Skiing, Enjoying Winter and Missilemen 44

The winter is very unusual here this year. We had snow on the roads during four weeks. Then dense fog covered sun in day time during three weeks. Yesterday during my early morning drive to work I felt that the surface under the wheels of my car is not asphalt but the perfect ice, so called black ice. I am not complaining. I simply would like to stress that we have real winter and enjoy it like it is. And it is beautiful in the mountains around:

I like the view which is opened to you on the way atop. In May you can ski here in the morning and swim down in the afternoon. Yes, I did this myself several times and have some posts about this in my live journal Russian blog. But the view is really breathtaking:

Some of these slopes will be used during Olympic 2010:

I like the place. And, of course, I continue my story. Missilemen 44

During the duty I had a chance to make more close acquaintance with sergeants and solders of my department. Vitya Motorin from Kurgan told me about his city with many interesting details. I was born in Kurgan too and spent my childhood in Ikovka, that is situated in Kurgan oblast. Vitya visited Ikovka many times. Gena Stepanov was ready to finish his military service coming fall. He sheared his plans to enter Volgograd Polytechnic Institute and asked me about student life in Kuibyshev Aviation Institute. All guys were opened and speak about their homes, families and plans for near future civil life easily.

Every night I took part in evening roll-call. Batteries assumed formations on the parade ground and master-sergeants checked the staff in accordance with the lists. The official evening twenty minute walk took place after this. The walk was in formation and was accompanied with the march songs. This is how in spring May night I was marching together with the battery and tried to support their out of tune singing with my voice:

“Color is waiving. Commanders are ahead.
Solders! Go, go! And for you, my dear, we have a field post.
Adieu! Trumpet is calling! Solders! Go! Go!

In the morning I was in the barrack before reveille, took part in morning exercises with my battery staff. After this solders went for breakfast to their canteen and officers on duty to another one. Buses with other officers arrived during breakfast time. After breakfast all of us assumed formation for morning mounting, getting orders and starting new working day.

The week passed rapidly. I didn’t understand or feel some kind of proud that I am in the trenches of the cold war against world imperialism. The main difference with other days was my day and night presence in the battalion territory, in the distance of maximum twenty minutes walk to the launch pad. The idea of battle duty was simple: in case of real order for launch the personnel on duty have to be in place and start to work in twenty minutes after signal. Other people have to arrive later if possible and support duty forces.

On Friday afternoon, at 4:30 pm I finished my duty, changed my uniform for civil clothes: jeans, running shoes, t-shirt and light coat. Not waiting the bus I went through check-point and headed to the Lebedin-Sumy highway through the forest. Two days off belonged to me and I planned to spend them in Poltava.

Snow Geese and Missilemen 43

The snow geese from Russian Wrangler Island are spending winter on Lulu Island:

I do not know how they behave in Russia but here these creatures are so noisy and afraid nothing even this low flying plane:

My story is continued. Missilemen 43

On Friday I am going on watch to my first combat duty. In 4 pm all personnel of the battalion are assuming formation on the parade ground. The rostrum platform stays in the center. The platform is decorated by the USSR coat of arms. The Soviet flag is fluttering on the flagstaff. The battalion commander and commanders of both duty shifts (old and new one) are on the rostrum. Major Skripka, battalion commander, is reading the order and finishes it with the words: “Go to take combat duty!” Four batteries and company of electrical fences and mining are marching by rostrum and go out from battle zone into dwelling one. Most of officers are taking buses and heading home, but those that took combat duty, are staying in battalion territory for a week now: two men for every battery. The battery personnel, soldiers and sergeants are divided in two parts and only one part is officially on the combat duty and cannot leave the territory.

This time I am on the duty together with deputy battery commander, Captain Klimov, very calm and pleasant person. He instructs me without any pressure, advises me, absolutely civilian person, how to behave in army conditions, which have very specific and alien for me yet.

“Do not take Skripka’s swearing and yell so close” – he tells me, having in mind the incident happened three days ago, when during our battery marching by Skripka in solute I didn’t pull the toe. Skripka established by guilt, stopped battery and started to yell:

“Why you do not pull the toe?!”

