-pointed asterisk" (this is how Gorikker called his invention, which is why it was referred to as the "Gorikker asterisk" in some military documents) is effective. The optimal material for the manufacture of such anti-tank barriers was a steel I-section, and in the best possible way connections of structural elements - kerchiefs on rivets. In practice, in real conditions, hedgehogs were very often made from everything that was at hand - various corners, a channel or a rail, which were often interconnected by ordinary welding, even without scarves. During the Great Patriotic War, anti-tank hedgehogs (quite often not made according to the rules - very large, interconnected or not strong enough) were used very actively, including in urban battles, becoming one of the symbols of war, which today can be found in any feature film about those events.

In the manufacture of "hedgehogs" on the ground, there were very often cases when their design was violated, a common mistake was to increase their size - one and a half, or even two times. Such an error deprived the design of the intended purpose of the inventor. The main essence of the anti-tank barrier was that it had to be higher than the clearance of the tank, but at the same time lower or equal in height to the upper edge of the lower frontal armor plate. Only under such conditions could the obstacle roll over, and not be moved by the tank. The idea was supported by calculations and tests. Max Height hedgehog was supposed to be - from 0.8 to 1 meter. The most rational arrangement of such barriers on the ground was also taken into account: 4 rows in a checkerboard pattern. The simplicity of the design of this barrier made it possible to provide the Red Army with new anti-tank barrier, and the weight of the structure made it easy to install and quite mobile.

Tests of hedgehogs took place already on July 1-3, 1941 at the small tank track of the Kyiv Tank Technical School, where a commission specially arrived and several "Gorikker stars" were delivered. It is interesting that the anti-tank barriers were made from rail scrap. As it turned out later, the origin of the raw materials did not particularly affect the invention itself. As tanks, which were supposed to try to overcome such a barrier, light vehicles were used - T-26 and BT-5.

The result of the passage of tanks through a four-row anti-tank barrier was remarkable for the inventor and his offspring. During the first attempt to overcome the obstacle, the T-26 tank lost the oil pump hatch, and the oil-conducting pipes were damaged. As a result, after 3-5 minutes, all the oil from the engine leaked out, which led to a forced stop of the combat vehicle. It took several hours to repair the damage caused by hedgehogs. BT-5 performed better. Accelerating, this light tank was able to overcome a number of "stars". But this trick cost him a bent bottom of the hull, which affected his control and the operation of the onboard clutches. The tank needed a two-hour repair.

The very first real tests showed that the new anti-tank barriers can disable armored vehicles, confirming their effectiveness. At the same time, the testers of the tank track of the Kyiv Tank Technical School were instructed to develop an optimal procedure for placing such a barrier on the ground. As a result, a recommendation was made to arrange anti-tank hedgehogs in rows every 4 meters, and the distance along the front between adjacent barriers should be one and a half meters for the front row and 2-2.5 meters for the remaining rows. With such an arrangement, having accelerated and overcome the first row of hedgehogs, the tank could no longer continue moving at a given speed and simply got stuck between rows of obstacles, along the way it could get damaged on the hull or internal units, and also became a convenient target for anti-tank weapons of the defending side.

According to the results of tests conducted in early July, the commission recognized the obstacle in the form of six-pointed stars as an effective anti-tank barrier. A recommendation was made to apply it widely in the zone of fortified areas, defile and in especially important areas. The conclusion also contained approximate calculations. So the number of "stars" per kilometer of the front was estimated at 1200 pieces. Average weight lightweight version, produced using welding, was 200-250 kg. At the same time, it was emphasized that the design can be produced by any plant in large quantities. It was also noted that they can be transported to the place of application in ready-made road and rail transport.

The defense line of anti-tank hedgehogs, set in four rows in a checkerboard pattern, became a very serious obstacle to enemy tanks. Which either got stuck in them, trying to overcome them, or became an easy target for artillery. The barrier turned out to be so perfect that in the future the design was not even finalized. Anti-tank hedgehogs became one of the symbols of the battle for Moscow in the autumn-winter of 1941. Only on the near approaches to Moscow, about 37.5 thousand such obstacles were installed.

