SPG-9

Infobox Weapon
name=SPG-9


caption=A Polish SPG-9M is loaded.
Polish Ministry of Defence photo.
origin=flagcountry|Soviet Union
type=Recoilless rifle
is_ranged=yes
is_artillery=yes
service=1962- 1999
used_by=
wars=
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=
number=
variants=
weight=47.5 kg (104.71 lbs)
59.5 kg (131 lbs)
with the tripod
length=2,110 mm (7 ft)
part_length=
width=990 mm (3.24 ft)
allowing for full weapon traverse
height=800 mm (2.64 ft)
diameter=
crew=2
cartridge=
caliber=73 mm (2.87 in) smoothboreOPFOR Worldwide Equipment Guide, TRADOC DCSINT Threat Support Directorate, January 21 1999]
action=
rate=6 rounds per minute
velocity=250 to 400 m/s
(820 to 1,312 fps)
range=800 m (875 yds)
max_range=1,200 m to 6,500 m
(1,312 to 7,108 yds)
feed=Manually breech loaded
sights=PGO-9 optical 4x sight or
PGN-9 IR and passive night sight
breech=Interrupted screw
recoil=
carriage=Tripod
elevation=+ 7°/-3°
traverse=30° total

The SPG-9 Kopye (Spear) is a Russian tripod-mounted man-portable, 73 millimetre calibre recoilless gun developed by the Soviet Union. It fires fin-stabilised, rocket-assisted HE and HEAT projectiles similar to those fired by the 73 mm 2A28 Grom low pressure gun of the BMP-1 vehicle. It was accepted into service in 1962, replacing the B-10 recoilless rifle.

The projectile is launched from the gun by a small charge, which gives it an initial velocity of between 250 and 400 metres per second. The launch charge also imparts spin to the projectile by a series of offset holes. Once the projectile has travelled approximately 20 meters from the launcher a rocket motor in its base ignites. For the PG-9 projectile, this takes it to a velocity of 700 metres per second before the motor burns out.

The SPG-9 is light, and is normally transported by vehicle, and carried into position by its two crew. It can be deployed in around a minute. The weapon is in service with a large number of armed forces, and a variety of ammunition is produced, however mostly they are copies of the original Soviet PG-9 HEAT and OG-9 FRAG-HE rounds.

A variant for use with airborne troops including detachable wheels was built as the SPG-9D.

Projectiles

Variants

* Romanian AG-9
* Iranian SPG-9
* Bulgarian SPG-9DNM

References and notes