SPG-9

The 'SPG-9' Kopye (Spear) is a Russian tripod-mounted man-portable, 73 mm 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 muzzle velocity of around 250 m/s to 400 m/s. The charge also imparts spin to the projectile by a series of offset holes in the launch charge. Once the projectile has travelled approximately 20 meters from the launcher a rocket motor in the projectile ignites. For the PG-9 projectile, this takes it to a velocity of 700 m/s before the motor burns out.
The weapon 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.

Contents

Projectiles

Variants

References and notes

Projectiles

Round (projectile)	Type	Weight	Fuze	Length	Explosive content	Muzzle velocity	Effective range	Maximum range	Armour penetration	Notes
PG-9 (PG-9V)	HEAT-FS	4.39 kg	VP-9	920 mm	0.322 kg of Hexogen	435 m/s	800 m	1,300 m	300 mm	-
PG-9N	HEAT-FS		VP-9	920 mm	0.340 kg of OKFOL-3.5 [2]	435 m/s	800 m	1,300 m	400 mm	-
PG-9VS	HEAT-FS	4.4 kg	?	920 mm	?		1,300 m	?	400 mm	-
PG-9VNT (PG-9NT)	HEAT-FS	3.2 kg	?	920 mm	?	400 m/s	700 m	1,200 m	550 mm or 400 mm behind ERA	Tandem warhead
OG-9V (OG-9)	FRAG-HE	5.35 kg	GO-2 or O-4M	1062 mm	0.735 kg of TNT	316 m/s	-	-	n/a	Cast iron casing
OG-9VM (OG-9M)	FRAG-HE	5.35 kg	GO-2 or O-4M	1062 mm	0.655 kg of TD-50 [3]	316 m/s	-	-	n/a	-
OG-9VM1 (OG-9V)	FRAG-HE	5.35 kg	GO-2 or O-4M	1062 mm	?	316 m/s	-	4,500 m	n/a	-
OG-9BG (OG-9G)	FRAG-HE	6.9 kg	O-4M	?	?	250 m/s	-	4,000 m	n/a	Bulgarian made
OG-9BG1 (OG-9G1)	FRAG-HE	?	O-4M	?	?	?	-	6,500 m	n/a	Bulgarian made

Variants

★ Romanian AG-9

★ Iranian SPG-9

★ Bulgarian SPG-9DNM

References and notes

1. OPFOR Worldwide Equipment Guide, TRADOC DCSINT Threat Support Directorate, January 21 1999
2. 95% HME 5% Wax
3. TNT/dinitronaphthalene