“But I am not in high boots. I thought that in ordinary shoos …”

“What is the difference?! Where the hell they trained you marching!”

Frankly speaking I forgot about this incident, and Skripka’s escapade. But Captain remembered.

“Okey” – I reply – “Will try”.

After dinner soldiers have a free time what gave me a chance to leave barrack and go to my room in the hostel not far from the officer canteen. There I spent some time writing letters to my friends in Kuibyshev. After this I went out on the sport playground, took the ball and started to through it into the basket. In other corner the guy in boxer gloves hit the pear-shaped sack. He started conversation by introducing himself:

“Valera Antamonov, the head of provision supply department”.

“Slava, two-year officer in draft from Kuibyshev” – I replied.

Valera was interesting guy. As I learned later, he was from Kuibyshev, even from Bezymyanka, too. Valera graduated from the military school in Volks and had a very purposeful character. He had a dream to buy a car, Moskvich. Therefore after arriving to the place of his service Valera decided to live in battalion hostel. If we paid 5 rubles per month for our room in Lebedin hostel, Valera paid nothing and all his meal was free for him too, because both canteen (officer’s and solder’s) were under his supervision. The sport suit was the only civilian cloth he had. It means that he didn’t spend money for his cloths too. Furniture in the hostel was free. And no need for transportation. Even weekends he spent in the battalion, behind the fence. I think that he could collect needed amount of money for Moskvich during two or three years. And the second Valera’s dream, after possession of Moskvich, was car trip to Crimea by this vehicle. But not simply drive there. Initially he planned to go to Kharkov and, as he told me, hook the girl for the trip. Valera had very strong belief that in Moskvich he will have no problems with girls. During his conversation about this he often repeated:

“I, myself, in Moskvich! Nobody will refuse to go with me to Crimea for couple of weeks!”

This was strange and unexplainable for me. I even didn’t dream about my own car. There were many reasons why. The main of them is the reason that a car never was an absolutely necessary thing for life in the USSR. No one of my friends and relatives had a car. And I never thought about car as something what I really need. Our relations with opposite sex were based on common interest in studying and active ways of entertainments, sailing for example.

“Do you know at least one of these future student girl-travelers?”

“Not yet. First I buy the car and then go to Kharkov for them” – Valera answered my question with high lever of confidence.

I didn’t ask him about details, how he will do this.

Russian Epiphany and Missilemen 42

In happened occasionally that this post has some religious color again. On the way to downtown I paid attention to this blue domes:

Inside they told me that Russian Orthodox Epiphany is celebrated today. Then, later today I visited new oval that is still under construction on the Lulu:

After this I had long walk in delta and met my old friend:

And, as usually, I continue. Missilemen 42

In the evening several commands were transferred to us from battalion command center. The aim was changed and we re-aimed rocket. The distance was changed too, a little bit longer, and we refueled rocket as a result. The “Start” command arrived in the early morning, sometime around 3 am. It took me only twenty minutes to prepare control system for launch. Battery’s commander came to my apparatus room in advance. I gave him start key and dialed code on the blocking devise.

“Start!” – the command came to my ears suddenly.

“Yes, Sir!” – I reply and we simultaneously press the start buttons on our panels. The major job was done.

Now it’s time for operations to return into permanent readiness position. It means that training missile has to be dismantled and transported to its place, all pipes and cables disassembled, stand covered and so on. The soldiers under control of the officers on duty, two of them usually, are doing this. Other officers gathered in the battery’s command center. There was room for everybody. The Commander opened safe and took out big ten liter bottle filled in half by pure spirits. Moroz, Master Sergeant, brought several mugs, kettle with cold boiled water, big tray filled with salted pork fat cuts, green onion and garlic. Lots of bread still left after supper and white and brown loaf were kept in big pot placed on the table.

