Digital Electronic Computer 'MINSK-22'

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Gennadiy Dmitrievich Smirnov, Anatoliy Vikentevich Gerkovich

1. Chief designer: V.K. Nadenenko;
2. Engineering team (leading specialists): V.P. Kachkov, G.D. Smirnov, V.M. Lenkova, A.P. Kondratjev, M.S. Marolin, et.al.
3. Developing organization: Special Design Bureau of G.K. Ordzhonikidze computing machines plant in Minsk. Subjected to the USSR Ministry of Radio producing industry.
4. Manufacturing plant: Minsk, G.K. Ordzhonikidze computing machines plant. The Byelorussian Council of National Economy.
5. Completion of design: 1964.
6. Beginning of serial production: 1965.
7. Completion of serial production: 1970.
8. Field of application: Electronic computer “Minsk-22” – was widely used by various administrative organizations and industrial enterprises for administrative and business information processing.
9. Total number of produced computers (serial production) – 953;

Description of the computer (structure, architecture, peripheral devices)

Digital electronic computer “Minsk-22” was a modified version of “Minsk-2”, with extended set of memory devices, alphanumeric data input-output devices (for punched cards) and alpha-numeric printer.

Basic components

Semiconductor components P16A (П16 А), diode-transformer valves.

Clock-rate – 250 KHz.

Design

Analogue to computer “Minsk-2” (ЭЦВМ “Минск-2”)

Technology

Processing technology as in serial instrument manufacturing.

Software 

Autocode for engineering problems – AEP(АКИ), system for symbolic coding (SSC) with macro-facilities, COBOL-based system for data automatic processing.

Technical and operation characteristics

• Average processing speed 5 – 6 thousand ops;
• RAM storage capacity – 8192 words;
• Magnetic tape storage capacity – up to 1,6 mill. words.

Specific features of the computer

The broad variety of “Minsk-22” was based on correspondingly broad set of input and output devices, processing alpha-numeric information.

Sources: (used  literature)

1. M.S. Margolin, V.K. Nadenenko, G.D. Smirnov. Electronic computer “Minsk-22”. –Minsk Vysshaja Schkola, 1967.

Translated by A. Nitussov