SPG-9

SPG-9. The SPG-9 is a Soviet-designed, tripod-mounted, smoothbore recoilless gun that entered service with the Soviet Army in the early 1960s. Developed by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau in Tula, it was intended to provide infantry and airborne units with a lightweight, man-portable anti-tank and direct fire support weapon. It remains in widespread use with numerous militaries and non-state actors worldwide due to its simplicity, low cost, and effectiveness against light armor and fortifications.

Development and history

The SPG-9, designated *Stankovyy Protivotankovyy Granatomyot* (mounted anti-tank grenade launcher), was developed as a successor to the earlier B-10 recoilless rifle. Its design was driven by the need for a more potent infantry anti-tank system capable of engaging the newer generations of NATO armor, such as the M48 Patton and early M60 Patton tanks. The weapon entered serial production in 1962 and was formally adopted by the Soviet Armed Forces, subsequently becoming a standard issue weapon for motor rifle and airborne battalions. It saw its first major combat use during the Vietnam War, where it was supplied to the Viet Cong and People's Army of Vietnam by the Soviet Union.

Design and features

The SPG-9 is a breech-loaded, recoilless weapon utilizing a Davis-type countermass system, where a plastic countermaterial is ejected rearward upon firing to neutralize recoil. The complete system consists of the smoothbore gun, a detachable tripod mount, and the PGO-9 optical sight for direct fire, though it can also be used for indirect fire missions. Weighing approximately 47.5 kilograms on its tripod, it is typically transported by its three or four-man crew or mounted on light vehicles like the GAZ-66 truck or BTR-D armored personnel carrier. Its simple, robust construction requires minimal maintenance and allows for rapid deployment in the field.

Ammunition

The SPG-9 fires 73mm fin-stabilized, rocket-assisted projectiles from a disposable steel cartridge case. The primary anti-tank round is the PG-9 shaped charge HEAT projectile, capable of penetrating approximately 300 millimeters of rolled homogeneous armor. For soft targets and fortifications, the OG-9 high-explosive fragmentation round is used. Later developments include the improved PG-9N and PG-9V HEAT rounds and the OG-9M high-explosive round. A training practice round, the PG-9P, is also available. The rocket motor ignites after the projectile leaves the barrel, boosting its velocity and effective range.

Operational use

The SPG-9 has seen extensive combat service across the globe since the 1960s. It was widely used by Soviet forces during the Soviet–Afghan War and by both sides in conflicts like the Iran–Iraq War and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It has been a ubiquitous weapon in the Russo-Ukrainian War, employed by both the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Russian Armed Forces as well as separatist militias in the Donbas region. Beyond state militaries, it has been proliferated to and used by numerous non-state actors, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and various factions in the Syrian Civil War and War in Afghanistan (2001–2021).

Variants

* SPG-9M: A modernized version with a lighter tripod and improved PGO-9M3 sight. * SPG-9D: A variant designed for mounting on the BMD-1 airborne combat vehicle. * Type 75: A Chinese unlicensed copy produced by Norinco. * M79: A Yugoslavian copy produced by Zastava Arms. * Arbalet: A Romanian license-produced version. * Kopye (Spear): A Ukrainian modernization program that includes new ammunition types, such as a thermobaric warhead. * Various nations, including Iran, Egypt, and Pakistan, have produced local copies or developed their own upgraded variants with enhanced sights and ammunition.

Category:Recoilless rifles Category:Anti-tank weapons of the Soviet Union Category:73 mm artillery