Harvey

Ok, this one may be a bit tricky, but maybe it'll keep y'all occupied for more than 15 minutes... 1. WHAT IS IN THE CENTER OF THIS STRUCTURE? 2. WHO LIVED HERE? 3. WHERE IS IT LOCATED?

Question 29 1) To whom is the monument dedicated? It is dedicated to the victims & liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster. 2) What does it symbolise? It symbolizes the nuclear catastrophe of Chernobyl, and also the symbolic heroism of those who gave their lives fighting the fires and trying to protect others by cleaning up the site. 3) Where is it located (area and village/town/city)? It is located in Moscow's Mitino cemetery, where some of the firefighters who battled the flames and later died of radiation exposure are buried. It is about 13.5 miles northwest of downtown Moscow, between the towns of Otradnoye to the west and Gavrilkovo to the east. 4) Can you post an image of it? See above post for image.

Is this what you're looking for, Jim? If so, I'll provide more details. And yes, I did do a Google Earth search - not as hard as I would've thought; only took a few minutes to narrow it down to the area in question.

Well, 81mph is too fast for a regular surface ship, and too slow for an aircraft, so it must be some sort of torpedo boat or hovercraft. There is mention of an early hovercraft (the L-5) developed by Vladimir Levkov in the 1930s that reached a top speed of 81mph during trials, and it mentions that 20 prototypes were built, but since the AK-230 30mm cannon wasn't developed until the 1950s, it cannot be this model. Still, my guess is that it is some type of hovercraft or fast attack torpedo boat.

Windu- By "2 double 30mm cannons" you're saying that it has a total of 4 cannons, correct? Or does it only mount two cannons total? I'm not aware of any Soviet vehicles that have 4x30mm cannons. Also, is the max speed 81mph or km/h? 81mph = 130km/h, which is pretty darn fast for a vehicle. By contrast, 81km/h = ~50mph, which is much more reasonable. I'm not aware of any vehicles that have a top speed of 81mph. A total production of 20 rules out any conventional anti-aircraft and/or infantry fighting vehicles (BMPs, BTRs, ZSUs, etc.), thus making it a prototype of some sort. The ZSU-57-2 SPAAG (Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun) had dual S-68 30mm cannons, but was in widespread production from 1955 onwards. The 2S6 Tunguska (aka S-19 Grison) also has dual 2A38 30mm cannons, as does the Pantsir-S1 (aka S-22 Greyhound), but both lack the top speed you describe and have higher production numbers. I'll wait until more info is provided before I guess any further.

Very good, Windu - your point.

ok, here's my next question: WHAT ARE THESE MEDALS? COUNTRY? PERIOD? WHAT WERE THEY AWARDED FOR?

Another possible approach - and one that has worked well over at the "QUICK TEASER" thread in The Lounge - is for the host to run the competition and provide the questions. In this case, Mervyn Mitton posts several questions at a time, usually pictures, and then gives the participants a few days to answer them. There is a limit of one question per person for the first 24 hours, after which any outstanding questions can be answered by anyone. Mervyn then tallies up the points and provides any clues that may be necessary for the outstanding questions. Participants are also encouraged to provide their own questions, and receive a point if it remains unanswered. I don't know about Dan and the others, but I don't feel that I'm that great at posing challenging questions on this subject, and this approach may also encourage more participation by those who might want to pop in to answer a question or two but don't have the time/resources to come up with a question of their own. Just a thought - let me know what y'all think. -Dave

Ok, I obviously need to stop cleaning up my posts before I respond - next time I'll just copy and paste! :speechless:

And here's a picture of him as well:

