View source for SPP-1 underwater pistol

{{Short description|Soviet four-barreled underwater dart pistol }}
{{Infobox weapon
|name=SPP-1
| image= Подводный пистолет СПП-1М - ЦНИИТОЧМАШ 01.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption= SPP-1M
|origin= [[Soviet Union]]
|type= [[Underwater firearm|Underwater]] [[pistol]]
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged=yes
<!-- Service history -->
|service= 1975–present
|used_by=Russia
|wars=
<!-- Production history -->
|designer= [[Vladimir Simonov (engineer)|Vladimir Simonov]]<ref name="cruffler"/> at<br>[[TsNIITochMash]]<ref name="spp"/> - ЦНИИТочмаш<br>(Central Scientific Institute for Precision Machine Building)
|design_date= 1960s (Late)
|manufacturer= TOZ (Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod)<br>(Тульский Оружейный Завод)<br>[[Tula Arms Plant]]<ref name="toz"/>
|production_date=1971–present<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2021/0514/141562746/detail.shtml|title=ЦАМТО / / Ростех завершил поставки подводного оружия инозаказчику}}</ref>
|number=
|variants= SPP-1M<ref name="spp"/>
<!-- General specifications -->
|weight={{convert|950|g}} empty,<ref name="spp"/><ref name="manu"/><br>{{convert|1030|g}} loaded<ref name="spp1m"/>
|length={{convert|244|mm}}<ref name="spp"/><ref name="manu"/>
|part_length=
|width={{convert|37|mm}}<ref name="manu"/>
|height={{convert|136|mm}}<ref name="manu"/>
|crew=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge=[[4.5×40mmR]]<ref name="cart"/>
|caliber= {{convert|4.5|mm}}<ref name="spp"/>
|action= [[Trigger (firearms)#Double-action|double action]]<ref name="spp"/>
|rate=
|velocity= {{convert|240|to|250|m/s}} in air<ref name="cart"/>
|range= in air, {{convert|15|to|20|m}};<ref name="spp"/> <br>
in water,<ref name="manu"/><br>
{{convert|17|m}} at depth of {{convert|5|m}}; <br>
{{convert|11|m}} at depth of {{convert|20|m}}; <br>
{{convert|6|m}} at depth of {{convert|40|m}}
|max_range=
|feed= 4 barrels with a cartridge in each<ref name="spp"/>
|sights=
}}

The '''SPP-1''' underwater pistol was made in the [[Soviet Union]] for use by Soviet [[frogman|frogmen]] as an [[underwater firearm]].<ref name="spp">Popenker, Max R. "[http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg140-e.htm SPP-1 underwater pistol ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041209011410/http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg140-e.htm |date=2004-12-09 }}", ''[[world.guns.ru]]'', Retrieved 2010-04-05</ref> It was developed in the late 1960s and accepted for use in 1975.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/russia_upgrades_amphibious_rifles_for_commando_swimmers.html|title = Russia upgrades amphibious rifles for commando swimmers &#124; weapons defence industry military technology UK &#124; analysis focus army defence military industry army| date=24 January 2020 }}</ref> Under water, standard bullets are inaccurate and have very short range. This pistol instead fires a round-based {{convert|4.5|mm}} caliber steel dart about {{convert|115|mm}} long, weighing {{convert|12.8|g}}, which has longer range and more penetrating power than a [[speargun]]. The complete cartridge is {{convert|145|mm}} long and weighs {{convert|17.5|g}}.<ref name="cart">“[http://www.tsniitochmash.ru/paten.htm  4.5-mm SPS underwater fire cartridge ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617191816/http://www.tsniitochmash.ru/paten.htm |date=2008-06-17 }}”, ''Tsniitochmash'', Retrieved 2010-04-05</ref>

==Design==
The SPP-1 has four barrels, each containing one cartridge. Its ammunition comes as a magazine of four cartridges which is inserted into the pistol's breech.<ref name="spp1m"/>

Its barrel is not [[rifling|rifled]]; the fired projectile is kept in line by [[hydrodynamics|hydrodynamic]] effects. As a result, it is somewhat inaccurate when fired out of water.<ref name="cruffler">”[http://www.cruffler.com/trivia-November01.html Firearms Technical Trivia ]”, ''cruffler.com'', November 2001, Retrieved 2010-04-05</ref>

A double-action firing mechanism fires one cartridge sequentially for each pull of the trigger. When all four cartridges are spent, the gun can be reloaded above or below water.<ref name="spp"/>

The SPP-1M pistol is essentially the same as the SPP-1, with the following differences:<ref name="spp1m">“[http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2100/2153.htm  SPP-1 and SPP-1M underwater pistol 4.5mm  ]”, ''www.securityarms.com'', Retrieved 2010-04-05</ref>
* It has an extra spring above the [[sear (firearm)|sear]] to improve the trigger pull.
* Its trigger guard is larger to accommodate diving gloves.