True, the Germans quickly assessed the impact of the novelty on their tanks and came to the decision that it was first worth making passes in such obstacles and only then moving forward, and not immediately trying to get over them. The fact that the hedgehogs were not attached to the surface on which they were installed also helped them. Using a couple of three tanks, the Germans could, with the help of ordinary cables, quickly pull the hedgehogs apart, creating a gap for the passage of armored vehicles.

The Red Army countered this by placing anti-personnel mines next to anti-tank hedgehogs, and, if possible, by placing machine-gun emplacements and anti-tank guns near the barriers. So attempts to pull apart hedgehogs set by tying them to the tank, the defenders could be severely punished. Another technique that was designed to make it difficult to make passages in such a barrier was tying hedgehogs to each other or tying them to various objects located on the ground. As a result, German sappers and tankers had to solve this “puzzle” with chains and cables on the spot, often doing it under enemy fire.

Currently, one of the most famous monuments that were opened in our country in honor of the events of the Great Patriotic War is the Jerzy monument, located on the 23rd kilometer of the Leningradskoye Highway in the Moscow Region. At the same time, the majestic monument in the form of three hedgehogs, which marked the line that the Germans were able to reach in 1941, keeps a secret. The names of the creators of the monument are indicated on it, but there is no name of the inventor who came up with the design of the anti-tank hedgehog. The name of Mikhail Lvovich Gorikker was immortalized only in August 2013, when a memorial plaque in his honor was solemnly opened on a residential building in Moscow on Tishinskaya Square, in which the military inventor lived.

Who has not seen the "anti-tank hedgehog"! Any film about the war is not complete without this structure. It has long become a symbol of the Great Patriotic War and is depicted on posters along with a Russian soldier. But few people think that this structure, like for example the song " " there is an author, or rather an inventor.

Read how anti-tank hedgehogs became an integral part of the defense against the enemy!

The entire course of the Great Patriotic War clearly showed that not only complex weapons systems with excellent characteristics can be effective, but also simple and cheap products. So, a small anti-tank mine can not only seriously damage, but completely destroy an enemy tank, and a simple concrete pyramid can simply not let it into its territory. Among such simple and effective types of obstacles and weapons, anti-tank hedgehogs received special fame during the war years. Extremely simple and easy to manufacture, they greatly helped the Red Army soldiers in battles and even managed to become symbols of the war.

Many often and with pleasure revise Soviet movies about war. Almost in each of them we definitely meet this engineering structure. Several rails welded together, resembling a six-pointed star.

For many years, this military engineering structure was considered a product of soldier's creativity. And no one thought that the "hedgehog" has an author who had to work hard to create an effective barrier to German tanks.

Rows of concrete gouges, Aachen, Germany

Barriers of various types have been used in military affairs since time immemorial. Even in ancient Rome, collapsible wooden structures were used, which were installed in those areas where it was necessary to prevent the enemy from breaking through. Over time, this idea only developed, combined with other inventions, such as barbed wire, etc. However, the appearance on the battlefield of tanks, which were originally created as a means of breaking through obstacles, required retaliatory actions to maintain defense.

First, gouges appeared - granite or concrete blocks installed in tank-hazardous areas. They were quite effective in deterring the enemy, which, however, was more than offset by the complexity of manufacturing and installation. Something simpler was needed.

Major General of the Technical Troops Mikhail Gorikker went down in history primarily as the inventor of the "anti-tank hedgehog", also known as the "slingshot" and "Gorikker's star". For more than half a century, the name of the inventor of the "hedgehogs" was unknown to the general public. The “secret” stamp tightly enveloped the many years of work of a talented military engineer.

So what is the genius of the "hedgehog"? In the simplicity of its design. The profile or rails were cut into approximately equal pieces. Then the cut pieces were welded to each other in the form of the letter "Zh". And that's it, an insurmountable barrier for German technology is ready.

