Boris Shavyrin

Born Apr. 27 (May 10), 1902, in Yaroslavl; died Oct. 9, 1965, in Moscow. Soviet designer of mortars and rocket launchers. Hero of Socialist Labor (1945); doctor of technical sciences (1952). Member of the CPSU from 1943.

After his graduation from the Yaroslavl Evening Workers’ School in 1925 and the N. E. Bauman Moscow Higher Technical School in 1930, Shavyrin, the son of a railroad worker, worked as an engineer and taught. He became a senior engineer and designer in 1932 and later headed design offices in various factories. In April 1942 he was appointed manager and chief designer of a newly created specialized design office, which he headed until the end of his life.

In 1937 and 1938, Shavyrin supervised and took part in the development of a Soviet mortar system, which comprised the 50-mm company mortar, the 82-mm battalion mortar, the 107-mm mortar to be carried on packsaddles, and the 120-mm regiment mortar. The simplicity and superiority of design of these mortars made it possible to mass-produce them quickly and to meet the needs of the front. In 1949 and 1950, Shavyrin directed the development of the 160-mm and 240-mm mortars as well as of a number of other weapons.

Shavyrin received the Lenin Prize in 1964 and the State Prize of the USSR in 1942, 1950, and 1951; he was awarded two Orders of Lenin, three other orders, and various medals.