Major Novichenok poured out mugs himself. Mugs were taken in accordance with the ranks: battery’s commander in deputy together with department’s chiefs were the first, lieutenants and warrant officers are the second. Everybody diluted the spirit with water himself. The kettle was passing from hands to hands. Only Kolya Vaskovets, the warrant officer from engine department, refused to do this:

“No, I prefer to drink it without water. No need to spoil good stuff. It would be great if you add a little bit more spirit in my mug instead of water, comrade Maojr” – He is addressing to Novichenok.

Kolya is big rosy-cheeked cheerful Ukrainian boy. Novichenok likes him and adds some spirit into his mug, saying lazy way:

“Completed shooting for today. Let us, do not delay”.

I drink this slightly warm liquid that has strong vodka smell and ugly taste. Take a bite of fat and onion with bread. This is a classic! Internal warm starts to glide from stomach into chest and, by veins into arms, lags, and head. Novichenok pours out the second portions and hides the bottle into the safe back. There is no one common subject for discussion. Idle talk. At 4 pm the bus picks us from the battalion. Something like at five I went to bed. Next day we had to go for a work only after lunch.

Orthodox Christmas and Missilemen 41

After heavy snowing and very unusual for Lulu and neighborhood driveways shoveling and driving on the icy and snowy roads we have heavy rain during last three days what is absolutely normal for this place in January. And even in heavy raining condition today I walked in the evening. This chapel attracted by attention:

The chapel and some snow that still left on the ground turned my thoughts to the Christmas things and reminded that in many countries, Russian and Ukraine particularly, Christmas happened this week.

I passed around the building and pressed button on my camera again:

Beautiful. But the most bewitching view was revealed on the back from under the cedar:

OK, I am glad that I am here, on Lulu, not in Samara, where winter holiday starts on December 24 with normal Christmas, goes through normal New Year parties, then on the January 7 Russian Orthodox Christmas happens and, finally, Russian Old New Year – on the January 14. If you know how all these events are celebrating in Russia, how much vodka and other hard liquors are consumed, you understand why I am glad to be here, not in Russia these days.

And my story is continued. Missilemen 41

In full readiness position the 302 number, senior operator of electrical department, has to be in the apparatus room permanently. Vitaly Zaborny changed me in this place. I am going outside for the fresh air. The path from the underground shelter leads to the launch pad. The cutting is made in the pine forest just from embrasure to the start table what allows watching the situation on the pad from apparatus room. But I am making detour, go to birch tree grove and approach launch pad from opposite side.

The missile, like a beauty, is staying on the launch table. The warhead is covered by silver thermo-protection dress shiny in sun beams. Mounter track is driven off into its shelter. The pneumo-stand lid is opened. The Sergeant on duty is ready to start delivering of compressed gases into the rocket. Not far from this place the warhead thermo-cover dissent cable is tied to the pine tree trunk. Control rope that is used for lock release is tied to the neighbor tree. Private Simonyan from my department is on duty here. When command is done, Simonyan will pull the control rope and thermo-cover with specific sound would slide down.

From this place I turn to electrical department dug-out where thermo-cover is kept in permanent position and prepared to be installed. Sergeants and privates have rest, sitting on the floor. Captain Leonov stretched the fishing net between two young pines not far from the entrance to this dug-out. The shuttle and thread skein are in his hands. He is inveterate fisherman. It looks like he uses opportunity and current situation is very appropriate time for some repair of his fishing equipment.

I continue my walk. Refueler’s shelters are next. On the handmade table that was installed between oxygen and fuel depots the domino match is happening. The players are the heads of the first, the second and the fourth departments together with batteries deputy chief. Senior operators are staying by, watching the game and waiting their time to replace the lost pair.

“Fish” – I hear from the place – “Let’s count”.

I return to my shelter, but do not enter it. Instead I am climbing up by its grassy slope to the top. Very nice view to the rocket, all launch pad and forest around is opening. I lie down on my back in the grass and look in the sky first, then to the pine tree’s apexes that are waiving in a light wind.