The weapon was designed by [[Vladimir Simonov (engineer)|Vladimir Simonov]], the cartridge by [[Pyotr Sazonov]] and [[Oleg Kravchenko (weapons designer)|Oleg Kravchenko]].<ref name="cruffler"/> Simonov also designed the [[APS amphibious rifle]].<ref name="aps_rifle">Popenker, Max R. "[http://world.guns.ru/assault/as69-e.htm APS underwater assault rifle (5.6x39 mm MPS) ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041025183045/http://world.guns.ru/assault/as69-e.htm |date=2004-10-25 }}", ''world.guns.ru'', Retrieved 2010-04-05</ref>

==Performance==
Depth reduces range because the higher pressure closes the cavity sooner. Once the projectile is no longer [[supercavitation|supercavitating]], hydrodynamic drag increases greatly, and the projectile becomes unstable.

Lethal range is defined as the range from which it can easily penetrate a padded underwater suit or a {{convert|5|mm}} thick glass faceplate.<ref name="manu">“[http://www.tsniitochmash.ru/wen.htm 4.5-mm SPP-1M Underwater Pistol ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617195618/http://www.tsniitochmash.ru/wen.htm |date=2008-06-17 }}”, ''[[TsNIITochMash]]'',  Retrieved 2010-04-05</ref>

It is manufactured by TOZ (Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod/ Тульский Оружейный Завод) [[Tula Arms Plant]],<ref name="toz">“[http://www.tulatoz.ru/en/milspp.html Special Submarine Pistol SPP-1M ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129154026/http://www.tulatoz.ru/en/milspp.html |date=2010-01-29 }}”, ''Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod(TOZ), [[Tula Arms Plant]]'', Retrieved 2010-04-05</ref> and exported by [[Rosoboronexport]],<ref name="spp"/> the state agency for Russia's export and import of defense-related products.

== Users ==
<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->
* {{flag|Georgia}} - In limited use with special operations forces.{{fact|date=October 2022}}
* {{flag|Kazakhstan}}<ref name ='SAS 2012 4'>{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830000609/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2012|chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2012/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2012-Chapter-04-EN.pdf|chapter=Blue Skies and Dark Clouds: Kazakhstan and Small Arms|title=Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|year=2012|author=Small Arms Survey|author-link=Small Arms Survey|page=133|isbn= 978-0-521-19714-4}}</ref>
* {{flag|Russia}}<ref>«''В ходе учебного боя было проведено практическое метание ручных противодиверсионных гранат, отработаны приемы подводного боя с применением '''специальных подводных пистолетов СПП-1''', подводных автоматов АПС''»<br>[https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12556887@egNews На Балтийском флоте прошло учение по противодействию подводным диверсантам условного противника] // официальный интернет-сайт министерства обороны РФ от 31 марта 2025</ref>
* {{flag|Soviet Union}}
* {{flag|Ukraine}}
* {{flag|Serbia}}

== Variants ==
The SPP-1M has been copied by [[Iran]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sutton |first1=HI |title=Iran Copies' Russian SPP-1M Underwater Pistol |url=http://www.hisutton.com/Iran-SPP-1M-Underwater-Pistol.html |website=www.hisutton.com |publisher=HI Sutton |access-date=8 June 2021}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Heckler & Koch P11]]
* [[List of Russian weaponry]]

== References ==
;Notes
{{Reflist|30em}}
;Sources
* Cutshaw, Charlie, “The New World of Russian Small Arms & Ammo”, 1998, (''[[Paladin Press]]'', Boulder, Colorado) {{ISBN|0-87364-993-1}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|SPP-1M}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041209011410/http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg140-e.htm Picture and information] <!-- down as of 2006/10/31 -->
* [http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2100/2153.htm Technical specification]
* [http://www.cruffler.com/trivia-November01.html Description, image of firearm and darts, and specifications]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070403035536/http://www.kgb-militaryschool.com/view/spp-1m Image of firearm, breech opened, and specifications]

{{Multiple Barrel Firearms}}
{{Underwater diving|prodiv}}

[[Category:Multiple-barrel firearms]]
[[Category:Underwater pistols]]
[[Category:Pistols of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Cold War firearms of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Tula Arms Plant products]]
[[Category:TsNIITochMash products]]
[[Category:Flechette firearms]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1970s]]