The Okhta Powder Plant is the oldest enterprise in St. Petersburg for the production of gunpowders , explosives, a scientific and experimental base in the field of explosives and rocket science. For two centuries, the Okhta Plant was one of the main enterprises of the Russian Empire .
| Okhta Powder Plant (Plastpolymer) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Year of foundation | 1715 |
| Founders | Peter I |
| Location |  Russia  St. Petersburg |
| Industry | Chemical industry |
| Products | Gunpowder (under kings), explosives, ammunition |
| Parent company | CJSC Plastpolymer |
| Awards |   |
| Site | plastpolymer.com |
Content
History
The emergence of powder mills dates back to 1715 to provide the Russian army in the war with Sweden for access to the Baltic Sea by the decree of Peter the Great on the Okhta River at the confluence of the Luppa River (modern: Lubya ) a powder mill - “Powder Mill” was built. Supervision of the construction was conducted by feldzemehmeister general Jacob Bruce. Bruce was the commander of Russian artillery, headed the Berg-collegium , leading industry and mining.
There is no written decree of Peter on the foundation of the plant in the archives, but the message of Jacob Bruce to Prince Menshikov dated July 3, 1715 has been preserved:
“... His Royal Majesty directed to start and make powder mills on the rapids on the rivers and on the big and small Okhta and it’s up to the craftsmen to build courtyards that need 60 people, and those courtyards to be from those mills, in the distance for fire rescue in 200 fathoms, and Your Grace to withdraw to those powder factories of the earth and artisans for the number of yards and gardens and pasture of cattle that you command. ”
The powder mill (plant) was first powered by water, for which a wooden dam was built on the Okhta River, thanks to which already from the middle of the XVIII century the plant became the largest industrial enterprise in St. Petersburg - at that time, well equipped and sufficiently mechanized due to water energy .
In the XIX century. The Okhta plant has become a leading enterprise in its industry, was the largest powder factory in Russia, the main supplier of various grades of gunpowder for the army and navy. The names of the largest scientists in the field of chemistry, artillery, missile weapons, including Mendeleev , Vyshnegradsky , Chikolev , Zakharov , Zasyadko , Konstantinov and many others, are closely connected with the history of the plant.
After the October Revolution, the plant continued to produce military products for the Red Army, and since 1922 switched to the production of chemical products. During these years, the country lost supplies of many familiar imported materials, so it was decided to develop and manufacture them on its own. Powder factory, possessing a powerful technical base, an excellent chemical laboratory and human resources, did an excellent job with the assigned tasks. In 1927, the enterprise was divided into two independent plants: the Leningrad State Plant No. 5 “Krasnoznamenets” run by the State Regional Military Chemical Trust (later NKTP ) and the Okhta Chemical Plant (Since 1931 - the Okhta Chemical Plant, since 1941 - Plant No. 757) [2] .
During the Great Patriotic War, the chemical plant returns to the production of ammunition and produces rockets for Katyusha mortars. For the uninterrupted supply of ammunition to the front, OCHZ is awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and with the end of the Second World War, the Banner of the State Committee of Defense of the USSR is transferred to the plant for eternal storage.
Okhtinsky Chemical Plant, the flagship of the chemical industry of the USSR, the most famous enterprise of the Soviet era. For Petersburgers, it is also significant because it was one of the first factories founded by Peter the Great in the new Russian capital. A large area of the city of St. Petersburg in his honor is called "Gunpowder . " Now the plant is part of the Plastpolymer association and is called the Okhta Chemical Plant (ZAO Plastpolymer-T).
Notes
- ↑ Fig. 113. Cloth shirt for combatant lower ranks of the guard and army units located in St. Petersburg and at the Okhten gunpowder factory and holding guard there. (Order of the military leader. 1891 No. 152.) // Illustrated description of the changes in uniform and equipment of the troops of the Imperial Russian Army for 1881–1900: in 3 volumes: in 21 issues: 187 figures. / Comp. in Tech. com Ch. quartermaster - SPb. : Cartographic institution of A. Ilyin , 1881–1900.
- ↑ Tikhonov, T. 1, 2010 .
Literature
- Tikhonov S.G. Defense enterprises of the USSR and Russia: in 2 vols . - M .: TOM, 2010 .-- T. 1 .-- 608 p. - 1000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-903603-02-2 .
- Okhta Chemical Plant, 1715–1965: Essays, documents, memoirs / Comp. S.I. Tulipov. - L .: Leningrad State University Publishing House, 1965 .-- 549 p.
- Historical description of the Okhta powder factory. The first period (from the founding of the plant to the establishment of a military settlement on it. 1715-1815) / Comp. K. I. Kamenev. - SPb. , 1891.
- Historical description of the Okhta powder factory. The second period (1816-1890 gg.) / Comp. K. I. Kamenev. - SPb. , 1894.
- Historical description of the Okhta powder factory. Maps, plans and drawings / Comp. K. I. Kamenev. - SPb. , 1891.
- Historical description of the Okhta powder factory. Maps and plans / Comp. K. I. Kamenev. - SPb. , 1894.