An aerostat is a ballooning vessel that is held in the air due to the lifting power due to the difference in the mass of the gas placed in the vessel’s shell and the mass of the equivalent dry air parameter. The device descends and rises according to the law of Archimedes. It is filled with hydrogen, in rare cases, helium and light gas. These vessels have three main varieties: controlled, free and tethered. Still others were actively used as barrage balloons.
Free models
They can only move in the wind, and they can only be controlled in a vertical plane. Their first appearance was noted in France in 1783.
In the military industry, on these models, pilots of various balloons are trained in the implementation of free flight.
The structure of balloons includes three main components:
- Spherical shell made of thin fabric based on cotton and paper and impregnated with a rubber mixture. This ensures high gas impermeability. In its upper part, a valve is arranged that releases gas when it is necessary to carry out the descent. A hole with a special sleeve is made below. Through it, the apparatus is replenished with gas on the ground, and this fuel exits freely when expanded during the flight.
- Hanging hoop. A basket is attached to it, designed to accommodate the crew, the required items and devices. And also an anchor device and a massive rope are connected, having a length of 80-100 m. Thanks to the rope, the vessel can slow down and gently lower to the ground.
- A mesh placed on a spherical shell, to the slings of which a hanging hoop is mounted.
Two ropes descend into the basket: the first is from the valve, the second is from the explosive mechanism, which is opened during an emergency descent and urgent release of all fuel.
The volume of free models lies in the range of 600–2, 000 m 3.
Tethered models
They rise and descend, being attached to a metal cable. It comes from the drum of a special winch mounted on the ground.
These modifications are used primarily in the military industry. Depending on the tasks performed, they are divided into observational models and barrage balloons. The former are used for reconnaissance missions, the latter for defensive missions.
Observation Balloons
Their capabilities are reflected in the following table:
|
Review Objectives |
Max. distance (km) |
|
Light artillery shell explosions |
eleven |
|
Breaks of their heavy counterparts |
17 |
|
Flashes of Enemy Artillery Volleys |
16 |
|
Trenches and fences |
12 |
|
Large-scale army movement on the roads |
fifteen |
|
Smoke from steam locomotives |
thirty |
|
House from Marine Squadrons |
80 |
|
Estimated squadron and its movement vector |
35 |
The device performs its functions at a distance of 6-12 km from the front line of the enemy. The lifting site is selected on the basis of two factors: obtaining an optimal overview of the territory of the enemy's location and ensuring the invisibility of observation.
The device, which is inoperative, is carefully masked and located on the bivouac, which is at a maximum distance of 3 km from the lift site.
The balloon is filled with fuel directly on the bivouac or at a distance of about 500 m from the expected tracking area. The device rises from the same place and from there it goes on a winch to the lifting site. It can move with the fuel released or filled with gas. The first method is relevant for significant crossings and movements along railway lines. The empty shell could be located on the same wagon.
The second method was used in the following situations:
- If there is a convenient road without obstacles, movement on a cable is carried out.
- Off-road (on a tee).
- In the presence of a very wide road and the need for a secretive deployment of the vehicle (movement on descents close to the ground).
The dynamics of the filled model is 3-4 km / h. For this, the wind parameter must exceed 7-8 m / s.
Such a balloon is very vulnerable to enemy attacks. Therefore, it must be thoroughly protected. For this purpose fighters or anti-aircraft weapons were involved. And his crew was provided with a light machine gun and parachutes.
Parseval model
Initial reconnaissance vehicles had a spherical shape and a simple device.
In 1893, the German Colonel Parseval built a snake model in which the lifting power of the gas is supplemented by wind power.
The device is equipped with a cylindrical box, limited by hemispheres in the bow and stern of the vessel. The outer component of the shell is formed by a powerful two-layer fabric. Inside, it is divided by a partition into two compartments: a fuel tank and a balloon. On the outside are attached to it:
- Stability devices: tail with parachutes, sails (2 pieces) and a steering bag. Sensing the effects of wind, they interfere with the rotation of the apparatus around its axis.
- Two rigging: hanging and tethered. The first is for mounting the basket. The second has a lot of ropes and allows you to attach the vessel to a tethered cable.
