SPG-9

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Soviet recoilless gun

title: "SPG-9" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["recoilless-rifles-of-the-soviet-union", "weapons-of-bulgaria", "weapons-of-romania", "military-equipment-introduced-in-the-1960s"] description: "Soviet recoilless gun" topic_path: "history/military" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPG-9" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Soviet recoilless gun ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox weapon"]

FieldValue
nameSPG-9
imageSPG-9M rus.jpeg
image_size300
captionA Russian SPG-9M
originSoviet Union
typeRecoilless gun
Anti-tank gun
is_rangedyes
is_artilleryyes
service1962–present
warsVietnam War
Iran–Iraq War
Salvadoran Civil War
Lord's Resistance Army insurgency
Gulf War
Lebanese Civil War
Iraq War
Second Sudanese Civil War
Third Sudanese Civil War
Libyan Civil Wars
Northern Mali conflict
Syrian Civil War
War in Iraq (2013-2017)
War in Donbas
Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)
Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
2022 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes
Russo-Ukraine War
Gaza war
weight47.5 kg
59.5 kg
with tripod
length2.11 m
width99 cm
allowing full traverse
height80 cm
crew2 (1 gunner, 1 loader)
caliber73 mm smoothbore
rate5–6 rounds per minute
velocity250 –
range800 m
max_range1,200 –
feedManually breech-loaded
sightsPGO-9 optical 4× sight or PGN-9 IR and passive night sight
breechInterrupted screw
recoilNone
carriageTripod
elevation+7°/−3°
traverse30° total
::

| name = SPG-9 | image = SPG-9M rus.jpeg | image_size = 300 | caption = A Russian SPG-9M | origin = Soviet Union | type = Recoilless gun Anti-tank gun | is_ranged = yes | is_artillery = yes | service = 1962–present | used_by = | wars = Vietnam War Iran–Iraq War Salvadoran Civil War Lord's Resistance Army insurgency Gulf War Lebanese Civil War Iraq War Second Sudanese Civil War Third Sudanese Civil War Libyan Civil Wars Northern Mali conflict Syrian Civil War War in Iraq (2013-2017) War in Donbas Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen 2022 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes Russo-Ukraine War Gaza war | designer = | design_date = | manufacturer = | production_date = | number = | variants = | weight = 47.5 kg 59.5 kg with tripod | length = 2.11 m | part_length = | width = 99 cm allowing full traverse | height = 80 cm | diameter = | crew = 2 (1 gunner, 1 loader) | cartridge = | caliber = 73 mm smoothbore | action = | rate = 5–6 rounds per minute | velocity = 250 – | range = 800 m | max_range = 1,200 – | feed = Manually breech-loaded | sights = PGO-9 optical 4× sight or PGN-9 IR and passive night sight | breech = Interrupted screw | recoil = None | carriage = Tripod | elevation = +7°/−3° | traverse = 30° total

The SPG-9 Kop'yo (, transliterated: Stankovyi Protivotankovyi Granatomet "Kop'yo" - Easel Anti-tank Grenade Launcher "Spear") is a tripod-mounted man-portable, 73mm caliber recoilless gun developed by the Soviet Union. It fires fin-stabilized, rocket-assisted high explosive (HE) and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped charge projectiles similar to those fired by the 73mm 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 –. The launch charge also imparts spin to the projectile by a series of offset holes. Once the projectile has traveled approximately 20 m from the launcher, a rocket motor in its base ignites. For the PG-9 projectile, this takes it to a velocity of 700 m/s before the motor burns out.

The SPG-9 is heavy, ~60 kg, and normally transported by vehicle, and carried into position by its two person 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 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.

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.

In mid October 2023 Israeli forces, during the Gaza war, captured a flyer produced by Hamas about destroying Merkava tanks. The flyer recommended the SPG-9 as an effective way of defeating the Israeli Trophy System designed to intercept incoming RPG or Anti-tank Guided Missiles. The SPG-9 was recommended due "simply by virtue of its projectile’s high speed".

