SPG-9
The SPG-9 Kopyo (Russian: СПГ-9 Копьё, transliterated Russian: Stankovyi Protivotankovyi Granatomet "Kopyo" - Heavy Antitank Grenade Launcher "Spear") is a tripod-mounted man-portable, 73 millimetre calibre recoilless gun developed by the Soviet Union. It fires fin-stabilised, rocket-assisted high explosive (HE) and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped charge projectiles similar to those fired by the 73 mm 2A28 Grom low pressure gun of the BMP-1 armored vehicle. It was accepted into service in 1962, replacing the B-10 recoilless rifle.
Description
The projectile is launched from the gun by a small charge, which gives it an initial velocity of between 250–400 metres per second (820–1,310 ft/s). The launch charge also imparts spin to the projectile by a series of offset holes. Once the projectile has traveled approximately 20 metres (66 ft) 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 (2,300 ft/s) before the motor burns out.
The SPG-9 is heavy, ~60 kilograms (130 lb), and normally transported by vehicle, and carried into position by its two crew. It can be deployed in about a minute. The weapon is in service with a large number of armed forces, and a variety of ammunition is produced; however, they are mostly copies of the original Soviet PG-9 HEAT and OG-9 fragmentation (FRAG) high explosive (FRAG-HE) rounds.
The SPG-9 is widely available to terrorists and maritime pirates such as in the Horn of Africa region, and in other regions to a lesser degree. It is not as popular as the RPG-7 because it must be mounted on a vehicle or boat and cannot be easily carried and shoulder fired. The SPG-9 requires much more skill to fire accurately than the RPG-7. There have been reports of these mounted in skiffs and larger "mother ships". The SPG-9 can typically be found mounted on a wide variety of vehicles known as "technicals" in Somalia.
A variant for use with airborne troops including detachable wheels was built as the SPG-9D.
Combat use
The SPG-9 was used by both sides during the Transnistria War. [7]
In addition to using the SPG-9 as light indirect fire artillery, members of Wagner PMC modified SPG-9 ammunition to be fired from more portable RPG-7 launchers during the Battle of Bakhmut.[8]
Projectiles
| Round (projectile) | Type | Weight (kg) | Fuze | Length (mm) | Explosive content (kg) | Muzzle velocity (m/s) | Effective range (m) | Maximum range (m) | Armour penetration (mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG-9 (PG-9V) | HEAT-FS | 4.39 | VP-9 | 920 | 0.322 (hexogen) | 435 | 800 | 1,300 | 300 | — |
| PG-9N | HEAT-FS | VP-9 | 920 | 0.340 (OKFOL-3.5)[9] | 435 | 800 | 1,300 | 400 | — | |
| PG-9VS | HEAT-FS | 4.4 | ? | 920 | ? | 1,300 | ? | 400 | - | |
| PG-9VNT (PG-9NT) | HEAT-FS | 3.2 | ? | 920 | ? | 400 | 700 | 1,200 | 600 or 450 behind ERA | Tandem-charge |
| OG-9V (OG-9) | FRAG-HE | 5.35 | GO-2 or O-4M | 1062 | 0.735 (TNT) | 316 | – | – | n/a | Cast iron casing |
| OG-9VM (OG-9M) | FRAG-HE | 5.35 | GO-2 or O-4M | 1062 | 0.655 (TD-50)[10] | 316 | – | – | n/a | — |
| OG-9VM1 (OG-9V) | FRAG-HE | 5.35 | GO-2 or O-4M | 1062 | ? | 316 | – | 4,500 | n/a | — |
| OG-9BG[11] (OG-9G) | FRAG-HE | 6.9 | O-4M | 1030 | 0.750 | 316 | – | 7,500 | n/a | Bulgarian made |
| OG-9BG1 (OG-9G1) | FRAG-HE | 5.48 | O-4M | 1024 | 0.750 | 250 | – | 4,200 | n/a | Bulgarian made |
Users
Afghanistan[12][13][14].svg.png.webp)
People's Republic of Bulgaria
/
Bulgaria : manufactured locally as Arsenal ATGL[15]
Central African Republic[16]
Democratic Republic of the Congo[17]
Georgia[18]
Iran: AMIG SPG-9[15]
Iraq[19]
Kyrgyzstan[20]
Libya[2]
Mali[21]
Moldova[22].svg.png.webp)
Socialist Republic of Romania / 
Romania: RomArm AG-9[15]
Russia[23]
Rwanda[23]
Sudan[24]
South Sudan[25]
Ukraine,[26] also used by separatist forces[27]
Vietnam[28]SPG-9T2
Turkmenistan
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See also
Notes
- "Sudan – Global trade, local impact: Arms Transfers to all Sides in the Civil War in Sudan" (PDF). Human Rights Watch Report. 10 (4): 24. August 1998.
