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If I were to characterize Youriy Alexandrov by using Graham Greene's
terminology, I would apply the paraphrased title of his well known novel -
"The Quiet Russian". To an ousider, who does not know Youriy intimately, he
really produces an impression of being very quiet. He never raises his
voice, his intonations are somewhat flat and low. One day I had a privilege
of learning a different Youriy Alexandrov. This discovery came rather
unexpectedly to me.
It so happened, that once - in the fall three or four years back
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Youriy K. Alexandrov, Russian Arms Designer.
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from now - both of us, along with a few other test engineers, had to take
part in the field demonstration firings, arranged for the Army bosses
outside Izhevsk.
I remember, the weather was terrible: cold wind with
pouring floods of rain and not a chance to find a comfortable, dry place to
hide our asses in. Cursing the weather and the generals, I was surprised,
how calm Youriy was. "Take it easy, Val", - he said to me,-"When the show is
over, I'll get you a drink so you don't catch a cold". I thought he didn't
mean it and said it only to brace me up a little. I was wrong. The shooting
over and the Big Bugs gone in a jeep, Youriy vigorously rubbed his hands,
got a bottle of "Stol", two bulbs of onion and a loaf of rye bread from his
back-pack. "Qualified for a quick one, guys?" - he asked teasingly. We never
waited for the second invitation. Very soon glasses were found and filled,
the bread was sliced with bayonet. With the Army rain coat for a table cloth
spread right over wet grass, Youriy bossed the process. It was for the
second time in that same day I was surprised with him. He looked absolutely
differently from the man everybody was used to seing in his office. Now,
there being a nice company to talk to, somebody got a second bottle, and a
third one. Despite the weather, the conversation rolled on in a warm
procession. I had a peculiar sensation, as if suddenly I hit upon an
interesting book which had always been on my shelf but I never bothered to
open and read it. It was a book of stories of men and women, drunks and
fights, hunting luck and failures. Inevitably, it ended up with arms and
the stories from the life of famous designers - the facts known to very few
people. In that memorable gettogether I realized how respected Youriy was
by his workmates. Later, in the Designing Bureau, which I frequently
visited, I came to know more about Alexnadrov and his professional
achievements.
YOURIY K. ALEXANDROV
Youriy Konstantinovitch Alexandrov was born on November 22, 1934 in the
village of Ust-Kout, District Irkoutsk, Russia.
His father, Konstantin, was killed in the WWII. His mother, Nina,
worked as an accountant in a hospital.
In 1952, after finishing a secondary school, Youriy entered the
Leningrad Institute of Military Mechanics. In 1958 he graduated from the
Institute as an engineer. That same year he came to work in IZHMASH, the
Department of the Chief Arms Designer, where he immediately became involved,
as a member of Evgeniy Dragunov's
team of engineers, in the development of
an auto-loading sniper rifle. As a result of testing, showing superb
accuracy, in 1963 the weapon was adopted for service in the Soviet Army.
In 1963 Youriy Alexandrov carried out a number of engineering projects
to create new systems of automatic rifles and to enhance effectiveness of
fire. Later, in 1969, he constructed a light submachinegun
AL-7 which
featured a synchronized counter-balanced automatic mechanism. The weapon
successfully underwent all tests and showed effectiveness of fire better
than the issue weapon in Army by 1.2 - 1.5 fold. Simultaneously, Alexandrov
did research and practical work on matching a "weapon + ammunition" complex
with the view of enhancing accuracy, technologic efficiency and life of the
barrel bore.
Since 1974, being Deputy Chief Arms Designer, he has been taking an
active part in introducing into production of
AK-74 and
AKS-74
submachineguns, in improving production efficiency by developing progressive
methods of manufacture.He was awarded with the title of the "Laureate of the
Premium of the Council of Ministers of the USSR" for developing synthetic
components and parts of various firearms.
In recent years he participated in designing a number of products within
the program of conversion, such as: hunting carbines "Tiger" and
"Saiga".
For his achievements in designing and manufacture of SVD (Dragunov
Sniper Rifle) and the AK-74 SMG Youriy Alexandrov was awarded with the
Order of "The Red Banner" and the Order of the "Token of Honor".
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