And here's what I found about Kovpak: Sidor Artemievich Kovpak - Putivl guerrilla commander and guerrilla groups in the Sumy region, a member of the illegal Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Ukraine, Major-General. Born May 26 (7 June) 1887 in the village Kotel'va, now small town of Poltava region, to a poor peasant family. A member of the Communist Party since 1919. He graduated from the parish school. At 10 years of age, Sidor Kovpak worked at the local grocer, doing the dirty and hard work. After serving his military service in Alexander's infantry regiment in the Saratov, he stayed there to work at the river port and tram depot as a laborer. At the beginning of World War I, Kovpak mobilized into the Russian imperial army. In 1916, serving in the 186th Infantry Regiment (Aslanduzskogo) he participated in Brusilov breakthrough, becoming famous as a daring reconnaissance leader and was twice awarded the Cross of St. George . As an experienced soldier imbued with revolutionary mood, Kovpak sided with the Bolsheviks. In 1917, the soldiers elected Kovpak to the regimental committee. In 1918, Kovpak returned to his native Kotel'va, where he took an active part in the struggle for Soviet power as the head of the Land Commission for the distribution of landed estates among the poor peasants. During the Civil War, Kovpak headed the Kotelvskogo guerrilla group. Under his command, the guerrillas, along with the Red Army, carried out military operations against the Austro-German invaders and Denikin. In May 1919, he joined the partisans of the Red Army. As part of the 25th Division (Chapayev), Kovpak took part in the defeat of the White Guard troops under Guriev, as well as in the battles against the troops under Perekop Wrangel in the Crimea. From 1921-1926, Kovpak worked as an assistant district commissioner of the military, the military commissar of the county in Tokmak, Genichesk, Krivoy Rog, and as district military commissioner in Pavlograd. In 1926 he transferred to the reserves. In 1926 he was named Chairman of the Pavlograd military cooperative society, then as the chairman of an agricultural cooperative in the Putivl Sumy region of the Ukrainian SSR. ----------------------------- Ok, I can't transcribe any more - you'll just have to read it as Google translates it ----------------------- Since 1935 - head of the road department Putivl executive committee. In elections to local councils in 1936 SA Kovpak was elected to the City Council Putivl. Since 1937, the chairman of the executive committee of the city Putivl. In this position, SA Kovpak and found the Great Patriotic War. In July 1941, at Putivl to fight behind enemy lines, was formed guerrilla group, the commander of the district Party committee which approved the Putivl SA Kovpak. Material and technical base of the detachment was founded in Spadshchansky forest. After appropriate training September 8, 1941, SA Kovpak sent into the woods all of the guerrilla group, and 10 September in the Nazi troops invaded Putivl. Soon to join the Red Army squad, encircled, and number of adults and 42 men, 36 of them had guns. September 27, 1941 in Putivl detachment joined a group of party activists from Konotop. The first fighting against the Nazi occupiers began guerrilla group in the village Safonovka. In mid-October in the forest came Spadshchansky partisan detachment under the command of S. Rudnev . October 18, 1941 was finally formed Putivl guerrilla group. His commander was SA Kovpak, Commissioner - SV Rudnev . In the squad there were about 70 fighters, as many rifles, mostly captured, light machine gun. October 19, 1941 in Spadshchansky Forest broke Nazi tanks. We started the fight, which resulted in the guerrillas captured three tanks. After losing a large number of soldiers and military equipment, the enemy was forced to withdraw and return to Putivl. It was a turning point in the battle of the guerrilla group. December 1, 1941 about three thousand Nazis, supported by artillery and mortar fire began to advance on Spadshchansky forest. SA Kovpak closely followed the mood of the guerrillas into account their views. With a great deal of combat experience, SA Kovpak realized how much it means the success of the battle to lift the morale of troops and rally squad. The unequal battle lasted all day and ended in victory for the guerrillas. Inspired by the example of the commander and the commissar, who fought with all the partisans of any move to turn away from their busy position. All enemy attacks in this battle were repulsed. The enemy lost about 200 soldiers and officers, men mined trophies - 5 machine guns and 20 rifles. These are the first battles helped combat commander of the SA experience Kovpak, manifested his military talent, courage and bravery, combined with a deep understanding of guerrilla tactics, with sober calculation and the ability to navigate the most difficult situation. Since then stay in the woods was dangerous Spadshchansky, SA Kovpak and SV Rudnev changed tactics squad was moving and inflicted devastating blows to the enemy during raids. These raids were tested new tactics and strategy, which became a major contribution to the development of guerrilla warfare. In December 1941 - January 1942 Putivl detachment carried out a raid in combat Hinelskie, and in March - the Bryansk Forest. There he quickly rose to 500 people, well