Gorikker proposed to assemble a six-pointed structure from rolled metal, which he called "asterisk". Theoretically, any suitable metal part could be used as raw material for sprockets. However, from the calculations of General Gorikker it followed that the I-profile is optimal. Other types of rolled products - a square beam, a tee or a channel - did not fit in terms of strength. Gorikker proposed riveting with scarves as a way to connect beams. In principle, if possible, welding was also allowed, but even here everything rested on the strength of the structure: for sufficient rigidity and strength, larger scarves had to be used on the welded sprocket, which, in turn, led to unnecessary consumption of materials.

However, in this case, an accurate calculation of welding was required. "Hedgehog" was not supposed to be higher than the beginning of the frontal armor plate of the tank. Its height was 80 cm. Tests proved that the "correct hedgehog" could withstand a collision with a tank weighing 60 tons. The next phase of organizing the defense was the effective installation of barriers. The defense line of "hedgehogs" - four rows in a checkerboard pattern - turned into a serious problem for tanks. The meaning of the "hedgehog" is that he had to be under the tank, and the tank - to stand on its hind legs. As a result, the armored vehicle finally stopped, “hovering” above the ground, and it could be knocked out from anti-tank weapons. The "Gorriker stars", as the barriers were called in some documents, turned out to be so "ideal" that they did not require further refinement in the future. This invention became one of the symbols of the Battle of Moscow in the winter of 1941. About 37,500 "hedgehogs" were placed on the near lines of defense of the capital of the USSR alone. In Khimki there is a monument to anti-tank hedgehogs, but there is no name of their creator.

Film director Vladimir Gorikker, the son of a general, made a lot of efforts to have a memorial plaque in honor of his father appear in Moscow. “I remember the first days after the Nazi attack on the USSR. Father was appointed to command the defense of Kyiv, to which the enemy was approaching. There was a lot of work, but when he returned home late at night, dad, instead of even a little rest, "requisitioned" from me the toy models of tanks, which he himself had given earlier, and almost all night long conjured over them, rearranging them on the table along with some constructions of matches connected with glue or plasticine. To me, the kid, the purpose of these gizmos was not clear. I even thought that my father was simply trying to distract himself in this way, struggling with insomnia. But, one day, he returned earlier than usual, literally beaming, and almost from the threshold of the apartment shouted enthusiastically: “We ruined two tanks !!!”. Here are those on! The family knew how carefully he treats the preservation of equipment, how he gives reprimands even for minor violations that can lead to damage to tanks, and here he does not hide his joy at the breakdown of two combat vehicles ... Only much later did I understand the full significance of the event, which happened that day at the Syrets training ground of the Kyiv Tank Technical School, ”recalls the son of the famous military engineer.

Making anti-tank hedgehogs on the outskirts of Moscow.

The simplicity of the proposed barrier made it possible to start testing it already in the first days of July. A commission arrived at the small tank track of the Kyiv Tank Technical School and several stars were delivered. An interesting fact is that the test stars were made from rail scrap. As it later turned out, the origin of the raw material does not affect the protective qualities of Gorikker's invention. T-26 and BT-5 were used as tanks trying to overcome the barriers. The results of test runs of tanks on a four-row barrier were simply remarkable.

So, during his first attempt to drive through the rows of sprockets, the T-26 tank lost the oil pump hatch and damaged the oil system. A few minutes after that, all the oil in the tank leaked out and the combat vehicle was unable to continue its “raid”. It took several hours to repair. BT-5 got off a little better: having accelerated, he was able to overcome the stars. However, this cost him a bent bottom and a damaged transmission. Needed repairs again. The very first attempts to overcome the barrier of stars clearly showed their effectiveness, and the testers of the Kyiv school tankodrome were instructed to choose the optimal order for arranging a new barrier. As a result, it was recommended to arrange the stars in rows every four meters, and the distance along the front should be one and a half meters for the front row and 2-2.5 m for the remaining rows.

