Vladimir Grigoryevich Fyodorov
Encyclopedia
Vladimir Grigoryevich Fyodorov (May 3 (15), 1874, Saint Petersburg
- September 19, 1966, Moscow
) was a Russian and Soviet scientist, weapons designer, professor (1940), lieutenant general
of a corps of military engineer
s (1943), founder of the Soviet school of automatic small arms
, and a Hero of Socialist Labor
(1928).
In 1900 Vladimir Fyodorov graduated from Mikhailovskaya Artillery Academy and was transferred to the artillery committee of the Chief Artillery Directorate (Главное артиллерийское управление). He designed a number of automatic rifle
s: one chambered in 7.62 mm (1912), another in 6.5 mm for a cartridge
of his own design (1913), and one of the first assault rifle
s in the world: the Fedorov Avtomat
(1916), which saw service firing a 6.5 mm Arisaka
rifle cartridge. Automatic weapons designed by Fyodorov were used during World War I
and the Russian Civil War
.
After the October Revolution
, Vladimir Fyodorov was appointed head and technical director (1918-1931) of the first Soviet weapons plant
, which produced submachine guns of his design. In 1921, he organized and headed a design bureau at the automatic small arms factory. In 1922, Fyodorov designed the Fedorov-Shpagina machine gun
. In 1931-1933, Fyodorov worked as a standardization consultant at a weapons and machinegun trust. He then published a number of works on automatic weapons and was appointed a small arms consultant at Narkomat and with the Ministry of Arms (1942-1946). Between 1946 and 1953, Fyodorov was a member of the Academy of Artillery Sciences. He was a tutor of Vasily Degtyaryov, Georgi Shpagin
, Sergei Simonov
and others. Vladimir Fyodorov authored a number of scientific works on the history, design, production, and combat use of small firearms. He was awarded two Orders of Lenin, two other orders, and numerous medals.
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
- September 19, 1966, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
) was a Russian and Soviet scientist, weapons designer, professor (1940), lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
of a corps of military engineer
Military engineer
In military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
s (1943), founder of the Soviet school of automatic small arms
Small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
, and a Hero of Socialist Labor
Hero of Socialist Labor
Hero of Socialist Labour was an honorary title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture...
(1928).
In 1900 Vladimir Fyodorov graduated from Mikhailovskaya Artillery Academy and was transferred to the artillery committee of the Chief Artillery Directorate (Главное артиллерийское управление). He designed a number of automatic rifle
Automatic rifle
Automatic rifle is a term generally used to describe a semi-automatic rifle chambered for a rifle cartridge, capable of delivering both semi- and full automatic fire...
s: one chambered in 7.62 mm (1912), another in 6.5 mm for a cartridge
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
of his own design (1913), and one of the first assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
s in the world: the Fedorov Avtomat
Fedorov Avtomat
The Fedorov Avtomat was an early assault rifle designed by Vladimir Grigoryevich Fedorov and produced in Russia in 1916. It was the first practical assault rifle to be adopted, and this concept would later become the basis for the first assault rifle to incorporate a modern layout, the StG 44...
(1916), which saw service firing a 6.5 mm Arisaka
Arisaka
Arisaka is a family of Japanese military bolt action rifles, in production from approximately 1898, when it replaced the Murata rifle, until the end of World War II in 1945...
rifle cartridge. Automatic weapons designed by Fyodorov were used during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
.
After the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
, Vladimir Fyodorov was appointed head and technical director (1918-1931) of the first Soviet weapons plant
Degtyarev plant
The Degtyarev plant is one of the most important weapon-producing enterprises of Russia...
, which produced submachine guns of his design. In 1921, he organized and headed a design bureau at the automatic small arms factory. In 1922, Fyodorov designed the Fedorov-Shpagina machine gun
Fedorov-Shpagina Model 1922
The Fedorov-Shpagina Model 1922 was a twin barrel machine gun of Russian origin. It was designed by Fedorov and Georgi Shpagin and was chambered in 7.62x54mmR....
. In 1931-1933, Fyodorov worked as a standardization consultant at a weapons and machinegun trust. He then published a number of works on automatic weapons and was appointed a small arms consultant at Narkomat and with the Ministry of Arms (1942-1946). Between 1946 and 1953, Fyodorov was a member of the Academy of Artillery Sciences. He was a tutor of Vasily Degtyaryov, Georgi Shpagin
Georgi Shpagin
Georgy Semyonovich Shpagin was a Russian weapons designer. He is best known as the creator of the famous PPSh-41 submachine gun.-Early life:...
, Sergei Simonov
Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov
Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov was a Soviet weapons designer; he is one of the fathers of the modern assault rifle....
and others. Vladimir Fyodorov authored a number of scientific works on the history, design, production, and combat use of small firearms. He was awarded two Orders of Lenin, two other orders, and numerous medals.