armed with both domestic and captured weapons. It was the first raid kovpakovtsev. The second raid on his native Sumy began May 15 and continued until July 24, 1942. During this time, the guerrillas held a series of battles against superior forces of the Nazis. The enemy lost about fifteen hundred people. The raid was notable for the fact that on the night of May 27, 1942 came into force Putivl. Hometown liberators greeted with tears of joy and gratitude. I kazom Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on May 18, 1942 for the successful conduct of military operations to destroy enemy garrisons, military equipment of the enemy and undermining the railway facilities Kovpak Sidor Artemievich Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin and medal "Gold Star" (№ 708). Given the active participation of SA Kovpak in the development of the guerrilla movement, the Party Central Committee decision of October 2, 1942 approved a member of the illegal Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Ukraine. October 26, 1942 was issued in connection road from the Bryansk Forest Right-Bank Ukraine. Forced the fighting from the Desna, Dnieper and the Pripyat kovpakovtsy reached the area Olevsk in Zhytomyr. Every day the fighting compound guerrilla units under the command of SA Kovpak acquired experience in active operations behind enemy lines. The best examples of guerrilla art is the famous "Operation Sarny cross", made ​​during a raid on the right bank guerrillas blew up the bridges at the same time five railway lines Sarny site and completed the march rout the enemy garrison in Lelchitsy. SA Kovpak and SV Rudnev in the raid showed great military prowess. April 9, 1943, SA Kovpak was awarded the rank of "Major-General." "Now, - said Sidor Artemyevitch - we must fight intelligently, more sensibly. After all, we now honor, a part of the regular Red Army." In Moscow, the same thought: in all orders and radio connection SA Kovpak referred to as "military unit № 00 117." Completing tasks the Party Central Committee on further development of the partisan movement in Ukraine, the illegal Communist Party (Bolshevik) of April 7, 1943 considered the operational plan for military operations in the spring and summer, and decided to relocate several large partisan units in the western and south-western part of Ukraine to launch nation-wide struggle in the Volyn, Lviv, Drohobych, Stanislav, Chernivtsi regions, as well as organize local guerrilla forces and joint combat and sabotage on the railway communications and oil industry. guerillas were in a combat tour in Carpathian June 12, 1943. To exit the Carpathian raid the compound numbered about 2,000 guerrillas. On arms were 130 guns, 380 automatic, 9 guns, 30 mortars, 30 antitank guns, rifles and other weapons. During the raid, the guerrillas have been fighting with for about two thousand miles, destroyed and injured more than 3,800 Germans blew up 19 military trains, 52 Bridge 51 warehouse, knocked out power plants and oil fields near Bitkova and Yablonovy. The raid was one of the outstanding operations of partisans in the Second World War. Carried out during the Battle of Kursk, he had a great moral and political significance. Sowing confusion and anxiety behind enemy lines, delayed the compound on a large enemy force, destroyed the railroad tracks, delaying the transfer of the Nazi troops on the front. In addition, the raid had a great influence on the development of guerrilla warfare in the western regions of Ukraine to the armed struggle against the enemy up thousands more patriots. In kazom Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on January 4, 1944 for the successful implementation of the Carpathian raid, Major-General Kovpak Sidor Artemievich awarded a second Medulla "Gold Star" (№ 16). In December 1943, SA Kovpak due to illness returned to Kyiv to treatment. February 23, 1944 the compound was transformed into the 1st Ukrainian partisan division twice named Hero of the Soviet Union SA Kovpak. Under the command of PP Vershigora she made ​​two more raids on the enemy's rear in the western regions of Ukraine and Belarus, as well as in Poland. Since 1944, SA Kovpak - a member of the Supreme Court of the Ukrainian SSR in 1947 - Deputy Chairman of the Presidium since 1967 - Member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR. Member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR 2-7-th convocation. He lived in Kiev. Died December 11, 1967. He was buried at a cemetery in Kiev Baikove. He was awarded four Orders of Lenin (18/05/1942, 23/01/1948, 05/25/1957, 05/25/1967), Order of Red Banner (24/12/1942), Suvorov, 1st Class (05/02/1945), Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st Class (08/07/1944), medals, awards Russian - crosses of St. George 3rd and 4th degrees, St. George medal "For Courage" 3rd and 4th degrees, orders and medals of Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia . A bronze bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union Kovpak SA installed in the urban settlement Kotel'va Poltava region, monuments - in Kiev, Putivl. Plaques are visible: in Kiev at the house where he lived, in Putivl on the houses where he lived and worked. Hero of the street name mentioned in many towns and villages. In 1971, the city of Sumy region Glukhov (Ukraine) is a museum twice Hero of the Soviet Union SA Kovpak