In this case, having accelerated and crossed the first row, the tank could no longer continue high-speed movement and simply got stuck between the rows of sprockets, simultaneously receiving damage to the hull and, sometimes, internal units.

Here is an excerpt from the act of testing carried out on July 3, 1941. “A commission consisting of the Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party / used / U for mechanical engineering comrade. Bibdychenko, head Department of the Defense Industry of the Central Committee Comrade. Yaltansky, secretary of the CPC comrade. Shamrilo, Chief of the Kyiv Garrison, Major General Comrade. Gorikker, Directors of factories: Bolshevik - comrade Kurganov, 225 comrade. Maksimova, Lenkoznya comrade. Merkuriev and representatives of the KTTU, Colonel Raevsky and military engineer 2nd rank Kolesnikov, tested an anti-tank obstacle - a 6-pointed sprocket made of scrap rails, the proposal of Major General of the technical troops Comrade. Gorikker.

Conclusion: "The Commission believes that anti-tank obstacles six-pointed stars are an effective anti-tank barrier, this type of barrier can be widely used in the area of ​​​​URs, fashion shows and especially important directions."

On the same tests, the optimal dimensions of the six-pointed sprocket were also selected. The height of the finished barrier should lie in the range from one to one and a half meters. The reasons for this are as follows: the sprocket should be higher than the ground clearance of the tank, but at the same time its upper part should not rise beyond the upper cut of the lower frontal plate. In this case, the tankers who first met the stars, seeing the small size of the obstacle and the absence of any attachment to the ground, may simply want to move it to the side. The driver begins to move forward, the sprocket falls under the lower front plate, and from there it “creeps” under the bottom of the tank. In addition, in some cases, the sprocket can turn under the front of the armored vehicle. One way or another, the tank that drove onto the sprocket finds itself in a very uncomfortable position: the front part is suspended in the air. Moreover, the tracks that have risen above the ground cannot provide proper adhesion to the surface, and the tank can no longer move off the sprocket without outside help. An armored vehicle, designed to suppress enemy firing points, itself becomes a fairly easy target.

The simplicity of manufacturing Gorikker's stars, combined with their efficiency, influenced the further fate of the invention. In the shortest possible time, the manual for the manufacture of barriers was distributed to all parts of the Red Army. For its characteristic appearance in the troops, this barrier was nicknamed the hedgehog. It was under this name that the anti-tank asterisk of Gorikker went down in history. The simplicity of production and the low cost of raw materials made it possible to make tens of thousands of anti-tank hedgehogs in the shortest possible time and install them on a large part of the front. In addition, even when assembled, the hedgehog could be transported from place to place, which also improved the reputation of the new barrier.

In general, the new hedgehog fell in love with the Red Army. Much more he "liked" the German tankers. The fact is that at first everything went exactly as Gorikker had intended - seeing an unfamiliar but loose barrier, the tankers tried to move it and drive further, which led to spending time in a literally suspended state. An unpleasant event, especially if there is a Soviet anti-tank gun somewhere nearby. It is hardly possible to imagine a better target than a stationary tank raised above ground level. Finally, in a completely unfortunate set of circumstances, the hedgehog beam pierced the lower frontal plate or bottom, passed inside the tank and caused damage to the engine or transmission. Features of the placement of the transmission on German tanks PzKpfw III and PzKpfw VI only increased the chances of the vehicle getting such damage.

True, the Germans quickly realized that they should first make passages in the barriers, and then only go along them. Here, to some extent, they were helped by the fact that hedgehogs were not fixed to the surface of the earth in any way. A couple of tanks with the help of tow ropes could quickly make a gap for the passage of troops. The Red Army responded by laying anti-personnel mines next to the hedgehogs, and, if possible, placing machine guns or anti-tank guns near the barrier. Thus, attempts to pull the hedgehogs apart or tie them to the tank were severely punished by machine-gun and even artillery fire. Soon, another trick appeared to make it difficult to make passages: hedgehogs began to be tied to each other and tied to various objects on the ground. As a result, German tankers and sappers had to first solve the "puzzle" with cables and chains, and only after that remove the hedgehogs themselves. And do all this under enemy fire.

