
Excursion to the missile silos
When I was asked to go and see the living silos of UR-100N, I naturally agreed. However, I was immediately warned that the missiles in the mine will not.

I went to the Kaluga region, the city of Kozelsk, where stationed the 28th Guards Red Banner Missile Division (Kozelskaya missile division). Let's look at once one of the biggest secrets to the Soviet Union.
First we went to the command post, where is management of the whole area. Immediately, the perimeter, and is operating mine with a missile.

The guardhouse sits guard platoon. In the case of perimeter operation, he rushes to the aid of soldiers who may already be shot from a potential enemy, who is trying to enter the territory of the silo.

In full gear squad jumps in the car and goes to the point where the load perimeter protection.

In the meantime, this miracle machine at our disposal, and we're going to look at an open silo.

Meet - KAMAZ-43269 "The Shot" - lightly armored armored vehicle. See safe under his left arm commander? There are stored cards and flash drives with data for the navigation device.

Inside a lot of space. In addition to the driver and the commander must fit 8 fighters. We are, it seems, climbed 10 :) By the way, in the car even has air conditioning.

to leave on a public road and went to the point. The drivers of oncoming cars looking at us with great surprise. On the left, near the hatch - branch. It is us through the bushes some scraping.

But we are glad this rare opportunity to ride with the wind on the APC.

Our driver got out of the car, otpinal all the branches and climbed back. I do all sorts of things, and then did not have to worry about scratches from branches.

Let's go!
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Finally came to the point. In appearance - an ordinary clearing in the woods, fenced perimeter. On the territory there are two houses and a couple of dilapidated sheds. What you need here is a building - I've already forgotten. :(

guardhouse.

Finally silos. In fact it is - a hole in the ground, closed the lid. Or, more correctly say - a safety device.

I was on duty UR-100N UTTKh in this mine. ampulizirovany fuel tanks. Throughout the period of operation of the missile is in the filled state into the transport and launch container, which provides the desired temperature.

It is time at the bottom. Dress Harnesses, helmets and other attributes of TB.

But first, the mine down an officer for security. He looks to see if there is something that we can not see. And even more pictures.

To descend into the pit, you must first get down the stairs to a small area, and then pushed into a very tight elevator.

After his return: "And some do not have missiles" It dismantled a few months ago. Now the fate of the silo. Either it will be recultivated (roughly speaking, dismantled and covered with), or converted into a new missile complex RS-24.

In the silo launcher rocket TPK secured by high-performance cushioning system that provides additional protection from the effects of missile nuclear explosion affecting factors.

The bottom of the shaft.

The length of the missile is 24, 3 meters. Plus TPK length, plus the gaps and all that. So I appreciate the depth of the mine about 30 meters.

UR-100N UTTKh - rocket with hot gas-dynamic start. This means that the boosters are included directly in the WPK and the rocket starts from the mine. And then there is the start of mortar when the first rocket fired powder charge from the mine, and then later incorporated boosters.

Start UR-100N.
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But mortar start P-36M, more commonly known as "Satan." Incidentally, the start of mortar mines emit 211 tons! I especially like the view on 3:51 - pallet so thoroughly and slowly flies off to his "colleagues".
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The initial life of UR-100N UTTKh missiles set on combat duty in 1979, was 10 years old. Now, according to the results of control shootings, it is extended to 31 years. As of July 2009 in Kozelsk missile division on duty stood 29 missiles. And all of Russia at that time was 70 ICBMs against 360 units in the period of maximum deployment of the complex.

silos in all its glory.

elevator to descend down. When the mine is worth TPK with a missile, the elevator moves in a narrow space between them.

Military laugh at our vain attempts to get into the elevator with photographic equipment.

suspension device element.

;)

The security device weighs Incidentally, 150 tons and can withstand a nuclear explosion. It opens completely for a few seconds. In an extreme case, even pyrotechnical fires back.

You see two white hemisphere on the opposite side? It detectors of nuclear explosion.

Everyone with silo finished, now go to the technical missile base.

GLONASS / GPS.

Almost 11 tons of weight, 240 horses, range - 1,100 km.

Local installation on the RTB. Interesting here well, very much. But all very secret. Especially the place where warheads are stored for an impressive perimeter. So we have shown only one hangar, where there are only machines for maintenance and installation of TPK with UR-100N UTTKh the mine.

In a similar machine that with gable "roof", carry warheads. This six independently targetable warheads with nuclear warheads midrange power.

One of the installers. A total of two (part of the second - in the background). Why are two of them and that they specifically do - about it we tactfully silent. Maybe one pulls out combat troops from TPK and overloads on the machine for transportation of goods, and the other transports only the very missile? I do not know.

The second installer.

The interior of the first.

The installer carries TPK MAZ-537 - a military tractor axle vehicle.

Two installer.

Finally - a few sketches of military life.







And, of course, a few photos of my work.


The same ladder for access to the elevator.