Shell parameters are indicated below:
|
Value |
Indicator (in m) |
|
Volume |
1, 000 m 3 |
|
Length |
25 |
|
Cross section diameter |
7.15 |
|
Lifting height |
1, 000 |
|
Average functional height |
700 |
The model is able to rise if the wind speed does not exceed 15 m / s.
Subsequent modifications
After Parseval's invention, more advanced technologies were created.
In 1916, the Kako model was created in France. The shape of its shell is egg-shaped. Volume - 930 m 3. Means for durability: stabilizers (two units) and a steering bag. You can fix 2 baskets to the device. Its maximum lifting height is 1, 500 m, and the average functional height is 1, 000 m. The model can take off at a wind speed of not more than 20 m / s.
Closer to the end of World War I in Italy, a modification of the Avorio Prasson was made. The format of its shell is an ellipsoid. In the aft section, it is converted into a cone. Ballonet is concentrated in its lower part. Resistance devices are the same as in the Kako system. Take-off is possible with wind indicators not exceeding 26 m / s.
A little later in France, the Zodiac apparatus was released.
Its features:
- Varying volume.
- Lack of ballonet.
- The shell holds the shape by automatically changing its volume. This is influenced by gas pressure, varying in the range of 850–1 050 m 3.
The main disadvantage of these three systems is the difficulty of moving in a full format.
Equipment in the First World War
The Russian army in this period in its arsenal used two models of balloons:
- The modernized Parseval apparatus.
- Balloon Kuznetsova.
A photo of the Parseval barrage balloon is presented below.
It was characterized by enhanced stability and carrying capacity. For example, he calmly kept even with a wind load of 100 m / s.
An air-barrage balloon, created in 1912 by the Soviet designer V.V. Kuznetsov, became the first domestic device of this class.
It involved elastic cords integrated into the sheath. Due to this, a fixation of its shape was provided. The volume of the shell was 850 m 3. And the forming material was a rubberized two-layer gas-tight fabric.
Painting during the Second World War
At this time, many aerosensors died. Someone burned out along with the devices, someone could not stand the enormous loads, someone was hit by enemy shelling. Most of them crashed.
However, the use of barrage balloons was necessary, although many people had to sacrifice. They played a significant role in air defense systems.
By the beginning of the enemy raids on Moscow, a serious arsenal of defense had been formed in the city. It listed about 125 aerostats air barriers. Although according to calculations there should have been 250 of them. Soon, in order to improve the quality of defense, their number was increased to 300 vehicles. And they all took off at the same time to protect the capital.
Soviet posts
During the war, barrage balloons were used in many parts of the USSR and beyond. So, with their help, the defense of the city of Ploiesti was carried out. The reason lay in the location there of a large refinery and huge fuel depots.
The list of cities where these systems were used in 1941-1945 is shown in the table. The numbers and types of troops performing defensive tasks are also indicated there.
|
Town |
Squad number |
Shelf number (P) or separate division (OD) |
|
Arkhangelsk |
26 |
|
|
Baku |
5 P |
|
|
Batumi |
7 OD | |
|
Vladivostok |
72 marine od | |
|
Voronezh |
4 and 9 |
|
|
Bitter |
8 and 28 OD | |
|
Zaporozhye |
6 OD | |
|
Kiev |
4 and 14 |
|
|
Kuibyshev |
2 |
|
|
Leningrad |
3, 4, 11 and 14 P |
|
|
Moscow |
1-3 divisions | |
|
Murmansk |
6 |
|
|
Odessa |
6 P | |
|
Ploiesti |
fifteen |
|
|
Riga |
26 |
|
|
Rostov-on-Don |
nine |
|
|
Saratov |
4 OD | |
|
Sevastopol |
1 |
|
|
Stalingrad |
6 and 26 OD | |
|
Khabarovsk |
12 |
|
|
Kharkov |
6 OD | |
|
Yaroslavl |
1 |
In total, there were more than 3, 000 posts.
The use of AZ and AN
Such abbreviations were introduced in the USSR to indicate barrage balloons and observations, respectively.
AN detachments acted in the interests of artillery. The Leningrad and Volkhov fronts became the place of work of the first division of the Academy of Sciences.
He defended Leningrad during the blockade, and ended the war in Berlin. Only for the period 1942-1943. his devices made more than 400 ascents into the sky and found about 100 enemy batteries.
