Reactive Scientific Research Institute (commonly known by the joint initialism RNII; Russian: Реактивный научно-исследовательский институт, romanized: Reaktivnyy nauchno-issledovatel’skiy institut) was one of the first Soviet research and development institutions to focus on rocket technology. RNII developed the Katyusha rocket launcher and its research and development were very important for later achievements of the Soviet rocket and space programs.
History The 'Reactive Scientific Research Institute' (RNII) was officially established on 21 September 1933 by combining the Group for the Study of Reactive Motion (GIRD) with the Gas Dynamics Laboratory (GDL). Personnel based in Leningrad were relocated to Moscow.
Background Before 1931 there were two Soviet organizations devoted to researching rocket technology, the Leningrad-based GDL, and the mainly Moscow-based GIRD. The benefits of combining the two groups were recognized, particularly by Marshal Mikhail Tukhachevsky, the deputy People’s Commissar of Military and Naval Affairs (Narkomvoyenmor) and Deputy Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council (Revvoyensovet). Tukhachevskiy, as a leading Soviet military leader, understood the benefits of rocket technology to military affairs and the requirement that it be supported by research, development, and engineering support.
Timeline 21 September 1933 – creation of RNII from the merger of GDL and GIRD. 31 October 1933 – RNII transferred to the responsibility of the People's Commissariat of Heavy Industry January 1937 – RNII was renamed Scientific-Research Institute 3 (NII-3) and transferred to the responsibility of the People’s Commissariat of the Defense Industry. 1939 – NII-3 was transferred to the responsibility of the People’s Commissariat of Ammunitions. 15 July 1942 – NII-3 was renamed State Institute of Reactive Technology (GIRT) directly reporting to the USSR Council of People’s Commissars. February 1944 – GIRT was transferred to the responsibility of the People’s Commissariat of Aviation Industry and renamed Scientific-Research Institute 1 (NII-1).
Organization
The first Director of RNII was Ivan Kleymyonov, (1931–1937) the former head of GDL. Sergey Korolev, the previous head of GIRD, was appointed as his deputy. However in 1934, following a disagreement over the direction of RNII, Korolev was demoted to section chief of winged missiles and was replaced by Georgy Langemak. Langemak was also the chairman of the initial technical advisory board, which provided the sanctioned scientific direction of RNII. The initial advisory board was composed of Glushko, Korolev, Pobedonostsev, Tikhonravov, and Dudakov. Other leaders of RNII consisted of Director Boris Slonimer (30.10.1937 – 1941) and Director Andrey Kostikov (1942–1944). In the initial period, RNII had four departments:
The first department was engaged in the development of solid fuel engines and rockets (Y. A. Pobedonostsev, K. K. Glukharev, L. E. Schwartz); The Second Division developed liquid fuel engines (M. K. Tikhonravov, A. I. Stenyaev, A. G. Kostikov); Brigades of liquid-propellant engines – V. P. Glushko and L. S. Dushkin; The Third Division dealt with cruise missiles (P.P. Zuykov): cruise missiles — E. S. Shchetinkov, jet launch — V. I. Dudakov; The fourth department investigated the properties of solid fuels (I. S. Alexandrov). Total personnel at RNII ranged from 403 in 1935 to a peak of 836 in 1941.
Research and development During RNII's existence the following were created:
1933 – various liquid propellent rocket engines; 1938 – military tests of the fundamentally new weapons begun in 1929 (at GDL) – RS-82 and RS-132 rockets were completed; 1939 — flight tests of the cruise missile 212 with engine ORM-65; 1940 — pilot V. P. Fedorov flew the Rocket aircraft RP-318; 1941 – On June 21, orders were signed by Joseph Stalin to begin production of the Katyusha missile launcher, which was 24 hours before Nazi Germany invaded; 1942 — test pilot G. Ya. Bakhchivanji makes a flight on the first aircraft in the USSR equipped with ZHRD. The engine was designed by RNII; 1943–1944 – a number of experimental ballistic and cruise missiles and engines were developed; 1942–1944 – an attempt to create a interceptor missile aircraft 302, however it was never successfully flown and the project was cancelled in 1944.
RS-82 and RS-132 rockets
Design work on RS-82 and RS-132 rockets (RS for Reaktivnyy Snaryad, 'rocket-projectile') began in the late 1920s at GDL. In 1932 in-air test firings of RS-82 rocket from an Tupolev I-4 aircraft armed with six launchers successfully took place. After September 1933 development was continued by RNII, including designing several variations for ground-to-air, ground-to-ground, air-to-ground and air-to-air combat. The RS-82 rockets were carried by Polikarpov I-15, I-16 and I-153 fighter planes, the Polikarpov R-5 reconnaissance plane and the Ilyushin Il-2 close air support plane, while the heavier RS-132 rockets could be carried by bombers. Many small ships of the Soviet Navy were also fitted with the RS-82 rocket, including the MO-class small guard ship. The earliest known use by the Soviet Air Force of aircraft-launched unguided anti-aircraft rockets in combat against heavier-than-air aircraft took place in August 1939, during the Battle of Khalkhin Gol. A group of Polikarpov I-16 fighters under command of Captain N. Zvonarev were using RS-82 rockets against Japanese aircraft, shooting down 16 fighters and 3 bombers in total. Six Tupolev SB bombers also used RS-132 for ground attack during the Winter War.
Katyusha rockets
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