Sounds fair to me - I just wish there were more than 6 people participating! Here's an additional thought: if someone "picks up the gauntlet" to provide a question, even though it's not their "turn," they should be awarded 1/2 point for their efforts - that way, it might encourage more people to step up and provide questions instead of waiting for someone else to do so. So for example, you answered the last question, but are too busy with work and such to provide the next one. So you pass, and are prohibited from answering the next question as a result. Fair enough. But now, whoever steps up to fill the gap also gets penalized, since they (obviously) can't answer their own question. Giving them 1/2 point for their efforts might help balance things out a bit. What do y'all think?

Yeah, how did I know that you'd get these, Jim? Ok, your point & your question!

Ok, here's mine: Name the following six individuals:

Ok, not having the "Red Bible" in front of me, this is the best I can come up with. I did take most of my answers from The Soviet Military Awards Page, which is not quite the same as Wikipedia. 1. Order of the Red Banner of Labor 2. Order of Alexander Nevsky 3. Medal for Strengthening Military Cooperation (За укрепление боевого содружества) 4. Order of the Red Banner 5. Medal for Veteran of Armed Forces of the USSR (Ветеран Вооружённых Сил СССP) 6. Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR (За службу Родине в Вооружённых Силах СССР) 7. Medal for Combat Service 8. Medal for Bravery 9. Medal for Valiant Labor

1. Order of the Red Banner for Labor 2. Order of Alexander Nevsky 3. Medal for Strengthening Combat Alliance 4. Order of the Red Banner 5. Medal for Armed Forces Veterans of the USSR 6. Order of Service to the Motherland 7. Medal for Combat Service 8. Medal for Bravery 9. Medal for Valiant Labor

If I'm not mistaken, the two countries are Armenia and Azerbaijan, formerly known as the Democratic Republic of Armenia and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, respectively. As for the military leader, I believe that it was Grigory Ordzhonikidze, the leader of the newly-created 11th Army.

Well, I can read Russian (at least names), so that makes it somewhat easier... Yes, you are correct Valter - it's an Albanian antipartisan badge. *sigh* I was hoping to keep y'all occupied for longer than 48 minutes... Your turn!

Ok, not a lot of time to pick out just the "right" question, but hopefully this'll keep y'all guessing for a bit... WHAT BADGE IS THIS? WHAT COUNTRY? WHO WAS IT AWARDED TO?

Jim- As I do not have any written reference materials at my disposal, all of my research is done online. For this question, once I learned that the person in question *did* have an HSU award, I went to http://www.warheroes.ru/main.asp/page/1. From there, I searched Naval awards, with no success. Then, I searched fighter pilots, going with those who had birthdates from 1900-1920 (which was most of them). Fortunately, our man's name started with a "B," so I only had to search through the first 3 or 4 pages to find him. The biographies listed also provide a photograph 95% of the time, so many of them can be eliminated with only a few seconds glance. Belousov's picture matched exactly the one that Gunner had posted, so it was just a matter of transcribing his bio and posting it on here. Here's the page I found: http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=1140 And I'll go ahead and come up with the next question, though I'm sure it won't be nearly as entertaining and complex as the ones you've been doing!

I have no question ready at the moment, so whoever wants to pose the next one - have at it!

Major Leonid G. Belousov Assistant commander of the 4th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment for flight training of the 1st Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the Air Force of the Baltic Fleet. Born March 16, 1909 Odessa (Ukraine) in a working class family. A member of the Communist Party since 1930. Mastered the profession of a mechanic at the Odessa plant named after the January Uprising. Joined the Red Army in 1930. He graduated from the Odessa military infantry school in 1933 , and from the Borisoglebovskay school for military pilots in 1935. He participated in the Russo-Finnish War 1939-40, making ​​dozens of sorties, and in January 1940 he received his first Order of the Red Banner. At the beginning of World War II Belousov participated in the defense of the Hanko Peninsula, where his regiment was deployed to evacuated to Kronstadt on November 7, 1941. Subsequently, he participated in the heroic defense of Leningrad, covering the icy track "Road of Life" on Lake Ladoga. In December 1941, while on a combat mission, Captain Belousov received a severe wound, which resulted in the amputation of his legs. He returned to his regiment in 1944 (now renamed the 4th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment), learned to fly with prosthetic devices and was assigned as assistant commander of the regiment. He participated in ​​more than 40 combat sorties, shooting down 3 enemy planes in aerial combat. Over the course of the war, Belousov made ​​300 sorties, and in 1945 he was promoted to the rank of Major. Major Belousov retired in 1945 due to illness. By order of the Supreme Soviet on 10 April 1957 for his courage and valor displayed in the Great Patriotic War, Leonid Georgievich Belousov was named Hero of the Soviet Union and awarded the Order of Lenin and medal "Gold Star" (№ 10,837). After the war, he worked on a river transport. Then, in spite of injuries and illness, became head of the Aero Club. He headed the 1st Leningrad taxi fleet. He lived in St. Petersburg, where he died May 7, 1998. He was buried at St. Seraphim Cemetery in St. Petersburg. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, two Orders of Red Banner, two Orders of the Patriotic War 1st Class and other medals, including the Defense of Leningrad medal. In Odessa a memorial plaque is inscribed in the factory building in memory of this valiant countryman. Secondary schools in the cities of St. Petersburg and Minsk are also named for him.

That's what I thought - but some members might not be familiar with all the acronyms (GPW, HSU, etc.).

Gunner- I know that HSU stands for "Hero of the Soviet Union," but what is KBF? Baltic Fleet?