However, as is often the case with a great idea, there were also unsuccessful incarnations. So, often for reasons of economy or for other similar reasons, hedgehogs were made not from I-beams, but from other profiles. Naturally, the strength of such barriers was less than necessary, and sometimes the tank could simply crush the “wrong” hedgehog. Another problem with the Gorikker asterisk was its exacting location - it needed a hard surface to effectively counter tanks. Asphalt was best suited, which was strong enough to withstand the pressure of the tank on the hedgehog. As for even harder concrete, it was not recommended to put hedgehogs on it. The fact is that the friction on such a surface was insufficient and the tank could move the hedgehog, and not run into it. Finally, at some points in the war, hedgehogs could not perform their duties for more pleasant reasons. For example, on the outskirts of Moscow, such barriers were installed in the fall of 1941. But, fortunately, the Red Army did not allow the enemy to get close to the hedgehogs on the outskirts of the capital

Anti-tank hedgehogs of the system of Major General M.L. Gorikker played an important role in the Great Patriotic War. They helped with relatively small forces to improve the army's ability to contain the enemy. It should be noted that not only the Red Army used Gorikker's invention. The Germans, retreating, also actively used a simple barrage structure of three rails and fasteners. On the way to all the important points of the German defense, the Red Army had to see familiar angular objects. And the allies, having landed in Normandy, were also able to get acquainted with the Soviet barrier. There is an interesting opinion that the Germans themselves did not produce hedgehogs, but only dismantled and stored the Soviet ones, which came in handy by the end of the war. In any case, this is how, according to some historians, one can explain the large number of hedgehogs in front of the German positions at that stage of the war, when Germany experienced serious difficulties even with the production of weapons.

In early September 1941, General Gorikker was recalled to Moscow, where he held the posts of head of the Main Directorate of the Motor Transport and Road Service of the Red Army, head of the auto control of the Leningrad Front, head of the inspection of the Main Motor Transport Directorate of the Red Army. After the war, he commanded automobile schools, died in Moscow in 1955. By the way, the Germans subsequently used the idea of ​​our "hedgehogs" during the defense in 1944-1945.

The legendary defensive barrier "hedgehog" played decisive role during military operations during the Great Patriotic War. "Hedgehogs" stopped more than one german tank. A monument to them stands at the entrance to the city of Khimki. Today, however, few people remember their creator, Mikhail Gorikker. Only thanks to accidentally found in home archive documents, the son of the general, film director Vladimir Gorikker, managed to find irrefutable evidence that the "anti-tank hedgehog" was designed by his father.

General Gorikker was not only an outstanding inventor, but also a brave soldier. Participated in the First and Second World Wars and was awarded the soldiers' St. George's Crosses of the 3rd and 4th degrees, as well as the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner, the Red Star and the Patriotic War of the 1st degree.

Mikhail Lvovich Gorikker was born in 1895 in the city of Berislav, Kherson province. He graduated from the Pedagogical College in 1912, worked as a teacher, participated in the First World War. Since 1918 - in the Red Army, participant civil war. After graduating from the Military Academy of Mechanization and Motorization of the Red Army. Stalin, Gorikker served as a military engineer for the motorized mechanized troops of the Red Army, commanded experimental tank units, and served as head of the Moscow Tank Technical School. In 1940, Gorikker was one of the first to receive the rank of Major General of the Technical Troops.