The sun is going to the horizon. Thin clouds are running above. May. Idyll. I start to think what kind of feelings would I had if real missile with real warhead was installed on the launch table now. This crazy thought starts to bother me seriously. One and have megaton of nuke, what is this? What will be with Gibraltar in this warhead blasts there? The sequence of impacts: electromagnetic emanation, light flash, neutron radiation, explosive wave, radioactive contamination are coming to the surface of my memory. No, all these things can’t be real. And if similar warhead will fly here? OK, enough! I am turning on the side and look at the launch pad again. All these military equipment looks like toys. And my relation to this stuff is not real, like to toys, not to deadly things. Nobody here realizes how fatal this weapon is. I am turning these thoughts out and switch my memory to Samara. The friends are now somewhere on Volga not far from hydropower station dam, maybe in Sun Glade, on the island. Usually in these days we were finishing our “round-the-world” trip, popular circle route trip in Samara bend which Volga makes around Ghiguly Mountains.

Happy New Year and Missilemen 40

We still have lots of snow on Lulu Island and in the neighborhood. I finished old 2008 year as usually in banya (steam bath-house), met new 2009 with my family and really started it by skiing in this wonderfull snowfall conditions:

One of my New Year’s resolution is to finish Missilemen one day this year. Therefore: Missilemen 40.

On Monday morning Major Novichenok announced to all battery officers that tomorrow we will make war. This means that the full scale complex drill will take place. The battle regime for the battery will be changed and we will be not in the permanent alert, because training rocket is not used.

As it was anticipated on Tuesday morning, just several minutes after breakfast, the battle alarm was sounded for out battery only. Vitalik Zaborny and I ran to the launch position from officer hostel. I took the start key from command post and went to my place in apparatus room. There I put on rubber-lead overalls, rubber boots, gloves. Then I visited diesel station, checked how Sergeant Makarevich started machine. I switched on motor-generators myself and returned back to my room and took off covers from all stands. The command to change permanent position into advanced one was heard via loudspeackers. In this position the rocket is still horizontal on the trailer, but warhead is attached. Guys from the first department together with warhead team made this fast and we stayed in this position approximately three hours. Master Sergeant Moroz delivered the lunch. We ate it in two shifts. It became dull and sleepy. But the command to change position from advanced for the full one sounded. It took us something like two hours to put rocket on the launch table, fill it up and aim. The power was not delivered on the board in this position. We could stay this way up to month. Therefore, to keep nuclear charge in proper temperature condition, special thermo-cover was used. Our department Vitaly Zaborny’s team was responsible for this.

But my place was in apparatus room, where I was sitting on big leather sofa in the corner. The book of pocket format was with me. That time I read Voenizdat (Military Publishing Company) almanac in English. “Fall out for laugh” was the name. The humoristic stories collected from different American papers and magazines were assembled in this book. For me some of the stories looked not funny at all. For example, during aero-show the pilot’s wife got a question: “Are you worried for your husband doing stances?” And got the answer: “Yes, a little bit, he has bad habit to keep change in his pockets”. Our military humor makes more laughs, something like “The boots have to be shined in the evening to be put on the fresh head next morning”.

“German” ran into the room, warhead specialist in the captain rank. They have name “Germans” from the time when all of them were isolated from other personnel, didn’t communicate with other officers. The regulation of their life was very strict, and salary was higher too. But after Detante time some changes happened and the regulation softened. Now authority allowed them to speak with other common people.

In accordance with instruction I uncovered not only my stands but his narrow post too. His device had the three position switch and one button.

I propose him a chair, moving it closer to his post:

“Try to be accurate, do not miss” – I tell him with obvious sarcasm pointing my finger to the switch.

“This is you who have to be accurate. Finished aiming?” – he supports my joke.

Captains gave call to division command post and got the task. He put switch into middle position and pressed the button. Then he looked at post’s lights and reported that warhead is ready for the mission. I still do not know what he was doing. Maybe he prescribed type of explosion, something like air, ground or underground? Or something else?

Captain was in his early forties. He stayed in the apparatus room too. Of course he is so many years in this service, he knows everything and he looks like an old man for me.

“I’ll have a nap a little. This will last all night. Wake me up, please, when they whistle” – he asked me and laid lay on the sofa in all this rubber overalls.

“Okay” – I replied.