Immediately after June 22, 328 barrage balloon posts began to operate in Leningrad. They were divided into three regiments.
Posts centered on the chess algorithm defended:
- City territory.
- Approaches to her.
- Part of the Gulf of Finland.
- Air loopholes to Kronstadt.
- Sea channel.
From each other, the posts were approximately 1 km distant. Arranged them also:
- in the squares;
- in the yards;
- in port areas;
- in the territories of factories;
- in parks.
Each post had two identical balloons. They rose singly or in duet. A cable was pulled from a winch.
A single vehicle took off at 2–2.5 km. The upper model from the duo reached a height of 4–4.5 km. With the help of slings, balloons were mounted to the ropes. The devices rose only at night for two reasons:
- In the daytime, it’s easier for the enemy to eliminate them.
- The bombings were mainly night mode.
In their appearance, barrage balloons were like airships. 12 employees worked at each post: 10 privates, 1 minder and 1 commander. The list of their duties looked like this:
- Site preparation.
- U-turn of the shell.
- Filling the apparatus.
- Digging trenches for winch and dugout.
- Providing communication and disguise.
- Repair if necessary.
The hard time of Leningrad
This was the period from autumn 1941 to spring 1942. Then the most severe and intense bombing took place.
As soon as the enemy appeared over the city (usually at night), powerful light appeared in the sky (due to special missiles). Thanks to which the enemy clearly saw his goals.
To increase the effectiveness of air barrage balloons in the defense of Leningrad, the air defense leadership demanded the development of their lifting height. The ceiling then reached 4 km.
Its increase depended on the quality of hydrogen and the atmosphere. In bad weather, the indicator fell by about 1.5 km.
The barrage balloons used, the principle of operation had the following: when the plane collided with their cable, the inertia system mounted under the device worked. As a result, he was detached, and at the end of the cable a parachute was opened for braking. He formed a thrust, pushing the cable directly into the wing of the aircraft, which was soon approached by a mine (it was also attached to the end of the cable) and exploded upon contact with it.
Increasing height capabilities was a key strategic concern. And at one of the warehouses, two models were discovered - triplets that could rise much higher.
Soon they were equipped with two posts. According to the instructions, the model could take six kilometers in height, but for this one cable had to be lifted by three permanent balloons.
In October 1941, at two posts, triplets climbed 6, 300 m.
In practice, their massive use in the war was rather difficult due to their massiveness, problematic ascent and descent.
And these two models were on duty over the Leningrad sky for less than a year. Then they were no longer exploited.
Moscow defense
The Nazis launched their first air attack on the capital on July 22, 1941. Their aircraft were calculated at a further distance of 200 km. All troops were on alert, and barrage balloons promptly rose for defense. Anti-aircraft gunners actively worked in approaches in tandem with fighter jets.
The assault involved about 220 enemy aircraft. They operated at various heights with a 20-minute interval. In the battles, 20 bombers were eliminated. Only a few passed to the city. This is a great merit of AZ.
At the end of 1941, there were 300 posts on guard of Moscow. Two years later, their number increased almost one and a half times.
In May 1943, the First Air Defense Corps was transformed into the Special Moscow Army.
Regiments with numbers 1, 9 and 13 were transformed into divisions.
- The first included regiments No. 2 and No. 16. It was headed by P.I. Ivanov.
- The second included regiments numbered 7 and 8. Its commander is E.K. Birnbaum.
- The 3rd division of the barrage balloons consisted of regiments No. 10 and No. 12. It was commanded by S.K. Leandrov.
Together, they formed 440 posts. They provided powerful resistance, so from April 1942, enemy aircraft had to stop attacking Moscow because of huge losses.
But until the very day of victory, the capital’s air defense worked in full combat readiness.
However, there were also negative points. They are associated with a raid on the cables of domestic aircraft. Here, more damage was done to the regiment number 1 of the AZ barrage balloons. Technical losses included:
- P-5 reconnaissance aircraft (also killed a pilot).
- Fighter.
- A plane with two engines.
- Aircraft "Douglas" (in this case, the crew also died).
For the entire Great Patriotic War, the capital’s air defense eliminated 1, 305 enemy aircraft.