Gorikker took part in the Great Patriotic War from the very first days. In June 1941, while remaining the head of the Kyiv Tank Technical School, he was also appointed head of the Kyiv garrison and head of the defense of Kyiv. On July 3, 1941, on the twelfth day of the war, Gorikker conducted the first successful tests of the "anti-tank hedgehog" at a training ground near Kyiv. After the war, General Gorikker served as head of the Ryazan, and then the Ordzhonikidze Military Automobile School, and in 1951 he resigned.

Currently, anti-tank hedgehogs are almost completely out of use, although occasionally they can be seen near military units or similar objects. Also, the anti-tank hedgehog, being one of the symbols of the Great Patriotic War, was actively used by sculptors in the creation of monuments. For example, a monument with hedgehogs on the Leningrad Highway not far from Moscow marks the line at which the German troops were stopped. Similar memorials can be found almost all over Europe, in places where there were battles.

Required Foreword

Gentlemen moderators, do not take it for a flame. A little message to the community. More precisely to the lovers of unconstructive criticism. Do not misunderstand me. Yes, I'm a jacket. Yes, my special training is many times worse than the training of graduates of higher educational institutions. But! Firstly, I still have some training, unlike many Zhizhan; I, like you, shoveled a serious amount of chipboard literature, and I also felt something with my handles (specific engineering iron, shovel handle, etc.). Secondly, I am a 3rd generation sapper, I grew up in this. Thirdly, I am not only an amateur military history and the “unfinished” lieutenant of the Armed Forces, I also graduated from higher technical Educational establishment- head university construction industry Russia, therefore, at least in engineering matters, I obviously rummage more than most humanitarians.
Finding an interesting text on the net and “copy-pasting” it is not a big deal. I write my articles in a slightly different way. This is a compilation of VERIFIED materials found on the net (if anyone is interested, I'll write where), ancient chipboard materials different years, stories of officers of the engineering troops, my own notes and knowledge. I do not pretend to be "the role of God", as they wrote to me recently. I am very grateful alarik_o_shie and other comrades who are looking for real "jambs" in my works. If there are experienced people in the issues under consideration - write, correct, supplement. I will be very glad. In my opinion, in this joint work and is one of the goals of our and alternative communities. The end of the "lyrical digression"

ANTI-TANK HEDGEONS

I think everyone who traveled to Moscow from Sheremetyevo saw this monument:

This kind of non-explosive engineering barriers became a kind of symbol of the heroic defense of Moscow in 1941. It is with this battle that the majority of our compatriots associate the anti-tank hedgehog. Although, this is not entirely fair. Hedgehogs were also used in other places, for example, on the Leningrad front. And the Germans at 44-45, when it became hot, used anti-tank hedgehogs with might and main. By the way, according to Yu.Veremeev, the Germans, faced with a shortage of steel, used hedgehogs, taken out in 41-42 from the territory of the USSR, with might and main. Well, it's quite possible...

So, what is an anti-tank hedgehog?
Wikipedia says clearly:
"The anti-tank hedgehog is the simplest anti-tank barrier, which is a voluminous six-pointed star. Hedgehogs are less effective than mines and other barriers, but they can be made in large quantities from improvised materials without the use of high technology and can be easily transferred from one site to another, which is especially valuable in wartime. "
Less efficient? Oh well. We have been taught that NO non-explosive barrier is effective on its own. Only in combination with other non-explosive ones and together with explosive ones! And only being in the zone of actual fire of fire weapons (sorry for the tautology). Well it is. By the way. High level. Wikipedia, however.

And who invented them? "The anti-tank properties of slingshots were discovered in Czechoslovakia (hence the English name of the hedgehog - Czech hedgehog, "Czech hedgehog")"
Well, I can’t comment on this - we were not taught this. Maybe the Czechs. Or maybe neither.

"In the USSR, the hedgehog was tested (independently invented or borrowed - unknown) by Major General Mikhail Gorikker"
This is the truth, here is the document:

Camp CTTU.

ACT OF TESTING.

