The Novoye Sormovo Plant is a defense-oriented machine-building enterprise in Nizhny Novgorod (Sormovskoye Highway, 21), founded in 1932 as an independent plant after being separated from the Krasnoye Sormovo combine. Throughout its history it specialized in the production of artillery guns and, later, nuclear reactors and radar equipment. At various times it bore the name of Stalin; since 1994 it has operated as the open joint-stock company Nizhny Novgorod Machine-Building Plant (NMZ).[2][3]
Founding and Early History
The plant under construction began operations in October 1929, while still part of the Krasnoye Sormovo combine.[2] In December 1931, together with the combine's gun production, it was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Artillery Association of the Supreme Economic Council (VSNKh), and from January 1932 it received the official name "Union Machine-Building Plant 'Novoye Sormovo'" and passed under the management of the VOAO NKTP.[2][3] The launch of the enterprise was celebrated as one of the greatest industrial achievements of the Nizhny Novgorod Territory in the era of the first Five-Year Plans.[1]
Renamings and Departmental Affiliation
In 1934 the plant was transferred to the Main Military Mobilization Directorate of the NKTP; in 1936 it became part of the Main Armaments Directorate and was handed over to the NKOP, and in February 1939 it came under the jurisdiction of the 3rd Main Directorate of the NKV.[2] In January 1941 the enterprise was named after J. V. Stalin and came to be called "State Union Plant No. 92 named after J. V. Stalin"; from 1943 it was the "Union Artillery Plant named after J. V. Stalin."[3] After 1961 the plant was renamed the Gorky Machine-Building Plant, and in 1994 it was transformed into the open joint-stock company Nizhny Novgorod Machine-Building Plant.[3]
Weapons Production
Starting in 1929, the plant began mastering production of the 76 mm F-22 divisional gun, which was adopted for service in April of that same year.[2] In 1934, an artillery design bureau was established at the enterprise.[2] During the Second World War, the plant produced 76 mm divisional guns of the 1939 model (F-22-USV) and the 1942 model (ZiS-3), as well as ZiS-2 57 mm antitank guns and ZiS-4 tank guns.[3] In a later period, the production program covered nuclear reactors, S-60 antiaircraft guns, the 2S8 Astra self-propelled artillery system, and the AK-176 naval gun.[3]
Management Structure and Special Regime
In 1936–1937, the plant included numerous machining, foundry, assembly, experimental, and transport shops. By a decision of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of May 4, 1934, a special procedure for hiring and dismissing workers was introduced at the enterprise, and a special hiring department was created.[2] The plant was located at 21 Sormovskoye Highway (post office box No. 10, 1934).[2]
Sources
- valka.cz — OAO Nižněgorodský strojírenský závod [1994- ] : Průmysl
- nn.aif.ru — Old New Sormovo. How a Former Village Became the Birthplace of Steamships — AiF Nizhny Novgorod
- oboron-prom.ru — Enterprises No. 61-100 » Page 47 » Oboronprom