Grabin, Vasilii Gavrilovich

Born Dec. 28, 1899 (Jan. 9, 1900) in Ekaterinodar. Soviet designer of artillery weapons, colonel general of the engineering forces (1945). Hero of Socialist Labor (1940), doctor of engineering sciences (1941), professor (1951). Became a member of the CPSU in 1921. The son of a worker.

Grabin began his working life at the age of 13. In 1923 he graduated from the artillery school in Petrograd and in 1930 completed the Artillery Academy. In 1930 he began design work and in 1934 became chief plant designer. From 1942 to 1946 he was head of the Central Artillery Design Bureau and in 1946 became director and chief designer of a scientific research institute. From 1960 he has also been engaged in teaching. Grabin developed and applied methods for highspeed designing of artillery systems with simultaneous designing of the production process. This made it possible to organize mass production of new models of guns in a short time to supply the Soviet Army during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–45. He was a deputy to the second and third convocations of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. He has recieved the State Prize of the USSR (1941. 1943. 1946, 1950), four Orders of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner, the Orders of Suvorov First and Second Class, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, the Order of the Red Star, and medals.