1.3 - July 1941, a commission consisting of the Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party / used / U for mechanical engineering, comrade BIBDYCHENKO, head of the Department of Defense Industry of the Central Committee, comrade YALTANSKY, secretary of the CPC comrade SHAMRILO, Head of the Kyiv Garrison Major-General comrade GORICKER, Directors of factories: BOLSHEVIK - comrade KURGANOVA, 225 comrade MAKSIMOVA, Lenkoznya comrade MERKURYEV and representatives of the CTTU Colonel RAEVSKII and military engineer 2nd rank KOLESNIKOV tested an anti-tank obstacle - a 6-pointed sprocket made of scrap rails, the proposal of Major General of the technical troops comrade Gorikker.

The tests were carried out on the training field of KTTU - the Small Tankodrome, sandy-soft soil. 2 tanks BT-5 and T-26 were allocated from KTTU for the test to overcome obstacles. Technical condition dedicated machines - quite serviceable. Anti-tank obstacles were placed in the 4th line of obstacles with gaps between the axes of the obstacles 2-3 meters. along the front 2-2.5 meters.

The light tank T-26 was disabled during the first entry into the obstacle - the hatch of the oil pump was torn off and the oil supply pipes to the tube were damaged, as a result of which the oil from the engine leaked out after 3-5 minutes, which led to a forced stop of the vehicles.

The BT-5 tank, due to the large reserve of dynamic force, overcame the initial arrangement of obstacles, having as a result of this defect in the form of a bruise on the bottom of the tank, which affected its control and operation of the onboard clutches, and the tank required a two-hour repair.

The most effective arrangement of anti-tank obstacles in the variant of the following arrangement made on 3.7-41: an obstacle in 4 lines of obstacles with the arrangement of stars in a checkerboard pattern in depth 1st line of obstacles after 6 meters, 2nd line of obstacles after 4 meters, 3- I line the barriers to through 2 meters. 4th and last line of barriers.

The distance between the axes along the front: 1st line 1.5 mtr., 2nd and subsequent lines 2-2.5 mtr. gave positive result, on the 1st line of obstacles, the dynamic forces of the tank were partially muffled, the tank lost speed and was forced to stop on the 2nd and 3rd lines, as the tusk of the 2-1 line fell between the caterpillar and the drive wheel-caterpillar and the sprocket 3 fang th line, resting on the bottom of the bow of the tank, lifted the latter into the air.

This position without help from / outside does not allow to continue moving and towing the tank after clearing the field from the obstacle. Stopping a tank on a barrier is the most effective way to shoot tanks with artillery at previously targeted areas of an established barrier. CONCLUSION: The Commission believes that anti-tank obstacles six-pointed stars are an effective anti-tank barrier, this type of barrier can be widely used in the area of ​​​​levels, fashion shows and especially important directions.

See n / a.
-2-

The number of obstacles "Asterisks" per 1 km, up to 1200 pcs. The average weight of the lightweight version of the welded type is 200-250 kg. Dimensions-beams along the length of 1.9-2 mtr, only 6 pcs. at the intersection of 3 planes.

The weight of the structure filled with steel is from 300-400 kg.

Ready-made structures transported by motor vehicles and railway transport to the place of application.

The designs are not complex and can be produced by any factory in large quantities.

APPENDIX: Photos of the experiments.

P/SIGNED: SECRETARY OF THE CC CP/b/U /BIBDYCHENKO/
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL C.K
SECRETARY OF THE K.P.K. /SHAMRILO/
MAJOR GENERAL /GORICKER/
COLONEL /RAEVSKY/
MILITARY ENGINEER /KOLESNIKOV/
DIRECTOR OF Z-DA "BOLSHEVIK / KURGANOV /
- "- 225 / MAKSIMOV /
- "- LENKUZNYA / MERCURYEV /

Copy is correct HEAD OF SECRET DEPARTMENT
TECHNICIAN QUARTER 2 RANK
-/VORNIKOV/-

And finally, a photo that I took in my native district military registration and enlistment office. What's this? Anti-zhiguli hedgehogs? Or anti-tank cubs?