- Neville, Leigh (19 Apr 2018). Technicals: Non-Standard Tactical Vehicles from the Great Toyota War to modern Special Forces. New Vanguard 257. Osprey Publishing. pp. 12, 35. ISBN 978-1-4728-2251-2. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- Neville 2018, p. 37.
- "UN accuses Saudi, UAE of funding armed groups in Yemen". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2017-08-23. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
- "Taiz: Houthi fighters battle militia in Yemen city". YouTube. 25 August 2016.
- OPFOR Worldwide Equipment Guide, TRADOC DCSINT Threat Support Directorate, January 21, 1999
- "Т-64: «танк-гарант мира» или «убийца мирного населения»?". Archived from the original on June 24, 2018.
- Kharchencko, Aleksandr. "Artemovsk: Requiem for Bakhmut". Gofile.
- 95% HME 5% wax
- TNT/dinitronaphthalene
- "Rounds Og-9Vg with He-Fragmentation Grenade Og-9G & Og-9G1". Archived from the original on 2016-08-13. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
- Bhatia, Michael Vinai; Sedra, Mark (May 2008). Small Arms Survey (ed.). Afghanistan, Arms and Conflict: Armed Groups, Disarmament and Security in a Post-War Society. Routledge. pp. 48, 66, 165. ISBN 978-0-415-45308-0. Archived from the original on 2018-09-01. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
- Hennessey, Patrick (2009). The Junior Officers' Reading Club. Penguin Publications. p. 272.
- Kemp, Richard (Colonel); Hughes, Chris (2010). Attack State RED. London: Penguin Books. pp. 325–334.
- "SPG-9 (& close derivatives)" (PDF). Weapons Identification Sheet. Small Arms Survey. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-03-24. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
- Letter dated 26 June 2014 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2127 (2013) addressed to the President of the Security Council (PDF). 1 July 2014. p. 81. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance. p. 461. ISBN 9781032012278.
- Small Arms Survey (2003). "Dangerous Supply: Small Arms and Conflict in the Republic of Georgia". Small Arms Survey 2003: Development Denied. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
- Rottman, Gordon L. (1993). Armies of the Gulf War. Elite 45. Osprey Publishing. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-85532-277-6.
- Military Balance 2016, p. 187.
- Powelson, Simon J. (December 2013). "Enduring engagement yes, episodic engagement no: lessons for SOF from Mali" (PDF). Monterey, California: Naval postgraduate school. p. 24. hdl:10945/38996.
- Military Balance 2016, p. 188.
- Military Balance 2016, p. 190.
- "SPLA-N weapons and equipment, South Kordofan, December 2012" (PDF). HSBA Arms and Ammunition Tracing Desk. Small Arms Survey: 9. February 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
- Military Balance 2016, p. 469.
- Military Balance 2016, p. 206.
- Military Balance 2016, p. 491.
- Rottman, Gordon L. (10 Feb 2009). North Vietnamese Army Soldier 1958–75. Warrior 135. Osprey Publishing. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-84603-371-1.
- Military Balance 2016, p. 181.
- Military Balance 2016, p. 492.
- Small Arms Survey (2006). "Fuelling Fear: The Lord's Resistance Army and Small Arms". Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business. Oxford University Press. p. 283. ISBN 978-0-19-929848-8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-30. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
- "YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2016-05-29. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
- Williams, Sara Elizabeth (3 April 2014). "I Learned to Fight Like an American at the FSA Training Camp in Jordan: America's Role in the Syrian Revolution". Vice News. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2016). The Military Balance 2016. Vol. 116. Routlegde. ISBN 9781857438352.
External links
Media related to SPG-9 at Wikimedia Commons