Projectiles

::data[format=table] | 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) | | PG-9N | | PG-9VS | | PG-9VNT (PG-9NT) | | OG-9V (OG-9) | | OG-9VM (OG-9M) | | OG-9VM1 (OG-9V) | | OG-9BG (OG-9G) | | OG-9BG1 (OG-9G1) | ::

Users

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/SPG-9_Operators_Map_20.03.2024.png" caption="Map with SPG-9 users in blue]]"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Batalionul_191_infanterie_10.jpg" caption="Romanian soldiers with an AG-9 (license built SPG-9) in traveling position."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Afghan_spg_9_1.jpg" caption="A Mongolian Mobile Training Team member reviews the SPG-9 recoilless gun with Afghan National Army soldiers prior to a live-fire weapons demonstration, September 2, 2012, at the Camp Scenic weapons range near the Darulaman Infantry School in Kabul, Afghanistan. The MTT specialize in SPG-9 recoilless rifle systems and train ANA soldiers at the infantry school."] ::

|direction = vertical |width = 200 |image1 = Velayat 94 Military exercise 06 by Mbazri.jpg |image2 = Velayat 94 Military exercise 01 by Mbazri.jpg |footer = Marines of the Iranian Navy using SPG-9. Velayat 94 military exercise

  • Afghanistan
  • : manufactured locally as Arsenal ATGL
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Georgia
  • Iran: AMIG SPG-9
  • Iraq
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • Moldova
  • Poland
  • Romania: RomArm AG-9
  • Russia
  • Rwanda
  • Sudan
  • South Sudan
  • Syria
  • Ukraine, also used by separatist forces
  • Vietnam SPG-9T2
  • Turkmenistan

Non-state actors

References

Bibliography

References

  1. (August 1998). "Sudan – Global trade, local impact: Arms Transfers to all Sides in the Civil War in Sudan". Human Rights Watch Report.
  2. Neville, Leigh. (19 Apr 2018). "Technicals: Non-Standard Tactical Vehicles from the Great Toyota War to modern Special Forces". Osprey Publishing.
  3. (21 August 2017). "UN accuses Saudi, UAE of funding armed groups in Yemen".
  4. (25 August 2016). "Taiz: Houthi fighters battle militia in Yemen city".
  5. OPFOR Worldwide Equipment Guide, TRADOC DCSINT Threat Support Directorate, January 21, 1999
  6. "Т-64: "танк-гарант мира" или "убийца мирного населения"?".
  7. "Artemovsk: Requiem for Bakhmut".
  8. David Axe. (15 October 2023). "Hamas Distributed A Handy Guide To Destroying Israeli Tanks". Forbes.
  9. 95% HME 5% wax
  10. TNT/[[dinitronaphthalene]]
  11. "Rounds Og-9Vg with He-Fragmentation Grenade Og-9G & Og-9G1".
  12. (May 2008). "Afghanistan, Arms and Conflict: Armed Groups, Disarmament and Security in a Post-War Society". [[Routledge]].
  13. Hennessey, Patrick. (2009). "The Junior Officers' Reading Club". Penguin Publications.
  14. (2010). "Attack State RED". Penguin Books.
  15. "SPG-9 (& close derivatives)". Small Arms Survey.
  16. (1 July 2014). "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".
  17. International Institute for Strategic Studies. (2021). "The Military Balance". Taylor & Francis.
  18. Small Arms Survey. (2003). "Small Arms Survey 2003: Development Denied". [[Oxford University Press]].
  19. Rottman, Gordon L.. (1993). "Armies of the Gulf War". Osprey Publishing.
  20. Powelson, Simon J.. (December 2013). "Enduring engagement yes, episodic engagement no: lessons for SOF from Mali". Naval postgraduate school.
  21. Rottman, Gordon L.. (10 Feb 2009). "North Vietnamese Army Soldier 1958–75". [[Osprey Publishing]].
  22. Small Arms Survey. (2006). "Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business". [[Oxford University Press]].
  23. "YouTube".
  24. (February 2013). "SPLA-N weapons and equipment, South Kordofan, December 2012". Small Arms Survey.
  25. 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]].
  26. "The Struggle For Relevance: Transnistria's Fighting Vehicles".
  27. David Axe. (15 October 2023). "Hamas Distributed A Handy Guide To Destroying Israeli Tanks". Forbes.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

recoilless-rifles-of-the-soviet-unionweapons-of-bulgariaweapons-of-romaniamilitary-equipment-introduced-in-the-1960s