Vladimir Rdultovskii

Born Jan. 29 (Feb. 10), 1876, in Vladikavkaz, now Ordzhonikidze; died May 13, 1939, in Leningrad. Soviet designer of artillery ammunition. Honored Worker in Science and Technology of the RSFSR (1928).

After graduating from the Mikhail Artillery Academy in 1902, Rdultovskii served in the Main Artillery Directorate. He designed and developed the technology for filling fougasse shells with high explosives. He also helped to develop a formula for determining the depth to which shells penetrate the ground. In 1923, Rdultovskii organized and headed the first design bureau on fuses in the USSR. From 1926 he taught at the Military Engineering Academy, where he gave the first course on the theory of designing ammunition. From 1929 he worked as a designer. In the early 1930’s, Rdultovskii developed highly effective fragmentation shells and different types of fuses. He was awarded the Order of the Red Star.