The operator continued-fraction method is used to solve the problem on the stress state of a viscoelastic orthotropic half-plane loaded at a moment t=0 with a force normal to the boundary of the half-plane. The stress field in the half-plane is determined based on the Volterra principle and the solution of the corresponding elastic problem. The influence of the rheological parameters on the stress state of the half-plane is shown by an example of a specific material.